Hi Canadian-guerilla. Remember in the movie “Down And Out In Beverly Hills”, where the rich father played by Richard Dreyfus, owned a metal coat hanger business in Tijuana ? Many times fortunes are made from seemingly inconsequential products. I have a couple of inventions that I probably won’t get around to that could make a fortune. It takes time and money and risk to get to the point where they return a profit. I know I should get on the stick but with our economy hanging over the precipice I can envision my efforts getting derailed. Please don’t ask what they are as I have been thinking about them for years and they are both frivolous and off the wall.

My main thunder is building manual transmissions; it pays very well. With that in mind, bartering and horse trading is something I do in spare time. Gotta keep things in perspective.

My earlier post about Ponce’s great clothing deals was a real world indicator of how we can save tons of money on clothing. I would also recommend that if we can find such a used clothing deal to talk to the owner of the second hand store and ask for a quantity discount. Of course, we need to have earlier scanned the merchandise to see if there are enough bargains there to make it worthwhile.

Why buy loads of used clothing ? I read that cotton may be a wise commodity to have since much of the world wants it for clothing and lately, cotton fields have been replanted with corn for the ethanol. And grain reserves are at their lowest in decades.

It could turn out that having a large stockpile of used clothing for sale or trade may become a source of income after a crash. Imagine the percent profit on a pair of pants bought for 10 cents and sold for $5. Does 5,000% return appeal to you ? Then imagine selling 10 such items daily and you may have a going business until you run out of inventory. This is just an example of future bartering material. Nobody knows for certain what will be the most in demand and profitable since the future holds many possible different scenarios. We have to choose what we consider the most likely and prepare accordingly. Who knows, maybe toilet paper bought now at 25 cents a roll could be worth a fortune someday.

Now both used clothing and toilet paper are but a couple of candidates for future selling and bartering material. When I lived in Pacific Beach Calif, there was a woman who baked bread in her home and everyone knew the day she would offer it for sale. It was delicious and needless to say, she sold out every time. This may be a possibility for a future business. Of course, you would have to have the ingredients stockpiled beforehand as well as have connections for future supplies. To the detriment of my longevity, I love fruitcake and Harry and David make an unbelievable one. Problem is that it comes out before Christmas and is expensive. Someone making fruitcake year round and reasonably priced may have a future; I don’t know.

It has been said that the best way to have a successful business is to find someone who is successful and imitate them and try to do it better.

There has been a lot said about the possibility of stagflation; a period of rising prices but not rising wages, at least not keeping up with inflation. Well look around and isn’t this what we have been in for some time ?

I have been expecting a period of accelerating inflation with layoffs and wage and hourly cuts. This may become what we face; what I would call hyperstagflation. A period of prices getting out of reach for the common man. Particularly food, fuel and other necessities. Maybe we are already there now as the citizens can’t afford more price increases. If prices do rise 20-30% or worse for food in the next year and wages remain stagnant, people will react by buying smaller quantities and off brand products. Some of this is already happening. However, there is an end game of ceasing to buy hamburger and eyeballing Alpo cans in the pet food section. This too has been happening with some retirees forced by inflation to be degraded to animal status.

As long as we can be good dealmakers, we will live above this sad scenario. And deal making needn’t be a solitary activity. Rather, I have found it to be very social and amicable. My family and friends probably wonder what wacky Agnut will do next. I guess I have become a “character”.

I have gotten to know and deal with all sorts of people. We here at this thread must believe that there are all sorts of opportunities, no matter what shape the economy is in. I don’t know if it is true but I once read that there were more rich people made in the last Depression than at any other time. Our positive attitude is foundational to our success. And happiness too, I must add.

They say that “pride comes before the fall”. Bullshit ! Taken at its face value, it is a self defeating albatross around the neck of anyone who takes it as gospel. There is great benefit in being able to look back at our accomplishments and feeling quietly proud. Not the loudmouth bragging type of pride that I believe this quote refers to. Our success is part of our experience and growth toward taking control of our lives. Someone said that if you don’t control your own life, someone else will do it for you ! Isn’t this what we see all around us ? People trapped in a job or situation that they literally hate but don’t know how to escape.

Ponce’s well known quote, “If you don’t hold it, you don’t own it”, is directly applicable to bartering and horse trading. You are always either holding cash or items for trade. There is no middleman between you and your goods. No one to screw you over in a financial debacle like I expect coming to the stock and bond markets. Paper promises scare the heck out of me.

Do you really expect to someday collect your Social Security or pensions ? The other morning I see the stock markets down on the Dow 11.3%, down on the S&P 6.2%, down 11.1% on the Nasdaq since the first of the year. And the market is still going down. Remember that historically, about 92% of the time that January’s rise or fall determines the rest of the year. And this January dump has been a doozy !

I have been reading that folks who want to get out of their money market funds have been stalled and delayed. Sounds like just before a market crashes. We will see in the coming weeks and months. Both Ponce and I believe that the big “event” could happen any day now. The big boys are exiting the markets and when they are done, all sorts of ugly things can happen. At least this is my opinion.


And your post,

“I'll get a kick out of seeing some kid standing in a food line wearing $200 Nike shoes
and I'll always be thinking about the " Elmers " of this world”

Makes me wonder what these kids will be thinking when they have $200 shoes and no food in their belly. Probably won’t connect; I give them too much credit. Too bad that the entrepreneurial spirit is so lacking in America today. But good for us total dirtbags, huh ?

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. Interesting article on building a steam powered generator. Might be a good backup if fuel weren’t available for a gas or diesel generator.

http://www.endtimesreport.com/home_bred.html

Hi Wakeness. You sound like me; a collector fanatic. It seems that whenever I began collecting something I couldn’t stop. I have recently ceased this mindset and now focus on getting ready for a different world. Hey, maybe I’m really collecting the things that I feel that I will need to survive and prosper. If so, this “collecting” is much more satisfying to know that what I have done and am continuing to do will benefit my family. It is a blessing that we have time to get ready. How much time is unknown and this is what motivates me to daily continue preparing, at least within my limitations. No sense driving ourselves crazy getting prepared.

In my last post I mentioned making a steam generator for electricity. I would love to build one if I have the time. Imagine throwing in some wood pallets and burnable trash and getting my batteries charged for my electrical needs. But there are so many other pressing matters to do first. I have three gas powered generators now and at least that is better than nothing.

Wakeness, isn’t it deeply satisfying to find something to “collect” that may well provide for you and your family ?

Remember what I said about this summer’s garage sales. This will be the summer of “The Great American Garage Sale”. Lots of supply and little demand; guess what the prices and haggling will be like.

Generating an income is central to our financial lives. Just about everything emanates from this one activity and we need to always be mindful of this as we go about our daily living.

Right now I’m doing a profit analysis for selling rebuild parts to transmission and auto shops as opposed to selling them my complete rebuilt transmissions. Selling the parts provides less dollars per sale but there may be a much greater potential volume and therefore a greater total amount of profit to be had. Selling parts is a lot less labor intensive and although I have had no warranty problems to date with my rebuilt units, I know what a warranty problem can cost. Parts are essentially zero warranty problems. I know; I have sold parts extensively in the past.

The overview of my considering selling parts ties in with what I know about my customers as well as my expectations of where our economy will be in the near future. A repair shop will be most anxious to rebuild their customer’s transmission when the economy slows and sales drop. They can have one of their builders do the labor and therefore keep him employed and happy. I know for a fact that this is extremely important to the shop owner. And with this knowledge, I am looking out for how I may serve his needs and concerns.

You see, it is not important whether I sell one of my rebuilt transmissions or the parts to rebuild it. I am in the business of serving customers in ways nobody else thinks of. My reward is profits from sources I have put into play as well as customer repeat business. I don’t take much stock in customer loyalty; they will go where they think there is the best deal. And since I have created the best deal, they are attracted to me like a magnet.

This parts selling is forward thinking; where will things be in 6 months or a year ? If there is business to be had, I want to be as much a part of it as possible.

There, I have let you into some of my ways of thinking about business and making money and attracting customers. I hope this will give you some ideas of your own. The world of business is exciting and ever changing. What is hot this year may not be next year. I have had thousands of dollars invested in transmission cores and within a few years their demand faded to where this inventory was practically scrap metal.

In other words, time is of the essence. A bargain bought today needs to be sold as soon as possible unless there is a reason that it will be more valuable through time. Like gold and silver. Maybe food or toilet paper or used clothes. Many candidates; just need to have some quiet time to think.

A small business is one of the best ways to make money and keep it. But there are different ways to go about this and they need to be discussed. I have owned over 10 businesses on the last 40 years and have learned what works and what does not. Well, not perfectly anyway.

I know that some have asked what they can do right now in the winter before the summer garage and estate sales are in swing. I’ll answer as soon as possible. After all, time is of the essence.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Hi and thanks Sterling. HaHa. Funny but I am opening my own eyes and getting prepared right along with all of you. I’m not set up like Tn…Andy or Ponce. They, and I’m sure, several others here at GIM are more prepared than I am.

This bartering and horse trading thread is but one type of preparation but I consider it a very important one. It can greatly expand our options in a time of diminishing resources. The world we face will require us to have our wits about us. Sitting at a computer and reading about all the bad things going on can be depressing if we feel inadequate to the tasks that will be demanded of us.

We can take control of our lives and succeed while others fail. Reading about all sorts of opportunities is a waste of time if we do not put our new knowledge to use. That’s what we are sharing on this thread. New ways of dealing with the world.

To try is to succeed. No matter the outcome, you have succeeded in learning and having enough faith in yourself. Remember that most barterer and horse traders began in their youth. You might say it is child’s play.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Congratulations Me Co. Fifty ounces in a month is nothing to sneeze at. Talk about setting up your own retirement program !

My son and I went to a local bank and asked them if they could get us bricks of half dollars and they said that they would have to charge us 1% of the price of a $500 brick, or $5. And another 1% when we turned in the brick. I wonder if this is the shape of things to come. I’m in the boonies; maybe that’s why I can’t.

My older sister is in San Diego and hopefully can get halves there since she is near a big city.

Best wishes,

Agnut

haven't really looked into steam power
but i have been teaching myself
the basics of solar power and bicycle driven generators
and how to adapt these to car batteries

ever watch that show, Dirty Jobs,
some people wouldn't even consider doing stuff like that because it is " beneath them "
there's going to be a big attitude change, when TSHTF, especially with the younger people,
when i'm at work i see new kids coming in looking for a job,
right out of high school, the fastest " I QUIT " i've seen is less than 1 hour,
some of these younger people just don't know what work is
and that kinda scares me, you get a bunch of young punks ( 13-20 ) together
with possible access to guns, raised on " kill & maim " videos, with no law enforcement

how many points do i get for an ear ?

__________________

Thanks to Dominus for bringing this wheat limit up situation to our attention. I whipped up this post this morning so please forgive the discombobulated style.

Ladies and Gentlemen : this is History

t=234818

I have been watching it for a while and the doubling and tripling of limit ups appears to be to shorten the time until price equilibrium is reached. The problem is that those holding wheat are reluctant to sell because of possible further price increases. This is choking the market flow.

I have been buying pasta made from Midwest wheat at my local dollar store. It has been 2 pounds for a dollar and I saw the other day that they had restocked after the last time I raided their shelves. I buy 50 pounds at a time and get odd looks form the other shoppers and clerks. I must have over 250 pounds by now. But with what I see in the wheat futures markets, I will continue to increase my prep stocks.

I don’t know if it is possible to have too much pasta but I intend to find out !

I like the idea of having a large stock of pasta since it is already in a form that is easy to prepare. I also have half a ton of wheat berries in sealed buckets. They would have to be ground into flour and then made into pasta. Sounds like a lot of time and energy to me.

How much in weight is a bushel of wheat ? Say a bushel of wheat is 50 pounds and costs $20 while my pasta at 50 pounds costs me $25. Am I paying an extra $5 per bushel to have wheat processed into pasta ?

The answer isn’t so simple (although I am at times).

First, can any of us buy wheat at $20 per bushel ? Didn’t think so.

Second, what energy is needed to convert wheat to pasta ?

Third, how much time would be required to convert a bushel of wheat into pasta ?

Fourth, even if we could find a bushel of wheat, how much would it cost to ship it to our door ? I think you will be aghast at the shipping charges; somewhere over $20 per bushel. So THAT would cost you over $40 per bushel to your door ! And if this price rise continues, we will stabilize at a higher price plateau. Hopefully, that is. Remember that the rest of the world needs to eat too and their foreign trade surplus can be used to outbid us. Did we give them the tools to take the food from our own mouths ?

Fifth, the buckets in which the wheat is shipped aren’t free ? Did you think they were giving them away as a promotion ? HaHa

Sixth, you will have to buy wheat mills to turn the wheat berries into flour. The electric ones aren’t cheap. A good one is about $300 as I have heard. And a good manual one is about $50. I bought all this years ago before prices shot up (or the dollar shot down, if you prefer the truth).

So at over $40 per bushel to your door, wheat would cost you $0.80 per pound. And Pasta is $0.50 per pound, which is already processed and ready to cook. Even a $1.00 a pound, pasta may still be considered a bargain.

Are you starting to get the picture ? Is pasta at two pounds for a buck starting to look like a screaming bargain ?

Pasta is a staple and can be used in many, many different types of meals. Even if you don’t use much pasta now, you will be using it in the future when food prices continue to skyrocket.

I hope I have made my point. In fact, my local dollar store opens soon and I am beginning to salivate like a Pavlov dog at the prospects. Another 100 pounds sounds about right for this next trip. I would clean out the shelves but don’t want to look too obvious. When there is no more two pounds for a dollar pasta, I will know that the processors can no longer supply it and the pasta in the pipeline has dried up.

It is like with precious metals; the general public doesn’t know and isn’t cleaning out the shelves. Yet. The news about wheat prices and availability haven’t hit the stores yet. I would expect that if this wheat price squeeze continues, the wheat products on the shelves will have some radical price increases in the near future. As in a matter of hours or days if we are lucky.

Imagine that instead of two pounds for a dollar, it becomes one pound for a dollar. Let’s whip out the old calculator and see…. Oh, that’s right; even a slack jawed moron can see that this is a FREAKING 100% PRICE RISE !!!!!

Now why am I going on and ranting and raving about something so simple as the price of wheat ? Well, ask yourself this. Do you and your family want to eat a full meal or a half a meal ? Because that is what a 100% price rise would mean. At least that’s the way I see it.

In conclusion, I would recommend getting pasta rather than wheat if you can find it at as cheap prices as I have. RandyMatt has also been successful in finding pasta at 2 pounds for a dollar where he lives so this is not an unusual opportunity. I just believe it will not last for long. By the way, RandyMatt said that food prices had risen 31% last year. That was by government figures, I believe. Hope I got the figures right.

Having buckets of wheat berries is great too. I have grown wheat grass and made wheat grass juice from it. This provides just about all the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. I also have made bread form the ground flour and you can’t believe how delicious it is. Makes store bought bread look like fluff.

By the way I saw the price go up to $1.20 on the Hunts spaghetti sauce cans. This is at my local market but the dollar store still has it at $1.00. Just thought you would like something to go with the pasta. Watch the dates on the cans. Once in a while I have seen spaghetti sauce in glass jars go for $1.00 but this may have already ceased.

Best wishes and happy hunting,

Agnut

P.S. Just saw the Treasury secretary offering “New Help For Strapped Homeowners”. What a joke ! Where do you think the money will come from ? Got a mirror ?

No sneezing allowed haha. I enjoy being the Silver Hobo, wanna hear the best part? That would be taking profits, granted I maybe should keep the silver but at 5X's face for 40% halves- they gotta go haha. I don't have a whole lot of faith in 40% wtshtf so rather have more hunting money and get some more. Also selling some WL halves I shouldn't have bought at 11X's for 13X's and some that I found. Happy day for ME. I have a Inet friend that hasn't much luck searching and would rather hold silver than frns so he gets silver and I get to expand my hunting.
As for paying fees for coins, I don't have to and wouldn't be doing this if I did. Do you have any accts at these banks? Not much for customer service in the boonies huh? If your willing to pay a fee I think you can make a deal directly with the armoured service but you probly have to buy alot.
Thinkin about gettin the gold dredge back out this year, I was gonna sell it for more hunting $$$ but $900 gold I think deserves another shot. I should still sell and downsize to something I can take out for weekends and enjoy but... I think maybe the monster gets another shot. Lots of snowpack this year sos the river will be brown for awhile and high- we shall see. HH Mark

Thanks for that update agnut,,, heads up guys:
wheat / grain = food

and as you all know....



2008 is over the top.....

__________________



The president of a socialist nation (America)..
has to give a convincing speech saying essentially..
“We are not going to do.. what we are doing”

"No exports, No recovery"... Ponce

Why not, with wheat you can eat, with mobile phone no

For what i read here in Italy the wheat cost is around 20% of the cost (industial) production, energy, machines and human works are the 2 biggest parts around 70%, a little % are water and salt.


Pasta is a very complete food, you can eat it a day with tomatos, a day with meat or cheese, and in any case only with a little bit butter or oil...
it's not an expensive dinner, natural tomatos like this have an expiration after 4-5 years (watch always this in the grocery you can find new and old production and of course the expiration date changes)
I storage pasta 2 times a months, normally we have 100 kg (100-135€ investiment, we buy the top quality) that for my family consuption (you now in italy we eat pasta every day:D) are 250 days of self-sufficiency.
That's not a problem because this kind of pasta have a exipration of 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years if the storage place is cool and dry

------------------

In any case for me the major impacts of this wheat rise is for the bread prices.

Here same info about producion (in million tonns) and consuption ( kg pro person) during 2006 take from the italian industrial pasta association...

that's incredible is hacked right now, just in time to copy the tables...I don't write the link here now so you don't risk, in any case the link is in the pics below...

Attached Thumbnails

 

Attached Images

  

__________________
+ In hoc signo vinces

Hi Saoirse and welcome to GIM. Good to see you wanting to actively participate. As I have said, reading and not ACTING is a waste of time. Lives aren’t changed for the better unless we get out there and make things happen.

Like you, I have also been a dealmaker since childhood. It comes naturally to some and can be learned by anyone with the desire to make their lives richer. Not just richer in money but I have discovered that when actively deal making, all sorts of things happen. It involved dealing with all sorts of people and learning about all sorts of items that we would not have otherwise known. It opens the world around us and increases awareness.

Deal making is an adventure wherein we don’t know what we will find or who we will get to know.

Your selling your old toys and collectables was a giant step. We must understand that everything has a price. Some are easy to determine and some have a sentimental price beyond mere dollars. I have a wooden chain that my father carved with a pocket knife in the 1930s depression. It sits on my computer and is a constant reminder of him and our relationship. When I look at it, a flood of memories come to me. What price could I put on that ?

Deeply sentimental things should only be sold if the money derived is needed for higher and better uses. Like feeding ourselves and family. Or maybe starting a business venture. This is highly personal and I don’t advise others here.

But almost all items have a salable value in a particular time period. Right now it is imperative to know that we are facing momentous changes in valuations of things. This year 2008 will be chock full of all kinds of changes. On one hand, it is challenging to write about deal making amidst such uncertainty and volatility. But on the other hand, it is good to learn in this environment since dealing in stable times will be relatively easy. That is, if/when we do return to stable times.

The time between buying and selling becomes an extremely important factor in times of uncertainty and volatility. For example, a painting bought today could lose mush of its potential sale price after a stock market crash next week. This is one reason that one should not bite off more than one can chew. Use only a part of your investment money at a time.

My son has a 21’ SeaRay boat that I bought for him and I suggested that he could sell it and use the cash for deal making. And with things as they are, a boat may lose much of its resale value in the coming months. My son could make money and later buy a bigger, better boat with less money if he thinks the future will fall this way. I think a multitude of big toys will be for sale this summer and fall and there won’t be the buyers. Result ? Big time desperate sellers (really “flexible”; hey, you don’t have to bend them over. They will be doing that without asking) and literally rare buyers. Can’t you envision it ? I can and am keeping my money on hand for such deals in the months to come.

I like to think like I’m a Moray eel, sitting in my cave, looking out at what passes by. If something looks appetizing, I jump on it and drag it home. But I am ever mindful to never drag something home that can have ME for lunch ! Getting greedy can cloud judgment. And spending all your money on one item can prove to be unwise. If an item does present itself and costs all of your money, you better be damn sure that this item can be sold for a healthy profit. And quickly too. The sand blast machine I wrote about a while back was bought and sold within a week. A good profit and quickly done. And by the way, I would not have ever known about this machine if I had not asked the seller of the two trucks I was buying from him, “Say, do you have anything ELSE for sale ?”

Saoirse, you asked where you should be looking for deals now, before the garage sales begin this summer.

There are some garage sales through the year so don’t neglect their possibilities. There are ads in the local newspapers that sometimes have screaming bargains. There are estate sales; people die year round and the houses have to be cleaned out for resale. Of course, always be on the lookout for garage sale signs on street corners. There are thrift stores that can sometimes yield bargains. Storage container auctions. Auctions and damaged goods sales may be a source for you too.

Defunct companies’ inventories can be quite profitable. I have bought a couple in the past and done quite well. Actually, the multiples return can be fantastic. Problem is, I don’t know where to reliably find out about them. Maybe business newspapers. Maybe local newspapers. Maybe an auctioneer. Word of mouth. Signs in business windows, “Going Out Of Business”.

Buying a car and selling it for a profit can be a possibility. I have done this through the years and had a lot of fun driving a wide variety unusual cars.

There is enough to keep you busy, no matter the time of year.

Your second question was “what impact do you think the current (and growing) economic / financial crisis the united States is facing will have on this year's and future yard / garage sales, as well as bartering and horse trading ?”

Whether dealing in a growing economy or a collapsed economy the main rule is “What can you buy it for and what can you sell it for ?”.

I have recommended that we be especially be aware of the time factor between buying and selling an item in an unstable economy. The steaks in the market has a “sell by” date. You know what they do with this meat after nobody buys it ? It goes into the grinder and comes out hamburger. So a $4.99 steak becomes $1.29 hamburger.

The same can happen to items that you still have past their “sell by” date. Your items aren’t marked with any date but just as sure as the steak in the market, it is there. Believe me. Okay, here’s an example. Last summer I was at a garage sale and saw a stack of Disney videotapes for $1.00 each. I remembered that I had seen some of them sell for high prices on Ebay. So I bought about 20 tapes and took them home. I looked on Ebay and they were selling them in lots of 10 at a time for as little as $10.00 plus shipping. I was astounded; after all, I had become so cocksure that whatever I bought had to be a bargain and I couldn’t lose. Wrongo, moose breath ! I ended giving away most of the videotapes and keeping some for my collection.

So what is the lesson here ?

First, know what an item is currently worth. Especially collectibles.

Second, pay as little as possible so that if there isn’t as strong a market as you had anticipated, you can at least get your money back.

Third, be aware of your own personal uses for an item. If you need it and it is a bargain, you won’t be in a hurry to resell it cheap. My son bought a backup 5K generator for $100 the other day and we won’t sell it even for $300. However, it may be sold when we get a superior generator like a diesel unit. Until that time we need it for our security. See, everything has different uses and valuations and some of it depends on your personal needs.

And fourth, don’t rationalize away your mistake but study it clinically and unemotionally so that you may learn and grow from the experience. I could have said that the Disney videotapes were more valuable as gifts to children and the ones I kept were a pleasure to watch. Nice sentiments but no cigar !

When I bought the videotapes, what was I after ? A profit ! And did attain my goal ? Definitely not ! Sure there were benefits but they did not make me money nor did they return my $20 investment for future deals. Better than throwing them in the trash but there’s that rationalizing rearing its ugly head again.

Saoirse, its good to see that you are getting rid of things that have a higher and better use. And you are doing it NOW, not later when there may be slim to none of buyers. Additionally you are trading the dollars into precious metals. Real wealth.

You may only be seeing the daily silver gyrations and not the long term picture. I have been telling friends and family to buy silver since it was $5 per ounce. And now the price is over $17. A couple of them are now very happy that they listened to me and ACTED. The wealthiest one I told a couple of years ago and she didn’t believe me. I wonder if she has thought about it since. Well, denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

Even if silver’s price rise kept even with inflation (real inflation, not the figures the govt hands us), silver will have performed its job of carrying forward purchasing value through time. Imagine that had you not bought silver when it was at $5 and are looking at your $5 in fiat currency and how much less it would buy today. I would be sick to my stomach. This is the ugly truth of fiat currency; silent stealing of purchasing power through time.

We haven’t even seen wide silver investor interest yet; I consider this the booster rockets to silver’s meteoric potential. Only time will tell when and how much the price will be. Precious metals are but part of the preparations we will need for the future. We won’t be able to enjoy the precious metal’s gains if we are starved or ignorant or insecure. Food stores, knowledge and means of protection must be part of the whole package.

This bartering and horse trading skill is another tool that will make our lives better in the worst economy as well as in the best economy. It works at all times and needs to be mastered as soon as possible. The world is a school just waiting for us all to get out there and learn. I greatly prefer it to formal education. Believe me, I learn my lessons in real life exponentially better when there is money at stake. For money can be turned into real wealth and security. While a college degree may get your foot in the door to a higher paying job, it is too often narrow and theoretical. It doesn’t look too promising for most college graduates these days. “Do you want fries with that, ma’am ?” has all too often become work reality for graduates.

I have heard it said that your job is only as secure as the person immediately above you. The last time I worked for someone else was over 25 years ago and it was a rather distasteful memory. I have been free to forge my own future for so many years that I wouldn’t fit in with an employer or fellow workers. Deal making has always been something I could use to supplement my income as well as obtain things that I couldn’t otherwise afford.

Thanks for your detailed and uplifting post.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Well I'm up to over $500 FRNs on my latest auction, with an hour of bid-warring to go!
Shotgun, Chainsaw and silver, here I come!

Agnut,

Since reading about 50 cents per pound pasta the other day I've been looking but haven't found anything yet. The closest two items I saw were both at Wal-Mart, where some Barilla pasta was listed on the rack at 76 cents per pound (but didn't ring up that low at the register) and then if you want to call packs of Ramen noodles "pasta" even the individual 11 cent packs are about 3.7 cents per ounce... times 16 is 59.2 cents per pound of those...

If anyone can post their bargain finds on pasta or anything else, I'm in stock-up mode.

I finally made the move:
1 - 40 miles further away from Philadelphia
2 - to the Lancaster area where lots of Amish and Mennonite farmers
should be able to grow crops post SHTF
3 - to a house with a few acres of woods and a good size creek

So I'm done moving my possessions and can set up permanent storage. I have all-year access to water. I've been reading these forums for a while and while I assume a Big Berkey water filter system is an upcoming purchase, I'm open to alternative suggestions

I'd also love tips from anyone on food for long-term storage on sale - pasta, canned, the storage containers - doesn't have to be a local suggestion (sale at a national chain is fine too) but local tips are even better

Thanks,

Dave

Hi elephant. Glad to have you aboard. And everyone is welcome to participate. I’m busy at times and can’t post, so I catch up by answering several posts at a time. Some take more thought than others like Saoirse’s post.

Don’t feel that you are paranoid; you are actually blessed to be aware and courageous enough to face the truth. I was talking with a customer yesterday and we were sharing the sad state of the economy and politics and he too felt that he was a bit paranoid. I told him that “you ain’t paranoid if it’s true” ! Sort of a bastardization of “it ain’t braggin’ if its true”. You can’t believe the emotional unwinding I felt from both of us.

Maybe in addition to being “total dirt bags” we are also “total paranoiacs”. Well, I feel most comfortable here so it must be right for me. Contrarians, or futurists if you will, like us are actually far ahead of the curve and misunderstood by most others. That’s where the “paranoid’ accusations emanate from, an expression of their denial. In time, deniability will evaporate and they will see what we were talking about. Our advantage is knowing much earlier than others but it is useless unless we ACT on that foreknowledge.

Maybe your wife would better understand if she were to read this thread from the beginning. And several other articles throughout the GIM web-outta-site. Having the love of your life aboard and supporting your efforts is a top priority. Women operate from a basis of security and this may be the key that unlocks the door. I recommend the book ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus”. It will give you some insight into the female mind. I read recently that women who saw a man doing dishes became extremely attracted to that man. Something to think about that may change your relationship.

A man secure in his sexuality isn’t threatened by doing women’s traditional work. Being macho isn’t a shortcut to being a man; more like a short circuit. And a real man has an active sense of humor. By the way, almost all women are attracted to a man with a sense of humor. In the movie Roger Rabbit, the sexy cartoon character Jessica was asked what she saw in this crazy rabbit. She said, “He makes me laugh”.

He who can laugh at himself will never cease to be amused. A good sense of humor will be necessary for the future. I have a collection of The Far Side cartoon books and many other humor books. I recommend having such a collection for the future. You may not see it now but it may become a saving grace in the future. By the bye, Ebay sells these books in groups for a fraction of their new price. One of the best bargains I have found. So get thee some humor. Har Har

Keep buying the extra food stocks; yesterday I bought 36 cans of Armour luncheon meat for $1 a can. Good for years. I’m still looking for a hot deal on Spam. Keeps for 50 years. Wow. Also at my local dollar store they had large cans of dog food for $1 a can but they were sitting on the floor down the aisle. They hadn’t yet been stocked on the shelves. Point is, keep your eyes open at all times. And don’t forget provisions for your pets.

I haven’t found any other threads on the internet quite like bartering and horse trading. Hmmm. I could be unique in my insanity….A claim to fame. Hey, I’m so desperate I’ll take what I can get.

There are several websites that help in guiding our preparations. Deal making is a learned skill and can be used in all kinds of weather. Besides, what better kind of education can you get that pays you more profit the more you learn ? Those at the top of their game don’t need to work for someone else unless they want to. A sort of freedom offered here.

Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes, though it is old paradigm thinking. There were two campers way out in the woods and the first spotted a huge bear approaching. The other camper was putting on his sneakers and the first camper said, “Why are you putting on your sneakers: there is no way you can outrun that bear”. The second camper said, “I don’t have to outrun the bear; I just have to outrun you !”.

Those having deal making skills may not outrun the bear (market) but they sure can outrun the general population. Isn’t this what is going on right now ? People all over are beginning to panic as the bear approaches while we who are aware and prepared are several sneaker steps ahead and already moving in the right direction. The trick is that when dangerous things are occurring, don’t be there.

I have thought of a future when the dust settles and some sort of continuity returns. Those who were unprepared will be decimated. But those who had prepared should have much still intact. And you can’t grow if you don’t have any seed for the next season. This is what my father often said; always have seed money. I have read scads of prep articles and don’t recall having read any that mentioned this future, a time for rebuilding after what James Howard Kunstler calls “The Long Emergency“. In his article of Feb 11, 2008 called “Burning Down The House”, he stated “The shell game may run a few more weeks but personally I believe the timbers are burning. The losses are no longer “contained” or concealable. A consensus has now formed that we are in for a “recession.” ”

However he next states “We’re not heading into a recession but a MAJOR DEPRESSION, worse that the fabled trauma of the 1930s. That one occurred against the background of a society that had plenty of everything except money.”

I’m mentioning this so that we all are aware of how important, how central to our future this keeping some “seed money” for the next season, the planting and growing season. It may be several years until we need this money but we who can make deals needn’t just let it sit but rather can make it grow in the interim.

Although you may be currently employed and have preps up the wazoo, it take little to imagine being suddenly unemployed in a crisis. How long could you survive until your preps were exhausted ?

I’m desperately trying to make an analogy here so please “bear” with me. What happens after the bear catches the first camper ? Dinner over and toothpickin’ time long past ? Belly growling and this bear is now after the second camper.

See, the second camper only bought time for himself. If he kept running and left the area, he would be safe from the bear. Bartering and horse trading and deal making are a means of being able to run as far as one wants. Escaping may well be largely economic. There will be other dangers during a crisis but they have been covered in a multitude of other threads. What I am focused on here is to show how to be able to keep running as far as you want.

There is a short book called “The Richest Man In Babylon” which has the central theme that we should pay 10% to ourselves out of our total income. This is more than savings but rather a personal accumulation totally owned and controlled. A way of thinking leading to having a further cushion to mitigate the shocks of the future.

Ponce says that he has a plan behind a plan behind a plan. Do you ? This thinking runs along Darwin’s saying that the survival of a species goes to those “most adaptable to change”. Look around you and you will see the masses are not prepared to adapt. They are, of course, the first camper.

I once thought of posting on TB2000 but there is so much activity that anything I posted would be lost in minutes. A great website though and I visit it daily. GIM moves at a pace I can feel comfortable with. Some website registration can be a nightmare. You may try registering under a different name. Other than that I don’t know as I am a cyber moron.

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. Good heavens ! Sorry for being so long winded there but I can’t help myself. As May West said, “I can resist most anything but temptation”.

Hi budfox. Yeah, I have been noticing the prices going up almost every time I go shopping. And there is a lot of slicing and dicing with the 4 for $5 items and other multiple offers. I may go to the market for a bunch of bananas but end up with $100 of groceries by the time I check out. You might say I went bananas. They say that it is not wise to shop when hungry but I see my hunger for having a future as what drives me to always buy more than I had intended.

My sons tell me that we are running out of storage space for more preps. I tell them that we will find the space, even if I have to start filling the motor home. Which I paid $100 for with an additional $50 bribe to hold it until I could get there and pick it up. I rarely have offered this bribe in the past but am now aware that it is a valuable tool to hold an item that is distant. Many others wanted this motor home but I got the seller’s agreement and that was enough to allow my son and me to drive an hour there and consummate the deal.

By the way, I asked him my now famous (gad ! What an ego !) query, “What else do you have for sale ?” I bought his boat and trailer for $300 and still have to pick up a free 8K gas generator. It needs some fine tuning but I can’t refuse a freebie. I hope my constant hammering sinks in for you to ask this question every time you are out there buying. Sometimes the additional items sellers have is worth far more that what you originally came for. Also, these new items usually haven’t yet been advertised and you will get the first shot at them. And since the seller hasn’t thought about these new items, he often will ask a low, low price.

The local dollar store still has some great prices if you are building prep inventories. Not just food but a wide variety of things you will use in the future. I wrote about a couple in my last post.

By the way, this morning I saw that import price index was up 1.7% in January. That’s 20.4% on a yearly basis ! Yikes !! Also the Empire state index was down 11.72%. Not sure if its significance but doesn’t look good. The futures stock markets took a nosedive upon their dismal reporting. The stock markets (think cattle stockyards, waiting for the slaughter) are down but silver is up $0.20 and gold is up $5.40.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Agnut:

I haven't anything to add to this fine thread, but sure have enjoyed reading it.

Thanks !

__________________
Yep....it's true.... most folks are dumber than coal buckets.

Hi traderken and welcome to GIM.

I firmly believe that you have found a unique website on the internet. One of our big differences is that we aren’t just bitching about what is going on (although there is plenty of that !). We are actually DOING something about what we see coming down the tracks. The closest thing to GIM is, in my opinion, the Timebomb2000 website. More of a general prep and news website with less depth and focus on the precious metals. I think GIM is ahead of the curve and when the fiat currency collapses, GIM will be inundated with new readers.

Watch your wife’s Lampwork beads and sales volume; I believe it will be an indicator that things have suddenly gotten worse. Discretionary money exists until it rather suddenly does not.

The recent Ebay good/bad referral policy change has a lot of sellers in an outrage. I can’t blame them; I would be pissed if some buyer gave me a bad referral for some minor infraction and I had no recourse other than to send him a bad referral. Sounds like somebody upset the balance. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

There are millions of items for sale on Ebay and many of them are USED. What part of USED does the buyer not understand ?

I do have to say that I have had excellent dealings with Ebay as well as Paypal. I have been buying and selling there for about 9 years. Your mileage may vary as this is highly subjective.

Congratulations on finding the love of your life on Ebay. Can't put a price on that.

Glad to hear that you feel you are learning a lot here. Me too !

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S A bit off topic but of concern. Just reported that wild salmon fishing had “collapsed” in California. River count that was 40,000 collapsed to 2,000. A 95% drop. Words fail me.

Wholesale salmon prices are up 30% this year. This rise doesn’t seem like it’s caught up with the significance of this.

Ecological and natural catastrophe comes to mind. Not to mention man’s over fishing. A harbinger of other shortages. We already discussed wheat shortages. What’s next ?

Canned salmon is still pretty cheap in some places. Might be a good idea to stock up, especially if you like fried salmon cakes. I believe the expire dates on the cans are several years away.

AKA "You aren't paranoid if they really are out to get you.".

Hi Canadian-guerilla. What I have read about bicycle driven electric generation is that it would be exhausting to put enough charge into a set of batteries to be worth it. Imagine telling a kid that if he wanted to play a video game that he had to bike for 2 hours for each half hours of play. After the first time you wouldn’t have many takers. Maybe an upside is that you could wean them off video games and into something productive. Millions of kids and some adults too (using that term loosely) spend waaaaay too much time at play. This will change too.

The main reason I like steam powered generation is that I could burn wood and trash. Old wooden pallets I get for free are stacked around the barn. Maybe a couple hundred but I would like to have a thousand. I’m surrounded by trees but we mostly use the dead ones for firewood, saving about $300 per month on heating. I don’t know how much there will be left over for steam generation too.

The steam idea is just for a possible backup if gas or diesel becomes unavailable. I wouldn’t expect this right away but in a depression Kunstler calls “The Long Emergency”, I would have a backup. Remember what Ponce says, that he has a backup for a backup for a backup. This is my thinking too.

With the parts I would need I may be able to get one working for a couple of hundred bucks. My problem is having the free time to engineer such a steam generator. An additional motivation is that I may be able to use the heat to warm my spa. Heating 500 gallons of water with 220V electric is becoming a no no. The hot water could be stored in a large insulated tank and cycled through the house with a radiator and fan to distribute the heat. Just a thought.

I already have two heavy fire boxes that could be fitted with pipes to pick up the heat and then sent to the steam turbine. Also, I know of someone that has a huge firebox fitted with a surrounding water jacket that seems to be a most effective way to draw heat from the fire.

The problem with alternate energy sources is that either the plug in systems are very expensive or the home made ones are difficult and time consuming. Not talking about a gas generator but wind, hydro, steam and other unconventional methods.

I wonder if I were to dig deep in the ground and find the temperature to be warm enough to draw enough to partially warm my house.

We watch Dirty Jobs all the time. You are so right; kids today don’t know what hard work is, much less tackling a dirty job.

If young punks ever got the idea to live out their video game fantasies in real life, they would quickly learn that there is no replay button. One chance and then game over. FOREVER !

Hmmm… maybe its time to pull out the old movie “Soylent Green” for a refresher. Green jerky chips, with the emphasis on jerk. HaHa

Or maybe stock some mint jelly for the sheeple.

Maybe I’ll write a book and call it “To Serve Man”. Naah, already done in a Twilight Zone episode. It was a cookbook.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Hi Me Co. My son and I went to our bank and told them that my son was a coin collector (we didn’t tell them exactly what kind of coins and why). Also that we had talked to the new bank across the street and they wanted us to have an account before their getting bricks of halves for us. I also said that we had banked with them for years and didn’t want to open a new account elsewhere. Sounds like I brought out the big guns.

Our bank officer said that they would get a brick next week and with no fees. So my son is now on his way to becoming a coin searcher.

I did hear something that may be of interest to you. This bank officer said that they collect turned in halves and when they have a “bag” whatever that means, they send it in for paper dollars. Maybe every few months. This sounds like a possible good source for halves since it is coming from the general population and may not have been searched much.

I will recommend to my son about selling 40% halves; sounds like a wise thought.

I hope this first brick has at least a few 40% and/or 90% halves. It would be discouraging for my son to continue with no early successes. Have you ever gone through a brick and totally struck out ? I intent to mark the box the brick comes in as well as the individual rolls. Nothing big but enough to know to not waste any time.

I didn’t know you were a gold miner. I have always wanted to try it. My son and I joined a club in southern California many years ago and only went out one time. It was in east county San Diego. We wet panned and got a little color but we had to bring the water in my truck. Others were dry panning with their machines and creating huge clouds of dust. Not what I thought it would be. I need to check my area here in the Pacific northwest; maybe a few rivers we can pan.

Best wishes and happy hunting,

Agnut

Thanks for the chart RandyMatt. I also think a chart to date will be worse than the one from 6/06 to 6/07.

As I recently wrote I am seeing price rises just about every time I go shopping. And the specials are getting less special.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Hi Agnut,
Generally beginners luck kicks in for the first box but not always- hope it does for yous. Its a mixed blessing really cause you are bound to get some skunk boxes sometime. I get them all the time but when I up the odds of finding some I also up the odds of getting skunked. Definately ask if you can buy that bag off the coin counter, even if yous have to finish filling it first. You will want to open another account someplace else to get rid of the halves- your banker will not be happy to accomodate both ends of the transaction. Start slow and work up slowly, I made a mistake when I first started one time after I got paid I ordered as much as I could afford- needless to say it didn't make ME very popular at this small bank and I haven't been back there much since then. Fortunately I'm in a city with lots of banks and branches, I generally only order 2 boxes at a time at different branches- today I made 3 pickups, more gas and hassel but coins are heavy.

Yea I'm an old goldminer (41 haha), I used to really enjoy it but I made my 5" dredge into a monster and now its a load of work for little return so far. The gold here is fine and a large dredge isn't the best at catching it so every year I modified it and tweaked on it until now its not fun to carry to the river and set up. Add cold weather into the mix and I get mighty thirsty. I figure I burned myself out over the last 10 years with my addictive personallity, this silver mine has been a nice change of pace and profitable too but I been thinking a break could be in order here too.

Good luck with your brick, I got 9 ozt last night out of 4 boxes- it was a good night considering recent ones, hope they get better and better.
HH Mark
Here's a pic of ME dredge.

OK, maybe I scared off some who would have commented on cheap pasta deals or good food storage containers by even mentioning local tips for my area's stores are best. Forget that - if you have good info or can re-direct me to specific posts/threads from the past that covered this, please post.

I am very motivated to stock up now that I finally moved to the more rural area in 2008 and because it looks like 2008 could be the year where J6P realizes things are getting very bad. Before it gets even worse/more expensive/shortages - Right now - I am planning my storage (shelving, hiding, containers, specific items) and comments from the wise and experienced will be most helpful now.

Thank you,

davehorus

Hi Dave. Sometimes it takes a while before others respond to your post.

I have been answering posts in the order in which they were received. Lately I am very busy and don't mean to ignore posters such as you.

Your dollar store may have good pasta deals. And watch for sale flyers that come in the mail or pick them up at your local supermarket.

Each area is different with sale prices and it is impossible to say which may be the best price in your area. Paying $1.00 per pound may be the best you can do and in the near future, it may look like a bargain.

Best wishes,

agnut

We're somewhat limited on what we can purchase however the Baker's & Chefs™ Elbow Macaroni [8 lb. bag] at Sam's Club doesn't contain any of the products our child with serious food-allergies can't have and we paid $5.88 bag (~US$0.74/lb) which appears to be inline with the number you mention.

Also +1 on the Berkey, our Royal Berkey has worked flawlessly providing all drinking and cooking water for a larger family.

__________________
I was certified as a Forum Master by my score in the GIM Aptitude Test (Score: 72)
With one caveat, the score result stated: Other members immediately recognize your avatar and actually seek out your posts to see what your opinion is on any current subject.
I find that highly doubtful!

Hi Dominus and thanks for post #431. Good point and that’s just what I recommend. RandyMatt and I have been picking up lots of cheap pasta. I would buy wheat berries for wheat grass juice first, wheat flour second and bulgar cereal third. Maybe the wheat could be planted for a wheat harvest next winter. The pasta since it is processed and cheap is the best bargain rather than grinding wheat into flour.

And as you wrote, pasta manufacture cost is 3 ½ times the cost of the wheat itself. Therefore pasta at $0.50 a pound is a screaming bargain. At least that’s the way I see it. And even at $1.00 a pound it is still wise to have lots put away.

I read that in WWII Germany, they bulked up food with sawdust. If we will store quantities of pasta we can bulk up our meals with proper food.

I do think most who read this won’t see the importance of having stored enough and will only regret later when they run out far earlier that they should have. What harm in having 500 pounds of pasta if it will eventually be consumed anyway ?

As I understand your post, 100 kg or 220 pounds of pasta lasts your family for 250 days. With Americans it may last even longer with our variety. 220 pounds of pasta for 100-135 euros. At about 1.5 dollars to the euro that would be about $150 to $202. That’s from $0.68 to $0.92 for American readers. Our American pasta is usually a bit more in local supermarkets.

This all would be insignificant to talk about were it not for wheat shortages and our fiat currency. Ethanol production from corn increased planting, crowding out some wheat planting is having an effect too.

Additionally, we are talking about buying hundreds of pounds in our preps. This is large enough to possibly save a considerable amount of money, besides the security issue.

Nowadays we all must be futurists. What will pasta prices be in a few months ? There is a shortage of wheat harvested anticipated and wheat prices could rise to biblical proportions. I won’t be surprised if pasta prices double in the next year. That is, from $1.00 per pound in the stores to $2.00 per pound. My cheap pasta would probably end in time and my local dollar store would only carry it for a dollar a pound. That is why I have already bought as much as I have. I still would like to pick up another 100 pounds or more.

After all, how much pasta is too much pasta ? I could be cynical here and advise to only buy as much food as for how long you will want to continue eating. There is a limit but no one knows for how long we will need to stockpile in advance. My ideal for me and my two sons would be somewhere over 500 pounds. Should last more than 3 years. I am little over half way there now.

RandyMatt just called me and said that he had found rolled oats on sale, about 2/3 off regular price at a QVC store. He is going back for more and I asked him to pick up enough to fill 2 six gallon buckets. Hope he succeeds; I don’t have any and think it would be good for variety.

Best wishes and thanks for the great photos too,

Agnut

Good deal Wakeness. Isn’t it amazing what bidders will often pay ? Ebay is a great place to sell to a wide market. I have sold items that would have otherwise been near impossible to sell. Sure, they get their percentage but the added simplicity and additional sale price far outweighs this.

Sears has a pretty good 18” chainsaw for about $100 when on sale. I got one a few months ago and have been using the heck out of it.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Ciao Agnut

An adult consums(net without souce) is 100 grams (but I eat 200 gr. daily:D)
My family consume is +-400 grams daily, never more 3 kg pro week ,clear, I consider when I have not friends at home(but when they came they bring bottles wine or same desserts)

1 Kg quality pasta is around 1.59€, (1.08$) in Italy. In the last 4 months (from sept) the prices rises more than 20%(not annualized data)

As I said I have currently 250 days storage of pasta.
Normally for others foods my storage are around 1 years.
After this posts here:D I will double the pasta days to 500 (16 months or 200 Kg) 220-300€ are not so much as investment, I don't think prices can drop this year, the industiy it's always slow to adapt itself and in any case I usally buy it 2 times pro-months, so if I see prices drop rapidly I can stop to buy it and I'll consume my deep storage foods:D

__________________
+ In hoc signo vinces

Hi Tn…Andy. Always glad to hear from you. I have read many of your posts and concluded that you are about the most prepared anyone could be. We could learn a lot from your experiences and wisdom.

With your lumber milling capacity you will have something in demand for the future as well as useful right now. What kind of equipment is necessary ? I am on 10 acres with woods all around. But I’m not thinking of felling my own trees but hauling in logs from surrounding areas. I could use a VW diesel engine for power if necessary. I haven’t seen anyone selling used lumber mill equipment. Maybe I could find plans and build it myself. My neighbors may not be too thrilled with a buzz saw running next door. Maybe 10 acres isn’t enough for the kind of isolation necessary. I still think it would be neat to have the lumber milling machinery stored away for the future. Changing times also have changing tolerances.

The main skill I have is auto repair and specifically rebuilding manual transmissions. I think a vertical mill and a lathe may be a good idea for self employment. I had them in years past and they saved me a ton of money in repairing parts and making custom tools for my last business.

There is only one machine shop for 40 miles around and he is thinking of selling out and retiring. He wants to sell all the equipment and business for about $50K. He is wealthy and only wants to play at home. If I weren’t already busy, I would seriously consider buying it. Maybe a great opportunity for someone who wanted to move here. I know some here on GIM are disgusted with their local and state laws and taxes. California members in particular; that’s where my sons and I escaped from.

I still think anyone who is able to move away from the cities should seriously think about it. Most are tied to their job and income stream. But many can pick up and make a success in a rural environment. Mail order or local service or repair can succeed in a small town. Of course, the rare individual like Ponce who made a plan and stuck with it through the years does not need a steady income but is well positioned for the rest of his life.

Also with what I anticipate, I can barter and horse trade much more as I also expect my transmission repair to decrease in demand. I have been doing this trans work over 35 years and have been through several ups and downs. Gas prices rising slows demand for auto repair somewhat but gas rationing REALLY slows business. This is an indication that people will pay higher prices but lack of availability makes them cease joy riding and begin to make multiple stops per trip when shopping. Therefore, not as much driving and less breakdowns to repair.

As I have said, this summer should be “The Great American Garage Sale”. So now is a time to keep our powder dry and accumulate cash for coming bargains. I’m still picking up steals but also putting away some cash for deals in the months ahead.

There may well also be some companies that go under and have to sell their inventory and equipment. I need lots of shelving for the barn and have been watching and waiting but so far no luck. RandyMatt told me that he had a company that closed near where he works and they actually paid someone to haul their shelves away. I have bought defunct companies’ inventories and the multiple profits on investment have been fabulous. This is something for those who can handle being in the most aggressive deal making.

The key is to get out there and start actively looking for deals. Bulletin boards, local newspapers, Craigslist on the internet, abandoned storage locker auctions, I have bought from all kinds of sources.

And always, always remember to ask, “What else do you have for sale ?”. You can’t believe what they will drag out sometimes. If you forget to ask, you are only taking advantage of part of the opportunity. Remember the two Mitsubishi trucks for $50 that also turned into a sand blaster in the seller’s garage for $300 that I sold for $1,700 ? Yep, I asked what else do you have for sale. Doesn’t cost anything and can be worth a fortune.

I know I’m repeating myself here but I cannot emphasize enough that you ask every time. It should become natural after a while. And when you do, please post and let us know of your success. Examples of success will motivate others to try. I only recently came upon this powerful tool myself. Yeah, that’s right; it is relatively new to me. And it works miracles too.

Tn…Andy, I also read that you do your own canning. This is something I haven’t tried yet. I have some of the equipment but few of the Mason jars. My son has begun to smoke salmon and with the seasonings he uses, it is delicious. We have alder wood all over the property and he puts it through our newly acquired wood chipper for the smoke wood. I hear that Alder is He even hauled some big trunks of cherry wood he got for free and is doing likewise with it. Yesterday he began pickling eggs and we couldn’t wait for them to age so we have eaten half already. Do you know how long pickled eggs will remain good if stored away in a jar ?

Gotta go; I’m several transmission rebuilds behind. Don’t know if I am bragging or complaining.

Best wishes,

Agnut

__________________
I was certified as a Forum Master by my score in the GIM Aptitude Test (Score: 72)
With one caveat, the score result stated: Other members immediately recognize your avatar and actually seek out your posts to see what your opinion is on any current subject.
I find that highly doubtful!

Hi Agnut.

Just a message of gratitude to you for what you have offered to GIM through this thread. There is a lot of wisdom here and I am looking to integrate things that I have learned here into my life. I am looking for discounts at supermarkets now and holding much tighter to my cash than have before.
Anyway thanks.

When I'm in the U.S later this year, I am looking to rent a storage space to hold supplies of mine. I will be going shopping for food preps and was wondering what recommendations you have about buying pasta- i.e. if there is somewhere best to buy from and how long realistically it can be kept for, is temperature that important too? I eat a lot of pasta and know I can't get sick of it so it's a sure thing ;0)
I know you speak of having pasta sauces too and any insights you have on brands and again- storage life before it goes off would be appreciated..

All the best to you my friend.