Guns vs. cash

[Heffay]

Oh man, this forum is so awesome some days!

[yuppiejr]

Prepping and obsessive preppers are one of the most lucrative new markets for people who know how to exploit "the world is going to end" panic that's been fanned and re-fanned ever since 9/11/2001. People in an absolute frenzy who are convinced money will be worthless at some point in the next decade are easy picking for the folks who know how to market everything from self defense training to seed banks to surplus gas masks, etc...

Honestly, if we're talking about investment vehicles "prepping" isn't much of one unless you subscribe to the notion that we're all about to run off a cliff and take a collective trip back in time 200 years to colonial era living smashed up with a bit of Mad Max. If you do not believe the world as we know it is going to end in the next 15 years I'd say there are other investments that will likely bring a better return than old cans of tuna/MRE's when the kids are starting to look at college.

[Heffay]

Prepping and obsessive preppers are one of the most lucrative new markets for people who know how to exploit "the world is going to end" panic that's been fanned and re-fanned ever since 9/11/2001. People in an absolute frenzy who are convinced money will be worthless at some point in the next decade are easy picking for the folks who know how to market everything from self defense training to seed banks to surplus gas masks, etc...

It's a freaking fetish now. People are actually hoping for the end of the world so they can say "I told you so" and test their mettle against other preppers in a winner-takes-all dystopian world.

As you said, for the rest of us with more realistic world views, there is a LOT of money to be made from these people. These people who believe their money will be worthless anyway, and are more than willing to essentially give it away for a small box of rice and a can of beans with a tactical label.

All you Mad Max wannabes out there, keep on keepin' on!

[Evad]

Prepping and obsessive preppers are one of the most lucrative new markets for people who know how to exploit "the world is going to end" panic

As you said, for the rest of us with more realistic world views, there is a LOT of money to be made from these people.

It's funny that people getting rich selling to preppers are selling the very thing they should have in long term storage (preps) for the thing they say will be worthless (cash).

Being prepared to go a few days without eletricity seems to be a good idea though

[yuppiejr]

For what it's worth I have no issue with being prepared, former Boy Scout married to a MN farm girl so we've always kept the things and skills we'd need for most emergencies refreshed (particularly with kids). "Prepping" as a lifestyle choice/hobby is certainly anyone's right, not my business how you spend your time and money... However, suggesting it as a long term investment strategy is sort of like telling someone to take the money out of their 401k and buy Powerball tickets.

[xd ED]

Prepping and obsessive preppers are one of the most lucrative new markets for people who know how to exploit "the world is going to end" panic

As you said, for the rest of us with more realistic world views, there is a LOT of money to be made from these people.

It's funny that people getting rich selling to preppers are selling the very thing they should have in long term storage (preps) for the thing they say will be worthless (cash).

Being prepared to go a few days without eletricity seems to be a good idea though

That worked for Y2K

[XDM45]

Prepping and obsessive preppers are one of the most lucrative new markets for people who know how to exploit "the world is going to end" panic that's been fanned and re-fanned ever since 9/11/2001.

True that. Don't dig for gold, sell the pick axe because whether they strike gold or not, YOU still got paid. Absolutely correct. Now that being said, as I mentioned before, it's good to do BOTH..invest in the societal mainstream investment vehicles AND also the SHTF non-mainstream ones as well. Doing so takes money, and you can go overboard in either area, which isn't a good idea in either case.

You also don't need to buy a lot of the things offered by the EOTW prepper sites because most of what you need can be found at flea markets, the hardware store, pet food shops, the pharmacy, etc. You can do it on the cheap(er) if you know what to get, where to get it, and so forth. You may not get EVERYTHING you want or need at normal stores/places, but most things you can. I agree that some people go over the top with prepping, but then they do with baseball cards, guns, cars, etc too.

People in an absolute frenzy who are convinced money will be worthless at some point in the next decade are easy picking for the folks who know how to market everything from self defense training to seed banks to surplus gas masks, etc...

Well, you know there's a World Seed Bank, right? It's not just preppers that have those. Anyway, no one can prepare for everything, and some things no amount of preparation will save you (aka asteroid hitting the Earth, smallpox epidemic, etc). Pick and choose your disaster and prepare for as many things as you can within reason. Fear often drives supply and demand, look at ammo right now, let alone guns..... and if people can sell prepping supplies to people and use that money to fund their own efforts, more power to them.I'd gladly give up a $100 an hour job to make $1 an hour from every person in the state of MN. I'd make a lot more money that way. It's about them making money, but it's also about leveraging their own efforts for those who sell. That's just business. More power to 'em, I say.

Honestly, if we're talking about investment vehicles "prepping" isn't much of one unless you subscribe to the notion that we're all about to run off a cliff and take a collective trip back in time 200 years to colonial era living smashed up with a bit of Mad Max. If you do not believe the world as we know it is going to end in the next 15 years I'd say there are other investments that will likely bring a better return than old cans of tuna/MRE's when the kids are starting to look at college.

I say invest in both, but if there's one thing humankind does not learn from history; it's that humankind does not learn from history. EVERY great civilization which has had a vast sea of disparity in wealth and income between the rich and the people, has fallen. Does anyone think the US is somehow immune? We are only a 200+ year old country