What do you think the future looks like?

Pay off the car,its that simple.A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush,etc.

I'm encouraged by seeing the metal is money crowd is expanding,and more folks understanding paper money is,when said and done,paper.

BooBoo

I think the economy is going to tank. And I think it's a good thing.

More young couples will find it hard to make ends meet and will move in with their parents. Which is a good thing. Having a multigenerational household keeps the grandparents young and active; gives the parents a support system that has been missing for the last two generations; and means the grandkids have more caring family members to teach them life-lessons.

More people will realize that cable tv, big new cars, 150 new pairs of shoes a year, etc. aren't 'necessities' and that's a good thing. Trying to 'keep up with the Jones" has just added needless stress to our lives.

More older people will put off retirement because they can't afford to make ends meet. That's a good thing. Working and staying active are the best way I know of keeping your body and mind 'young'.

I see things that I am finding conflicting some folks say they are saving their cash for the coming inevitible land/housing correction so they can buy more acreage cheap while others say put your fiat money in gold and silver and goods now while you can still get it with your fiat money before the US $ is worthless. So what to do buy silver/gold and hold it and then after the economic collapse trade them for wheel barrel loads of $100 bills to buy land with? or do you just buy land today as cheap as you can find it in cheaper rural places like the midwest if you want a few more acres to be self sufficient on? Or hold cash and wait for land prices to go back down all the while seeing it be eroded by inflation and perhaps soon super mega inflation?

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

Neighbor across the street,she was losing home when hubby died.Son and DIL moved in.They are now refinanced and took money from House,bought a truck,car and Toyhauler.

She(DIL) now has health issues and cant work,now mortgaged to the hilt.Some folks never learn.......

Neighbor 3 houses down,more toy collectors,new truck,new car,atvs and boat.She is a nurse.They cant make payments,dont know why.Their answer,mortgage house and add lots of 'improvements' ,and increase the value above homes in this neighborhood(not smart),plan was improve and sell.We have a glut of unsold houses here,looks like they will lose it.

Do people ever get it ??????

Both people living for today and thinking the money will continue to roll in,it doesnt.'IT' Happens.

You need to pay off debts,not increase them if you want security.

BooBoo

J,I have stayed with both,I want instant cash to buy 'whatever'(like the land we are looking for),but have metal for safety.
I think more metal would be better,but in the short term cash is safe.IMHO.

Real tough call.....so I did both.Diversify is always a pretty good answer I think when you arent sure.

Im real torn on it too actually.
I think the metal is safer than fiat.

IF we had the paid off 'homestead',I would be heavy metal and very light FRNs.

BooBoo

Thanks Mightybooboo your opinion means a lot to me.

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

I don't worry about whether the things I see are "bad" or "good", as long as I try to make sure what I see is REAL. Only after I see what is REAL can I appreciate what is good or bad.

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"I don't want everyone to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did."
— Henry James

The main purpose of putting my money into precious metals is so that at some point I can use them to buy land. If you can afford to outright buy the property you want right now, my advice is to do it. The area that I would like to purchase my land in is over priced due to high demand. The demand in this area will definately drop in the next 5 years but so will the value of my cash so I put my cash in pm's and when the time is right, I trade.

Don't get me wrong, buying precious metals is not going to make you the next Warren Buffet, the point is to preserve your purchasing power. Whether we're talking USD or gold the bottom line is what you can get in return for it, i.e. purchasing power.

By my last calculation there were over $444,000 US dollars in circulation for every ounce of gold that the US supposedly holds.

At some point there will presumably be a panic which will drive precious metals through the roof. That would be a good time to trade a portion of your holdings for something else but probably not US dollars. Fertile land, precious metals, and access to resources will always top the list but if you want to know approximately what it's like to take the plunge then read up on Russia. An alcohol still can come in quite handy apparently.

Thanks for your post Citiot

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marching to the beat of a different drummer

froggirl i only read as far as your post so far but I feel exactly the same way about wishing the world would hurry up and "reset". I never thought of putting it that way but that says it all. Get it done so it can get over with already!

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www.MontanaSticksAndStones.com at Goshen Farm

Do you precious metal holders actually have the metals? Or is it one of those "You own it, but we keep it for you" deals?

I wanted to pull out my 401K and buy gold with it a couple years ago when gold was at $300. I was laughed at and didn't do it. I wish I had done so anyways. I've since spent the money, which was needed, but it would have been nice to have had twice as much to spend.

If I ever buy metals, they will be in my hand....or buried in the back yard somewhere. Don't get all ready to come slaughter me for my gold...I'm broke at the moment and don't see the possibility for a while yet.

Jena

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...to be a rock and not to roll...

Jena,I sent you a PM.

BooBoo

Oh good! I'm glad it made sense...sometimes I think I only make sense to myself. :baby04:
--f.g.

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Make April 15th just another day! www.fairtax.org

You guys know that in times of 'national crisis' the government has the right to loot anything in a safe deposit box, right?

If you're going to have precious metals, you should have a hidden home safe.

Whew....

I only read the first page ot this thread and I'm freakin exhausted!!! Doom and Gloom, Economic Disaster, End of the World As We Know It, Technological Suicide, Socieatal Implosion.... It's enough to make ya wanna just move to.... Venus.

The economy is not going to crash - we've learned too much from the past.
There will be significant changes, and if you can raise some veggies and a few chickens and pigs - you may be the Bill Gates, Jr of the future. There is enough undeveloped dirt left to support the population of the earth (currently) using sustainable agricultural methods.

Technology has brought us a long way - we no longer live in caves waiting for lightning to create fire to warm us and give us a means to cook our food It has also given us woven fabrics to help us stay warm, the means to travel freely and the knowledge to preserve food to sustain our health. It has at the same time given us DDT (etc, etc etc) as a byproduct of technological research and development. The issue is not whether or not technology is good or bad, it's how we interpret, understand and control the application of the technology. Splitting an atom to create energy is good - standing ten feet away from that event is bad.

I believe that there is and will continue to be a technological correction - back to the basics movement that has/will create opportunities for the grass roots entrepaneures. Learn to grow good food well, position yourself geographically, socially and politically and you will be able to get a piece of it - what size piece depends on how well you do it. The apple is there for the picking. And you won't have to sacrifice lifestyle to get a piece because you can define and control your market. There's a lot of folks that want to live in the country and make a living living in the country - it can be done... All you have to do is believe and be willing to do the work.

First of all, let me say that I agree with this post wholeheartedly, but I just love the line "standing ten feet away from that event is bad!" Made me laugh out loud. Buy this man a beer.

Where "everyone" is seeing doom and gloom I too see opportunities. For those with imagination and grit there are always opportunities. But what many people miss is that success is often the result of simply showing up, every day, suited up and ready to play. If you plant your garden, and stop weeding in June, you can't expect much of a harvest in August. Careers, businesses, assets, savings... all are built along the same lines. You can't ignore them and then be surprised when you don't advance along your stated goals.

Pull weeds. In your garden and in your life.

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Icelandic Sheep and German Angora Rabbits

Good point. Some people wear "optimism" like a it's some kind of badge of honor, meanwhile putting down those who keep their eyes open as "chicken littles".
The don't seem to realize a Pollyanna is equally closed minded.
Nice to hear someone thinking of balance.

Yesterday news of a big oil discovery in the Gulf.
20 yr supply they're saying ...
Maybe on the oil front we've all been given a few extra years to get our homesteads together?
Will the price go down?? So far all I've heard were official giving contradictory excuses about why this won't impact prices....

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Hut on the Hill Farm
http://www.hutonthehill.org

Do you have anything to support this or are you just generally hoping for the best?

Perhaps you could respond to the 6 things I highlighted, if you're interested of course, I'm not trying to pick a fight here.

Agree with Citiot,show me the safeguards.And also Minnikin.Lots of Oil,LOTS of Oil.

There is a lot of Gas in the Gulf,and its being brought on line.
Huge wells.
Heres 850,000 bbd oil just from these wells in the Gulf put in by BP recently.Not to mention huge amts. of Nat gas coming with that oil.

Thunder horse is set for 250,000,maybe 500,00 per day from one platform,Industry feels their wells in the area at 1 million bbd.

Also todays announcement may be larger than Prudoe Bay.

Are BPs announcements real ? They have been so far about Gulf finds.

Oh,BP is bringing these fields online in 18-24 months,thats AMAZING!

Interesting links showing the platforms,and production numbers.Real feats of technology.Click on the links on the right if you want to see Peak Oil blown,literally,out of the water,by REAL monster wells.
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?...tentId=7009088

BooBoo

It took me a while to read all your posts but it was worth it. It's too bad that our politicians don't place any value in your thoughts and concerns. They are too busy spending time with big business lobbyists to spend any time on this board. As you can tell; "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore".

Maybe my approach is a bit extreme but if we continue to allow the wealthy to rule our country then all of your worst fears will come true. The real strength of our nation is our middle income workers. A nation where most of the population is struggling to survive can easily fail.

I used to think that it would be prudent to put my money into gold or silver for security but now I think a good root cellar and plenty of canning jars will serve me better than a few strips of metal. Right now, I am investing in garden tools that will be easy for me to take with me when I leave the overcrowded northeast. Instead of taking college classes, I am getting a hands-on education in my garden and rabbitry.

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“When I think of what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think, there are no little things.” -Bruce Barton