Gold vs Trade Goods

[prairiedoggin]

I was listening a to friend of mine describe how he has been buying Gold/silver for a situation such as a economy collapse. This got me thinking, I think I had rather have goods to trades such as: livestock, fruit, vegetables, and other goods. I don't see people trading gold when they are hungry or trying to survive.

Which of these would you tend to lean towards?

[histopicker]

Gold and Silver and ammo would be my last choice for trade items. Dry Beans and rice would be better choices I would think. It would be wise to have on hand Fishing and Trapping gear and if you had a surplus these would be good trade items, but remember this is only my opinion. A stock of wool blankets like the old army blankets, a few knives and axes or hatchets would also be good trade items. The only thing I would trade for Gold or Silver would be Water. Value is a relative thing.

[Deleted]

I'm pretty set on many "need" items. I've got a lot a bases covered. I don't think you can ever have enough ammo. Not so much for bartering, but more of the reasoning of buy it while I can still afford it. If we continue to stay on the current path of our 2nd A rights being chipped away, ammo may have tax increases imposed of the likes we've not seen. I'm not advocating the tinfoil hat, I just think buying ammo while it's still reasonable, isn't a bad thing
As far as precious metals, I have been buying some silver here and there. Just one ounce bars, and not a lot of them. More of a personal investment gamble than anything. If I can buy 50 ounces over the course of a few years, at less than $20 an ounce, then it peaks at $50 in a few years, I'll sell. If it bottoms out at $5 an ounce in 5 years, I'll buy more. More of a side hobby I guess than anything.

Now, if the economy collapses, I've got enough s**tpaper stocked up to barter for about anything I want

[rendezvous]

Dec 29, 2014 17:58:21 GMT -5 @charder said:

I'm pretty set on many "need" items. I've got a lot a bases covered. I don't think you can ever have enough ammo. Not so much for bartering, but more of the reasoning of buy it while I can still afford it. If we continue to stay on the current path of our 2nd A rights being chipped away, ammo may have tax increases imposed of the likes we've not seen. I'm not advocating the tinfoil hat, I just think buying ammo while it's still reasonable, isn't a bad thing
As far as precious metals, I have been buying some silver here and there. Just one ounce bars, and not a lot of them. More of a personal investment gamble than anything. If I can buy 50 ounces over the course of a few years, at less than $20 an ounce, then it peaks at $50 in a few years, I'll sell. If it bottoms out at $5 an ounce in 5 years, I'll buy more. More of a side hobby I guess than anything.

Now, if the economy collapses, I've got enough s**tpaper stocked up to barter for about anything I want

I like the way you think!

[coalmining]

I think we may have to go back to corncobs for that guys. They take up less room in the outhouse,they can be used wet, and in a pinch can be used for Firewood INSTEAD of wiping.

[texas]

A lot of good points made above, but I still think maybe not a bad idea to have a little on hand. If gold some in all different denominations like 1/4,1/2, 3/4,1 Oz size American eagles. Silver I would just go 1 Oz. bar or rounds. The reason I say the different denominations is so you can use it to trade with. Hard to trade something that values a couple grand, and you want to buy a loaf a bread. Making change may become difficult. I am not saying go buy 200 Oz. of gold, or silver for that matter, but a little on hand would not be a bad idea. Maybe nothing more than you would want to carry if you needed to bug out. Light and quick may be the key if things went down hill. I also like CJ's idea on investing into the metals market, nice easy approach to it, and one we all could do. Never nothing wrong with making a profit on something, and prepared at the same time......Good luck......Texas

[topper]

precious metals...

Bow saw blades would be  precious metals.
Files to sharpen tools, including saw blades, are precious metals.
Tin snips used to make grease lamps, from tin cans are both precious metals.

Gold? I suspect it won't have any value until the "recovery phase" of what ever collapse. And that phase, if it ever comes at all, may be years if not decades into the future. Maybe centuries?

A thought. During gold rushes, some of the miners struck it rich. However, most of the money was made by the people selling the picks & shovels to the prospectors. And by the people with a treddle sewing machine, with a good stew recipe or with a pair of barber's shears, & the like. The famous Ivory hunter W.D.M. "Karamojo" Bell, during the Klondike, was based in Dawson City working as a market hunter.

In short "knowledge". Instead of swapping trade goods or gold for other trade goods. How about trading your skills for other's trade goods?

We, as hunters, fishermen, trappers, foragers & to a degree herbalists are light years ahead of the general populace...

As an aside, I would never trade ammo or anything else that could, at a later date, be used against me.

Just some random thoughts & my two cents worth.

[soldim]

Sept 11, 2015 23:50:29 GMT -5 topper said:

In short "knowledge". Instead of swapping trade goods or gold for other trade goods. How about trading your skills for other's trade goods?

We, as hunters, fishermen, trappers, foragers & to a degree herbalists are light years ahead of the general populace...

Indeed, that was what I was thinking, skills and expertise seem the most useful to me when the brown stuff really hits the fan.

I know how to brew beer -- I hope it will keep me afloat