Does it even pay to stack????
BAJJERFAN
Posts: 31,083 ✭✭✭✭✭
If one is prepping for a SHTF type future does it even pay to stack something like silver if you can't get at least a couple thousand ounces?
theknowitalltroll;
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In a SHTF scenario, I would have trouble carrying more then few hundreds ounces of silver and would have basically no way to protect them in my area.
Small quantities will allow me to barter here and there for something I may need.
If you live in a farm or isolated house, it may make sense to stack big amount of Silver. But then you will have to move it where the people is in order to sell it.
I don't believe in a SHTF scenario but, just in case, I am putting gold aside.
Consider this:
If you're stacking for a few years with descretionary income it won't take long before you find you are sitting on a nice stash some valuable assets. Think of it as a personal savings account because it isn't reflected in your bank statements or your other public documents, it's yours, it's private, it's very liquid.
In a shtf situation, YOYO. It is said that the initial stages of YOYO, small groups of like intentions will join together for survival. Initially it will be You're On Your Own. After things have settled down a bit then barter and other transactions will begin to stabilize and begin to take shape. This is where Darwin comes in...those that are most adaptable, most efficient, best at defending and sustaining their group/s will likely form with larger groups until you have communities again. This YOYO is not going to be pretty. There is another group of scenarios that are more sustainable.
If there is a monetary collapse then your metal is likely to keep you in beans and rice, if there is any to be had but if commerce is taking place, your metal will be in play.
If you lose your job or suffer some bad situation with your income then your metal can provide back-up until you can put your game back together.
If you want a nice vacation to Costa Rica or wish to retire to Baleyville then you will appreciate being able to reach into the SDB and be on your way but first, you have to have a stack.
"Hey buddy, can you spare an ASE?"
<< <i>It pays to stack but until your metal value is exchanged for something else (cash, goods, services) it's just metal. It doesn't gain interest and doesn't split or pay dividends, it's a different kind of asset than that.
Consider this:
If you're stacking for a few years with descretionary income it won't take long before you find you are sitting on a nice stash some valuable assets. Think of it as a personal savings account because it isn't reflected in your bank statements or your other public documents, it's yours, it's private, it's very liquid.
In a shtf situation, YOYO. It is said that the initial stages of YOYO, small groups of like intentions will join together for survival. Initially it will be You're On Your Own. After things have settled down a bit then barter and other transactions will begin to stabilize and begin to take shape. This is where Darwin comes in...those that are most adaptable, most efficient, best at defending and sustaining their group/s will likely form with larger groups until you have communities again. This YOYO is not going to be pretty. There is another group of scenarios that are more sustainable.
If there is a monetary collapse then your metal is likely to keep you in beans and rice, if there is any to be had but if commerce is taking place, your metal will be in play.
If you lose your job or suffer some bad situation with your income then your metal can provide back-up until you can put your game back together.
If you want a nice vacation to Costa Rica or wish to retire to Baleyville then you will appreciate being able to reach into the SDB and be on your way but first, you have to have a stack.
"Hey buddy, can you spare an ASE?" >>
I realize the YOYO part. Mite be good to have a trusted circle of friends of like mind. Of course the stack will build up as an asset cache. For me, I might be tempted to cash in my stack if the price jumps up.
You should already be there.
1.Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
2.Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
3.Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
4.Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
5.Disposable razors and razor blades
6.Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
7.Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
8.First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
9.Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
10.Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
11.Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
12.Standard Batteries
13.Reading glasses
14.Paracord
15.Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
16.Plastic sheeting
17.Duct tape
18.Tie Wraps
19.Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
20.Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
21.Condoms
22.Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
23.Hard candy
24.Fishing supplies
25.Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
26.Condiments and Spices
27.Paperback books on a variety of subjects
28.Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
29.Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
30.Pencils & paper
31.Pepper spray
32.Garden seeds
33.Flashlights
34.Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
35.Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
36.Hand pumps for both air and liquids
37.Mylar blankets and tents
38.Hand warmers
39.Sewing and mending supplies
40.Knitting or crochet needles and Yarn
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Natural forces of supply and demand are the best regulators on earth.
The emergency, or SHTF scenario situations are so varied and numerous, it may be hard to even identify them. And a lot is personal circumstance and point of view. The emergency may be so localized, that its a SHTF scenario for just you or very localized. That is more likely than area wide or nation wide. But then again there are possibilities of war at any time.
Each person preps according to what they think could happen and to what extent and what they think is needed. The most important part is to be able to remain flexible and modify as needed. If it were a localized situation, I'd like to trade out some goods for silver if it was a good deal related to the overall value of silver. If I were in the jam, I'd likely take less value in trade for my silver, if I could even get the trade in an emergency. Heck you could walk down any street and try and trade a silver eagle for $10 cash and be hard pressed to find someone to take the deal.
I think of my silver as a possibility venture, just in another form. I say do stack and put as much importance on a method of exchanging it out for goods or money when needed, or its worthless.
These people might just be better prepared than the miserly stacker.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>I find people are willing to help others who are nice, decent and honest.
These people might just be better prepared than the miserly stacker. >>
Amen brother!
I stopped stacking back when Silver was $14 and gold at $900. Sold my silver in the low 20s and my gold at 1300 (hey, I didn't have a crystal ball). Now, I will have a chance to buy silver in the low teens...or lower and gold back in the $600 range at least.
People think that QE won't end...well, who cares? Gold and silver aren't responding anyway to QE so it is utterly irrelevant, and the next crisis is a year or two away when everything will get battered and destroyed with or without QE.
Stack when there is blood in the streets, the world seems like it is about to end, and when people absolutely, positively HATE gold and silver. When the metals get there, I will buy everything in sight with the cash I have been hoarding for that very opportunity.
Tyler
<< <i>Lots of folks here talk about stacking. I was just wondering what some of their reasons for that were. >>
simple, long term fiat currency protection. As always, when I need a little fiat, I take from the stack. SHTF has nothing to do with it.
Natural forces of supply and demand are the best regulators on earth.
<< <i>If stacking for SHTF, for personal use and/or barter, gold and silver may not even make it to a top-40 "in demand" list for utility and value:
1.Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
2.Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
3.Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
4.Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
5.Disposable razors and razor blades
6.Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
7.Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
8.First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
9.Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
10.Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
11.Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
12.Standard Batteries
13.Reading glasses
14.Paracord
15.Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
16.Plastic sheeting
17.Duct tape
18.Tie Wraps
19.Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
20.Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
21.Condoms
22.Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
23.Hard candy
24.Fishing supplies
25.Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
26.Condiments and Spices
27.Paperback books on a variety of subjects
28.Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
29.Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
30.Pencils & paper
31.Pepper spray
32.Garden seeds
33.Flashlights
34.Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
35.Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
36.Hand pumps for both air and liquids
37.Mylar blankets and tents
38.Hand warmers
39.Sewing and mending supplies
40.Knitting or crochet needles and Yarn >>
No gun & Ammo?
The whole stacking silver thing for trading for supplies in SHTF scenes never cease to amuse me. So you think an ounce of silver will buy you what? a loaf of bread and a bottled water? Sorry but not a chance this will ever happen, if food supplies are in high demand what will PM's do for anyone?
Bottom line instead of stacking PM's for this scenario your far better off stacking canned/dried foods and water supplies along with a rifle and ammo and making your home base ready for the shtf scenarios.
<< <i>Lots of folks here talk about stacking. I was just wondering what some of their reasons for that were. >>
Easy, door stops, paper weights and shooting zombies (90% quarters).
<< <i>
<< <i>If stacking for SHTF, for personal use and/or barter, gold and silver may not even make it to a top-40 "in demand" list for utility and value:
1.Water purification supplies including purification tabs and filters
2.Hand tools including hatchets, saws, machetes and general fix-it tools
3.Fire making supplies, including lighters, matches, flint fire steel
4.Sanitary supplies including toilet paper, feminine products and diapers
5.Disposable razors and razor blades
6.Fuel, any and all kinds (gas, diesel, propane, kerosene)
7.Prescription drugs, painkillers, and antibiotics
8.First aid remedies such as cough syrup, cortisone cream, boil-ese, calamine lotion and topical pain relievers
9.Spirits such as bourbon, rum, gin, and vodka
10.Coffee and tea (instant coffee is okay)
11.Solar battery charger and rechargeable batteries
12.Standard Batteries
13.Reading glasses
14.Paracord
15.Bags, including large garbage bags as well as smaller zip-close bags
16.Plastic sheeting
17.Duct tape
18.Tie Wraps
19.Heavy plastic sheets and tarps
20.Toiletries including toothpaste, dental floss soaps, shampoo (tip: save those small sized toiletries that are provided by hotels and motels)
21.Condoms
22.Latex or Nitrile gloves in a variety of sizes
23.Hard candy
24.Fishing supplies
25.Knives of various types including fixed blades, kitchen knives, and box cutters.
26.Condiments and Spices
27.Paperback books on a variety of subjects
28.Tobacco and cigarette rolling supplies
29.Amusements such as playing cards, crossword puzzle books, Sudoku
30.Pencils & paper
31.Pepper spray
32.Garden seeds
33.Flashlights
34.Vinegar and baking soda to use in DIY cleaning supplies
35.Empty spray bottles and squirt bottles
36.Hand pumps for both air and liquids
37.Mylar blankets and tents
38.Hand warmers
39.Sewing and mending supplies
40.Knitting or crochet needles and Yarn >>
No gun & Ammo?
The whole stacking silver thing for trading for supplies in SHTF scenes never cease to amuse me. So you think an ounce of silver will buy you what? a loaf of bread and a bottled water? Sorry but not a chance this will ever happen, if food supplies are in high demand what will PM's do for anyone?
Bottom line instead of stacking PM's for this scenario your far better off stacking canned/dried foods and water supplies along with a rifle and ammo and making your home base ready for the shtf scenarios. >>
I don't worry about the SHTF scenario, there are too many other things that are likely to happen that I can't prepare for. Having said that, keeping a few months water and food supply is a good idea.
to see what happens !!!