Gold!

[Grunter]

If i bought any gold or any other prescious metal I would keep it at home hidden somewhere hard to get to as it would be long term.I wouldn't keep it in a bank vault as I maynot be able to get to it and wouldn't bother informing my insurance co as it would not be a major amount.
One place I have been looking at charge 2% buy back commission, but this would probably rise to who knows what in a SHTF type scenario however, like Kalprep I think it's quite a good idea not to have all your eggs in one basket. Thanks to TeeDee for the links,have never heard of Pallidium?.Silver is another possible but this again is a long term investment as Vat is payable at time of sale unlike gold , and the capital gains tax on gold profit(approx £10000p.a) will certainly not apply to me :lol:Agree with both TeeDee and Skippy and will probably be investing in one/both in the near future.
The Bank of Grunter (wife) has given me the provisional goahead

[TeeDee]

Grunter , PM sent.

[the-gnole]

You'll like this one then

http://www.goldandsilverexchange.info/s ... boxes.html

[Grunter]

Good link gnole.Cheers.I think my section of pipe will be 1/2" long.

[the-gnole]

Good link gnole.Cheers.I think my section of pipe will be 1/2" long.

[TwoDo]

I don't think of gold as a useful item in a SHTF situation - I primarily think of it as a way to preserve your wealth through the SHTF situation and insurance during the SHTF situation. I will explain....

The observation that it is not possible to barter with gold during a SHTF situation, while technically accurate, seems to me to be missing the point somewhat. I personally think we are in for a period of extreme economic dislocation but that it will settle after some years - perhaps with a new currency (that is the usual pattern). At that point, as trade begins again and the economy restarts, gold again becomes useful and gives you a leg-up in the new status quo. Thought of this way, gold is a store of value through the transition.

Throughout human history it has always been possible to physically carry enough gold on you to make a fresh start somewhere - very little else offers this. For example, there are many stories of refugees arriving in the UK fleeing Nazi Germany with coins sewn in the hems of womens dresses. These are almost matched in number by the stories of people whose lives were saved by slipping a gold gold coin to a border guard. Thought of this way gold is insurance.

My feeling is that during a lawless SHTF situation attempting to trade anything for a gold coin will be fatal - never do it. Ferfal, for example, provides examples of people in Argentina attempting to trade a gold coin only to attract the attention of the local mafia who then remove your relatives body parts until you give them all your gold. You can consider yourself lucky if they let you live.

If you really want to use gold as a supply of wealth to trade in a SHTF situation I suggest acquiring small items of well used gold jewelry. Traded discretely these do not make you look wealthy. Of course you do not buy your jewelry new - all you will ever get is a percentage of the melt value and new jewelry is always many times this. Some years ago I undertook a campaign of purchasing used gold wedding rings on ebay (no stones just the bands) and now have a supply for this purpose. You pay slightly more than the spot in most cases but the rings are usually very well worn small and thin. In general the rings do not usually contain much gold so the cost per item is not large. My feeling is if I am careful I can look like I am pawning my dear grannies ring out of pure desperation but there is little else there to interest those with evil intent.

[pseudonym]

Have a small amount of silver in two types of 1/2 troy ounce coins:



Buffalo and Walking Lady:



Just a bit of fun really with some spare cash, bought before the recent rise in silver price.

[nickdutch]

I don't smoke but I think £200 pounds worth of hand rolling tobbacco may make a good investment.

Does anyone know how long unopened tobacco will keep fresh for?

If it keeps, the 12.5g packets would be great to trade...

Don't forget papers to go with the tobacco!!

Tobacco can go off or dry quite quick. you might need to vacuum seal it.
Or alternatively who not buy Burly and Virginia tobacco seed and learn how to do home curing and set up a small home tobacco production concern just like some will be providing alcohol as barter fodder others can also grow tobacco.

With a few fermenting bins, a distiller and a hydroponics kit you could be making enough "currency" as a result of small investments (yeast, sugar, sterilizer, seed, fertilizer, zip lock plastic bags and tinfoil to package tobacco) to keep you alive on the basis that life gets harder.

Just hypothetically that is, just hypothetically.
Not saying I'm even thinking of it, just hypothetically that's all.

[Triple_sod]

Just hypothetically that is, just hypothetically.
Not saying I'm even thinking of it, just hypothetically that's all.

Ah well just hypothetically, its not illigal as long as you don't start selling it in pubs or anything.

[maddriver]

I remember hearing a story about the American gold rushes. Of all the people that rushed out and staked claims in the gold fields most of them came away broke, lost their life savings looking for gold. The people who really made money were the ones selling picks and shovels.

Maybe now would be a good time to be a gold dealer.