What would you recommend for money this coming year? I've heard that gold, silver or gems (for large transactions) are desirable... Also, what about bartering - could skills also be used for a trades (i.e. butchering or canning)?

-- Deb (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

I'm far from expert, but I'd caution a guess that unless the world system as we know it collapses (which seems unlikely), paper money will still retain some or all of its value. Given its familiarity, it may well continue as a medium of exchange even in the face of unforeseen financial problems. Additionally, assuming there is a government sufficiently intact to collect taxes, such entity may require payment in such fashion - I refer you to the Whiskey Rebellion of the late 1700's, which was put down by the then-new United States government. There was insufficient coinage in circulation at that time, and the taxing authorities refused to accept farm animals, grains or other commodities as payment. Interesting reading, and it may bear heavily on modern issues in days to come.

In any event, gemstones are best avoided. Their price is controlled (or should I say inflated) by a relatively small group, and the historic record indicates that precious metals are much more readily accepted as a medium of exchange.

Providing a service to others that they are incapable of performing for themselves is, in normal times, a fairly sure and safe course. However, the sad fact is that those with whom you are bartering must have something that you need (food, etc.) that they can exchange for either your money or efforts. In a worst-case situation, they may be bereft of all barterable commodities.

-- PKM (.@...), October 24, 1999.

Everything but gems.

dave

-- dave (wootendave@hotmail.com), October 24, 1999.

I'm thinking cash is king, with coffee and cigs a close second.

-- semper paratus (always@ready.now), October 24, 1999.

For women, TP is #1. Also valued amongst men, I'm told.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), October 24, 1999.

Cash.

If the domestic banking system keeps working fairly well, even checks and credit cards. If not, cash.

Anything else, including silver and gold, reduces to barter, with it limitations. If we are reduced to barter, 1. we are in really big trouble; 2. little units are useful, such as TP, sugar, salt, any foods, candy, coffee, tobacco, liquor, spices, etc.

Jerry

-- Jerry B (skeptic76@erols.com), October 24, 1999.

Since TP is so bulky, I propose dehydrated TP. Just add water to use.

-- A (A@AisA.com), October 25, 1999.

A, Unc sees your TP and ups it by a sixpack.

-- T the C (T_C@hm.com), October 25, 1999.

TP???

just do what the Arabs do - use your "dung hand"... :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), October 25, 1999.

I would accumulate in the following sequence until you reach the amount you have allocated for physical money:

1) $1000 in small bills (< $20) and change

2) $2000 in $20s

3) $3000 in $100s

4) $1000 face value 90% silver coins ($.10, $.25, $.50)- cost ~$6000

5) 5oz 1/10 oz gold eagles- ~$2000

5) 20 1 oz gold eagles- ~$6000

6) $5000 in 20s

7) $10000 in $100s

8) 10 100 oz silver bar ~$5000

9) 10 10 oz gold bar ~$30000

10) $100000 in 100s

11) 10 100 oz gold bar ~$300000

12) $500000 in 100s

13) put the rest in 1 carat D flawless diamonds

-- spartakles (spar@ta.kle), October 26, 1999.