You would think that a guy with all kinds of time on his hands would love to watch pod-casts. In my case, you would be wrong. I crave information density. I like the thrill of the hunt. I love searching for and finding dense nuggets of information.
So when I heard about a Doug Casey pod-cast where he was going to reveal "The 27 things to buy now" I went hunting for the list (in text form) on the internet.
I did not find it but I did find a list of "27 Things To Buy..." compiled by somebody who wants to tell you how we can all grow rich by selling glass-beads back-and-forth to each other. That is, retail arbitrage.
His list has value as thought-starters and for entertainment purposes.
His list is presented with blue highlighting. My comments (his suggestions after being bent by the prism in my head) follow in standard font.
Jewelry
Joe's comments: Avoid gem stones. A function of money is infinite divisibility. Gem stones' value falls off a cliff if they are cut into smaller stones. Very thin market for jewelry. You might get ten cents on the dollar if you are a distressed seller. One ounce silver rounds or wearable Southwestern style silver are better choices.
Fashion sunglasses
Wrap-around, tinted Z-87 rated safety glasses (that is, ballistic eye-wear). Buy dozens of pairs. You only have two eyes.
Shoes and socks
Boots, trail-running shoes, sandals and calf-length athletic socks with high percentage of synthetic fiber for toughness and quick drying.
Sleepwear and underwear
Basic laundry products
Lingerie and shapewear
Compression shorts. Chafing is debilitating.
Activewear, women's leggings, sports bras
Is there any other kind of wear? Good point on leggings, gaiters and wind-pants.
Add fanny-packs, pocketed aprons and other ways to free up hands while carrying around necessities. Double your productivity by never moving from one place to another without also carrying something that needs moving.
Smartwatches
I recently talked with a woman who gave all of her elementary aged kids smartwatches because they can communicate during chaotic events like school shootings. This was before the mess in Texas. The smartwatches can also transmit GPS location in case the designated rally-point is out-of-reach.
My conversation with this lady was one of the high-points of my day. A very sharp lady (and her husband, too).
Video games
Load games on your smart-phone. Game systems are not portable nor as multi-use as a phone.
Phone accessories
Power-packs, phone chargers including solar ones, headphones.
USB charging dock
Surge protectors. Uninterupted Power Supply for critical equipment.
Security cameras
Security cameras and monitors. Can be inexpensive "back up cameras" like the ones that can be retrofit on vehicles.
Unmanned Flying Vehicles, aka Drones
Retailers love UFVs because they crash and break which ensures more sales. I want to say this is a good idea BUT I have reservations that these systems will be operative when you really need them.
Kid's toys
Lots of traditional, education toys/games like Scrabble, chess board and Legos.
Kid's formal wear
(Sound of ERJ puking) Camo for Kids.
Pet clothes and toys
Many working breeds of dogs have strong "ball drive" and are rewarded by letting them mouth a ball or their "Kong". Pet clothes (which can be as simple as a tube-sock with the toe cut off) are useful for small, short-haired dogs in cold climates. Coyotes need fiber in their diet, too.
Pet care supplies
Brushes, collars-and-harnesses, worming meds, powdered sulfur to make ointments...
Beauty products
Moisturizers or facial creams with SPF. Chap-stick. Toothbrushes.
Grooming and skin-care products (mens)
Nail clippers. Work gloves to protect against blisters. Bars of soap.
Candles and essential oils
Lavender, chamomile, orange, sandalwood, clary sage, lemon and jasmine might help with stress and help you sleep. It is a try-it-and-see proposition.
Fitness tracker
Bathroom scales or a leather punch to add more holes to your belt.
Indoor fitness equipment
Brooms
Shaker bottles and personal blender
Dishes, bowls and cups that are easy to hand-wash and resistant to breaking.
Healthcare equipment
If not you, then somebody in your "family" with extra room to store a wheelchair, walker. Throw in an oxi-pulsometer, a couple of good thermometers and an array of bandages and disinfectants. Sippy-cups, urinals, a bed-pan, slippery-sheets, gait-belts can also be handy.
Halloween items
Specialty watches
Self-winding watch
Keto products
Beans
Vaporizers and E-cigarettes
Bulk tobacco and smoke emitting munitions for tactical maneuver
The first one is important and that is why I think silver is much better as a barter currency that gold. The cost of a single ounce of gold is over $1,800 but you can buy an ounce of silver for under $30. I would rather have 60 silver coins than one gold coin.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the price difference is irrelevant. Apples & Oranges. Gold is FAR lighter for equivalent monetary value. Silver dollars were never popular because of their weight pulling your pants off. The premium on silver at 50% is ridiculous. Very poor investment. A sucker buy. Gold premium runs 5-6%. Lastly, if it is divisibility you desire, you could buy 10 one-tenth ounce gold coins instead of just 1 one ounce.
DeleteRight now fractional gold also has ridiculous premiums.
DeleteThe other day I was looking at 1/10th ounce Eagles for $270.
If your neighbor bakes bread and sells them at $3 each how many can you buy with a 1/10 ounce gold coin? I buy silver coins because I may need them in the future to buy things when FRN's no longer work. At current pricing, I would trade the baker 1 Liberty dime for a loaf of bread or a Franklin half dollar for 5 loaves. One more thing. It's very difficult to counterfeit a Liberty dime.
DeleteI would emphasize first aid supplies and disinfectant/ cleaning products, especially ones that need minimal or no rinsing since water will be in short supply.
ReplyDeleteThe best silver to have is small pieces from well known sources - 90% coins, American eagles or Maple Leaves, etc.
Keep it small for small purchases and expect people to not have change.
Don't forget toilet paper, and don't throw out old phone books, newspapers, etc. They can be used for toilet paper, kindling, etc.
I would skip jewelry in most cases; there is too much cheap/ plated/ low quality stuff around and most people can't tell what is good - the mark-up is high and resale is low.
DeleteI would a balance, Ohaus triple beam.
ReplyDeleteBuy shoes/boots that are sewn. Do not buy the cheap glued trash (as 90% are) unless you can stockpile the appropriate glue with a very long shelf life. (hint: There is no such animal)
ReplyDeleteNot seen under the "candles" heading are headlamps. I've brought rather a crapload of them, along with batteries and small solar panels to recharge them with. Headlamps are great because the free up your hands and the light is always directed where you're looking. I still have plenty of "regular" flashlights, but if you're working on a task, I find the headlamp to be the better choice.
ReplyDeletefood, ammo, as both are infinitely useable and barterable
ReplyDeleteSalt, Sugar, clear plastic sheeting, aluminum screen material (lotta windows get ruined during spicy times) calcium-hypochlorite with instructions how to make "Bleach" from it. Contractor grade black plastic bags. ghostsniper already covered food and ammo.
ReplyDeleteBlack heavy duty plastic sheeting with pebbles and cordage can make a good rainwater collection or basic shelter. A shovel and plastic contractor bags or large enough sheeting you have massive water storage, just add a lid to keep stuff and critters out.