Getting Started In Emergency Preparedness: Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Finances)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Cornwell, Great Britain (ca 1960)

source

Ben Brooksbank

The End
The end of the year is quickly approaching, so I'm running out of time to talk to you about certain preps for you and your family.

The Basics
Now, you and your family have probably been hearing this from several sources, just not me.

So, ... Have an Emergency Fund

That's right. You and your family need some cash for minor emergencies like ...

Storekeeper 2nd Class Daniel Mina, delivers pizzas

to eagerly awaiting Sailors

aboard the aircraft carrier (CV 63) USS Kitty Hawk (ca 2004)

photograph by

Photographer's Mate Airman Bo J. Flannigan

Buying a Pizza
That's right. Your family should have a little bit of cash, in your home, so you and your partner can cover small emergencies.

How much is up to you and your family, but you should be able to buy a few tanks of gas, for every family vehicle, purchase a few bags of groceries for a few days, or cover some other small expense, just in case your debt/credit card doesn't work.

For folks with a little more resources, your family should be able to ...

Lozier Touring Car Advertisement,

priced at $5,000 (ca 1912)

illustration by

Unknown

Buy a Car
That's right. Your family should have three to six months of money, in the bank, so you and your partner can cover larger emergencies.

Now, you don't have to drop $10,000 to $50,000 into a bank account, right now. You and your family can deposit say a few hundred dollars, yen, pounds, franc, ... every month for a few years, to build up your emergency fund.

Needless to say, everybody should strive to ...

Mobile home in Gibson, Louisiana,

surrounded by floodwaters (ca 1973)

photograph by

John Messina

Buy a House
That's right. You and your partner need to be saving for retirement which should cost you about the price of a nice home, in California. In other words, $1,000,000.

Now, this money doesn't need to be in cash. It should be a mix of stocks, bonds, real estate, cash, and ...

Roman Silver and Gold Coins

from the Hoxne Hoard (ca 2010)

photograph by

Fæ

Silver and Gold
Yeah, yeah, I tell you not to buy silver and gold. That you and your family should be buying water storage containers, long-term food (white rice, dried beans, freeze-dried vegetables, and ...), stocking needed medications, purchasing a quality handgun, a weather alert radio with battery back-up, and other stuff

But, ....

Having a few silver and gold coins can help your financial situation. Just understand two things.

First, you're going to have to sell your silver and gold coins as they go up in value, so you might want to hold stock in a gold and silver producer, instead of actual coins.

Second, if you're going to trade in silver and gold coins, you need a way to detect ...

U.S. Army Spc. David Lalonde

from the 318th Psychological Operations Company

examines a five euro bill

as part of anti-counterfeiting measures at the Provincial Joint

Coordination Center in Nasiriyah, Iraq (ca 2010)

photograph by

Sgt. Jeremy Campbell

Counterfeit Coins
I know, it's hard to believe, but people are trying to steal your hard earned money. That's why you and your family might want to purchase a method of determining whether a popular silver or gold coin is a fake.

Here in these United States, you will probably want a counterfeit coin detector for the Silver Eagle, Gold Eagle, Silver Maple Leaf, and Gold Maple Leaf coins.

Now, these kits can be extensive or a single unit.

Either way, you're going to need to know your coinage.

Link:
The Spruce - The Counterfeit Coin Detection Kit
https://www.thespruce.com/counterfeit-coin-detection-kit-768328

PCGS - The Fundamentals Of Counterfeit Detection: Part 1
https://www.pcgs.com/News/The-Fundamentals-Of-Counterfeit-Detection--Part-1

PCGS - The Fundamentals Of Counterfeit Detection: Part 2
https://www.pcgs.com/news/the-fundamentals-of-counterfeit-detection-part-2

Gold Coin Balance - Home
https://goldcoinbalance.com/