Happy Memorial Day: Betcha Didn't Know That

Memorial Day weekend has begun. Yay!

Sure it's great to get some time to breathe, but let's not forget why we observe this holiday. More on that later. For now, a little mind candy before we shut off our financial brains for 3 days.

One of the exercise guys I access online once explained what he claimed were the effects of certain arm and leg coverings he used, followed by "Betcha didn't know that." Since the routine is captured in video, and I access that particular session about every two weeks on a Monday morning, the phrase has embedded itself and holds its little space in a brain already too full of such snippets.

But with that embedded presence now firmly ensconced, it was no surprise that it popped up when reading that as of as of May 17, 2024, Bloomberg noted that, over the past five years, Gold has risen 89%, the S&P 85%, the US Aggregate Bond Index 0.7%.

Betcha didn't know that. 

As it turns our there was no surprise on this end. No brag in that; just a fact. When you understand the role and value of gold in our financial life, you follow the stuff. And following gold over the years has shown that any decisions made to in favor of it have turned out and likely will turn out to be most beneficial.

Now, one of the reasons we want to own gold has to do with our esteemed leaders a/k/a politicians - the folks who run the government, especially the federal government.

Fact is, going back to Romans - where records are available to verify - governments have made it a nasty habit of playing havoc with the money their citizens hold. In those olden times, money was metal. Today it's paper. Back then the government issued coins with less and less actual silver or gold content. Today the government just prints up more and more money. The net effect is the same. Those who hold onto the coin (or paper money) of the realm to preserve their wealth get screwed.

Now, if you didn't actually know that, you'd do well to read up on it. It's played and will continue to play a major role in your financial life. As money loses its lustre, purchasing power decreases. Unless you can earn more and more (and there's typically a limit to that), your money won't do the trick when it comes to buying food, gas, clothes, rent, mortgage, etc. etc. 

Since more of us have become aware of the loss of purchasing power of our money with our recent slug of inflation, it behooves us to understand the source of that loss of purchasing power. Based on today's comments so far, you should know that source by now, if you didn't already know it.

And given that rather stark fact, the next "Betcha didn't know that item" should be more shocking than it might be had you not known the facts.

See, government takes our money in two ways: taxes and inflation. But what's worse is this "X" that shows our leaders in action. 

Not that I didn't realize that our politicians suck out our wealth to keep themselves in power, and the objects of the generosity of various lobbyists, among other favor-seekers who cozy up to them...at our expense. I did. But I was still shocked to watch this and, frankly, it was a true "Betcha didn't know that." 

Maybe I should not have been shocked. But I was.

So despite having some knowledge of the whole Gold thing, this little shocker just reinforced just why having Gold really is important.

At least you'll have something of value for a rainy day, out of the control of these people.

Click HERE to watch the show.

If you don't like clicking on links, go to: https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1791490814020907508?s=46&t=-lX4BuORh5dsybgu-6zamQ. It's worth it.)

But let's not let all of this disrupt our gatherings with family and friends or distract us from remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our country from harm. We'll be firing up the BBQ for the first time this season on Sunday with some family. Meanwhile here's something for the ears to lighten things up as we wind down the work week.

 

Happy Memorial Day!