Originally Posted by vagabond

Owning gold is part of my investment portfolio and a means of diversification, not because I am caught up in this financial disaster that's occuring as we speak (the worst of which is yet to come, in my humble opinion). I have a preference for gold coins.

My parents were teenagers during World War II. Throughout his life and right up until his death, my father kept the basement of our house well stocked with flour, oil, coffee, canned goods, candles, water, rice, dried noodles, soy sauce, matches, and even whisky and brandy. In the garage, he stored several gas cans full of gasoline. My mother, on the other hand, tended towards jewelry (diamonds, pearls and gold) and cash in small denominations. She told me a story of how grandfather handed over one ring or one gold coin in exchange for a loaf of bread. The moral of the story was to have more smaller things than one large valuable object.