We are looking at getting an 80 day supply of food from "Foodinsurance.com" (if there is a better source for emergency food please let me know) and using the rest of our funds to purchase silver.
We already have the firearms and ammo thing covered.
I just want to know if there is a better use of our limited funds other than food and silver?
Regarding silver or gold: Yes, most crises will be like Sandy and having food, water, generators, fuel, that sort of thing will be useful, while PMs relatively less so. Certainly running around in the midst of violent unrest with coins jangling in your pocket would be suicidal. But on the other hand, things like Sandy aren’t the only crises that are likely to happen. There are also government-induced crises such as bank holidays, when you can’t withdraw your money, and credit cards don’t work (the machines are down) and ATMs don’t work (those are also down). Even if the weather’s fine and the power’s still on, you can’t buy food or anything else, unless you have stored some cash at home. In times like that, especially if it drags on and people are starting to wonder whether the cash will still retain its value, that’s when silver for barter might come in very handy. Gold isn’t for barter, except maybe to barter yourself into a new house, but rather to store your wealth in the event of a complete currency collapse, so that you still have some tangible liquid net worth after all the paper assets and bank balances vaporize. Which they might or might not ever do, but it sure looks like it’s heading that way.
I think for food, buying extra canned food that you already eat is the best way to start. As for silver, check your local coin stores. I have one near me that buys and sells old non-collectable quality coins for the weight content spot price plus a small markup (10% when they sell, 5% when they buy). Dimes and quarters are the best, since people likely wont have “change”. I’ve also picked up some nice silver jewelry for Mrs. Hugin for just that price of the metal. It saves them the cost of sending it to the smeleter.
# 2 = SILVER,,, few rolls of quarters & nickels
# 3 = BARTER ITEMS,,, never trade ammo it maybe used against you later
# 4 = Never revel what items you have stored
a 2-3 month supply of water for each person ( and critter ) in your home.
Canned foods ( chili, stews, soups, canned tuna or chicken ) and rice / flour / beans.
a heating source ( wood stove and fire wood )
toilet paper
Medicines
alcohol and tobacco are much more valuable than silver or gold to barter with !
Also think of personal health and beauty aids ..... women’s monthly items , bar soap , deodorant ( who wants to stink so badly that they gag by smelling themselves ). etc etc
gasoline in cans ( lasts about 3 months )
a tent ( we purchased ours from panther primitives and they’re waterproof )...
medical supplies
If your wife uses coupons , now would be a good time to use them and match them up with each store’s weekly sales.
There are usually a few sites on line that do that for you already... you just have to do the easy part.. go shopping ~
just a few things from the top of my head while getting my son ready for school
How to Start Preparing for Hard Times on a Very Modest Budget: Part One
How to Start Preparing for Hard Times on a Very Modest Budget: Part Two
A 30-Day Emergency Food Supply For One Adult
One-Year Emergency Food Supply For One Adult
Your $ would have went a lot further 6 months ago ...
Other than food... Bibles, Water, Communications (even an old CB), Fuel (for cooking), Tools, How To Books (the printed kind), Seeds (fallow now and have your Garden space ready for Spring), Toilet Paper (you will miss that a lot if you don’t have it) Imodium (see Toilet Paper), First Aid Kit, Booze.
That is a start
TT
FWIW, I recently started stocking up on motor oil from Walmart. Dirt cheap, and will always be needed. And if the dollar collapses, as I think it it inevitably will, then oil is a hard asset and little different than silver or gold.