10 guns and 25 knives might be fun but it won't feed you.

Well, my 'guns' have been feeding me quite well for the past five or six years. And I use a variety of around 6 to 10 knives when skinning, gutting and butchering. I haven't had to buy red meat at all since I started hunting (so no worries about the beef recall mess) and I know my meat is all 'organic' and 'free range' like the hippies like.

Metals are good as a savings vehicle, but for the new prepper on a budget they can be a trap. The first investments you should make are in tangibles like good land, and the necessities of life like food, food prep supplies, a good hunting rig and training to use it, whatever, etc. The leftovers should be in precious metals and NOT the bank or stock market or mutual funds, with a remaining liquid fund in cash on hand for those unforseen repairs like car repairs or whatever. Just my humble opinion. I have to keep reminding myself to take my own advice.

" I haven't had to buy red meat at all since I started hunting (so no worries about the beef recall mess) "

Cook the crap out of it and make sure your dinner is not bleeding and you should be good. That is if you were to buy tainted meat. Well done Cajun style.

Does anyone know of a reputable silver dealer in Edmonton?

Does anyone know of a reputable silver dealer in Edmonton?

Here you go, we just used it ..Bought an once of silver as a test and it is now in our pocket.....will be buying more....

https://silvergoldbull.com/customer/account/login/referer/aHR0cHM6Ly9zaWx2ZXJnb2xkYnVsbC5jb20vcG9ydGZvbGlvL2luZGV4L2luZGV4Lw ,,/

Well I was actually looking for an actual store that I could buy what I want with cash. Isn't there an advantage to doing that?

If you are in the Calgary area I would recommend Albern Coins on Centre St. North near 16th Ave. (not open Sat/Sun during regilar year- open Sat in Dec.) There is another gold/silver place right near it on centre but I haven't been in there yet.

If you don't live in Calgary I would recommend my WalMart idea I spoke about previously. If there is a real economic collapse then cheap 10k gold chains or trinkets and cheap sterling silver (82% silver content) will increase in real value anyway and they are easier to buy now.

I am not sure about the Walmart route. I don't know enough about jewlery to start taking it in trade for things that I know have value (food and such) whereas a coin at least assures me of some value. If the stuff doesn't hit the fan as bad or as long as it might-I'd rather be stuck with a roll of silver coins than a lot of silver chains (I don't look good in silver). What do the rest of you think? Is there any way to become more knowledgable about jewlery so as to not get ripped off?
Is anyone looking into platinum? I don't think it would be much use at a neighbour to neighbour barter level, but it seems to be in demand.

Platinums price usually is affected by the auto industry. Its use as a PM is not that old. I like platinum but dollar for dollar as a hedge and a preserver of wealth I like gold and silver. Some like copper rounds, but I like my copper in strand or pipe form only. Some metals are more industrial rather than precious. Rhodium is an example of a metal that many have no idea the value.

As for junk jewelry I would not touch it and for me that goes for junk silver coins. They do have silver in them but I prefer a pure silver and probably would never take anything less since I do not want the weight of other alloys with me. Others however would.

What do you consider "junk" jewlery and coins? My thoughts are that I want to have something that is without a doubt what it says it is and that is in small enough increments that are reasonable to trade for smaller items that i might want or need. What do you suggest?

Google Edmonton Coin Stores. There are several, including one at West Edmonton Mall, one off Whyte Ave, and two on 118 Ave. They will explain everything to you!
Junk Silver is a very wise purchase (Dimes and Quarters), but Maple Leafs are ultimately the best, and affordable. Also, do your homework...google a bit and learn.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I definatly need to learn more since it isn't something I had put any thought into before now. I'll keep stocking up on the stuff I understand so i won't have to barter too much with my silver-lol, but it would be nice to have some form or "money" in the future.

O.k. This likely a stupid question. I have my grandmothers silver, silverware (flatware). They used to joke about hiding it during the depression so that no one ran off with it. How would I find out if it has value? Just thinking ...would it ever be useable .... could I barter my spoon for some food... maybe a knife for some ammo...hahaha... an suggestions.

Silverware is a crapshoot as to its silver content and may vary in value from one person to the next. Brands and appraisers would know the value. Sterling silver is 92.5% or so silver content. Preppers like the unpure/junk stuff but I personally don't and would not take it for trade since it must be melted down and this comes at a cost, negating the savings in buying such items IMO. I buy maples only because they have a .9999 purity, while the silver eagles have a .999. The difference is minimal but I only want the most pure silver available to me. If you want something for trade in smaller denominations go for the 1/10 oz silver coins (premium to weight). Junk silvers content must be known to both parties in order for trade to happen, so I choose something that has it stamped. No pandas here since I don't trust the Chinese.

This is my opinion since I believe the highest purity is of most desire to most people.

If your silverware is actually silver (it should be marked sterling or otherwise hallmarked as silver) it is worth something for its silver value. If it has no Sterling mark stamped on it, is means it is silver-plated and worthless for it's silver value, but it may still have some collectable value. No maker of silverware would ever make a sterling silver set and not mark it (they would always want to advertise quality). No sterling stamp = Not sterling.

Sterling silver is bought by refiners by the gram, but like anything the pay less than what it is worth. Check around, I haven't looked at the prices for awhile.
Sterling silver is 92.5 pure silver, usually alloyed with copper for greater durability.

If you keep it, it will always be worth something. Silver is in shortage these days, with industrial demand outpacing production buy hundreds of millions of ounces per year.

What silver buyers need to remember is that prices for goods can still inflate against silver. What one person could buy now for an ounce of silver (say a bucket of wheat) might rise, since silver is not essential to life, and food is. You might not be able to buy that same bucket for ten ounces, or twenty. Of course the 'cash' equivalent of that could be a hundred million pengos (look it up) or whatever, but the price can still go up in terms of metal the same as it can in terms of cash.

So buy your food storage, your tools, your land, everything you need BEFORE you start thinking about dumping your life savings into silver. Because you can't eat silver any more than you can eat your mutual fund. But if you have extra money don't leave it all in cash in the bank or under your mattress, because cash is an IOU, and precious metals are a reasonable store of wealth during currency devaluation.

Thanks all. Silverware is basically worthless... and so likely is the ... pension plan, mutal funds, the r.r.s.p.s., etc etc! So I followed Travalers lead here... he said he had bought and recieved from these folks. Checked them out... Talked to them on the phone ... They are an Alberta company, orginally out of Rocky Mountain House... they have just opened up in Calgary as well and will be setting up a store front idea as well in the very near future.(walk in pick up) The price is cheaper if you don't use your credit card. https://silvergoldbull.com