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STAGFLATION IS BACK: How to Keep Your Wealth Alive While the Economy Crumbles

EDITOR'S NOTES

Stagflation is rearing its ugly head again—rising prices, falling growth, and mass layoffs. If you lived through the 1970s, this will feel like déjà vu. Back then, stocks got crushed while gold and silver soared. In this article, Frank Balm walks you through how to protect your money and prepare your life for what’s coming next. Bottom line? It’s time to pivot. Precious metals, smart belt-tightening, and financial sanity are no longer optional—they’re survival tools.

Frank Balm Apr 24, 25

The Perfect Storm: Inflation, Job Losses, and Economic Stagnation

Folks, we're headed straight into the economic storm they call stagflation. That’s when your paycheck shrinks in buying power, your job's on the line, and the economy grinds to a halt.

We saw this movie already between 1972 and 1982. Inflation spiked to 14%. Jobs disappeared. The economy flatlined. I was a young guy then, fresh in the financial game, watching people lose everything—except the smart few who had their money in real assets.

Well, guess what? It’s happening again.

Inflation is creeping back up. Growth is sputtering. Layoffs are hitting every industry. And the folks in charge? They’re gaslighting us, telling us everything’s just fine.

The 1970s Playbook: Gold and Silver Didn’t Just Survive—They Dominated

The S&P 500 barely gained 43% during the entire 1970s. But when you adjust for inflation? Investors lost purchasing power.

Meanwhile, gold didn’t just hold steady—it exploded. From $35/oz to nearly $850. That’s a 24x return.

Silver? Even better. It went from about $1.60/oz to nearly $50. That’s a jaw-dropping 33x at its peak.

If you had just held your wealth in silver instead of cash, you’d have not only kept up—you’d have raced past inflation and left it choking in your dust.

Here’s what the pros did: George Soros, Jim Rogers, and a handful of others made their fortunes riding the precious metals wave. Not stocks. Not bonds. Not real estate. Gold. Silver. Commodities.

The Message Is Clear: Gold Is Screaming at Us

Gold isn’t just rising for no reason. It’s flashing red. It’s warning us: “Brace yourself. Hard times ahead.”

Now is not the time to wait and hope the Fed “gets it right.” Now is the time to act like your money is on fire—because it is. Fiat currency is like a car with no brakes, coasting downhill. You might not crash today, but it's coming.

Protect yourself with real money: gold and silver. Not paper promises. Not digits in a bank you don’t control.

Trim the Fat—Before They Trim Your Job

Here’s the harsh truth: companies are tightening their belts, and you should be too.

If your rent or mortgage is eating more than 30% of your income? That’s a trap. Downsize. Move. Do what you have to do. Live in a mobile home if it means staying afloat. Pride won’t pay the bills.

Slash recurring costs. Cheaper phone plan. Cancel that streaming subscription you barely use. Keep that old phone for another year. Look into cheaper car or home insurance.

Cook at home. Shop bulk. Get thrifty.

And for the love of sanity—don’t leave your savings in a bank paying you 0% while inflation is eating away 4-5% per year. That’s legalized robbery. Switch to an FDIC-insured bank with decent yield. You’ve earned it.