Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

And this is the policy that our glorious leaders are following.

I understood the policy of the current British Government, is to run an actual surplus, rather than simply a primary one?

In simple terms, for the country to owe no money, whatsoever.

Frugalsod

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I understood the policy of the current British Government, is to run an actual surplus, rather than simply a primary one?

In simple terms, for the country to owe no money, whatsoever.

A primary surplus is one before they include interest on debts.

If they are trying for an eradication of all government debt that will mean problems for the pension industry as they use government debt to earn a safe return to pay annuities. Without that security why would anyone risk an annuity? They would be far more risky and you might be better keeping the money under the mattress. Secondly a debt free government would be crippled the moment there is another financial crisis. The banks would collapse without any backstop, and if you repeatedly bailed in citizens you end up in a mess.

At the end of the day the problem is and always will be private debts and that is not even being looked at. We are not even attempting to regulate them so that they will be safer.

[Deleted User]

I see Jeremy Corbyn has been praising the people, who campaigned to have the Guantanamo captives released.

I wonder if he has also condemned, the Minister(s) who was/were complicit, in them being there in the first place?

GreyQueen

The status of gold bullion coins in UK is VAT exempt, which is a very distinct legal status. Dealers have to ring them up as such and be able demonstatrate, should the Revenue come calling, that they haven't charged the purchaser VAT. Silver bullion coins are VAT'd at 20%. Between the VAT and the dealer's premium, you'll be looking at £18-£20 per troy ounce coin atm.

Gold jewellery is VAT-able. The pix I saw of the hoard which is being sold off looked like shedloads of Indian-type gold jewellery. I think that's where the VAT fraud was perpetrated.

A kilo of gold is a lump about the size of your palm if you're an average size feller or a larger woman like myself. I've had one in my hot little hands at one time in a shop and could have bought it for £3k. Not that I had £3k, but it was nice to hold it for a moment and dream.....:p

[Deleted User]

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've had one in my hot little hands at one time in a shop

You had someone's golden ball in your hand?

moneyistooshorttomention

The phrase "Put him down - you don't know where he's been" comes to mind here...:rotfl:

GreyQueen

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The phrase "Put him down - you don't know where he's been" comes to mind here...:rotfl:

:rotfl:Don't talk about my part time beau like that, MTSTM!

Perplexed_Pineapple

Evening all. I found this old BBC program on utube that I thought might interest y'all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVqNFZ0JPeY

mardatha

I'm another one who doesn't see the attraction of gold or silver, unless you were trying to get all your wealth out of a country, like in WW2 Germany.

Frugalsod

mardatha wrote: »

I'm another one who doesn't see the attraction of gold or silver, unless you were trying to get all your wealth out of a country, like in WW2 Germany.

Same here. It does have its purpose but I doubt that it will help in many of the situations that I see as most likely. Plenty of food stocks would get most of us through the most likely events. I also think gold would not be that valuable for trading or bartering unless you wanted a lot but would someone to hand over that much food and other useful items for a gold coin? So that gold coin might only buy a loaf of bread when things got really sticky. I know someone who was a career criminal for a spell until he settled down, and he told me that a life on the run was expensive. You could spend money like it was water and because you had no options you had to pay. So that would be the same if you used gold in an SHTF situation. Everything would be possible but you may have little left by the time you got there.