Why Gold Would Be Useless in an Economic Apocalypse: Seriously, stick with the canned goods

The Atlantic ^ | 12/27/2013 | JORDAN WEISSMANND

[silverleaf]

Big plastic soda and other clear plastic bottlers are a great backup plan for water purification via sodis

[Hugin]

You generally wouldn’t want to trade ammo. Why arm potential looters?

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[JouleZ]

I am an open book and never refuse a question from a fellow Freeper.

****

I have a question for you. Why were you so rude to Kartographer? If you disagree with his ideas then read what he posts for clarification....he doesn’t have time to address every little grievance.

He is too busy trying to get the rest of us up to speed ergo he posts links. Use them.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

:Yawn:

[B4Ranch]

Have you considered getting your neighbors together and fighting off the roving bands of people who are out stealing?

[PA Engineer]

But, I’ll leave any gold I might have in a secure stash and buy and sell in 1964 quarters/dimes.

I do believe in PMs as a store of wealth and silver as a method of exchange after all other preps are taken care of. I have given 1964 quarters and dimes a great deal of thought and have discussed with others the pros and cons. Quarters are not a problem, but dimes may be based on circulation wear.

War Nickels fill an interesting void left by the questionable weight of silver dimes. They are easily identifiable and not as subject to circulation wear. Three war nickels will still buy a gallon of gas or the same as the fifteen cent face value when they were minted.

[LowOiL]

This thread has hit the old favorites of stashers (precious metals, ammo, alcohol, can goods, flesh, tools, tobacco, skills and etc.), but I would add drugs to list of tradeable currency. Not just prescription drugs, but illegal variety also. I am sure in this society where a good portion of folk have one habit or another they don't exactly put on their job application that there will be a thriving drug trade.

Having no experience in such matters (except that one college experience that ended badly), I would think that even in a SHTF society, this would be far to dangerous to contemplate doing (dealing with the roughest lawless of customers). But.... remember we are talking survival here, so nothing is off the table if you have kids to feed and have to "bring home the bacon". Yes, I am sure even I (who has been labeled a "drug warrior" a time or two on FR in the past) would think twice if it looked to be an form of income in rough times. But it would have to be a last resort... enough said, we all can picture what it would take to strip us of our pride to do something we would otherwise never do.

Prescription drugs are what I worry about the most to be honest. I need a blood thinner and heartburn meds daily and I don't have a source to manufacture alternatives on my own. I know that I would have to venture out there into that horrible dysfunctional crazy world and trade for it or hope to be in a free for all at the beginning raid of prescription stores when they were robbed. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.

[MayflowerMadam]

“I have filled one of my freezers with bags of already roasted beans”

Wondering how beans could be ground, pounded, etc., if we’re without electricity for a grinder. Any ideas? Can’t go w/o my coffee!

[MHGinTN]

You can buy a good mortar and pestle on the Internet.

[MHGinTN]

Recommend: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/green-marble-mortar-and-pestle/1010177863?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_none_&gclid=CJGf-tie07sCFa9lOgod2kcAkw

[Stentor]

I mean why carry little bits of shiny metal around when you can hump a 80 pound sacks of dried beans everywhere you go.

I think you're running into a role playing game group thing. Valuing gold goes way back before they first started producing coins and will still be valued in the neo-feudal societies that are likely to develop after a collapse of central government.

[JDoutrider]

We bought the Wonder Junior grinding mill when we started prepping many moons ago. It uses burrs and can grind grain, coffee, you name it!

We bought ours from Walton Feed, but Amazon has them too. Warning... they are expensive, but are the best out there IMO...

http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Junior-Deluxe-Grain-Wondermill/dp/B0026S3K42/ref=sr_1_13?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1388257872&sr=1-13&keywords=grain+grinder

[JDoutrider]

Kudos to N.W. Arizona Granny (R.I.P.) for the tip that led us to that item!

[lulu16]

Thank you for this suggestion. I loved Jericho. I just hope this show does not have me hiding behind my hands too much. I do not like gruesome scenes.

[Marcella]

“We bought the Wonder Junior grinding mill when we started prepping many moons ago. It uses burrs and can grind grain, coffee, you name it!”

I bought a Family Grain Mill years ago when I started prepping. It would grind coffee.

I cannot be without coffee. Besides having large cans of it, I have a backup of bottled instant coffee. If that is all I have at some point, at least I have that.

[Southack]

Fluctuations in the *price* of gold might suggest an advance warning indicator of a looming collapse, but better metals to own *after* the collapse would be lead and brass stuffed with gunpowder, and tin cans stuffed with food.

[cherry]

if you’re going to buy liquor, buy the stuff in glass bottles....just think it makes more sense...and if you have access to a base, the liquor there is pretty cheap without any additional state taxes...military rum comes in plastic jugs however...

[cherry]

as far as silver, we’re still feeling the sting of the Hunt brothers and the mad rush to buy silver, any silver, at ridiculous prices....wasn’t Howard Ruff pushing us to do that?.....anyway, the price that we paid has been reached but it sure changes quickly...

[cherry]

speaking of pickles, won't they last forever if not opened?....same with olives?....

I'm slowing getting away from most canned veggies except corn...they all taste like crap with little nutrition...

another thing good for barter, if sadly we find ourselves in that situation, is wax paper, plastic wrap, matches, and aluminum "tin" foil....that stuff last forever....