Take a look at some stats I've compiled for you on the dwindling dollar. And keep in mind that most of the loss of purchasing power you see below doesn't even include the dollar's recent losses, which take from 12 to 18 months to work their way through the pricing mechanism (in other words, prices are about to explode higher) ... Category 1980 2007/2008 % Change Median price of a home in the U.S. $62,200 $196,300 215% Average monthly apartment rent $300 $1,082 260% Per capita food expenditures (at home) $828 $1,935 134% Per capita food expenditures (dining out) $529 $1,842 248% Per capita healthcare $1,086 $7,129 556% College Tuition - 2-year public college $391 $2,361 503% College Tuition - 4-year public college $804 $6,185 669% College Tuition - 4-year private college $3,617 $23,712 556% Annual average household spending on gas $885 $2,950 233% Average U.S. movie ticket price $2.69 $6.88 155% Average cost of new car $7,200 $26,950 274% Average cost per year of car maintenance (15k miles per year) $165 $739 347% Cost of postage stamp $0.15 $0.41 173% If You Haven't Already Increased Your Gold Holdings, I Suggest You Do So Immediately ... As a result of the plunging dollar, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has now also been hit hard with selling, breaking through the key 11,600 support level that I've been warning you about. That means — and I'm not mincing words here — U.S. stocks, and by default the U.S. economy, are going over the cliff. As I've told you in previous issues of Money and Markets , stay out of all stocks except natural resource plays. Also continue to steer clear of all long-term government and corporate bonds. They are the next disaster on the horizon. Their prices will plummet as investors flee the dollar in droves. Instead, think about keeping your liquid money safe in short-term money market funds. But first, make sure your gold portfolio is up to snuff. Since the beginning of gold's bull market way back in 2000, my position has been that all investors should have a minimum of 5% in gold. That was when gold was trading under $300 an ounce. In September 2007, I suggested doubling that to 10%, when gold was trading at the $660 level. And in February of this year, when gold hit $900, I advocated doubling the allocation to 20%, with half of that in gold bullion or the equivalent in terms of an exchange-traded fund, and the second half in gold mining shares. Now, because of the imminent next phase of the decline in the dollar, I urge you — if you have not already done so, to seriously consider allocating 20% of your net worth to gold investments. You might want to put half in pure gold investments, and the other half in mining shares. Here are four of my favorite gold investment vehicles ... 1.) The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). This exchange-traded fund owns physical gold on your behalf, but without the storage hassles. Each share of the GLD equals 1/10 of an ounce of gold. 2.) The Tocqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX). I consider this one of the very best gold funds around. It boasts a five-year average annual return of 24.59%. Plus there are no front-end charges, and its expense ratio is about 1.43%. Minimum initial investment: $1,000. 3.) U.S. Global Investors World Precious Minerals Fund (UNWPX). Another one of my favorites, I think this is also one of the best gold funds around. Manager Frank Holmes truly understands what I've been talking about in this article. The fund's five-year annualized return is a hefty 36.49%. Again, it has no front end charges, and has a low expense ratio of just 0.99%. The minimum initial investment: $5,000. 4.) Gold Mining Shares. Consider buying the Market Vectors Gold Miners Index ETF (GDX) , an Exchange Traded Fund that holds a basket of the top gold miners.

Open Question

Take a look at some stats I've compiled for you on the dwindling dollar. And
keep in mind that most of the loss of purchasing power you see below doesn't
even include the dollar's recent losses, which take from 12 to 18 months to work
their way through the pricing mechanism (in other words, prices are about to
explode higher) ...

Category 1980 2007/2008 % Change
Median price of a home in the U.S. $62,200 $196,300 215%
Average monthly apartment rent $300 $1,082 260%
Per capita food expenditures (at home) $828 $1,935 134%
Per capita food expenditures (dining out) $529 $1,842 248%
Per capita healthcare $1,086 $7,129 556%
College Tuition - 2-year public college $391 $2,361 503%
College Tuition - 4-year public college $804 $6,185 669%
College Tuition - 4-year private college $3,617 $23,712 556%
Annual average household spending on gas $885 $2,950 233%
Average U.S. movie ticket price $2.69 $6.88 155%
Average cost of new car $7,200 $26,950 274%
Average cost per year of car maintenance (15k miles per year) $165 $739 347%

Cost of postage stamp $0.15 $0.41 173%

If You Haven't Already Increased Your Gold Holdings, I Suggest You Do So
Immediately ...

As a result of the plunging dollar, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has now
also been hit hard with selling, breaking through the key 11,600 support level
that I've been warning you about. That means — and I'm not mincing words here
— U.S. stocks, and by default the U.S. economy, are going over the cliff.

As I've told you in previous issues of Money and Markets , stay out of all
stocks except natural resource plays.

Also continue to steer clear of all long-term government and corporate bonds.
They are the next disaster on the horizon. Their prices will plummet as
investors flee the dollar in droves.

Instead, think about keeping your liquid money safe in short-term money market
funds. But first, make sure your gold portfolio is up to snuff.

Since the beginning of gold's bull market way back in 2000, my position has been
that all investors should have a minimum of 5% in gold. That was when gold was
trading under $300 an ounce.

In September 2007, I suggested doubling that to 10%, when gold was trading at
the $660 level.

And in February of this year, when gold hit $900, I advocated doubling the
allocation to 20%, with half of that in gold bullion or the equivalent in terms
of an exchange-traded fund, and the second half in gold mining shares.

Now, because of the imminent next phase of the decline in the dollar, I urge you
— if you have not already done so, to seriously consider allocating 20% of
your net worth to gold investments. You might want to put half in pure gold
investments, and the other half in mining shares.

Here are four of my favorite gold investment vehicles ...

1.) The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). This exchange-traded fund owns physical gold on
your behalf, but without the storage hassles. Each share of the GLD equals 1/10
of an ounce of gold.

2.) The Tocqueville Gold Fund (TGLDX). I consider this one of the very best gold
funds around. It boasts a five-year average annual return of 24.59%. Plus there
are no front-end charges, and its expense ratio is about 1.43%. Minimum initial
investment: $1,000.

3.) U.S. Global Investors World Precious Minerals Fund (UNWPX). Another one of
my favorites, I think this is also one of the best gold funds around. Manager
Frank Holmes truly understands what I've been talking about in this article.

The fund's five-year annualized return is a hefty 36.49%. Again, it has no front
end charges, and has a low expense ratio of just 0.99%. The minimum initial
investment: $5,000.

4.) Gold Mining Shares. Consider buying the Market Vectors Gold Miners Index ETF
(GDX) , an Exchange Traded Fund that holds a basket of the top gold miners.

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Hey Bogus One~
This weekend,I found a lovely use of that outdated U.S. currency. DH took me to
Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY (www.stormking.org). It is an
indoor/outdoor sculpture musuem that was just fabulous. Acres of rolling
hillside dotted with beautiful metallic sculptures of all kinds. Just gorgeous.
There was an artist named Johnny Spring who made metallic loveseat out of
nickels called "Nickel Chair" and a one seater chair out of 50 cent pieces
called "Butterfly Chair." We sat in them and dreamed of being lord/lady of that
manor. It was great. We saw deer, rabbits, wild turkey and a goffer (which I
see all the time here, but those animals have the best spot under heaven to
live!)...you should check it out with your girl!

They even have a Roy Lichtenstein yacht in a lake that has a mermaid painted on
it. Way cool.

Enjoy!
Kathy in NJ

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