how much is enough?

Heck Mel, if bad times ensue, that'll be where I head........

 

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I'll save you a tree stump to sit on. Peace and quiet plus 130 proof can block out even the mosquitoes.

 

I think PMs could perform as a store of wealth for trade. This has been gone over hundreds of times. They would have to work like cash. It might not work at a store if they're still trying to do accounting but it could work between like minded individuals. I mean why not? People will accept worthless printed paper every day as being something valuable to trade for goods. If cash went away it's not that much of a stretch to think PMs could be used in trade at least on a limited basis.

It's not that complicated. Anything that's rare and portable, could be used as a monetary item. It could be a car battery, food, sunglasses. But that stuff can't be universally used from person to person because one party may have all the batteries, food and sunglasses they need. The situation by necessity requires a form of value that's portable and universally accepted from party to party.
Maybe people could still use cash until it wore out? With no new being made, it would all be worn and depleted in a few years of circulation. So even if the cash didn't become instantly worthless, it's life span would be a few years at most.
People would have to look elsewhere out of necessity. Might go back to a combination of rare gems, PMs, furs, who knows? Modern day coinage could last for a long time for use on smaller transactions. PMs would have a place. As to how much? Why set a limit? How could anyone's opinion carry any weight not knowing how valuable the PM may or may not be.
I think green said, the only limit may be how much you can carry. Probably a fair assessment. There's no reason to think you couldn't trade for or earn more back after a situation arises.

 

What might be very helpful is a book that tells how Russians survived (and for some, prospered ) after their SHTF event. Everything I looked at on Amazon was about the political crap that led up to the collapse of Soviet Union rather than how people got by after the collapse.

 

Love the silver Skull!!!!

 

Russians survived (and some thrived) because they had many years of tradition of having a jackboot (if I may mix metaphors) on their collective necks. Here and there, a few joined the Party and did pretty well. They suffered horrendous losses (in both men and goods) during World War II, and in Ukraine, especially, tens of thousands starved. But they are resilient and crafty, for the most part. Even the best of my Russian friends are still a bit reserved, after 30 years.

They have long been somewhat handicapped by using the Cyrillic alphabet, which hampers communication and understanding with the rest of Europe, with its millennia of Latin-based (and halfway similar) Romance languages, aside from the Teutonic speakers who, in turn, became the enemy of both camps.

But still, Survivors.

 

Important point, and while no one would consider Russia a financial powerhouse, especially right now, their economy did come back, under seemingly impossible conditions. IMO, it is something to think about when folks think metals are the only answer, since there is no other possible outcome then failure of our economy.

 

When anyone tries to equate mineral, (or other natural resource), wealth has anything to do with long term success of their economy, I simply point out Japan and 16th century Spain. In fact, a large abundance of natural wealth is usually a contra-indicator or success. Unfortunately, this natural wealth is used as a crutch and necessary economic activity does not take place due to this crutch. Take away high oil, and how is Venezuela, Iran, and Russia doing nowadays?

 

Certainly true, but people are amazingly adaptable. It would be my guess, with the crutch gone, innovation will eventually come into play. But maybe I am just an optimist

 

1000's of oz of Silver and we are not going to see a total break down of Gov or State of Marshal Law just Paper Money will fall apart world wide as it is now used. PM's will go to the moon.

 

Matt Dillon - Marshal Law
Social Chaos - Martial Law
Put the Lid Down - Marital Law

 

All interesting reading. It won't be a binary switch. There will be hints in the economy and people will flock to commodities (just like we do now). Then warning signs and people will flock again, then there will be sell-off of accumulation to gain back paper at a discounted rate.

This will go back and forth until there is an ultimate collapse in the paper, and then people will spend commodities and barter with short term gain in mind - and no long term plan.

When nobody can go to work and get paid - there will be barter for labor of all types. PM may reign for a while, and ultimately it will stay high because there will always be another emergence of government. Real world commodities will be the order of the day. Food, fuel, building supplies, communications.

But the short term - people will trade gold and silver for food and shelter, and they will spend it readily to survive the next day. Those that can afford to accumulate and wait out the chaos will be rewarded when a new government emerges. Those with commodities and loyal labor forces will stay on top.

I don't expect it in my lifetime, but if it does - what will really matter is our ability to survive without modern conveniences.

I see all of the "pretty people" in the big cities that have no clue of how to hunt, fish, or even grow crops. No skills for simple self defense and survival. No ability to survive without some sort of iJunk device.

It's good to have a bit of everything. Food, water, shelter, ability to generate all of the above - and the skills (and means) to defend it when needed.

As an example, we have a vendor - and one of their employees is a self-professed vegan, does not drive (does not have a driver's license, uses public transit), no concept of machinery, spends his money on San Francisco rent, fancy clothes, and iStuff devices. All assets are on paper (stock, 401k), doesn't cook - says he likes to eat out all the time.

This is all fine in a first world country... But when the systems around you fail, all the gold and silver he could carry isn't going to help him survive.

 

I feel that if Edited, many out there would not be able to survive long. The best thing to possess when/if it happens is knowledge. How to build shelters, how to build fires, and how to find food/water. People will barter but they will want things that can keep them alive, such as canned food, fuel for heat, clothing, etc. Of course, I'm talking about an "end of the world as we know it" scenario. I've been watching a lot of bushcraft/survival videos and you'd be surprised what you can do with just a knife if you have the knowledge. The best thing to do is either watch videos and learn, or join a survival school and get out and practice the stuff as often as possible. Once you can trap/hunt/fish/gather your own food, find water, start a fire with just friction, and build warm shelters, you won't really need much else if it comes down to it.

 

I am supportive of both points of view, above, but wonder why you would have to leave your house or apartment, provided you can defend it. The bad guys, until they are exterminated, will seek out the easy targets - the elderly, the handicapped, etc., and the military and police are sort of a wild card. I expect trouble, but I do not expect the drastic trouble in pennsteve's scenario.

However, at 70 and in poor health, it doesn't matter much - cut off from medications, the food, water, and other necessities will last much longer than the patients - like me. Anyone can trap rain water, and buy 10 cases of canned spaghetti, and 5 cases of peanut butter, and scare intruders away with a good always-legal shotgun, but when the ticker medicine's gone, you're out of options.

My coins will survive me, but may not go to the folks I intended. The pain I would feel is for our beautiful country, and its innocents, sold out by xxxxxxxx

Read, if you can find the right anthology, "Primary Education of the Camiroi," written by R. A. Lafferty, circa 1966, a genius at science fiction.

 

IMHO - A simple reprioritization is in order:

i.e. Bullion isn't the first line of defense in preparedness.

Also, it isn't simply about buying everything you think you might need. It's mostly about knowledge, training, attitude, motivation, etc..

Russia was brought up as an example of a government collapse and how some people not only managed to survive, but come out ahead. Those Russians who managed to become millionaires in the 1990's, do you think they were the people who were bartering silver coins for bread and water? Or do you think they were the people who were smart enough to see the opportunities and actually act on them?

The main reason I have some bullion is because it's shiny and I like it. But the second, or maybe third reason, is that in the event of the dollar losing all of its value, I don't want to start over again with nothing. However, I don't expect my bullion to be able to buy my way through hard times until society recovers and I can get a job once again. It's simply a bargaining chip for a little leverage, or perhaps a way to get something I need that I can't seem to produce or obtain through other means.

 

I'm not trying to start trouble, but really? You edited out edited- Yes twice now, please follow the rules. Thanks lol

 

Absolutamente no Polish sneezes allowed!

 

You can read the FAQs sir. Peter wants this website to be like a 1950's tv series. He simply does not wish devolved language sir. If you have a question, you can always send a pm to a moderator.

P.S. I step over the line as well from time to time sir. Shrug it off, learn from it, and simply continue on here. When you think about it they are right and we are wrong. Peter wants this a site that children can enjoy as well, and I support him in that. Way too much of the internet is not child friendly, and its nice to be at a place that is.

 

Well I didn't use any bad words. It was an acronym. There is an episode of The Andy Griffith show where they are trying to pass Ernest T. Bass off as a regular guy and trying to teach him manners. Barney gets annoyed and says "Jeemany Christmas," and we know what that meant. It still surprises me today that it got past the censors back then. If you go to Youtube and search, it's the episode called My Fair Ernest T. Bass and Barney says it at the 10:20 mark.