Do you guys have a SHTF mindset?
SilverEagles92
Posts: 6,787 ✭
Several months ago on YouTube, I subscribed to several channels with silver and gold-related videos, and a few of those have slowly become more about stockpiling food and planting your own garden instead of bullion.
Are you PMers in a SHTF mindset?
Are you PMers in a SHTF mindset?
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Comments
Now, I see the tide turning. Public opinion is a powerful thing when it finally awakens.
<< <i>A year ago, yes.
Now, I see the tide turning. Public opinion is a powerful thing when it finally awakens. >>
Any problem will look better if you throw 1 Trillion government dollars at it. The problem is that since the underlying fundamentals of our economy have not changed, this "recovery" is simply a temporary bright spot. Wait till double digit inflation takes hold!
That experience of the 1987 crash is seared into me, so I will probably always be a bit on the cautious side. However, I have learned that Chicken Little is usually wrong no matter how loud he/she is yelling.
Look, times are bad. For some folks in some industries in some states, it as bad as it has ever been. It is always prudent to have insurance in the form of some hard assets, some emergency supplies. Those that go without are absolute fools. It is also foolish and has always been foolish to live inside a bunker mentality just because there are problems in the economy. Like I said, "they" will ring the bell every month, every year. There are always bogeymen to write about, always problems. Only rarely does the sky fall, and even it does like it did last year, it only rarely kills everything.
Some day there is a chance that the financial world may indeed end, and food will be gone from the stores, and marauders will roam the streets. Historically at least half of those times, folks will have to leave for another country, and any stockpiles will be near useless. It is unlikely that those writing newsletters or posting on YouTube will get the scenario or the timing right. As 2008 showed, even if a few newsletter writers get the macro background story correct, their subscribers might loss as much or more money than regular investors. For the record some megabear newsletters they did as poorly as anyone in 2008. Google search "Harry Schulz Peter Brimelow" and the second link for December 28, 2008 will be an article detailing how one newsletter writer got the macro story correct, but lost mega money for his subscribers.
* A few months before the October 1987 crash
It's simply logic: No patriotic American who if physically able should make themselves a burden on anyone else OR society. Everyone, no matter their wealth, should have at least a couple of months of food stored, rotated, and used for every member of their family. That's not crazy combat-boot face paint hiding in the woods survivalism. It's personal responsibility, and it should be the backbone of our nation.
A good first aid kit, knowledge of CPR, personal protection (hell yes I mean guns). A few extra blankets, maybe a hand crank radio/flashlight. Get crazy with it and buy a few inexpensive tarps, a kerosene lamp, or save up for a decorative (but functional) wood stove.
The food, bought when on sale or in bulk, rotated and used, will actually save you money. Water and water storage costs almost nothing. A Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 12-gauge and a case of shells will set you back all of $250 or $300. Last forever, anyone can aim and shoot it, and they'll stop virtually anything.
That's the basics. You're now better prepared than 85% of your fellow Americans. Natural disaster, supply disruptions, political unrest, economic uncertainty from the international level down to temporary unemployment or disability, you're protected and your family is protected. Cost you almost nothing up front and will almost certainly save you money within a year or two.
There's nothing sexy or exciting about it. It's just common sense.
--Severian the Lame
Instead of? That's not a SHTF mentality. That's silly.
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
I'm a friend of Peter Schiff. He called EVERYTHING and still got his investors hammered.
Expect the unexpected.
Being prepared works for me............
Black Swan.............
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>
<< <i>A year ago, yes.
Now, I see the tide turning. Public opinion is a powerful thing when it finally awakens. >>
Any problem will look better if you throw 1 Trillion government dollars at it. The problem is that since the underlying fundamentals of our economy have not changed, this "recovery" is simply a temporary bright spot. Wait till double digit inflation takes hold! >>
I am not talking about the current "recovery", I believe enough people have woken up that things are going to start turning around. Did you notice the court order forcing the FED to give up records of who it is loaning to? Those who in the recent past have acted with impunity, are beginning to see that come to the end.
<< <i>Always. But it shouldn't be as sexy as water purification pumps, backup generators, and pallets of MREs.
It's simply logic: No patriotic American who if physically able should make themselves a burden on anyone else OR society. Everyone, no matter their wealth, should have at least a couple of months of food stored, rotated, and used for every member of their family. That's not crazy combat-boot face paint hiding in the woods survivalism. It's personal responsibility, and it should be the backbone of our nation.
A good first aid kit, knowledge of CPR, personal protection (hell yes I mean guns). A few extra blankets, maybe a hand crank radio/flashlight. Get crazy with it and buy a few inexpensive tarps, a kerosene lamp, or save up for a decorative (but functional) wood stove.
The food, bought when on sale or in bulk, rotated and used, will actually save you money. Water and water storage costs almost nothing. A Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 12-gauge and a case of shells will set you back all of $250 or $300. Last forever, anyone can aim and shoot it, and they'll stop virtually anything.
That's the basics. You're now better prepared than 85% of your fellow Americans. Natural disaster, supply disruptions, political unrest, economic uncertainty from the international level down to temporary unemployment or disability, you're protected and your family is protected. Cost you almost nothing up front and will almost certainly save you money within a year or two.
There's nothing sexy or exciting about it. It's just common sense. >>
The best advice I've seen in awhile, and yet just common sense. Like I've said before, when comes down to it, I'd rather have something you could eat instead of gold. And some foks would argue that gold will buy you food, but if it was everybody for themselves, who in their right mind would trade their own survival source for a door stop? That's all gold would be in a true "mess hit the fan" situation.
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
<< <i>A year ago, yes.
Now, I see the tide turning. Public opinion is a powerful thing when it finally awakens. >>
I don't know about the tide turning I see it a little different....with a surfing analogy. I remember once while surfing at the Pismo Beach Pier, waves were around 3 feet. My friends and I were out for a couple of hours when out of no where came a thick rogue wave ten feet plus. We all tried to paddle over it before it broke on our heads. None of us made it and we all got worked, tumbled and spit out. The rogue wave in the economy has yet to appear. That rogue wave will come when debt damn bursts.
R95
I knew it would happen.
<< <i>Nothing changes until you take cable away from the people. You will see riots then.
I'm a friend of Peter Schiff. He called EVERYTHING and still got his investors hammered.
Expect the unexpected.
Being prepared works for me............
Black Swan.............
MJ >>
"stay thirsty, my friend"
<< <i>
The best advice I've seen in awhile, and yet just common sense. Like I've said before, when comes down to it, I'd rather have something you could eat instead of gold. And some foks would argue that gold will buy you food, but if it was everybody for themselves, who in their right mind would trade their own survival source for a door stop? That's all gold would be in a true "mess hit the fan" situation. >>
At the risk of sounding Limbaugh-esque: Don't misunderstand me. In my experience, people tend to throw out the "can't eat gold" argument when they have neither food stores nor gold/metal holdings. What I've suggested should cost little if anything in terms of money, time, and even storage space. I don't want what I've suggested to be considered "survivalism" or "shtf". It is just the absolute minimum everyone should do/have without even giving it a second thought.
And once that bare minimum amount of self-reliance is squared away, I do think that metals should play a significant part of your portfolio. How much depends on personal factors. To me, 10% physical seems pretty safe. 20% for me would probably be borderline too much (then again, I'm a metals addict). Any less than 10% I'd feel naked.
You can't eat gold. But you don't need to if you've got rational, logical food storage. And in anything less than a complete anarchical collapse of society, an ounce or two of gold might save your home, your farm, or your life. We call that "survival". And THAT is what "survivalism" should be about.
--Severian the Lame
I like silver. I like gold. I feel like collecting and investing in precious metals is different than survival tactics or being prepared. I don't subscribe to the theories that precious metals are the only "real money" or that in a SHTF scenario I need gold and silver to be able to buy a loaf of bread. It may be a case of out of sight, out of mind, but I don't view my investing in precious metals as ensuring the ability to barter in a war-torn nuclear holocaust future.
Being prepared is a given. I would love to have several months of food, water, and other necessities stored away. But when you have nothing but aluminum foil hats and a large stick, I think you're more crazy than prepared.
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<< <i>Always. But it shouldn't be as sexy as water purification pumps, backup generators, and pallets of MREs.
It's simply logic: No patriotic American who if physically able should make themselves a burden on anyone else OR society. Everyone, no matter their wealth, should have at least a couple of months of food stored, rotated, and used for every member of their family. That's not crazy combat-boot face paint hiding in the woods survivalism. It's personal responsibility, and it should be the backbone of our nation.
A good first aid kit, knowledge of CPR, personal protection (hell yes I mean guns). A few extra blankets, maybe a hand crank radio/flashlight. Get crazy with it and buy a few inexpensive tarps, a kerosene lamp, or save up for a decorative (but functional) wood stove.
The food, bought when on sale or in bulk, rotated and used, will actually save you money. Water and water storage costs almost nothing. A Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870 12-gauge and a case of shells will set you back all of $250 or $300. Last forever, anyone can aim and shoot it, and they'll stop virtually anything.
That's the basics. You're now better prepared than 85% of your fellow Americans. Natural disaster, supply disruptions, political unrest, economic uncertainty from the international level down to temporary unemployment or disability, you're protected and your family is protected. Cost you almost nothing up front and will almost certainly save you money within a year or two.
There's nothing sexy or exciting about it. It's just common sense. >>
Excellent post, and I share this mindset. Add to it, a covenant-keeping community of likeminded individuals/families with different skill sets, and I'm there with you. Kind of like when the US was being born/founded. Individual responsibility and mutual interdependence are key to survival, no islands or rabid individualism will last long (John Galt & Jeremiah Johnson being the exception
In a true SHTF scenario, PMs may be traded in tight communities fairly safely and bartering, etc., but once word is 'OUT' YOU have the PMs, you will likely exhaust your ammunition pretty quickly.
Don
increasing the wine cellar, "pantry", generator, fuel storage, etc
i have some PM, probably not enough, hope i never have to use it to trade for food
getting very close to liquidating some other holdings to put into PM though.
funny but all those annities and life policies i bought years ago still pay over 5% and adding to those as well.
Oh, yeah.
Several good posts here. It ain't shtf, it's common sense these days. Yep, you turn off the cable, shut down the electric company, lose your water plant, screw up one major road, charge $5 for a gallon of gas, cut off the subsidy checks, there is probably a list of 100 things that I could easily be listed here that would cause the people of any of the maybe top 20 urban areas to go Katrina on you in a heartbeat. Get a clue here, this comfortable society we are used to is barely here but for a single heart beat and if you don't believe that go visit some nice city right after a hurricane if you need a little taste; oh yes, you do take your pistol and bring cash, no one can take credit cards because there IS NO ELECTRICITY.
More than likely most folk, maybe a good number of them on this forum, would call that alarmist but ask anyone from a large city that has gone through a disaster and they will easily recount the lawlessness and violence and theft/robbery/burglary. This thin veneer that we are calling civility these days is just that, a very very thin layer that is easily removed and believe me, who ever is keeping order will try as hard as they can to get things restored as soon as possible and pray they are successful and quick. After you've seen a few fist fights, rammings, screaming at the gas station where people are literally fighting for gas during a disaster (yes, guns are involved), then you'll know. After you've heard police sirens for two or three days straight, then you'll know. When you hear those pistol reports late at night, then you'll know. After you see people die in their out of gas, over heated, flat tired cars on the side of the highway trying to get out of town with everyone else, then you'll know. I mean really, is it shtf or is it just being prepared, having a plan, and paying attention (the three P's).
Hummm, just offering these comments to urge folk to follow the 3 p's, however you may interpret them. It can get really ugly really fast and as mentioned previously, if you're not prepared when it happens, it's too late.
I believe that it's simply a matter of degree. Why would you buy silver or gold if you didn't think that the dollar denominated assets are in trouble? We probably won't be spending pms to buy bread, but we may very well be selling them in order to get the cash with which to buy the bread.
It may be a case of out of sight, out of mind, but I don't view my investing in precious metals as ensuring the ability to barter in a war-torn nuclear holocaust future.
It may not be a barter situation, but I do think it is likely that it will be a "store of value" situation. I trust pms 100% more than I trust other types of savings methods these days. I do think that the threats towards personal wealth are manifold and are coming from many different directions. If you have pms, you can't get totally blindsided. Gored, maybe - but not totally destroyed. Again, I think that the risks to ALL financial assets are huge, and many today.
Regarding shtf, see hammerman's comments, above. Those are the realities of a disruption in services. It gets worse the larger the scale. Our whole system is so efficient that we never think much about it. A disruption in fuel, or trucking, or rail, or in agriculture could have profound impacts. Most of our jobs are specialized, and we don't raise our own food or generate our own power. We come home and flip a switch.
Being prepared is a given. I would love to have several months of food, water, and other necessities stored away.
Having several months of food, water & necessities used to be considered survivalist, and alarmist. I used to never worry about a break in services or home security, but I do now - too many home invasions locally and even though I don't live in town, why would anyone ignore the possibility of a break in services or even a home invasion when both are possible and not even that much of a long shot anymore?
But when you have nothing but aluminum foil hats and a large stick, I think you're more crazy than prepared.
Not sure I understand the context of this last remark, but yeah - if you only go around talking crazy and don't prepare, then you are being counterproductive. Still, what constitutes crazy talk, tin foil hats and big stick credentials? I think that still needs clarification.
What I considered wierd a scant 10 years ago is what I now consider essential.
I knew it would happen.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>Suggest having a small stockpile of cash on hand, especially $1's, $5's, and $10's. When you lose power, ATM's won't be working and in a SHTF scenario, the banks will close their doors. >>
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IMHO the worst is yet to come. Keep an eye on state and local government's inability to meet it's pension/entitlement obligations. States and local governments can't print their way out of trouble the way Washington can.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
I do see the fall of the US dollar. Possibly another 30 to 50%.
I do see the US empire throughout the world becoming a lot smaller.
But I do not see a 'panic in the street' scenario, with the great need to stockpile food, water and ammo.
Put another way, I see the fall of the US Empire something like the fall of the British empire which happened after WW1.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
Yes, I have a SHTF mindset, and I am convinced it is fully justified by recent economic events.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
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RIP Silvereagles92
I knew it would happen.
<< <i>I also make it a point that no one else knows about it, otherwise in a true SHTF scenario guess who's house they are all coming to! >>
1. Drinking water would be the # 1 priority.
2. Enough protein to feed yourself until you become a predator.
3. Shelter......Maybe you have to move. Maybe you are forced to move.
4. Try and find a group of people that has the same interest as you..........This could be # 1 because, individual's have always had their own groups.
5. Observation, Cover and Concealment, Obstacles, Key Terrain, Avenues of approach, Weather
6. Urban strike points if you are running out of food and water.
I am not prepared for this; But this would be my top 6. And very few are preprared for this. .00001%
maybe start a new topic, this feels really weird guys
What about a banking holiday lasting several days to a week? Are you guaranteed that your credit cards will function properly, especially if a dollar devaluation is in progress.
This thread does feel weird, but if anything we're closer not farther from a shtf scenario imo. The "economic rebound" from bounce in the stock market since spring 2009 (and loads of QE)has diverted all attention for now. And that's to be expected. What's going to happen to when the next hard cycle down in stocks occurs in the 2012-2014 period?
roadrunner
maybe start a new topic, this feels really weird guys>>