Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)

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Originally Posted by MNeagle

A secure home is top priority for me; landlords can get flaky in a flash. Why not compromise? A home w/ a (low fixed rate) mortgage, & some silver?

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Hi Mneagle. I agree with your take on the flaky landlords. They can neglect to pay their mortgage payments and be foreclosed on which leaves you, the renter, in a world of hurt. Too little notice to vacate is often the teeth gritting outcome.

I spoke with one of the friends yesterday morning and he says that he is in no hurry to buy a house. I did tell him that it might be a good idea to buy more silver with part of the money while he waits for the best opportunity to appear. This way, the silver may go up while the housing prices go down. I don’t expect silver to crash but rather to rise in purchasing power dramatically in the future. However, I do expect real estate to crash. When ? Any time; it could come about as a result banking problems wherein they quit lending. Then the cash price would be required. And who would have full cash up front at that time ? Answer : almost nobody ! And even if some folks did, they wouldn’t be looking at house buying, even for rent ! The whole playing field would have changed to what a house would sell for without credit. It would be like the old days when folks saved up money to buy or build a house. You know, when houses were $16,000. I lived in Erie PA in 1971 and was considering buying a house for that exact price. It had 4 bedrooms, a den, a formal dining room, a full attic and basement and a fenced yard. Oh, and the topper was that was the price with full banking credit in full swing. Housing prices need to crash to get back to reality; they deserve it ! Good and hard.

Of course, with such a crash, the banks would be in tatters, especially with all the repos that they hold at full market price. And as the market value falls, they would be holding loads of properties that had been gutted by the collapse. Hollow shells that, even if they were to sell them cheap, would destroy their balance sheets. You see, we are there right now but the realty reality is still to hit in the future.

My mom’s cousin acquired several properties along Flagler boulevard in Miami in the early 1930s. The banks were giving them away rather than to continue paying property taxes on them. Well, he kept the properties he had gotten from the banks and rented them out to pay for the taxes. Some years later he sold them and retired, a multimillionaire. The rest of his life he and his wife cruised on their yacht up and down the intercoastal waterway from New York to Miami.

I’m sharing this story to show that just one idea that pans out is all someone needs to make a dramatic change in their life. I have had such ideas that panned out and can tell you that it is not all that it is cracked up to be. There is risk, investment, patience, calculation and confidence all involved on the road to success.
In other words, there is a list of factors that must all favorably contribute to a successful outcome.

Back in 1993 I discovered that the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 manual transmission had a problem with the input shaft and associated transfer spool to the all wheel drive had premature wear problems. The factory would not sell the parts necessary to rebuild the transmission and the factory price was $6,500. I had the parts blueprinted and manufactured; cost me about 60 grand. I had them made with a harder Rockwell than the factory parts and this was a strong selling point. Didn’t cost me any extra either. Now I could build the transmission and offer them nationwide. I also sold the parts worldwide because the shipping for a rebuilt was too expensive due to weight considerations. I had done my homework in assessing the risk, amount of investment, time required for a return on investment, calculated the percent return and had the confidence that my product would be in strong demand. Two parts I had manufactured for $250 total sold for $1,400 which was a $1,150 net profit. Additionally, the rebuilt Mitsubishi 3000GT transmissions that my shop sold became a mainstay of profit. I was only adding one model of transmission to the 40 other models I had been building for many years. This one addition changed my business to where I had financial breathing room to expand.

Just an example of a need fulfilled which resulted in a great positive in my life.

Best wishes,

Agnut

Hi all. Last Saturday I wasn’t planning on going anywhere. That is, until I saw a moving sale on Craigslist. My younger son went with me. When we arrived at the sale there was no one around. I had to ring the doorbell. He came in and we started to pick out items and ask what he wanted for them. I told him I was making a pile of things I wanted to buy. Instead of adding them all up, he said that $20 was fine. I picked up a couple of bundles of rope and asked him how much. He said a dollar. After we loaded up we returned to thank him and wish him well. As we turned to leave, we saw a couple coming toward the sale. They looked excited; I felt sorry for them since I had cleaned out the place. But ya know, it isn’t for me to judge something I had bought would be wanted by someone else in particular. Maybe this couple are just out on an outing, not looking for anything in particular. The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Anyhoo, here’s a list of the booty :

2 rakes
3 stainless steel mixing bowls
2 5 gallon gas cans
1 garden hose in reel box
2 oil funnels
2 bundles of rope
2 sunshields for windshield
1 two foot level by Mayes USA
1 sun tea jar
1 box Superslides for furniture
1 large MAG light
2 cans bearing grease
1 purple vase
1 Samurai Pro knife sharpener
1 gardening knee pad
2 empty fish lure boxes
2 full fish lure boxes
17 empty honey jars
3 DVDs, one was a lens cleaner

Lotta odds and ends there, huh ? These items will, in time, go out to their new homes. Just the garden hose in reel box would have cost me more new that all of the items I got.

A thought just came to me. What if the crash comes and most everyone is selling their possessions for any cash they can get ? Will you have the money to take advantage of this fire sale ? A once in a lifetime extreme buyers’ market.

I know what you are thinking. What will I do with all of these new items ? It depends upon your skills in determining which items will still be a bargain within and after this crash. Will shoes, pants, coats, shovels, tools, cars, toilet paper, new socks, plywood, nails, tarps and a thousand other items be profitable to stock ?

I personally have about 30 pairs of pants, 15 coats, about 150 shirts, 20 pairs of shoes, all in my size. More than I will need for the next 10 years. This way, I could sell any that I feel I have an excess.

Food will be high on the list but it may be dangerous to be selling in the midst of a collapse scenario. Growing veggies are a wise choice but there probably will not be enough excess to sell anyway. Think renewable resources.

In time, things will settle down and we can go about our business although in a much changed world. Prices for items will be determined by a mutual agreement between buyer and seller. And by prices, I mean that there will be more bartering and horse trading going on. A shirt for 6 eggs. A coat for 4 hours work. You get the idea.

Nobody knows how the future will pan out. We have to take our best guess and go with it while thinking of other possibilities as the situation demands.

Having 3 or even 6 months of money in hand has been recommended all over the internet for many years. But what if the dollars are practically worthless ? Don’t get me wrong; I do believe in having money for emergencies. I am looking at the flip side. What will be in demand if the unbacked fiat currency has lost all confidence ? Items needed. Could be almost anything but we should focus on what we believe will be the most likely. What these are, I don’t know for sure. You rolls the dice and takes your chances. Suggestions welcome.

And don’t forget items that will create goodwill. Clean water, blackberries, etc. Maybe some items from Harbor Freight such as LED flashlights. The Dollar stores have hundreds of items that may provide comfort to others. I bought 31 pairs of Dollar store thermal socks the other day and might buy more. They aren’t very heavy duty but any new socks should be in demand. Think how long a pair of socks last.

And what if we don’t have a collapse ? Yeah, right ! Seventeen trillion in debt (lots more really), high unemployment, high real inflation, racial strife, derivative dangers and many more black swans out there circling like vultures.

But just for grins, lets suppose what if we don’t ? What will be the price of all the items we have accumulated ? Will they be worth less or more ? We have to think in terms of desirability and need, even though a collapse hadn’t occurred.

Inflation alone will continue to raise prices in the stores, so that the items we have will also increase over time. Another thought being bandied around the internet is that we will be marginalized regarding imports. Not only less imports coming in but the prices will increase.

Sometimes when exchanging my paper dollars for good used items, I have to laugh at the ridiculous prices I am paying.

Diversification is recommended. Specialization is for insects, as Heinlein says.

10 Key Events That Preceded The Last Financial Crisis That Are Happening Again RIGHT NOW
By Michael Snyder 1/6/2015

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/a...ning-right-now


Best wishes,

Agnut


Venezuelans Throng Grocery Stores Under Military Protection


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-0...ion-order.html


Makes ya think !

Some of my best deals came from farm sales. Like Pavlov’s dog, I salivate upon seeing an ad for a farm sale. I’ll pass by three or four garage sales on the way to a farm sale and double back later. Farm sales are the filet mignon of sales. Fond memories like when I got a Snap-On click type torque wrench for 25 cents ! Am I drooling again ?

There is the anticipation in getting there, the excitement of walking from the truck to be among all the possibilities, finding that the prices are practically giveaway. At this point I calculate where I should be picking up bargains to begin a pile of items I want. I do this without fanfare in order to not awaken the multitude of other buyers to my method. After I have finished I summon the seller and ask if he will give me a price break on all of the items in my pile. I never have been disappointed; strange, but that is the truth. A discount on bargains; what could be better ?

I remember a garage sale a couple of years ago where the seller must have had a couple hundred DVDs on a blanket with the side labels up where I could read them quickly. There was a placard with the $2 price prominently displayed. I took the seller aside and told him that I was interested in many of his DVDs but have been buying them for one dollar each. He said that would be fine. I then proceeded to stack all of the DVDs as I selected them, while at the same time keeping an eye on the many other buyers who began to watch me in dumbfounded fascination. I barely got done before the other buyers figured it out and started to grab the DVDs they wanted. I boxed up everything, paid the seller and got out of there before anyone even had a word to say. The stealth buyer has left the stage. And on to the next show…

You see, I had learned my lesson from an earlier garage sale wherein I had asked the sellers if they had any DVDs. They looked at each other and laughed then said that they were thinking of selling their DVDs before they moved. They said that I could have them for a dollar each. One of them went in their house and began bringing out boxes and boxes of DVDs, some were season sets with as many as 7 DVDs. There must have been over 500 DVDs. The other buyers were beginning to get interested and I knew that I had to do something fast without appearing excited. So I methodically began to go through the boxes, selecting the DVDs I wanted and piling them on a stuffed chair next to me. The other buyers were beginning to find out about the price and began picking up several for themselves. Not dissuaded, I continued piling while making plans to move into the fray where I found stacks of great titles and some of the season sets which turns out that were also a dollar each. I don’t know if you are familiar with what some of these season sets cost new but the used price is usually about $10 to $15. I ended up with over 100 DVDs and several season sets for a dollar each. I would have bought more but the other buyers were in a feeding frenzy like piranha. I waited a few seconds until they provided an opening and things calmed down. Next I went through what they had missed and got several more. In such an instance, there is no quarter given for laggards. This is WAR ! A peaceful war, that is. Oxymoronic or just moronic; you be the judge.

It is important to learn the “tells” of the sale we are attending ; it is like playing poker. What is the property like ? Is the seller moving and has to get rid of most everything ? Is this an estate sale ? How are the prices ?

And ALWAYS ask the seller what else he may have for sale; especially after you have paid for your pile of items. That way, he knows that you are serious and have more cash to spend. Remember, you as the buyer can see all that the seller has while the seller cannot see what is in your wallet or even what is on your mind. A distinct advantage, ‘ay wot ?.

Gotta go.

Best wishes,

Agnut

you need to set up a dvd store in your barn ......... rent them out

Seems to have been slow for some of you this winter. I've been busting my butt. seems like the more deals I make the more people I meet and it all starts to multiply exponentally. Gone to the scrap yard twice already this year with loads. Getting all the metal from a couple large apartment complexes. They remodel apartments and I get all the light fixtures, metal closet shelving, AC condensers and fans, ceiling fans, stainless double kitchen sinks, and bathroom sinks. All the sinks come with faucets. Also getting a lot of appliances, frigs, stoves mostly. Some need work, but a lot only need a little wipe down with some 409 cleaner. Selling the good ones, scraping the rest. Robbing parts off some to make a good unit. Giving a few away, people love that. A few boats deals in the works, and have flipped 5 outboards so far this year. Feel like I almost need a big piece of land to park everything at and have some kind of storefront to handle it all. Getting tired of answering the phone and dealing with idiots from craigslist. I saw a show on at a bar where these guys were restoring old cars and they went to some place out in the middle of no where to get some obsolete parts. The place had a huge sign by the highway that said "We have anything you want, if we can find it" This place was several acres big and had all sorts of everything, I thought of some of you. I hate technology or I would do the ebay thing, have thought about befriending a neighbor hood kid and cutting him in for a percentage if he would take pictures and post everything for me. We'll see. Hope everybody is doing well and surviving the winter. Looks pretty cold for most of the country. Hang in there!

Seems like you are talking about a scrap yard, Govcheetos.

Hi all, my desktop computer has been compromised and the new HP laptop needs some programs loaded so that I haven't been able to cut and paste my posts. I'll write as soon as I am able.

Not much going on this winter regarding garage and estate sales; I've been organizing past purchases and am still finding things I got years ago and had completely forgotten about. Braggin' or complainin' ? Not sure at this point. Tons of stuff to move.

Seems to be lots going on in the world; big changes a comin'.

best wishes,
agnut

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Originally Posted by agnut

Hi all, my desktop computer has been compromised and the new HP laptop needs some programs loaded so that I haven't been able to cut and paste my posts. I'll write as soon as I am able.

Not much going on this winter regarding garage and estate sales; I've been organizing past purchases and am still finding things I got years ago and had completely forgotten about. Braggin' or complainin' ? Not sure at this point. Tons of stuff to move.

Seems to be lots going on in the world; big changes a comin'.

best wishes,
agnut

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Thanks for the update!

glad to see your doing ok agnut been slow here so far but things will pick up .... be safe all mick

Hi all, my computer is still messed up but I’m sending this post and then getting off quickly in order to save all the info I have to be transferred to the HP laptop. Interesting that when I bought the laptop there was no mention that there was no works program installed and I would have to buy one from Microsoft. Cute.

Anyhoo, here is some recent activity what with winter receding into a very early spring. Everything has been blooming like crazy around here.

Saturday began with an early rise anticipating a few good garage, estate, moving sales (GEM sales). I wasn’t very anxious to shoot out the door as in the past. Probably because I hadn’t been to a GEM sale since January 10. Maybe I was coming out of hibernation like an old bear.

There were several local sales that morning. I mapped them out and the order in which I would show up. So far so good. But ya never know for sure; might be a roadside poster for a sale on the way that diverts ones focus.

The first sale was just a couple of miles down the road. The lady and her family were moving to North Carolina and didn’t want to haul too much stuff that far. Not a big haul but well worth the effort.

Step ladder $2
50’ dog cable with screw in the ground stake $2
8 shovels, rakes, other garden tools $8 total
Coach designer purse $5
Nice leather purse $1
6 insulating tubes for water pipes $1 total

I told her that some of my ancestors had lived in North Carolina since 1700; farmers and ranchers. I wish I could see it before I pass on. After I had wished her well on her new adventure I got in the old Dodge and headed for the next sale. The ad only said that there was some cds, movies, tools and a few other items. You can see why I wasn’t too excited at the possibilities. Boy, was I in for a shock !

When I turned onto the street there was a traffic jam ahead with cars jockeying for a parking space. I pulled over as soon as I could, knowing from experience that this type of mob would only tie me up if I were to compete for a parking space among all the confusion. Better to walk a block that sit in the car for a half an hour waiting for someone to get in their car and leave.

I got out of the truck and the closer I got the more excited I got. For you see, this was about the biggest garage sale that I had ever seen. Near the sidewalk there was a long table covered with tall stacks of DVDs. And on the ground all around the table were boxes full of more DVDs. I estimated that there were between 1,500 and 2,000 to be gone through. I quickly found a corner and began stacking as fast as I could without knocking anyone over. They were for sale at $1 each but the icing on the cake was that there were many season sets and movie multi disc sets for the same price. Some of these sets had as many as 50 movies. I found the seller and asked him if he would give me a price for a large quantity, say more than a hundred. He said that they were a dollar each but would give me a package price when I finished. One of his daughters got a box for me and I quickly filled and received another box, all the while there were about 10 other people picking through the DVDs. Funny but most of them were only picking up one or two movies. The father even had his daughters bring out even more boxes of DVDs for me to look through. It took most of an hour until I was finished. I thought that my putting the DVDs in boxes would dissuade others from picking through my stuff but I still had to keep a watchful eye as a few had to be shooed away.

After I was done there I began looking around. The following is a list of the items I got and their prices :

Oval crock pot new $2
Ozark 6 man tent $5
5X8 area rug free
15 hardback books 20 cents each
Accutron watch $1
3 leather jackets $1 each
Laptop power converter with cord 25 cents
40 channel CB radio new in the box $1
80 gph sump pump free
25 sheet music, old stuff free
35 misc spices $2-
Key Largo placard $2
3 large photo posters of Tahiti islands from the air free
3 really cool hats free
Humidifier new in box $2
3 clamping cake/quiche pans $1 total
Large leather briefcase, the nicest I’ve ever seen. Looked new $1
Umbrella free
2 pairs coveralls new $2 each
2 jackets $1 total
Motorcycle riding leathers $2
Cowboy boots $1
Motorcycle boots $1
High top boots $1
Work shoes $1
Car cover in box $2
More little stuff too…

When totaling up everything the seller asked if I had picked out over 100 DVDs and I said that I was sure that I did. I was only guessing and after I got home I discovered that I had 155 separate pieces. As I wrote earlier, there were many movie multi disc sets and TV season sets. He asked if $100 would be okay. Abysmally stupid to haggle here, huh ?

As you know by now I’m a DVD junkie. Big time. And I just overdosed !

The seller then took me over to a 1991 Olds 98 Elite with only 69K miles on it. It had a badly dented door but the rest was immaculate. He wanted $800 for it. I considered it for a while but decided to pass on it since I already have too many car projects. Besides, GEM season is just beginning here and I’ll need the cash. Sometimes it is more profitable to not buy a good deal.

Now if what you have read so far sounds too good to be true, you are right but not in the way you are probably thinking. After talking with the seller I found out that he is in the business of trash outs and house cleaning. All of the items he was selling came from an estate in which he was actually paid to haul away all of contents. Funny that I had written about estate sales years ago and until now had never connected that sometimes there is a professional cleanup business that disposes of some deceased person’s lifetime accumulation. See ? The learning never ends (or I am such a dim bulb that I pick up new epiphanies on a glacial scale).

In B and H we are flying by the seat of our pants. That is a lot of the thrill of the hunt; you never know what you will find.

Best wishes,

agnut

P.S. Thanks for posting your own experiences; it does my heart good to see others kickin’ ass and takin’ names.

Look into a USB transfer cable, they work well for saving data from a dying computer!

They do not cost much coin!

Installed programs not so much, they need to be reinstalled!

Sorry to not have written lately, got behind what with all the deals and, oh what the hell, I’ve been busy doing a lot of nothin’ relaxing under the old oak tree sippin’ my coffee with honey and walnut ice cream and munchin’ on homemade oatmeal cookies while reminiscin’ about what my life could have been.

I could have been out there slavin’ for some half brain dead boss who didn’t get any action from his old lady last night (and every other night) and takin’ it out on me. Besides, bein’ on commission is a great way to get around the ‘ol minimum wage laws.

You see, I’m retired and on social insecurity. But my planning for the twilight of my years (or months, who really knows ?) has saved my cookies (see oatmeal above) which has been that I am living within my means. I must admit that luck played a part in my situation; a big part. Often luck is taking advantage of possibilities we are exposed to.

I was fortunate many years ago to have stepped back and taken a good look at the merry go round we are on and realized that the operator of this machine was actually a maniacal, sadistic bastard who took delight in seeing everyone spinning in circles while he increased the speed. Many were thrown off into the dirt while those who managed to hang on ended up with all kinds of head trauma from the ever increasing spinning, a form of PTSD not widely diagnosed except recognized as work stress. These folks who hang on for dear life we call successes; what a sick joke.

Bear with me; I do have a point to make (somewhere, I think). We spend out lives in pursuit of the brass ring, that elusive prize that we have been programmed to seek. Ever reaching out as we spin through our lives, reaching out, risking what is really important. And what is really important, you ask ? Well, in my feelings it is time. Time to sit back and do nothing if I so choose. Perhaps think of some things I may want to do or change. I can go to the beach to pick up interesting rocks or visit an old friend living far away. Freedom to have choices looms large on my mind. We are mortal and that makes each day immeasurably important. Are we happy or miserable ?

I don’t “live large” but I do live broad. I know, funny way to put it but that’s the pathways I’ve been on for decades. To be the captain of our ship (or one man dinghy) rather than to be rowing in the slave galley below to the drum beat cadence of another is a choice, not a destiny.

Bartering and horse trading is a most valuable tool, especially for the future we face. Because of our macro economic trends we are in for a world of hurt; I don’t intend to be any part of it. Through time I realized that money itself was the problem all along. The debauchment of real intrinsic money into fiat currency multiplied exponentially by the profligate sin of credit and debt has pushed the world to the precipice upon which we now find ourselves.

The seven deadly sins. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. Look it up on wikipedia; lots of food for thought there.

Also listed are the seven virtues which are chastity. Temperance, charity (or, sometimes, generosity), diligence, patience, kindness and humility.

The charity or generosity virtue interests me greatly. How to be generous among so much abundance and need at the same time. The movie “Pay It Forward” affected me more than words can express; probably because it comes from the heart and expects nothing in return. I feel that now is the time for us all to pay it forward. An example was a while back when there was an old overloaded truck blocking an intersection. No one would stop and help. The owner was desperately begging anyone to give him a tow. Fortunately I was in my old 1990 Dodge truck. We hooked up and I pulled him up the road to a safe spot. A policeman drove by and asked if everything was alright. The man offered to bring over some homemade muffins. I had some fruit and veggies in the back of my truck and we sat there eating some oranges and conversing. I told him that instead of the muffins that he help another when the opportunity presented itself and to tell the person he helped to also pay it forward. This was a kindness that will be passed through from one to another in an endless chain of charity. After having shared with this man I could see that he was uplifted; his whole demeanor changed for the better. I can only believe that he remembered and helped the next person in need. Maybe I gave him hope that the world wasn’t such a bad place after all IF we helped one another.

I learned that all we have to do is open our hearts and let the love flow both in and out. I see random acts of kindness from time to time and imagine what the world would be like if we were to exercise these seven virtues on a daily basis rather than the seven deadly sins.

We don’t really need money like we think we do; we really primarily need each other in a spirit of sharing and caring. Money is only needed when there is no alternative. Work can be traded. Food can be traded. Rent can be traded. Transportation can be traded. We used to do this before there was money. And now civilization isn’t civil, humanity isn’t humane. Is this progress ? The quality of life has been eclipsed by the quantity of life.

I have been writing this bartering and horse trading thread for several years and through that time I have traded many things. They are all personal and therefore have brought me closer to others. My old boss in the early 70s was a psychologist and told me something I never forgot; listen to the feelings behind what someone says and you will get to the heart of that person.

I’ll tell you a little secret. All of the thousands of items I have collected through the years are here for trading and helping others in the spirit of Pay It Forward. It has been said that generosity is its own reward. That is so true but in addition I have seen it change a heart for the better. Priceless. And the benefits to me come in many unexpected ways.

Well, enough for now. I have a couple of weeks of buying items that I haven’t posted and hope to do that when I get back from my trip; I’m leaving tomorrow at 3:00 AM. I’m visiting an old friend I haven’t seen for years. I don’t know when I will return; maybe that’s the beauty of it.

Best wishes,

Agnut

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great post Agnut!

Haven't been on in a while do to trying to have a little less doom in my life. The world mankind has made for himself is plenty screwed up and I know it and constantly reading and researching it will bring me down sometimes.

Been busy as heck with deals and doing well. I do a lot of the "Paying It Forward", sometimes to a fault, having time and energy tied up in an item even if not much cash and passing it on to friends who never really realize sometimes what it takes to bring something about deal wise. I'm not as good at typing out long posts so I might just once a week or so report deals and prices paid, although I hate to sound like I'm bragging. They are out there though if you know where and how to look. After a while you will build up connections and people will call you or bring stuff by your place. I am blessed to have a great wife, a few close friends and a wide variety of acquantances that help me get a lot done.

Deals from the last couple of weeks
Vermont castings Wood stove--FREE, retails new for over $2000, sold it for 150 to get it out of my way quick
Window AC--$3, Sold for $40
Dehumidifyer-$2, gave to a friend
Pickup load of stainless kitchen sinks with faucets--Free Keeping a couple nice ones, might sell some on CL, scrap the rest
Miter chop saw and table saw--$75 for both, light homeowner use
mid 80's boat motor and trailer--FREE, got the engine to run, shoveled out the hull and bleached it, swapped trailers to a junky one and sold it for $450, kept the nice galvanized trailer
Couple of decent boat anchors from the dump--Free. My dump guy sends me any marine/boat deals and I give him any old ac compressors I get from my apt connection.
Craftsman upright tool chest--$20, probably$400-$500 new, already have it filled up because my other ones were overflowing

Going out tomorrow to see what comes up, working on putting sides on my heavy duty trailer for filling it up and hauling scrap to the scrap yard instead of just taking it to the dump. Always working on streamlining and "processing" my finds to keep the place from looking like Sandford and Son. Need to be more patient and get more for some of my items, just hate having to "sell" and deal with tire kicking buyers. A lot of the items I price low to move them quick and cut down on all the BS, basically the item and the low price take away any negotiatiion. I'm really just too busy though it seems sometimes to sit on items very long with other things in the pipeline coming my way that will need to take up space too.


Hope everyone is doing well, post up some deals when you get them!

Hi all; back from the trip. Eleven days and 550 miles each way. I drove nonstop except for fuel and one rest stop. I now realize that I’m getting too old to test the limits of what endurance I still have. However, I had a great time with an old friend and learned a lot.

As promised, I will now list the last two sales I attended for price references.

24 DVDs $24
50 light bulbs new, Mercury, LED flood, other types $5
5 hats $2
Vise grips, needle nose, 2 pair Fiskars garden shears, 50 cents each
18 scissors European, 5 nail polish sets $5
4 umbrellas, 2 were new, one had $20 price tag. 50 cents each
4 tape measures $1 total
10 9 volt, 22 D cell new Duracell batteries $2 total
2 rolls plastic sheeting 4 mil. 10x25 for $1 each
10 pounds wild bird seed free
Framed print $2
2 cookbooks 25 cents each
10 crystal salt and pepper shakers $1 total
Digital timer, oven thermometer 50 cents each
Laptop power cord, inverter 25 cents
2 strainers 25 cents each
Wagner cast iron 2 quart bean pot, like new $2

I got there late and still made out like a bandit. If we hyperinflate like 1922-3 Germany, these items will be valuable trading material. I once read that they were trading brass doorknobs for goods. Lots of good old American and other high quality items still around but I think that they will diminish in the future and be replaced with used Chinese quality items. In fact, in the last few years, I’ve been seeing more and more used poor quality items being offered for sale. So get while the getting’ is good.

The next sale :

25’ tape measure $1
Hammer fiberglass handle $1
2 Orgreenic fry pans 50 cents each
50’ garden hose $1
Weber charcoal briquette preheater $1
Miter saw $1
12 T posts $10 total
2 huge tarps $5 total
30 large candles, most new (about 25 pounds) $5 total
Jacuzzi foam for cover. free
10 U.S. made hose clamps, electrical fittings, etc. for $2 total
BBQ cover $2
Kabela Hamburger press new $1 ($25 plus tax in the store)

I had been looking for a hamburger press for months and happened to ask a seller lady if she had one for sale. She said no and thought about it for a minute. I could see a light go off and she also brightened up and said that she had a new one that she had never used; it was in the house. She went in and got it and the rest is history; now part of my history !

Gotta go; tractors, mowers, weed whacker all need work before I can put them to work.

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. The old friend I was visiting was Ponce in his kingdom. What a trip in several ways !

Almost new set of 17 inch tires for the wife's car, with wheels that I will sell to recover some cost--$225
Screw gun bit set complete $3
Borg Warner Velvet drive marine transmission--Free
3 life jackets-$2
Fiberglass shop sink with hose sprayer and faucet--Free

Put sides on the big scrap trailer and have it about halfway filled already.

Interested in hearing about the time at Ponces, sounds like quite a guy and place.

Hi all; I don’t know about you but life has been a whirlwind since the weather broke. Tractors, mowers, weed whackers, cars, computers, organizing and more have been demanding my attention like a pack of whining pups. Oh, and for the last few months I’ve been going to the dentist to have all my upper teeth pulled for an upper denture. Now having a tooth filled is a minor thing. Got the new dentures in 12 days ago and am still adjusting; doc says a couple more weeks and I should be ready to bite most anything.
I hadn’t been GEM hunting until the last couple of weekends. Here is a list of the booty from 6/12, 13 :
Black and Decker bench grinder $2
58 DVDs $10
Gibson Maestro guitar and amp $30
2 large table umbrellas free
Stihl weed whacker $2.50
New London Fog jacket $8
12 hats 25 cents each
3 pullover shirts 50 cents each
3 pair sweat pants 50 cents each
Large box of rope $5
Homedics neck massager $2
Airwalk hiking boots 50 cents
Small haul but still fun.

And here is the list from 6/19, 20 :
Compostumbler 18 bushel size for $50 (costs $600 new, $500 on sale)
12 quart enamel pot with lid $1
2 rolls heavy duty water hoses $5 each
New leather gloves $1
Oster blender $2
12 quart steamer pot $5
King comforter with pillow cases $5 Lady said it was $100 new.
Sears Eager 1 lawn mower free
Women’s leather boots $2
Women’s Ugg type boots $2
20 DVDs $10
Small water pump $2
3 shirts o25 cents each
Sidewalk gas edger $5
Coleman two way burner in box $5 ($50 new in store)
Coleman propane burner $1
Heavy duty router $20
And lots of little items for 5 to 10 percent of new price.
Lately I’ve noticed that even when I arrived before the sale opening times, buyers were walking out with armloads of items. Hey ! That’s cheating; Should I call the cops ?
Not all deals come about at GEM sales either. Yesterday I called a lady near me just to say hi and see how she was doing. She had just sold her house and was planning to move to somewhere in Oregon. She asked if I was interested in her semi antique Troy 6 HP tiller. Looked like something my grandfather would have used on the ranch. I said Sure, how much do you want for it ? To my surprise she said that I could have it for free ! My son and I hooked up the trailer and ran over and picked it up. This tiller was made before they learned to make everything out of beer cans and plastic. Built like a Missouri mule. It’ll probably outlive me.
She also has a spinet piano she offered for free but we just don’t have room for it. Sometimes too much isn’t such a good thing.
My daughters are coming from Florida in mid August. Gotta get the place looking presentable enough that they won’t photo it and put it up on some hoarder website. I’ve got stuff that I haven’t seen for 8 or 10 years. Somewhere……
Best wishes,
Agnut
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks for the update Agnut. I went into hibernation mode for a long time. Got back out in the last 2 weeks. Here are some of the deals I got.

2 WW2 M2 ammo cans- good condition $2 ea. These are about 12in x 12 in x 10 in.
2 water barrels- about 60 gallon size HDPE with 2 bung seals at top $5 ea
box of assorted tools - wood chisels/cutters caught my attention $5
black leather coat excellent condition $10

You just can't beat the deals of getting something used and in good condition for pennies on the dollar.

Hi all. Last Friday and Saturday I went garage sailing and picked up the typical load of small items such as a bag of light bulbs for free, shovels and brooms for a dollar. I won’t bore you with the details, it was a déjà vu all over again.

One purchase of note was that I saw a 4X4 platform in the rafters in a garage. I asked him if it was for sale and he enthusiastically said yes. How much ? $10. There was a lot of rope, tiedown cleats and four block and tackles. I bought it for my barn; maybe to use the block and tackles to hoist bicycles overhead They are in the way right now what with all the other items I have stacked around.

After having taken this platform down, there was a huge folded tarp in the rafters exposed which I asked about. He said that he didn’t know the condition and said that I could have it for one dollar. See how one thing leads to another ?

A few weeks ago a neighbor who was moving asked me if I was still interested in her 1970s Troy Built garden tiller. I said yes and asked how much she wanted for it. She said that I could have it for free for all the help I had been in the past. I already have a new Troy Built tiller but it is nothing like the beast these older ones are. They typically cost about $4-500 if you can find one. So I ran right over with my tilt trailer and picked it up.

A couple of weeks passed until last weekend when on Saturday at the last garage sale I spied another old Troy Built tiller sitting in the side yard. Turns out that I know these people, great folks. I asked the husband (is it still legal to use that term ? ) if it was for sale and he said that it was. I bought some items and left for home, not thinking more about the tiller.

That night I began thinking about the possible opportunity another tiller might offer. I couldn’t put it out of my mind, It was like something was urging me to get back over there and work a deal if It was still available.

Sunday morning I got up early and hooked up the trailer; thinking positive, I was going to get that tiller come Hell or high water. I parked around the corner, not knowing if I could turn around on the dead end street. I hiked up the steep driveway and saw that the tiller and all of the items for sale were still there.

There were no other buyers and I had the field to myself !

This tiller, unlike the one I already had, was an electric start version and came with an attachment I had not known existed, a power takeoff wood chipper. I got them both with a plow attachment for $350. Now I have the three tillers plus the Kronevator which is pulled behind my Kubota diesel tractor. Why so many tillers, you ask ? Well, besides our own needs for our field I figure I could loan them out and/or charge to till others’ fields and gardens in the future.

This man and his wife (is that term still legal too ?) do a lot of canning and he asked me if we saw any deer in our area. I said that we had a couple who were jumping the fence and eating in our orchard. He said that bow season starts Sept 1 and I said to come on over. He has a passion for deer jerky. I also just made a bottle of colloidal silver that his wife requested. It ain’t all about the dollars; it’s all about each other.

Recently I read that growing food will be the new gold. And having the equipment to do the hardest job will be in demand. I was told that tilling in the spring was expected in order to plant but was also told that tilling before winter was also a good idea, something I did not know. I still need to find out more about this. If so, twice the demand. The heavy duty Kronevator would be good for tearing up the blackberry bushes’ roots which are all over our area. I anticipate that folks may want to clear areas on their properties for planting veggies. I recall that in the last depression folks had gardens in their back yards. My three Troy Built tillers would be ideal for getting in and out of and handling such smaller areas. By the way, I expect that canning will also see a resurgence like in the last depression.

So much of our prep planning is founded upon a particular intensity of social and economic difficulties. At the low end is the tightening of available money and resources and the resultant necessary adjustments required; at the high end is the chaotic collapse and later stabilization of a much different world. In either scenario, people have to eat. The small farmer will be king. My acquiring equipment will hopefully add a demand for our services. Canning equipment shows up at garage and estate sales; not a bad idea to have a setup and knowledge of how to use it for the future. And some of you are probably thinking of stills too. Not a bad idea for the adventuresome.

Another thing I am looking for is a vertical mill and lathe in order to repair and make metal items. I have done this when I had such equipment a couple of decades ago. With a lathe and mill, the welders we already have we can repair most anything.

The overview of the aforementioned is that I have added a new skill and possible demand for bartering and horsetrading in the future. I feel better now and am now more aware of what other equipment I may need in order to be in demand.

Gee, do you think that when money collapses we might be using bartering and horsetrading instead ?

Best wishes,

Agnut

"On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."
-H.L. Mencken

Oppressing everyone to avoid oppressing anyone is the egalitarian ethos gone mad
.- Daniel Greenfield

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis

Hi again, crazy busy as usual. I stupidly thought retired life was supposed to be slow and borderline boring. Ain’t happened yet and won’t happen in the future either. I don’t know whether I’m braggin’ or complainin”. Anyhow, here is a list of the booty from last weekend :

FIRST SALE
20 DVDs $20
Belkin reading LED light $1
2 leather purses $1 each (no, no; for my daughters (that is, if my judgment is not too whacko)).
5 new straw cowboy hats $1 total (they were used for a rodeo night party)
3 LED 50 light sets, new in box. Price tag was $15.99 (plus sales tax, of course. Not edible, ya know) $1 each set
2 cookie trays free
1 rollong suitcase $2
SECOND SALE
Bluray player $10
Star Trek Bluray DVD $3
THIRD SALE
Wood kitchen stool
Vibram sole military boots $3
Oster blender $3
2 hammers 25 cents each
Black and Decker reversible ½” drill $5
2 Natural Cures Revealed books 50 cents each
Fossil designer leather purse $15 (again for my daughters. Really, ya gotta believe me !)
Heavy salt crystal lamp $3
FOURTH SALE
16 Harley Davidson T shirts $30
5 Harley Davidson dress shirts $75
1 pair leather Harley Davidson gloves $5
8 DVDs $8
Levi lined denim jacket, like new $10
2 more leather purses $1 each ( I can literally feel your skepticism now; thanks for the vote of confidence. They really, really ARE for my daughters. I have to admit that sometimes I could use a carry bag for all my loose junk. Women get a purse and we men get a fanny pack. What the Hell is that ? )
So that is all the stuff I found worthy of hauling home. The Harley shirts have been sold to a family member and the gloves were given to my niece.
Crazy as it must seem, I’m already using several of the above items (again, NOT THE PURSES ! I wish you would STOP suspecting me of being a cross dresser or worse. The closest I’ve ever been to wearing culottes was back when I wore bell bottom trousers. I will also admit to wearing a Nehru jacket one time but I was in southern Califonicate in the sixties. When in Rome, do as the Romans do; When in Calif, do as the locals do ? Come on in; the water’s fine (well, until Fukushima nuked our coastline in slow motion)). Boating is iffy, fishing is iffy; and for God’s sake if you are water skiing, don’t fall in.
A couple of days ago my son and I were making our semiannual haul to the trash dump where there is a nonprofit recycle center next door. I see it as the icing on the cake wherein we first dump the trash and then reload the truck with bargain goodies. The previous week I had asked that a composter be set aside until I could get down there to pick it up; I even called the day before to reaffirm that I would be coming soon and asked the worker to let the manager know. However, when I arrived, the composter had been sold that morning. The message was never conveyed. These composters cost $5-600 new and used ones for $50 sell like hotcakes.

I found some ½” US drill bits for 60 cents each. There was a worm drive Skil saw that had just been received and hadn’t been priced yet. I asked one of the workers there how much it would be and he said “how about $5 ?” It tested out quiet and smooth and had a fine tooth blade. This saw is about $140 at the local Home Depot store. You don’t have to guess what I did; I couldn’t get it into the truck fast enough.
Point here is to not be disappointed, frustrated or angry that things did not work out the way expected; for learning to be at peace with whatever unfolds in dealings facilitates a smooth flow through life as well. Who cares that the composter was sold through a miscommunication; another will show up or a better deal will show up like the Skil saw.
Best wishes,
Agnut

“So you think that money is the root of all evil? [...] Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears, or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?”― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Thanks for the adventure and lessons Agnut. I like shows that share these kinds of things. Once in a while I will catch the Storage Wars or Pawn Stars- pawn brokers.

I find that if I don't get to a yard sale first or close to first, I miss out on the best deals. Recently I picked up a couple old cast iron pans "Griswold" where a granddaughter was cleaning out the house - $7 for the pair. Also a pair of Sterling silver candle holders- $10. These have about $60 worth of silver. I got a heavy brown Eddie Bauer leather coat for $3. A bunch of candles- about 30 of them and a heavy paper cutter- $13. Two snow shovels- 50 cents each.

Gotta keep looking. People just want to clean out excess stuff and somebody has to be there to pick it up at cheap prices.

Went out yard sale-ing today. Had a few worthless stops... but did get to say hi to some fellow hunters. Started to think there was nothing happening today.

One place had nothing interesting... then I saw some Nursing text books. They looked like school tech books and the one that caught my attention was on surgery. You never know when you might have to do something... and some knowledge is better than none. I asked the girl what she wanted for the books. She apologized that the box should have been marked "free". 7 good school books- a bit outdated (maybe 12-15 yrs old), but still good info.


Stopped in a place that had old junk, the kind of stuff that looked like it was in a basement too long. Then I saw a cast iron pot.... and then a couple sterling candle holders. These weighted little candle holders are only 0.3 oz each. So this is: 0.6 x .925 = 0.55 toz silver, or, about $8 of silver. The pot was an old Wagner. No lid. Needs cleaning up and seasoning but probably a $15-20 value. I got these for $6.


I picked up some items from a dealer/ auctioneer at another yard sale. He was pretty good about selling off some things reasonably priced. I bought at about $15/oz except for a numismatic Morgan CC.

Loot included:

$21-face of silver quarters (at $11 per $1face) = $231. [16.8 toz x 0.9 = 15 toz pure silver]

$150 for 10 toz-
3 christmas art rounds: 1997, 1990, unyrd
1 christmas art bar 1993
1 NWT Mint bar
1 Silvertowne bar

$35 for 4 oz of sterling pieces

$10 for a 20grm South African art bar
$11 Morgan dollar (because I used my last dollar in my wallet and he included it with the CC Morgan.
$40 Morgan 1878-CC

Total spend- $477. I didn't know I had that much in my wallet. If I had more I would have bought more.


At another place I asked if the people were moving. The woman said no- they just had some things from a friend whose son had died. Essentially, it cost them nothing and they were disposing of it. I saw a small tool box with a couple knives, 4 rachet drivers, a set of sockets, a couple tape measures, and a few other things. I heard them asking the male head of household about it and he had no clue what was in it and didn't care.... I heard a questioning $3. Then he asked what was offered. When asked, I offered $5 and got the deal. The knives were easily worth $5 each.... one a hunting knife made in Germany, the other a locking large pocket knife from Pakistan.

At the municipality run 2nd hand shop. I picked up three rolls of wallpaper at $0.70 equivalent each, looked them up on the internet later and they costed more than $100 a roll each. I'm going to use them in my renovation. Funny thing was we used same design wallpaper 5 years ago, in the house I live in and they were only $40/ roll then...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neuro

At the municipality run 2nd hand shop. I picked up three rolls of wallpaper at $0.70 equivalent each, looked them up on the internet later and they costed more than $100 a roll each. I'm going to use them in my renovation. Funny thing was we used same design wallpaper 5 years ago, in the house I live in and they were only $40/ roll then...

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Hanging paper correctly is an art into itself and one that you cannot dally in taking your time doing!

Or you are screwed!

Sent from my Nexus 7

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dogman

Hanging paper correctly is an art into itself and one that you cannot dally in taking your time doing!

Or you are screwed!

Sent from my Nexus 7

---

Indeed! My dad was an expert in that. I hope I enherited his wall paper hanging genes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neuro

Indeed! My dad was an expert in that. I hope I enherited his wall paper hanging genes!

---

It is mostly timing and feel that is only taught by doing it.

Edit:

Plus an eye for matching patterns and seams.

Wow Spectrism, you got some sweet deals there. Good thing I’m not the jealous type.

I’ve been to a few estate and garage sales in the last few weeks and gotten lots of small items. Aw heck; I’ll list some of the items :

Coleman ice box $2
Bernzomatic torch kit $4
Coleman two burner camp stove $5
Another ½” Black and Decker reversible drill $5
Old dial phone $8
New loufa on a stick 25 cents
Set of 8 blue glass dinner plates (for my sister) $4
Old Griswold meat grinder $5
4 wooden shaft golf clubs (one is a Macgregor mashie niblic) for a total of $15
Garrett metal detector bag with accessories $5

When I got home I looked the Macgregor golf club on eBay and there were three for sale; one was $90 and the two others were $250 each. Should be some room there for profit. After I had bought them another buyer asked to buy the 4 clubs but I turned him down. Another buyer dogged me about the metal detector stuff until I relented and took the $20 he was waving at me. I showed him what was inside and told him that he also got a bargain. His face lit up and he thanked me and left. The $15 profit will offset the cost of what I hauled home.

About now my barn is getting packed up to where I have to store items on the upper level. And I can hardly get through the other storage containers. Hmmm….. well, I DO have a few non running cars that are empty.

When I think about all the items I have accumulated over the years I wonder how it all will turn out. If we are marginalized and imports fall off a cliff, folks will in time want quality items. A pair of German scissors that cost me a quarter will go for multiples of that. And so on. The little items may yield a higher multiple than the big ones. And they are easier to sell than a big item.

Instead of buying more silver through the last few years I decided to accumulate quality items at bargain basement prices. Only time will tell which works out better for me. Besides, if I had nothing but silver, it could be stolen. And a thief would need a semi truck to make a dent in all my goodies. If that happened I could simply go down to the emergency ward and find the culprit with a broken back !

We had a family reunion with three coming from Florida and three more coming from San Diego. It was a madhouse but so much fun. I felt very sad seeing them leave, maybe because I don’t know if I will ever see them again. The world situation is spinning out of control and much of what we take for granted will be changed in time.

Just this afternoon I found out that a couple of friends lost their power when several huge trees fell over their road in a windstorm. They also lost power which will not be restored for several days at least. Totally unexpected; that’s how it happens. She called and said that they were out of water for the toilets and asked if she could come by and fill her 5 gallon bottles. I said sure, of course. She dropped off a dozen eggs and wouldn’t take any money. She also gave us a jar of apricot preserves, apricot jam and applesauce. I gave her a ½ gallon of butter pecan ice cream and a dozen oatmeal cookies with raisins and walnuts. I read that when things get tough, the little luxuries become uplifting. Wonderful people and becoming difficult to find these days. Maybe hard times will bring out the best in people. We individuals have to pull together; the government isn’t there for us like they were in the past. Maybe Trump can trump (and tromp) the knaves.

Best wishes,

Agnut

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi all. Lots of family and personal issues to address lately, so little time or energy to post much here. Also, garage and estate sales have been fewer this year. Last week there were zero garage sales listed in the local paper and only two local ads on Craigslist; I’ve never seen that before. I know that the real economy is hurting and would expect that folks would be more prone to sell their unwanted items. The velocity of money had been on a downward spiral for some time and the possibility of disappointing sales may be discouraging potential sellers. People are holding onto what money they do have; I can’t blame them. I’m also holding some reserves in anticipation of better future deals.

As an example, I was at a local thrift store last week and spied a Dyson ball vacuum cleaner for sale. I already have one that I picked up a few years ago for $40 and thought I had gotten a bargain then. The best vacuum cleaner I have ever used. But this Dyson was for sale for $10 ! A few years ago a new Dyson would cost around $500 but I have seen ones for sale lately for around $300. I’m just saying that prices have softened lately even though inflation has been eating away at purchasing power of the dollar. And with the government reporting that unemployment is at 5.1%, we all should realize that the news reported is a fabrication (to put it mildly). John Williams of Shadowstats.com has been reporting for some time that the true unemployment is around 22%. We are in a depression folks and must act accordingly if we are to survive and prosper in the future. If you don’t believe that we are in a depression, at least act as though we are. All we need now is to dredge out that old song “Happy days are here again” and the scenario will be complete.

A couple of weeks ago I was at another thrift store and saw a Skil worm drive power saw sitting on a back shelf. I asked how much and the salesman said “How about $5 ?”. I couldn’t get it into the truck fast enough. Now I have 5 of these types of saws put away for the future. By the way, I was at Home Depot recently and the price for a new Skil saw was about $170 with tax.

There are bargains and then there are outright steals. Like the two deals/steals above. Maybe it is time to hold back and patiently wait for the steals. I don’t know for certain; it could just be my personal experiences.

Will America be marginalized internationally to the point that all the excess bounty will be used up and scarcity of many manufactured items will become the rule of the day ? I don’t know how it will all play out but I do know that with true inflation of around 9% as well as poor quality of many, many imports, I have been collecting quality items (old American made items particularly) that I believe will not only hold their value but may also command a higher value in the future. I’m not talking as much about selling for dollars but rather for bartering and horsetrading.
Here are a couple of articles pertinent to this post :

IGNORE THE MEDIA BULL$HIT – RETAIL IMPLOSION PROVES WE ARE IN RECESSION

http://www.theburningplatform.com/20...-in-recession/

Wal-Mart’s Worst Stock Crash In 27 Years Is Another Sign That The Economy Is Rapidly Falling Apart
By Michael Snyder, on October 14th, 2015


http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/a...-falling-apart

So what do you think this coming winter will look like ?

This Christmas, all presents will be things I already have. Even the wrapping paper I got for free. I’ve been doing this for years and everyone loves it. Cheap bastard? You Betcha !

If those in power think we will stretch our finances to the breaking point, they have another think coming. I never forgot what my old boss said back in the early 70s, “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.”

As a last note, take good care of the items you have accumulated. I had a leak in one of my storage buildings and water damaged some of the items. Fortunately I caught it in time and only lost a few things. But it took me two days to repackage and move everything to the barn where it is dry and safe. Also, I have so many items bought through the years that I am continually rediscovering things. Many, many things. It’s like opening Christmas presents throughout the year. HoHoHo

And don’t forget the homeless and struggling. In our area there is an unusual thrift store in which items are sold for donations; no prices listed. Also there is a huge room with items specifically for the homeless, all for free. I talked with the manager about the homeless and she said that they most need small tents, tarps, shoes, sleeping bags, winter coats and socks. What we bless others with will be repaid in many ways. “Let your light so shine that others may see your good works and glorify you father in heaven.”

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. Thanks to all of you who have contributed so much to the bartering and horsetrading thread. I have learned of many things I never knew existed as well as been able to expand my abilities. I can’t thank you enough.

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

words of truth from agnuts ............... IGNORE THE MEDIA BULL$HIT – RETAIL IMPLOSION PROVES WE ARE IN RECESSION
............ the few sales I have been to this year is all the stuff they have from last sale . have not been to one sale that they have had tools cast iron cook ware we are starting to see the bottom drop out . and what junk they have had is way over priced . BE SAFE OUT THERE TIMES ARE GETTING HARDER ...

Thanks mick silver. Here are a couple of other articles to ponder :

CONFUSION, DELUSIONS & ILLUSIONS
http://www.theburningplatform.com/20...ons-illusions/

and
Goodbye Middle Class: 51 Percent Of All American Workers Make Less Than 30,000 Dollars A Year
http://endoftheamericandream.com/arc...dollars-a-year

After having read these articles it is obvious that most folks are hanging on by their nails, trying to maintain their lifestyles as they see it slipping through their fingers.

In the past I have commented that there has been a resurgence of buyers at garage, estate and moving sales; it has been occurring over the past several years. I have been observing these new buyers who are better dressed, drive nicer cars and carry themselves differently. They are there because inflation with all the other costs being heaped upon them has been taking a toll on their net income, income that has been essentially flat to downward. Smart move but they should have been doing this long ago; they have actually been forced by the realities of financial trends.

I was fortunate in my youth to have seen the insanity of insisting on buying everything at retail. What is “new” ? Is something we buy in a store really new ? Or has the clothing been tried on by several other customers ? And after we pay over the counter for an item, is it still considered “new” ? I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten items at garage sales that still have the price tags on them and are still in the box. No, no; the whole problem so many folks have is in their pride and having never sat down and realized that they have the power to think for themselves.

Who the hell cares that I have a Dyson vacuum cleaner that was previously used by some other citizen ? It was about $500 new and I just bought a used one for $10. Let’s see, $490 dollars saved which is really much more when we consider that that is after tax income which is much greater. How hard and long would we have to work to net that $490 after taxes ?

Good grief ! I have been living outside the Matrix all of my life and had not perceived it in this way until just now !

You see, I have always been floating above the masses, unshackled by all the marketing persuasions inundating all of us daily. I majored in business management back in the 1960s and often thought that I would have been better off having majored in marketing instead. And now, right now, I realize that that would have been a big mistake from the path I have taken. And as Robert Frost said ” …And that had made all the difference.”

I have owned several businesses and not sold things in the ordinary sense. Let me explain. I see myself as a presenter rather than a salesman. The quality and value of an item should be self evident to the buyer; otherwise it is not a fair barter. My job is to see that what I have to sell (or present, if you will) is worth the value at which I am offering it. No lies or deceptions. I have stood behind this all my life. The secret is an old used car saying, “You don’t make your money selling a car; you make your money having bought the car.” In other words, if you paid too much for a car, you will not profit in selling it. This is true whether you are presenting a pizza oven or a bicycle. Now I fully realize that the buyer has his own perception of the value of an item; that is his own business. I don’t try to get the maximum in selling but leave some extra value on the table for the buyer.

Sure, I could sell an item for a higher price but what does that do ? Less buyers willing to shell out more of their hard earned money and therefore a longer time to sell my items. Time is crucial in ability to turn over an item so that we can move on to the next deal. It is money held back from opportunities. Items need to flow into and out of your hands like a stream flowing. Otherwise, we are building a dam holding back our greater potential. Turnover is a concept we all should have in the back of our minds when we buy an item for resale. Sometimes I have had an item sold before I got it home.

I am guilty of sitting on a multitude of items for years. Why, you ask ? Well, I am an art lover of many things and am paying for my appreciating these items rather than selling them right away. I have a lot of art that I enjoy looking at rather than I would enjoy the money I would receive. This changes over time as I sell some of it and replace it with something else that has caught my eye. I made up a saying that goes something like this. We can own nothing in this world but only have use of it for a time, for we are mortal.

Another thing I do is collect items that I believe will be of greater value in the future. It is not just about money but possible bartering for another item or labor traded. The worm drive Skil saw I got for $5 mentioned in my last post is an example. Why these expensive power saws are so cheap on the used market is unknown to me but I will continue to collect them as I see them. I have 5 of them as well as many of the cheaper power saws. If I were to set up a display selling them I would price the cheaper saws at $15 to $25 and the worm drive Skil saws at $50 to $65, depending on condition. Note that I have left room to haggle. It is important to tell the buyer what the new price is in order to give him some perspective. I could even throw in a few blades to sweeten the deal. I pick up these blades for less than a dollar and have many.

Most of my life I have listened to others complaining that they don’t have enough money. And you know what ? I could never understand it from my perspective; I thought everyone was doing pretty much what I was doing. Color me ignorant ! But this unawareness goes further; I also could not understand what coveting meant; by the way, one of the Ten Commandments. Had to look it up in the dictionary.

Yeah, living outside of the Matrix. I like that. Anyone can join me whenever they like. All ya gotta do is disconnect all of the tubes mankind has been feeding off of. There is the peer pressure tube. The ego tube. The MADison Avenue tube. The MSM tube. And the boob tube.

And once you do this you will be living within a whole new world of opportunities and control of your life.

Although things have gotten harder to find these days, there are other places to look such as thrift stores, Craigslist, auctions, government and county sales. If deals in your local area are unproductive, it may be time to look within a 25 to 50 mile radius.

Best wishes,

Agnut

“The real hopeless victims of mental illness are to be found among those who appear to be most normal. Many of them are normal because they are so well adjusted to our mode of existence, because their human voice has been silenced so early in their lives, that they do not even struggle or suffer or develop symptoms as the neurotic does.” They are normal not in what may be called the absolute sense of the word; they are normal only in relation to a profoundly abnormal society. Their perfect adjustment to that abnormal society is a measure of their mental sickness. These millions of abnormally normal people, living without fuss in a society to which, if they were fully human beings, they ought not to be adjusted.”
– Aldous Huxley – Brave New World Revisited

A lack of discipline, inability to delay gratification, failure to understand basic mathematical concepts, materialistic envy, absence of critical thinking skills, and a delusionary view of the world have left the majority of Americans broke and in debt.

went out today and look at a few trailers all of them were over priced look at truck are two also over priced , whats the world coming too when a guy with cash cannot make a deal

Hi again mick silver. What kind of trailer and model truck are you looking for ? What price range ?

Are the trailers and trucks overpriced or is the dollar undervalued ? Not funny is it ?

Let me know; I have been thinking lately about focusing on writing about vehicles and their relative utilitarian values.

Best wishes,
Agnut

I know guys looking for trucks an trailers so I look for stuff to buy and sale an make a few bucks . one of the trucks I look at was a 2004 ford 350 it look real good but he wanted 20.000.00 for truck with 300.000 thousand miles of it , then I look at a few trailer and they were also over priced they all needed brakes tires and some new wood floors on them like the trucks they also were over priced . some days it pay to stay home and do other things . but again that how I made ex paper when it slow around here by horse trading . be safe mick

Great posts. Good to see a little action in this thread. I have been the busiest I've ever been this year, and really am somewhat overloaded with deals that I need to flip and make some money out of. Whole lot of poor people out there and most the middle class is one small financial stubbed toe from being there too. I price most things to sell quickly, but haven't had much action lately. Thinking about raising my price on a few things and see what happens. Sometimes when things are too cheap people think its a scam or a misprint. I've noticed the corporate world has everybody brainwashed into thinking you can't get a better deal with cash too Mick. Everyone lives on their debit/credit cards and smart phones. I talk to grown men out in the world who are supposed to be moving and shaking and they don't have a five dollar bill in their wallet. If the net or the banks shut down for one day people would freak out. I think of yall as kindred spirits and when coming up on a steal of a deal and a few of yall are in the back of my mind more than a few times a week. Yall be safe out there.

Hi mick silver. Not to sound preachy and all that, but why buy a truck for $20,000 with 300,000 miles on it ? That is a lot of money to tie up that could be used for pyramiding a fortune (or loading a barn to the rafters with deals and steals as I have).

I have a 1990 Dodge 350 with a Cummins diesel engine and a 5 speed manual transmission that got 26 mpg one way and 25 mpg on the return when I visited Ponce a few weeks ago. It was a 1,100 mile trip so I know the figures are accurate. I was driving 70-75 mph much of the way. My truck has 265,000 miles on it and has never let me down. It is great for towing and hardly notices the weight. I paid $2,600 for it about 5-6 years ago.

The 1997 Dodge diesel is the last year of the manual fuel injection and that is what I would look for. Simple and less expensive to maintain. I’ve seen several for sale on Craigslist in the $5-7000 price range. In 1994 the body style was changed and looks to be much newer than it really is. That’s if esthetics has any importance to you. I like the older body style since it doesn’t appear that I have any money and am just sliding along on Social Insecurity (which I am). In my case of going to garage sales I don’t want the appearance of prosperity; maybe it works, not sure, but that is my aim.

Diesel fuel is easier and much safer to have stored around. Also don’t forget the potential for making boidiesel fuel. Even my generator is a 12K Lister unit. And my VW Scirocco has been converted to diesel which will get about 65 mpg on the freeway, about 50 around town. Whether fuel costs go high or availability goes low, I feel that I am better prepared for the future. My two tractors are diesel too. So you can see how biased I am about being an all diesel household.

The advantage of the later electronic diesel trucks is that you can make modifications to greatly increase the horsepower. Personally I don’t need the added expense or increased power but you might.

Best wishes,
Agnut
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi govcheetos. Yeah, they have sucked out all the discretionary money that the masses used to have for their wants. Also, they have been sucking out the masses needs to where being able to buy enough food or pay other bills has become a problem. I read that retailers are expecting the public to spend $803 this Christmas season. Yeah, right ! Let me know how that works out for you.

If things get any tighter, there will be literally no market for many things that are not absolutely needed by folks. And then, the things that are needed are basic and darrn few. Things like food, paying the electric bill, etc. Just look at all the folks who have canceled their Comcast TV cable in the last couple of years. I did a couple of years ago and have been saving $120 a month. It was a want, not a need.

I may sound like I have it all together but truth be known, I have been busy for a long time in trying my best to get projects completed before the wheels fall off of the economy. I’m not there by a long shot. I think we sometimes take on too much, expecting it all to fall into place like clockwork. Things are more complicated these days, compounded by workers that don’t show up or are incompetent. As a result I am having to do most everything myself and at 68 years old I no longer can work 12 hours straight. This prepping for the future is like taking on two jobs with little rest and no vacations. I have finally consigned myself to the fact that it will never be finished and I will have to do some preps after TSHTF. Sounds crazy but there it is. I have to console myself with the knowledge that I will be way ahead of those who did not prepare. Even though some tasks will not be complete I have been buying in advance the parts I will need.

There is the very real probability that parts we can get now at the local Home Depot or online will not be there after TSHTF. Extra fan belts, water hoses, cases of oil and filters are but a few items that should be in our parts inventory. And lots of fuel too. I’m looking at a second 100 gallon diesel tank for $50 that will come in handy. If I have it full when prices rise, it will be like I made a profit in more than one way.

When we buy a bargain item today we don’t know what it will be worth in the years to come; we can only make our best estimate. Some items we will use ourselves and some we will barter for things we need. The items we use ourselves are pretty self evident in their value but these future bartering items require us to envision a scenario in which others will be able to trade with us. And want to trade. What is the value of a blender if there is no electricity ? Or an LP record ? Nobody knows the depth to which we will descend in the future. Could be merely difficult or like living back in the 1820s. Some items will probably be in demand no matter what. Ponce’s toilet paper stash is a good candidate. A time when nobody has their shit together. HaHa
In prepping for the future we all act within the framework of our abilities and perceptions. With limited resources, what can I do that will make the greatest difference ? Do I perceive that the future will be like the 1930s Depression or Mad Max ? This is why we read here on the internet so many different opinions on prepping. You places your bets and lets the dice roll. Nobody knows for sure; it is all perceptions.

Look at me and what direction I have taken. Three water storage tanks with only one hooked up. A 12K diesel generator not hooked up yet. A propane stove and clothes dryer not hooked up. Many items I would like to sell for better financial positioning. Food preps that need more attention than I have time for. Items stored all over the property that need to be organized and maintained.

So what happened here, agnut ? To be honest, I am overwhelmed with projects I am not experienced enough to perform. And having someone do these things is both expensive and allows these workers to see my preparations. And they will remember. Also, my age has caught up with me. Diesel VWs sitting out back that I had bought 8 years ago with the intent of restoring. I was 60 then and full of energy and enthusiasm. I have many things that have a much greater potential for value when they are completed and operational.

I have a huge load of CB radio gear that was given to me by an old friend. It is worth a couple thousand dollars but I haven’t yet figured out how to sell it all, hopefully as one lot to one buyer. The Tram 0201A unit alone is worth $1,000 to $1,500 on eBay. Maybe Craigslist, eBay or a local ham radio club.

The time it will take to become proficient with my new Nikon camera and submit many ads is only part of the work and time required to sell these items. Much more time consuming will be communicating with buyers, meeting them and negotiating.

The point here is that I have accumulated many items in anticipation of their future need and value, which has not yet arrived. It would have been wise to have taken the time to have sold some of these items while I was also continuing to buy other items. Let that be a lesson to others.

As a last note, I am thinking that selling my art pieces is high priority since they will not have demand or value in the next couple of years. I will be selling to those who are not aware of what I believe the future portends. Their loss, my gain.

It is most important to communicate the truth in what we do. It is not all flying unicorns pooping out Skittles. The times they are a changin’ and we also must adjust our expectations accordingly. What may be a great deal today may be a poor investment in the future. This bartering and horsetrading can be life changing stuff IF handled with forethought and wisdom.

Gotta go; learning about the Nikon camera is the next project this morning.

Best wishes,
Agnut

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I guess the diesel Mercedes got my interest started (in diesel's).

Then there was the time I rented a diesel truck (cost about $1 a mile, drove 2000 miles).

That made me think about mileage.

Now I ask Ford (PowerStroke) and Dodge (Cummins) and Chevy (Duramax) owners about their diesel's.

One guy with a Duramax was adamant, it runs cleaner with biodiesel even though the factory dealer says it voids the warranty.

In general the truck diesel guys I've talked to (probably over a hundred at this point) like their diesel trucks.

agnuts the truck not for me I look for stuff others need and I get a finder fee if they buy it . there a few guys around here that don't have the time to run around and look for stuff that were I come in . but again I will look for the older trucks if I can find one that runs and looks good, that hard to do around here most are drove hard and put up wet . be safe out there mick

I told august a few things to look for at sales well here one to keep in mind old 8 tracks . I have seen them go for nothing at sales plus there a lot of folks now going back to live the old days that are looking for them . just go an do a search on ebay for 8 track and put in a starting point of over 25 bucks and look around for what's to buy and keep a look out for ......... there money still out there to help you get what u need still ....be safe on your travels mick

agnut we have not heard from you in some time , let us know how the sales are going in your town it dry up around here most of the stuff over priced I think we are headed over the hill now and there no turning back . be safe mick

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Originally Posted by mick silver

agnut we have not heard from you in some time , let us know how the sales are going in your town it dry up around here most of the stuff over priced I think we are headed over the hill now and there no turning back . be safe mick

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Hi Mick silver. The only activity lately was an estate sale I attended last Saturday. I’ve been meaning to write about it but so much has been occupying my attentions. Someone just picked up my trailer and someone else is on the way here to turn a flywheel on a brake lathe he bought a while ago but doesn’t have the room to put in his workshop. It’s all good; he is a friend and I make accommodations.
I’ll write about this estate sale as soon as I have some time. Hunt and peck takes time, ya know.
Best wishes,
Agnut