I have to correct that already, gold at 2600 Canadian, and silver climbing above 32 Canadian a ounce. In a month I recovered the premium I payed for Silver Maples, and am over 4 dollars a ounce to the up side. Just dumb luck I bought when I did.

I have to update this again. Gold above 2700.00 and silver bouncing around in the 37-38 dollar range.

the one ounce question is, when to sell, or not sell at all and alway have some ?
As an investment, you want return. Could be stock, (stockings, cigarettes, chocolate :lol:) a piece of land, painting.... but at a minimum, you buy as a hedge but ideally for a gain. Gold, silver, diamonds... are all imaginary values yet during wars... they can save your neck

It’s one of those Funny intangibles

the one ounce question is, when to sell, or not sell at all and alway have some ?
As an investment, you want return. Could be stock, (stockings, cigarettes, chocolate :lol:) a piece of land, painting.... but at a minimum, you buy as a hedge but ideally for a gain. Gold, silver, diamonds... are all imaginary values yet during wars... they can save your neck

It’s one of those Funny intangibles

You are correct, ideally you should be buying for gain, and in a perfect world thats what you strive for. This world aint perfect so metals for me are a hedge. Straight buy and hold. Hold till I die just like the property I am on. Unless of course they are needed for things I am hedging against like hyper inflation, then there may be a need to sell. Though I dont have much in Gold and silver, maybe 10 000.00 Tops. enough to carry my property taxes for a half dozen years if I had to. I have some friends (Two) who have spend decades putting there overtime, and yearly bonuses (bonuses often greater than 40,000 in a good year. ) into silver and gold, but mostly silver. They have jaw dropping amounts of the stuff and no I wont share their addresses. They must be very happy about now. Silver closed at over 33 a ounce today.

the one ounce question is, when to sell, or not sell at all and alway have some ?
As an investment, you want return. Could be stock, (stockings, cigarettes, chocolate :lol:) a piece of land, painting.... but at a minimum, you buy as a hedge but ideally for a gain. Gold, silver, diamonds... are all imaginary values yet during wars... they can save your neck

It’s one of those Funny intangibles

You are correct, ideally you should be buying for gain, and in a perfect world thats what you strive for. This world aint perfect so metals for me are a hedge. Straight buy and hold. Hold till I die just like the property I am on. Unless of course they are needed for things I am hedging against like hyper inflation, then there may be a need to sell. Though I dont have much in Gold and silver, maybe 10 000.00 Tops. enough to carry my property taxes for a half dozen years if I had to. I have some friends (Two) who have spend decades putting there overtime, and yearly bonuses (bonuses often greater than 40,000 in a good year. ) into silver and gold, but mostly silver. They have jaw dropping amounts of the stuff and no I wont share their addresses. They must be very happy about now. Silver closed at over 33 a ounce today.

It’s funny you mention taxes, my holdings are along your idea. Just hold and keep in case. It could be a loser or it could keep my property taxes paid for a few years. At current rate.. probably seven years worth of taxes.

We are only 5 months or so into this and my thoughts are 6 months, a year from now and its not looking good. The loss of business tax alone, both local, provincial and federal is going to be devastating. I dont think a lot of people are aware just how fast a interest rate climb can eat up a persons income if they are leveraged with debt. I know the central bank will try to keep rates low, but can they? I dont know the answer to that, but even if they can the short falls in revenue are going to be made up somewhere and for my province I see that coming through property taxes. Start preparing for significant out of pocket expenses and I cant see all the forms they will come in, but they are coming!

We are only 5 months or so into this and my thoughts are 6 months, a year from now and its not looking good. The loss of business tax alone, both local, provincial and federal is going to be devastating. I dont think a lot of people are aware just how fast a interest rate climb can eat up a persons income if they are leveraged with debt. I know the central bank will try to keep rates low, but can they? I dont know the answer to that, but even if they can the short falls in revenue are going to be made up somewhere and for my province I see that coming through property taxes. Start preparing for significant out of pocket expenses and I cant see all the forms they will come in, but they are coming!

Agree with property tax. No one need develop a case of the vapors because this is not political but simple reality. There have been hints about home owners needing to share their wealth, more poverty palaces injected into communities etc etc so this does impact those who wish to be safe... governments need cash for all the debt and subsidies they hand out and evil rich home owners Are an easy target, after all there are fewer and fewer home owners and a lot more living in apartments and subsidized housing units. All about wining votes, so don’t be surprised if owners are hit and hit hard.

What can be done? Well perhaps those in the burbs or the city should think about moving out and into less expensive regions, hard what with children being nearby etc but once taxes hit, single homes will in theory become less attractive? Maybe maybe not because right now, homes in ottawa region are a hot commodity. There were Rumours of the current government looking at taxing home sales as well, and while they deny it, I get a sense they are playing with words. So impact to those wishing to sell and buy that property in the countryside needs to be considered, perhaps sooner then later?

Someone needs to pay the piper and it won’t be those on social assistance, students or seniors on CPP, so that leaves working stiffs or those living in homes. Life’s simple when one wishes to face reality and not believe in Santa Claus or the free money fairy.

I have been watching with interest in regards to the info my mom has been sharing about red deer (maybe the same in other cities in alberta??) that they are getting a overwhelming number of permits to split the houses into two.. one upstairs and one downstairs.. its smart to have extra living spaces.. its smart but I understand the town council is trying to figure out what to do with this information and this HUGE backlog of requests..

It certainly seems like peaple are downsizing and housesharing while still trying to keep some "living space" for each family.. its still so "Canadian to assume they need to have their own full kitchens and so forth on each level" in other countries they would still share the houses but never think a thing about shared common spaces..

I have been watching with interest in regards to the info my mom has been sharing about red deer (maybe the same in other cities in alberta??) that they are getting a overwhelming number of permits to split the houses into two.. one upstairs and one downstairs.. its smart to have extra living spaces.. its smart but I understand the town council is trying to figure out what to do with this information and this HUGE backlog of requests..

It certainly seems like peaple are downsizing and housesharing while still trying to keep some "living space" for each family.. its still so "Canadian to assume they need to have their own full kitchens and so forth on each level" in other countries they would still share the houses but never think a thing about shared common spaces..

I dont know what each city is doing though I know in my county building a granny house on a rural property is permitted. Rules are much looser out in the country. Even though my house is being set up for complete living on the basement level or upstairs with complete kitchen/bathrooms and such I do not think I could share my home with others (strangers) now, even if the economic need was pressing. The last time I shared a house with others was roughly 83, and while it was cheap to do so, my share of the rent was 166 dollars a month at the time , the drama of living with others, the alcohol consumption, the over the top drama of multiple rotating girl friends from each person meant the house was far from peace full, and fell apart with acrimony in the year, or maybe it was 2.

I can build a 12 x16 foot cabin with loft and need no permit or inspections (in my county) So thats 384 sqft on two levels without permits). covered Decks can be added so that square footage increases in the summer
Know anyone looking for living in a 400 sqfoot place . Send them my way, I will help them build it, and set it up so they have no utility bills

The economic fallout can be seen on White Ave (82nd ave). I travelled the full length of it this afternoon, and there may not be another area of the city with more Cafes , restaurants, and coffee shops that service the university and hospital area. Easily 50% of them were closed, many with the spaces emptied out and a for lease sign up and the rest closed up, lights off, likely just waiting for the receiver to take everything. Foot traffic looked light in the area, though it was a rainy day. Interesting to see.

Another observation is the metals price, Gold and Silver. Gold over 2700 Canadian, and Silver in the 37-38 dollar range. Silver is up nearly 40% in the last 30 days.

It should be obvious to all that the economy is a disaster, your observations and others all tell a partial story of obvious failure. Canada’s deficit this year was I believe projected at 340 or so billion, But and I may be wrong, did not include CERB ... past September? So will the FEDERAL deficit, because so far that’s all people have in a minuscule way even pondered!

Let assume for the fun of it that this is around till Christmas, 2021. Will the 21 “deficit be 500 or maybe 700 billion! 700 billion deficit for a year is certainly plausible if we are hit with two waves. I would even guess it could be more than that! Then there are the provinces, large cities and towns!

To back up the grim reality of things, let’s look at the silence on this topic. No one is really talking about it because they know it’s mind blowing, so like the schools in the spring, they keep pushing things back every two weeks or like with international travel, it keeps getting extended. Instead, they should just say there’s not a prayer it will reopen before the spring at the earliest.

We cannot keep spending the money we are. Simply unsustainable. What will happen to all the pension plans that are invested in the office towers, malls, industrial buildings? How long before they are forced to stop paying civil servants who sit at home doing nothing? It’s one thing to work from home but forking out 50,60,80k plus benefits per person for a year is mind numbing.

Then there is the personal debts and business owners who are starting use credit cards to try and keep business open. At a certain point, things will go pop and then watch the panic.

This should go in another area but irs very relevant here.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/55-of-coronavirus-patients-still-have-neurological-problems-three-months-later-study-2020-08-07

How will these lingering effects impact unemployment insurance, WSIB, Crime, substance abuse, health care costs....

Maybe I am wrong but when I look at all the indicators that I would under a previous life, I do not see anyone being able to offer any concrete plan. It’s simply spend money we do not have, can never pay back and pretend this was but a dream

EDITED; It should be obvious to all that the economy is a disaster, your observations and others all tell a partial story of obvious failure. Canada’s deficit this year was I believe projected at 340 or so billion, But and I may be wrong, did not include CERB ... past September? So will the FEDERAL deficit, be 400 ...billion by the end of the year?

Let assume for the fun of it that this is around till Christmas, 2021. Will the 2021 “deficit be 700 billion! 700 billion deficit for a year is certainly plausible if we are hit with two waves. I would even guess it could be more than that! Then there are the provinces, large cities and towns operating deficits. What’s hilarious and nothing but an old style con game is that the provinces are saying they will send money to municipalities! DUH, there’s only one taxpayer so while the idea of spreading around the pain sounds nice, it simply means that an older person living on a pension in some nice debt free location, will now need to pay for drug addiction, homeless... problems in Toronto...
One taxpayer will need to pay the piper. so everyone above poverty level can expect increased taxes and everyone including those who pay no taxes or are poor can expect increased food costs. Free meals do not nor have They ever existed.

To back up the grim reality of things, let’s look at the silence on this topic. No one is really talking about it because they know it’s mind blowing, so like the schools in the spring, they keep pushing things back every two weeks or like with international travel, it keeps getting extended. Instead, they should just say there’s not a prayer that international travel it will reopen before the spring at the earliest. Of course people would be upset but this way, cowards extend the delivery of the news and hope it can be buried under cover of something Belsen.

We cannot keep spending the money we are. Simply unsustainable. What will happen to all the pension plans that are invested in the office towers, malls, industrial buildings? How long before they are forced to stop paying civil servants who sit at home doing nothing? It’s one thing to work from home but forking out 50,60,80k plus benefits per person for a year is mind numbing. As of June time frame, I believe federal civil servants sitting at home ant working cost 670 million or so! By end of 2021 it will be what, five billlion just in salaries for fed level civil servants! Plus their pensions! This is another factor in civil disobedience that needs to be considered. Groups are being setup against each other. One is comfortable and the other working putz is suddenly on unemployment but neighbor is laughing all the way to the bank. Guaranteed setup for anger and easy to predict.

Then there is the personal debts and business owners who are starting use credit cards to try and keep business open. At a certain point, things will go pop and then watch the panic.

This should go in another area but irs very relevant here.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/55-of-coronavirus-patients-still-have-neurological-problems-three-months-later-study-2020-08-07

How will these lingering effects impact unemployment insurance, WSIB, Crime, substance abuse, health care costs....

Maybe I am wrong but when I look at all the indicators that I would under a previous life, I do not see anyone being able to offer any concrete plan. I see lies, I see gross incompetence, political maneuvers to buy votes... in many respects an authorized crime is being committed. It’s simply spend money we do not have, can never pay back and pretend this was but a dream.
So not political commentary ,it is simply a way of looking at what is occurring and how to a certain degree predict some of the impact to those trying to keep their head above water and survive.
Increased debt, inflation in food and other essentials, reduced choice, increased unemployment, decreased access to medical facilities, less safe streets and neighborhoods, more depressed and distressed people in stores, on the streets and maybe even in your covid bubble, longer lineups for essentials, reduced government services, possible rapid changes in government Due to non confidence votes and all the vote buying that will generate, a very likelihood that pension plans will be reduced as businesses and municipalities go bankrupt. Etc etc etc.

If anyone thinks things will be wonderful with these debt loads, please jump in and say so because I would love to hear the good news.

EDITED;
Then there is the personal debts and business owners who are starting use credit cards to try and keep business open. At a certain point, things will go pop and then watch the panic.

Clarence, first I suggest dont worry about business owners. Every single business owner knows opening up a business is a gamble. The odds he can skew in his favour, with effort, hard work, luck and by using good judgement. He can set his company up in many ways from sole proprietorship to a limited liability company and I would suspect the former is a larger segment of companies just do to the protection it affords you. Every owner running a company knows when to holdem, and when to foldem (or should). If a business owner is trying to float a business at this point, with credit, be that lines of credit, or credit cards he has likely after all these months already missed the flashing light saying "stop". A stop loss point should have been determined long before now. With that said I still respect someone who wishes to carry on with running up credit, its in his right if he has the credit to do so. I just dont want to hear the bitching or looking for aid when "pop goes the weasle" and the receivers step in. I say the above as someone who has both owned and run businesses, both sole proprietorship and LTD. A business failing is frankly a oppertunity for another business to aquire needed assets at a more favorable price point.
With all that said you can imagine how high my blood pressure is hearing of how my Provincial government is now financing a private (american) oil pipe line to the tune of BILLIONS, If I had a rocket launcher......god damn it! (and was 30- 40 years younger). No, in further thought, screw my fellow Albertans if you were stupid enough to elect this POS you deserve what you get, and yes I am saying something political.

Dont anyone outside Alberta feel sorry for us in any way during these tough times. Albertans are absolutely their own worst enemy. Norway was a country that copied us (Alberta) after we established our Heritige trust fund for oil profits in the 1970s. Look at what they have built as a fund compared to what we have done over the same time. The difference is jaw dropping. People in my province like to blame Ottawa for all the problems we have. Such BS, our problems start in house.

EDITED;
Then there is the personal debts and business owners who are starting use credit cards to try and keep business open. At a certain point, things will go pop and then watch the panic.

Clarence, first I suggest dont worry about business owners. Every single business owner knows opening up a business is a gamble. The odds he can skew in his favour, with effort, hard work, luck and by using good judgement. He can set his company up in many ways from sole proprietorship to a limited liability company and I would suspect the former is a larger segment of companies just do to the protection it affords you. Every owner running a company knows when to holdem, and when to foldem (or should). If a business owner is trying to float a business at this point, with credit, be that lines of credit, or credit cards he has likely after all these months already missed the flashing light saying "stop". A stop loss point should have been determined long before now. With that said I still respect someone who wishes to carry on with running up credit, its in his right if he has the credit to do so. I just dont want to hear the bitching or looking for aid when "pop goes the weasle" and the receivers step in. I say the above as someone who has both owned and run businesses, both sole proprietorship and LTD. A business failing is frankly a oppertunity for another business to aquire needed assets at a more favorable price point.
With all that said you can imagine how high my blood pressure is hearing of how my Provincial government is now financing a private (american) oil pipe line to the tune of BILLIONS, If I had a rocket launcher......god damn it! (and was 30- 40 years younger). No, in further thought, screw my fellow Albertans if you were stupid enough to elect this POS you deserve what you get, and yes I am saying something political.

Well as we both know as past business owners, it’s a capital B at times and while there fruits can be bountiful, they can also be barren. I mainly make reference to good people who are either starting out in business or those who may have been at it for some. Time and with all the false hope BS that was pumped out on the streets in the beginning ( even now) the poor small to even med sized business may have believed the rancid tripe and figured they could hold on. Big business will sadly not fail as they have bribed their way into the laws and access to government teat.

Rest assured I am no useless commie or socialist but I do have any sympathy for big business, I fought the lazy sobs for years and while they tried hard to squeeze me out of their sandbox, they failed every time. Hope the small and medium sized folks can hang in there and the same with the good employees they hire. They may just be our neighbors when things really go sideways

Observation. I mentioned before the large inventory of rural for sale properties I see on my bike rides in the country. The last 3 weeks I am noticing sold signs going up one after another. Dont know what it indicates but properties appear to be moving again.