therefore it follows that
* any “mattress” style paper money savings strategy loses real value at a rate of about 4.15%/yr
* any non-gold style investment should ideally beat 4.15%/yr (tax free)
I think there is a common misconception—that you are “investing” in silver and gold. Thats not why you do it. You are not going to be magically rich overnight. In fact, if the SHTF your buying power will be limited as the supply of goods diminishes.
Silver and gold are stores of value. While the bread you are buying might be purchased for silver coins...the price is probably going to be two or three times today’s price in silver.
Gold and silver are not investments, by definition. You are speculating, in currency. A foreign currency, essentially.
Don’t get me wrong, speculating can be very, very profitable, there’s nothing wrong with it. But it isn’t investing. Words mean things. You can also lose money investing. But Websters sez investing is “something other than money, designed or hoped to provide a return.” Like stocks, or a business or a rental property. An investment provides income. Just my .02c. In Silver ;)