Gold and Silver

[Armybrat]

I've actually kept up with this thread, I can't say I agree with everyone, but to each their own. If each person has their own style of saving for the future and it works for them then that's good.

I haven't seen anyone mention real estate. My wife and I have done "okay" with real estate as an investment. I suppose overall we've come out ahead so it's all good.

I do like the stock market, but land is so much more inspirational. All the possibilities of what could be done with it. And if it's a scenic property, it just opens the door to future ideas. Anyway, the Stock Market is a bit of a gamble. But with research of individual companies, you can make money. It isn't all a conspiracy behind closed doors.

As @Star43 seems to like to say "Good luck to all."

Yeah, real estate has been quite lucrative around Central Texas.
My inherited 25 acres very near Austin is getting surrounded by development, with this 600,000 sq/ft industrial center being built next to it…
My kids will benefit someday soon, but I'll continue to raise hay on it for the ag exemption.

 

[Timbo23]

I consider gold and silver as 'dead' assets. They don't produce any income while you own them. It's like striking oil in your backyard and never pumping it out. You're wealthy but just don't have any money. I have read accounts from people that said granddad bought a bunch of gold coins that he passed to his son, that passed it to his son, etc, before selling them. Would that money have more productive if invested in a company over those years?
Stocks are ownership certificates in a company. Some stocks pay a dividend (percent of profits) back to the owners (stockholders) monthly or quarterly. Sometimes the price of the stock increases, sometimes not. Sometimes the dividend increases, sometimes not and sometimes is decreased or suspended.
Bonds are contract loans that specify how much will be paid back, at what rate and time period. Bonds can be issued by governments and private parties (bank CDs and companies). Bond rates can change as well making the earlier bond more or less valuable. Once the bond matures (is paid off) you have to look for a new investment.
I prefer dividend paying stocks. I get a paycheck for not doing anything, and if the stock price goes up, then I congratulate myself for being a smart investor. If the price goes down, then I can consider buying more shares.
YMMMV.

 

[jack black]

I agree the silver to gold ratio is way out of line. Because silver is used a lot in manufacturing, these manufacturing owners want to keep the price of silver as low as possible so they make more profit obviously in their manufactured goods. I have been told this a few times and it sure makes a lot of sense to me.

Copper

 

[GasGuzzler]

I'll get more for it than you'll get for your stack of worthless paper bills. But then you can use those bills for toilet paper in the short term so they do have some value! Also you don't have to buy 400 pounds of coffee if you get your ounces of gold in 1/10 of an ounce of bullion coins.

Gold, silver and lead will always have value! Paper… Not quite so much in my opinion.

I've read that banks, like Chase have been acquiring large amounts of precious metals over the past few years. I'm sure that they realize that paper is not as valuable as precious metals in the long term.

Whoa! Not only is typing in bold on purpose rude, but your demeanor is pretty out there. I never came close to saying metals are worthless or that paper makes sense. I asked a question then you ASSumed. The answer above yours actually makes an attempt at a reasonable description. Bullion coins at 1/10 ounce? That's still equal to 1K rounds of 9X19mm ammo per coin. My question is regarding the fact there is hardly a way to buy small amounts "during crisis" with precious metals. If money fails the rest of the way, there will be a lot more problems than getting change but for sure it'll be hard to stash 10K rounds of 9mm or 400 pounds of coffee.