Category: Economics & Investing

As we prepare our lives for the unknown, the various categories needing attention are overwhelming.  Many start with the obvious: water, food, security, defense, and self-reliance.  Once we secure our basic survival needs we almost all come to the same next dilemma: money.  How do we shelter the fruits of our labor from the coming storm?   Retirement accounts are among the largest asset for the average American.  Many people have five and six figure sums of money in these accounts.  Whether you’re concerned about a currency collapse, government theft, or complete societal breakdown, finding a good home for these …

EPA Regulations To Raise Power Costs 37 Percent By 2020. – B.B. o o o Russia Might Be Forced To Cut Oil Production. – E.K. o o o Don’t Like an Industry? Send a Message to Its Bankers. – G.G. o o o Government In Action: IRS Seized Small Business Cash Deposits Without Notice

Russia Grabs Another 18.7 Tonnes Of Gold In October From The Market o o o Gold Repatriation Stunner: Dutch Central Bank Secretly Withdrew 122 Tons Of Gold From The New York Fed o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Peter Schiff: The Abenomics Death Spiral If You Are A US Investor Who Is Bullish Japan, Look Away 3 Of The 10 Largest Economies In The World Have Already Fallen Into Recession – Is The U.S. Next? Behold The Surge In Real October Earnings

$4.15 Per Pound: Ground Beef Climbs to Another Record High. – G.G. o o o Multiemployer Program Posts Record Deficit, Single-Employer Shortfall Shrinks, PBGC Says. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Deformations On The Dealer Lots: How The Fed’s ZIRP Is Fueling The Next Subprime Bust David Stockman: Take Cover Now – They Don’t Ring A Bell At The Top Part-Time Jobs Putting Millions in Poverty or Close To It

Ukraine Admits Its Gold Is Gone: “There Is Almost No Gold Left In The Central Bank Vault” o o o Serfdom is the New Normal ~ Gus Demos & Michael Krieger . – W.L. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Obama’s Secret Treaty Would Be The Most Important Step Toward A One World Economic System As Ruble Falls Even Teeth Cost Too Much to Fix As Debt Piles Up, Japan Tries to Lock in Low Borrowing Costs

bail ins coming to a bank near you. – W.L. o o o 60% Of Households Get More Benefits Than They Pay In Taxes. – G.G. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Economists Trim Fourth-Quarter U.S. Growth Forecasts Central Banks: The New Gold Bugs? Why Japan’s Money Printing Madness Matters

Hugh, Regarding K.D.’s article on becoming debt free, a 401K loan should be the last resort in most cases. “Paying ourselves interest” sounds like a fantastic deal, but it is not that simple. What many do not realize is that loan payments into a 401k (typically from payroll deductions) are made from after-tax dollars. When those dollars are later withdrawn from the 401k, they are taxed again. So, the dollars you “pay yourself interest” with will be taxed twice. Assuming the lowest federal bracket of 15%, that “additional 3.25%” the author mentions going into his retirement account will all be …

24 Reasons Why Millennials Are Screaming Mad About Our Unfair Economy o o o The Appalling Truth About Energy Subsidies. – E.K. o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Putin Stockpiles Gold as Russia Prepares For Economic War ISIS to Mint Own Currency Out of Gold, Silver and Copper – Agree that the world debt-based fiat monetary system is enslaving the entire planet, but what is most interesting is perhaps this is how the U.S. might issue controls on gold/silver by giving the excuse da jour of “terrorism”, and poof there goes the Constitution and your God-given rights. Economists Trim …

Response to D.R., I am in no way qualified to make retirement recommendations for anyone other than myself. In fact, now that we are debt free I enlisted the help of a financial advisor for just that reason. I should clarify a bit concerning our 401K accounts. When I said in the article, “We pulled our money out of the market” we actually just pulled out of equities. We parked the funds in a savings account within our 401K plan, but we actually re-entered equities in 2010. The appreciation of those funds helped us in our war immensely. As for …

GAO: IRS Lacks Adequate Internal Controls. – PLC o o o How Much Interest Has Your Food “Bank” Earned This Year? o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: Marc ‘Dr. Doom’ Faber: I will soon be proven right Japan’s Slip into Surprise Recession Paves Way for Tax Delay, Snap Poll Japan Unexpectedly Enters Recession as Abe Weighs Tax: Economy

Report: 25 Percent Of Connecticut Households Above Federal Poverty Level But Struggle To Meet Basic Needs. – G.G. (Free registration required to read the article. Don’t violate OPSEC.) o o o Nearly half of Florida households are struggling financially, United Way reports. – G.G. o o o Turkey production down, wholesale prices up . – M.M. o o o Borrowers, Beware: The Robo-signers Aren’t Finished Yet. – G.G. o o o Gold shortage worst in over a decade

HJL, KDs advice on getting out of debt and getting spending under control is spot on, but I am curious what KD and the SurvivalBlog editor recommend for retirement savings. Obviously silver and gold are vital components of any investment portfolio, as a hedge against the failure of currency, but these investments do not pay dividends and cannot be relied upon as a complete retirement plan. When investing for the auction price of a stock, as the mainstream foolishly recommends, I agree with SurvivalBlog that the stock market can be a dangerous store of wealth. However, if you approach investing …

Weather, tight supplies drive U.S. cattle prices to new high o o o Winging it through retirement: 30 percent of Americans have no retirement savings. o o o The politics of housing: Why are many blue cities unaffordable to the middle class? o o o Items from Mr. Econocobas: 24% Of Millennials “Expect” Student Loan Forgiveness – As someone with student loans, I understand the frustration of an highly overpriced “asset”, but this is insanity to even think this. Video: David Stockman Interview On Bloomberg TV: Congress Is In A Fiscal Coma—Do Not Disturb! Video: David Stockman Interview On Bloomberg …