[chinagreen]

I have recently had to go back to work for someone on a full time basis, the economy and such. I am backworking in a shop environment. This time though I am the experienced "OLD TIMER". Any way I asked one of the younger tikes there if he knew what a bug out bag was. He looked at me as though I was speaking Swahili. One of the other older guys was listening in and interjected. Yeah, I got one, but what kind of currency do you have in yours? It was my time to look at him with complete puzzelment on my face. I enquired further as to what he meant? He proceded to tell me that in basic training the officer told him that food and skins were great but when the apocalypse arrives everyone who is prepared will be wanting to barter the same thing. Meat and skins. He continued by saying when and if western civilization falls the current currency will topple too. As rediculous as it sounds he is right. Precious metals will be the currency of the day once again. This makes perfect sense (History is doomed to repeat itself).

So this becomes the question that I throw out to the forum, what kind of precious metals are in your bug out bag? I.E. GOLD SILVER PLATINUM

 

[mongoose]

precious metals --- copper (jackets that is)

 

[zilth]

Comfort items make a great barter... chocolate, sugar, toilet paper, medical stuff, female sanitary products... (Don't laugh - who usually controls the family food supplies? )
Can't eat precious metals.
What do you expect to trade for? If you want food then they must have enough to trade with so the above items would rate pretty highly, otherwise it's skills or knowledge. Of couse there is always the one way copper trade...

 

[rridgeoutlaw]

Who would be crazy enough to announce that they keep valuables around, perhaps inviting trouble?

 

[the hog]

Zimbabwean dollars so after I have kicked uncle roberts a$$ I can blend into the multitudes as a poverty struck, cholera, aids ridden citizen. They will never look for me there.

 

[MOS19K]

So this becomes the question that I throw out to the forum, what kind of precious metals are in your bug out bag? I.E. GOLD SILVER PLATINUM

I've seen this question or a variant of it pop up on just about every forum. This is my question to you and others that would trade in metals. How do you test for purity? Can you tell a fake from the real thing? How long will it take before folks start making counterfeit coins, which isn't very difficult. You want to purchase precious metals as an investment, that's one thing but to use as a trade item, that's completely different. I think you're better off investing in barter items.

 

[Northern Wisconsin]

Definitely Zimbabwe Dollars. Oh, I don't know, maybe about 500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 trillion of them.

 

[HammerHand]

So this becomes the question that I throw out to the forum, what kind of precious metals are in your bug out bag? I.E. GOLD SILVER PLATINUM

How many bullets is an ounce of gold worth, when you have no bullets?

Or rather, how many ounces of gold are you going to give me, when you have no bullets? Probably whatever I want, unless there's another bullet vendor nearby - and even then you'd have to take a chance on the price, and stock...

Gold, silver, and platinum will have almost no practical worth in the kind of economic collapse that would render paper money useless.

But if you've got gasoline to trade me for a box of ammunition... Or cigarettes, or alcohol, or chocolate, or any number of items that would become scarce.

 

[jfountain2]

Lead. Lots of lead

 

[salatheel]

None. I'm broke.

 

[ken]

Thirty years ago, my idea of the best BOB was a bag with nothing but cash inside. I did not have any cash, but you get the idea. You could buy anything or anybody with US dollars back then.

Twenty years ago I had a few quarters taped to a piece of cardboard in my BOB, just in case I ever had the chance to use phone again, after TEOTWAWKI. That was back then, times have changed.

Today, I would still pack a credit card, they make handy ice scrapers,and door openers, somebody will probably still accept it, and it might still be usable as some sort of lame ID card. I would probably pack in a wad of US currency, that still works which is pretty amazing to me, at least for today. I would put a few, maybe 2 Krugerands in my pocket along with some silver eagles, not many, but a few. In a bad situation it takes way too many to use in playing checkers, so not so many, ha. I will keep my bullets where they belong, I think they may only be tradable out the end of a barrel.

Tomorrow, things will be much different. The dollar will most likely to be practically worthless, so depending on the phase of the moon, maybe I would still pack some dollars in the BOB, because some people might still take them. Dollars might make wonderful toilet paper or for fire starters, I would take a few more Krugerands and more silver eagles, but since they are heavy, maybe just my jeans pockets mostly full.

I am convinced of this, "I am pretty sure you will always be able to trade your food for gold/silver, but I am not at all sure you will always be able to trade your gold/silver for food".

 

[ken]

real money for the BOB

In a less civilized world, maybe a more normal world, gold and silver are real money, commodities are close, but not as easy to carry in your BOB, the original question posted. You have to ask yourself, how good am I at predicting what another needs, and not what they want.

I suspect most with supplies (something you really need) will also have enough bullets of their own, to not to be forced to trade. If you don't have food or water, your bargaining position will slide with every hour until you will be willing to trade for anything the seller wants. I still have friends that think the only thing they need to get by is a lot of ammunition to trade, the assumption being others will be desperate, and want their ammunition, and be willing to trade anything for it. They are set on the idea that bullets are the ultimate currency. They have put great effort into their armament, and much less into the basics. If all you have is a stockpile of bullets to barter, an armed person with (food and water) only has to wait a day or so at the most, and you will hand over not only the ammunition but firearms as well, unless both begin trading their bullets out the barrel

To answer a previous post, testing the purity of gold is simple, and has been around since primitive times, do a Google search using the terms, gold purity and scratch test, it has been discussed here in several previous threads.

 

[wildjo]

Preparing when you don't know quite what your are preparing for means becoming a jack of all trades (and mastering a few).

Given that no one can predict the future, it makes sense to prepare in as many ways as possible. This includes a future where "cash" could be barter items, or paper currency, or precious metals, or trade skills, or whatever your imagination can come up with within reason.

"Experts" say you should have at east three months of living expenses saved away. This is smart preparation for bad economic times, though short of total economic collapse. So, it's not unwise to collect dollars or precious metals that have value now, but might not in the future.

Plus, my BOB sits in the corner prepared for any number of reasons, such as fire, natural disaster. Just a couple scenarios where I would be glad to have some readily available cash on hand.

I keep my vehicle's gas tank full "just in case", even though I may not be able to use the vehicle after an emp attack. But, I just might be able to use it in other situations.

Hedge your bets. Have a hundred bucks or so in cash, a gold coin or two and some silver coins, some common ammo, some whiskey, and some naked pictures of your ex-girlfriend to barter (sweet justice for her cheating ways). Chances are, you'll be able to use some, if not all.

 

[doktorziplok]

when seen as wholes, the economies of history have boiled down to cash for goods and goods for cash. bartering may be a viable alternative on a small or local scale, but eventually cash will overcome. cash needn't be physical dollars, but a bag of gold dust or a one ounce silver round. why(?) you ask. simple, it's harder (either the vendor won't accept it, or you have still have the connection that item=value) to spend a physical good or gamble it away. that's why you trade dollars for chips at a casino or credits at xbox live.

 

[tein2012]

You can keep lot os interesting thing in the buttstock of you rifle. Some have holes already, other can be drilled. Perfect for putting an once or so of 1/20th oz gold coins.

 

[mgd_only]

food and water

 

[TimeTraveler]

"What kind of currency is in your BOB"

I have "invested" in 22 Long Rifle ammo. Not for self defense. When things go ferral, everyone will have a 22 and a need to feed it. TT

 

[rambone]

$20,000 in cash-500 and 200 euro notes and yuan and yen.
$20,000 in gold bullion coins
passport
my bugoutbag is more head to a tropical beach and drink pina coladas versus
head for the hills and drink kool aid.

 

[TacomaJPP]

Lead is my currency of choice...

 

[Frank&Sense]

Tradeables plus silver and gold.