...I just wondered what the preppers here project will happen...
I don't project that anything will happen. Indeed, I hope that what will happen is that everything will be wonderful until my children pass.
That seems a little optimistic, however. Humanity in general, and nations in particular, do go through bad times on a fairly regular basis, whether it be a world war, or an economic collapse, or a pandemic, or whatever. Each person can expect to see something interesting in their lifetime. I'd say we've been pretty lucky since WWII, but just ask yourself: Does that mean we will keep being lucky? Or, are we due for something to happen? Do you have confidence in the fiscal policy of the United States?Other policies?
You can bet on red every spin of the roulette wheel, but eventually the wheel will end up on black, and then what. Are you prepared for black?...or are you prepared only for red?
... & what they do about it.
Since I have children, that means I have responsibilities. If bad things happen (whatever they may be...we can't know, and I make no predictions whatsoever), I have two choices:
- I can rely on the government to take care of me and my children.
- I can take the responsibility upon myself, and not rely on others. Prepping is really just self-reliance.
As for the gold & silver comment, I've invested in gold before (lost my butt) so I know a little about it.
I have investments. I have those on the chance that everything goes well, and no bad times come. They are for my peaceful retirement, to allow me to travel, and have a place to live, without depending on my children to care for me. That is prepping for good times (and even the good times may include a lack of social security benefits).
I don't
invest in gold. I put part of my wealth into gold and silver to be ready for a financial crisis involving the collapse of the dollar (e.g., super inflation or hyper-inflation). When the dollar inflates (the dollar loses value), the price of gold measured in dollars goes up. So, my wealth is preserved to the extent I stored that wealth in a non-inflationary medium such as gold.
I just couldn't see shaving a ingot of gold to buy bread or whatever. And silvers worth would be dependent on what type of crash your living in.
When I do buy metals, I definitely don't buy large ingots, and certainly nothing larger than an ounce. I buy coins, all the way down to a
tenth of an ounce of gold (each now valued at $245) and
pre-1965 US dimes (which are 90% silver) which I can sell right now for a little over $2 at my local coin store. I don't anticipate shaving any part off of a large ingot of gold. I doubt any prepper would consider that an option, when there are much better options available (like pre-1965 US coins). Do some research; if something seems silly to you, you can probably find a better, non-silly way to do it.
Of course, metals may not have value in some scenarios (even though it has had value during the worst of times in the past 5000 years). Think of those other scenarios, and what would have value in those scenarios, and prepare for them as well if you think they may happen. There is no one thing to do to prep for all scenarios.
My goal: If something bad happens, I want to be able to turn to my family, and have options for them besides getting in line for handouts by a government which may or may not be providing them.
Does that answer your questions?
. The fact that people are legally obligated to own insurance and the fact that it is so widespread hardly makes it a qualification for what defines a "prepper" (which is a term I wouldn't consider myself really btw) as it would mean that the vast majority of the population would be considered preppers then...
