How tall should my stack be? assume that bullets and beans are covered. and PMs would be for oh shit situation basically lasting say maybe 18 - 24 months
The way I'm thinking things are about to go, your gonna need anything and everything of value to be able to barter/trade with, I don't think buying is gonna get a feller very far unless there are exchanges set up that can be trusted, I see changing metals as a big challenge!
Although I do have some PMs, in the current environment I would suggest more tangible items rather than bullion. Food, tools, building and fabrication materials come to mind quickly. All the gold in the world is useless if no one has for sale what you desire.
PMs are great for preserving your wealth in the face of an increasingly worthless dollar. Yes I own some. But having a safe place to live, where no one can cut off your power, your water, your food or throw you out of your primary source of shelter is ultimately going to be of the greatest value. It's a mater of priorities. If I didn't have a BOL I'd be looking for one before sinking money into PMs
Altoidfishfins is correct, "PMs are great for preserving your wealth in the face of an increasingly worthless dollar." This is the ONLY reason to have gold and/or silver, preserving your wealth for when things settle down and get back to some sort of normal. I prefer gold and silver coins that are legal tender, eagles. My greatest fear is waking up and finding out that our money is worthless...and that is what exactly will happen and soon. My guess is gold and silver will sky rocket with the fiat collapse so I think one does not have to put all one's savings into PMs because it could easily be worth 5X what you paid for it.
Put a large portion of your retirement in silver and gold. But, it won't do you any good if you don't know how to sell it. I have tens of thousands of dollars from selling ammo and silver to buy up some asset when that asset temporarily implodes.
OMG! I just realized that the tax rate on selling gold is 28%! WTH? I assumed it would be normal short/long-term gains but it's consider a collectable so 28% no matter how long you hold it. %#$*!!!!
there is a bill in congress now to make non-taxable. likely hood of passing? Not likely. https://www.moneymetals.com/uploads/content/Mooney-HR2284-draft.pdf
At least make it reasonable, like normal capital gains, but I imagine even those will go back to the old levels soon given the crook we have in office.
reasonable like 0%. Currently it's like taxing the asking a retailer to exchange 2 dollar bills for 8 quarters so you can buy something from their vending machine.
It's actually a taxable event. You are by tax law, to self report the sale. Unless of course what you sell and the quantity exceeds a certain threshold, business will report the transaction.
Hell when shit goes back to normal I'll probably invest in "on sale" personal defense ammo. It will likely triple in value before that next election. Strangely 380 ammo seems to be the most expensive and hardest to find.