Advice column: Should I get Gold?

I'm on a roll today! Eh, been up since 3:00 this morning.

If you listen to patriot radio, watch FOX News, or read any type of publication even remotely connected to survivalism, you will see and hear advertisements encouraging you to purchase gold and silver.

Now, I will admit...we have a small supply of silver. Very small. Junk silver. Just a handful of pre-1965 coins from around the world that my great uncle had quite intelligently kept, and lovingly passed on to us...and we haven't gotten rid of it because there are too many people out there trying to rip us innocent people off. Yeah, I'm pointing my finger at you, coin shop guy. Jerk.

However, not all of us have such a wonderful great uncle. And not all of us have the funds to go out and purchase even junk silver (although you might be smart to look at the coins that end up in your hands just to make sure...not everyone realizes that the coin they used to buy their daily soda at the convenience store is worth more than its face value.)

For those who have a nice retirement package stocked away in some bank, using this money to purchase some physical, in-your-hands gold that you can hide away somewhere might be a smart idea. However, some of us have maybe $50 in the bank. Many of us don't even have a bank account. So...what do we do?

Yes, you probably should invest in gold and silver....AFTER you have purchased your immediate needs. Purchase your wheat, rice and beans first. Purchase your seeds second. Purchase all else that you will need (from toilette paper to canned meat to coats and blankets) third. Fourth, purchase whatever you think you will need for hunting or protection. Then, after you have everything squared away, purchase more wheat, rice, and beans and other items for trade (I suggest coffee...he who has the caffiene has the gold, no matter how old it is).

Then, and only then, you will be able to square away some gold or silver. Caution, though....do not purchase jewelry. Jewelry is priced far above the cost of the gold or silver. Even the simple silver ring I got from my grandmother, if purchased today, would cost far more than the silver is worth if purchased today (although I'm sure my grandfather probably paid $1 for it back then).

Purchase what you need first. Purchase real coin last.