Gold & Silver Forum - Checklist for Hard Times

Checklist for Hard Times

"The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war."

~ Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

As we approach what many say will be the "Greatest Depression" I was inspired to combine lists into items needed in hard times. What follows is a list of lists covering areas that sustain the average family.

Most US families have no such checklist. Good times, as far as we can remember, don't inspire planning for hard times. We've been immune from such worries for 65 years since the end of World War II. The average historical memory is probably only 20�30 years.

That lack of historical perspective is a handicap against what is currently happening to the US economy. And, the US is exporting their worst problems to the rest of the world. Ironically, "other" countries are facing hard times now, before the US.

My interest in optimizing all things leads me to prepare for good times and bad. I'm a natural optimist and believe that our Creator gave us the ability to overcome all obstacles. Checklists like this are proof of that ability. It was wise, not pessimistic of the Biblical Joseph to store seven years of grain before the famine.

To optimize one must first be thorough. When it comes to preparing for hard times that means making a thorough checklist. You may not have to purchase, store or do every item on the checklist. But, there's many benefits to making one.

If your family could check off all the items on this list as ether done, not applicable or have access to then you'll be doing far better than average even in good times.

Benefits of The Checklist, Itself

Just making your own version of this checklist leaves you mindful of the many tools and things that sustain us. It may even point out some weaknesses you haven't yet addressed or thought about.

Another benefit is realizing we don't need to own everything on the list. Simple access to many items is fine, and sometimes better, than ownership. That's where friends and community come into play: We trade and share to make life easier and be more smart. Being more smart with what we have leads to needing less things to begin with.

Still, things like food, water, shelter and clothing are probably best owned.

For essentials, there's many benefits to listing and buying them, in advance:

1 You need them, anyway, so nothing goes to waste.
2 Buy them now, while they're available.
3 Buy them before inflation raises their price (And your boss doesn't raise your wages).
4 Get bulk discounts.
5 Less trips to the store is more efficient.
6 The cost of not having essentials is a "high price" to pay.
7 Thinking through this checklist tends to optimize your household which leads to needing less things.
8 Awareness of essentials gets your mind spinning on creative ways to obtain them.

You might say this is a good list for good times. And it's a great list for hard times.

Gold, Guns & Butter in Reverse

Gold comes last, not first.

"Before you buy gold, buy what you'll need the gold for."

We still have division of labor. That makes everything needed in hard times available for purchase now. If we get to a time when gold is needed to survive many essentials won't be available at any price. Distribution channels for things that are available will be crippled. That will make their price rise even in gold terms.

By the way, have you seen the price of gold, lately? With one ounce in your pocket who will be able to make change for $1000 when you need milk and eggs at the store? It may be time to learn what our ancestors knew: Gold is for kings and Silver is for people.

The Checklist @ link

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig10/gi....1.1.html#comm