Buy some gold here and store it in a vault in Switzerland

from MyBackAchers.com/index2.htm:

 

How fast things change. There's a new game in town and it's called Depression.

To invest in anything takes on a whole new meaning. This time around, and probably for the next 15 years, investing will mean investing in yourself and your survival. Sure, there will be people who have money -- and we know how they got it (from you).

So what can you do? Well, if you are not already out of the stock market, then maybe it's time to roll it over into a local bank or credit union certificate of deposit. Then your money could be where you can gage how it is being leveraged or not leveraged.

Some are recommending gold but I'd recommend only buying gold if you have it in your hands. Also keep in mind that the government confiscated all the gold in the 20s and 30s to re-build their reserves. This could happen again. Other good places for "money" is in hard assets like property! Sounds a bit crazy since "they say" this is how we got here in the first place but keep in mind - buy low - sell high is still a good rule. We found water front and hobby farms have been holding their value - even in this market. These places have "staying power" since they have the space needed to grow food or access it within short distances.

The BEST place I see for money right now are in actual GOODS! Buy what you need to get you through the next 15 years. Make a list and prioritize of what is the most important, clothing, equipment, food, shelter, transportation, energy and the like. Then start investing in yourself by buying those items (even if you can not use them right this minute - if you know you will need it in the future - get it now). Doing this has done several things - you have invested money for something you might not be able to buy one day, you have encouraged production of a product and you have secured your use of that product for your future use.

Some of the goods you can put your money on right now are goods to ensure your survival and to be able to help those around you. For example: if you eat corn - buy seed and grow it. If you use a car - buy a bike (you get a double investment of good health and savings) and don't forget to get all the in climate weather gear and safety equipment to go with it. If you need something to continue your income when things get tougher - get it now and set yourself up for producing recession proof income (things like growing tobacco, making wine/spirits, growing food and making things). Take stock of your resources and skills to see how you can offer one skill, goods or talent for another. People will still need food, shelter and warmth so keep in mind that your ability to offer these things can become a valuable asset.

You can also start investing in yourself by keeping more of your money- instead of the $900 Billion going to other nations for gas and energy - we need to re-think mobility issues. Start by ridesharing with people you know and trust - keeping in mind women should be particular about who they rideshare with! Start taking public transportation. If you must drive - make it a once a week or every other week event. Plan to shop for what you can locally and if the product is not available - try shopping online. Any product which will keep you from spending money on energy in the future is money well spent. We can not predict when the next hurricane will hit, or where, we can not predict when the next fire will destroy a refinery, we can not predict when an earthquake or other disaster will strike, but we can guarantee that sooner or later "something" will happen to disrupt the flow of gas and oil to where you live.

Quit sending money to greedy credit card companies - pay off your debit or find another way to dispose of it. Pay only those things you must and nothing more since setting up for survival precedes all other needs.

Immediate Plans need to include:

• 6+ months of food, shelter and energy. If you live in a city and depend on the importing of food from trucks - you may want to think about an alternative place if the city becomes un-safe. In which case, have alternative exit from the city plans. You may have to pay someone to come into the city to get you out or meet them at a pre-determined location. You may set up an alternative place. At our farm we offer camper parking and allow food production / sharing for minimal fees of $200 a month; $350 if you want to put in a basement under your camper and $450 if you want to put up a greenhouse attachment (you supply all the materials and labor). We also have stay free campers for qualifying people who are willing work (5 hours a day - 6 days/week) in exchange for the space and food.

• Information and entertainment - If you have time off from a work-a-day job - use it to educate yourself and stay entertained or depression will hold you up from the other things you need to do. No one should take the events that just un-folded personally yet. As we will all later see, this was a well orchestrated phenomenon that was meticulously planned and executed.

• Take an inventory of what is a resource now, and how you can use it. Take an inventory of your situation and if it can not support you in the long run consider all other options. If you have serious distress - contact others who feel distressed and try to join forces. It won't be a perfect world but joining forces will help to ensure your survival.

• Be prepared to help others without compensation within your safe zone. We need to help each other to get through this and becoming animals will not better anyone.

Long Term Investing Goals A.K.A. the new paradigm - tailored specifically to your needs . . .:

• If you are 65+ - develop a lifestyle like the one you grew up in. Be ready to show others how to do mundane things like knit a pair of socks, a hat or cook an old chicken. You have skills from your childhood that will help others. Don't expect social security to be there for much longer and start living like it's not. Consider multi-generational housing arrangements. In teaching others to become independent - stress real independence. If you are going to show people how to raise chickens for eggs and meat - show them how to grow the food those chickens need. Ditto for any other animal, dogs, rabbits, goats and on. If independence depends on any outside source- reconsider it.

• If you are 20 - 65 - plan for the long haul by buying those things which will get you through the next 15+ years.  It took 30 years for the market to get here and it could take at least 5 - 10 years for things to stabilize on a permanent basis. We are not only seeing the end of an era, we are seeing the end of a lifestyle, energy as we know it and the climate as we knew it. This is a lot for anyone to grasp. It may take our government 5 - 10 years to recover so don't count on them to help. Chances are - they will be a negative factor in all of this and if the US doesn't use this opportunity to become a dictatorship, then I have over estimated them.

• If you are under the age of 20 - educate yourself and those younger than you to understand what is happening. You can start by seeing: zeitgeist.com to see how we got here. The more people who understand this - the better we will all be and hopefully will not repeat it. Be prepared for a re-instatement of the draft, limits on how many children you can have and other extreme control measures the government will take against the people it was sworn to protect.