Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at declining natural gas prices. (See the Commodities section.)

Precious Metals:

Spot gold was at $2,684.50 USD per Troy ounce at mid-day on Thursday. JWR’s Comment: We might see $2,750 gold in the next few days if international tensions over the Ukraine escalation continue.

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Banks Covered Gold & Silver Shorts During Post-Election Selloff.

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Why Physical Gold Outshines Gold Mining Stocks Over the Long Term.

Economy & Finance:

Nearly 40% Of Cars Financed Since 2022 Are Underwater.

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Reader H.L. spotted this: Target CEO says ‘consumers continue to spend cautiously’ amid triple-miss earnings report.

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D.S.V. sent us this news: House Ways and Means chairman lays out plans to deliver Trump tax cuts for seniors, tip workers.

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At Zero Hedge: China’s Economy Is Larger Than 30 Asian Economies Combined.

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It seems that a handful of liberal Hollywood bohemians are making good on their promises to move offshore, following the November presidential election:

Ellen Degeneres, her (ahem) “wife”, and presumably their cats have decamped to England. I wish them the best in their chilly, rainy new home. Apparently, they have some sort of castle or large estate in mind. I hope that they enjoy that 45% income tax rate. And the Stamp Duty Land Tax (property purchase tax.) The rate is 12% on properties valued at over £1.5 million. Oh, and there is also that dratted Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED). They will be paying £292,350 per year on any property valued at more than £20 Million.

Meanwhile, Richard Gere and his Spanish-born bride (nearly half his age) have moved to sunny Spain. Mr. Gere should be warned: The top income tax withholding rate in Spain is 47%.

I suppose the only way to truly embrace Euro-socialism is to pony up the onerous taxes with a big smile. – JWR

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 21, 2024

On this day in 164 BC, during the Maccabean Revolt, the forces of Judas Maccabeus recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the Second Temple. This event is now commemorated as the Jewish festival Hanukkah, also celebrated by many Messianics.

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On November 21, 1916, Britannic, the sister ship to the Titanic, sank in the Aegean Sea, killing 30 people.

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Today we present a guest article, from a reader. It was not intended to be part of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $925,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 115 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 3, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This is part of a multi-part article series on retreats written by a Christian farmer who is praying and searching for a wife. Please prayerfully consider all of the topics that he discusses.

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Economics for Farmers

The first lesson that I’d like to address in this installment is that our family is very conservative, economically. We chose to avoid all debt. Yes, it is a choice for most people. Debt is no longer passed down intergenerationally as it was previously in American history. As Christians, we are taught to avoid debt. In Proverbs, we are warned: “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (22:7). Financial freedom and financial bondage are two ends of the spectrum. Sometimes being financially free means you do not get whatever you want when you want it. But to His people God provides you with what you need. There are some people who say that you can have it all right now by signing your name and taking on debt. We choose not to and we warn people about the potential consequences of it. The results of this over generations have been awesome in that we have no debt, we are able to give generously to those who are in genuine need, and we strategically invest in businesses.

I am not criticizing people who choose to be in debt. Many times it is your choice, but it would be wrong if I did not point out the dangers of debt. Not saying anything would be the equivalent of me seeing a fast-approaching car and not warning a person who stepped out into the road whose head was turned the other way. Debt is often based on the lie that you can have today what you cannot afford today and that it will be always be easy to pay for. I know many times items are sold in “easy to make” payments. I know they talk about debt-to-income ratios. But I encourage people to read what the Bible says about debt.  For those who are in debt, I know the road is not easy to get out of debt.  My family and I have known many people over the years who chose to get themselves out of debt and we understand the struggles and sacrifice it is to travel to, merge, and stay on the road to being debt-free. My parents say: “It is better to have 10 acres that you own than 100 acres that you don’t own.”

That particular family that I told you about in Part 2 was facing fierce headwinds, but they did not know it at the time much like the passengers on the last flight of the Hindenburg thought that they would have a late dinner in New Jersey. The Hindenburg faced real headwinds that were caused by the weather delaying it just enough to most likely create the necessary conditions required for it to be quickly engulfed in flames. Now, we know that airships filled with hydrogen are one of the least safe modes of transportation.Continue reading“Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 3, by Single Farmer”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, some more saber-rattling, in Ukraine.

Biden Okays Ukrainian Missile Strikes Inside Russia

Several SurvivalBlog readers mentioned this troubling news: Ukraine: US to let Kyiv strike deep inside Russia — reports.

The article begins:

“A New York Times article citing anonymous sources claims the White House has lifted restrictions on using US weapons against targets deep in Russian territory.

Ukraine’s allies have previously barred Kyiv from deploying their weapons too far from the front line.

Now, sources say Ukrainian forces are set to use US-made ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km), against Russian targets in the coming days.

The White House did not immediately comment.”

Putin Issues New Nuclear Doctrine

SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson sent this news: Putin issues warning to United States with new nuclear doctrine. JWR’s Comment:  It is downright frightening to see the doddering Lame Duck President Biden engaging in brinksmanship. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail in the next presidential administration.  Please pray for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine!

Sweden, Finland: New Advice on Surviving War

Several readers mentioned this report from the BBC: Nordic neighbours release new advice on surviving war.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 20, 2024

On November 20, 1953, Scott Crossfield, piloting the Douglas Skyrocket, was the first man to break Mach 2 (1,300 MPH).

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In 284, Roman general Diocletian was proclaimed Emperor by the armies of the east and west after the death of Carinus at the Battle of the Margus.

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On November 20, 1914, the US State Department began requiring photographs for passports.

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November 20, 1942: The 2,451 kilometer-long Alaska Highway (“AlCan”) from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Fairbanks, Alaska, first opened to military traffic.

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We are pleased to welcome our newest advertiser, Angel Studios. They produce faith-based movies and television shows. Their latest project is a feature film that is spinning off a television series, called Homestead.  It should be of great interest to preppers and survivalists. The Homestead movie will open in theaters on December 20th, 2024.

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Today we present a guest article, from a reader. It was not intended to be part of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $925,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 115 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 2, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This is part of a multi-part article series on retreats written by a Christian farmer who is praying and searching for a wife. Please prayerfully consider all of the topics that he discusses.

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The Land: Your Base of Operations

Our farm can support the core food needs of hundreds of people. Farm productivity has been increasing much faster than the population. Over the space of two centuries, the number of people who are living on farms has decreased from almost universal to around two percent. Since the number of people who now live on farms is so relatively few as a percentage of the population, this has decreased the survival prospects of the rest of the population in the event of large-scale and persistent shortages. In each successive generation, self-sufficiency has declined overall and now almost everyone depends on a complex series of events to get almost everything that you need.

By 1920, the majority of the population lived in cities rather than rural areas and this change has had major effects on families. Our country is a net exporter of food, so the figure of how many people the average United States farmer feeds is nearly 170 people. Back in 1960, it was about one farmer feeding 25 people. The vast majority (95 percent) of all farms are owned by families. Whenever you go to the grocery store, you most likely are supporting a family farm. A lot of these amazing productivity numbers are achieved by specialization, inputs, and technology that would not be available in the event of a long-term emergency.Continue reading“Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 2, by Single Farmer”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Democrat Senator Mazie Hirono Claims SCOTUS Created Ability to Own Guns in 2008.

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Reader G.C. in Southern California wrote:

“I really like reading your quotes of the day.  But one thing bugs me.  I’ve seen you quote hymns but I’ve never seen you quote a modern praise chorus.  Why not?”

JWR Replies: There are exceptions, but I contend that generally contemporary praise choruses can best be described by four facets: Their dearth of sound Biblical doctrine, an over-emphasis on emotionalism, mantra-like repetitiveness, and a surplus of personal pronouns.  Modern praise choruses have as much to do with traditional hymns as hip-hop music has to do with classical music.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Switzerland is a small, steep country, much more up and down than sideways, and is all stuck
over with large brown hotels built on the cuckoo clock style of architecture.” –  Ernest Hemingway, Toronto Star Weekly, March 4, 1922

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — November 19, 2024

On November 19, 1274, the Mongol army landed at Hakata Bay in Japan during their first invasion attempt. They were defeated. Famously, a typhoon (“Kamikaze“) destroyed most of their fleet as they withdrew.

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Today is the anniversary of the Kyle Rittenhouse “Not Guilty” verdicts, in 2021.

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On this day in 1863, U.S. President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, at the dedication service for the National Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

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Brownell’s (one of our affiliate advertisers) is running an Early Black Friday Sale. This sale will run until November 24th, 2024.  Take a look at their great discount pricing!

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Today we present a guest article, from a reader. It was not intended to be part of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $925,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 115 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 1, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This is part one of a multi-part article series on retreats written by a Christian farmer who is praying and searching for a wife. Please prayerfully consider all of the topics that he will discuss.

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Preparedness Terminology History

My family preparedness history goes back generations. Before the term “prepper” was used, people who were into preparedness were known as “survivalists” and even before then people were known as “retreaters.” Our survival library is very extensive covering preparedness-related subjects including original civil defense publications from the 1950s until today. I have spent many hours reading the articles and books that have been collected by my family. Recently, I was reading an article written thirty years ago that speculated on what term would be used after “survivalist.” The author had several interesting suggestions, but “prepper” was not one of them.

I consider our family library to be one of our key preparations. I have been told many times and I believe it: “You do not have time, money, energy, or lives to repeat every mistake, so learn from your elders.” Each book represents the voice of a person which is resonating throughout history. Many of these authors are no longer with us, but you can still learn from them.Continue reading“Thoughts on Retreats: History and Land – Part 1, by Single Farmer”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, a look at ghost towns in the American Redoubt. Pictured above is Silver City, Idaho.

Region-Wide

7 Ghost Towns on the Way to Yellowstone.

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Video: Ghost Towns of Idaho and Montana #1.

Idaho

A Road Trip Through Idaho Ghost Towns.

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Salmon Valley Ghost Towns.

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Ghost Towns in Idaho.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — November 18, 2024

On November 18, 1883, US and Canadian railroads set and synchronized four standard time zones – Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific, replacing more than 100 previous time zones.

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On this day in 1978, Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones led hundreds of his followers in a mass murder-suicide at their agricultural commune in a remote part of the South American nation of Guyana. This incredibly tragic occurrence introduced the term “…drink the Kool-Aid” into our parlance, since poison-laced punch was the vehicle behind most of the deaths.

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A new listing over at SurvivalRealty: Beautiful Underground Berm Home in the Heart of the North Carolina High Country — $349,000 –167 Simmons Ridge Road, Spruce Pine, NC.

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The last day! We have been running a Wee-Long Veteran’s Day Sale at Elk Creek Company. The prices of all of our in-stock military-issue rifles (and sporters) and our military-issue revolvers have been deeply reduced. They are selling quickly. I boxed up five rifles this weekend and they will be shipped today. This a great opportunity to shop for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift that will be treasured for generations. Place your order before midnight Pacific Time tonight. (Monday, November 18th, 2024.)

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Today’s feature article was authored by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.