S5E8: Is Silver a Smart Alternative to Cash in 2025? | Silver, Inflation & Diversification | Investor Shed Podcast

Welcome back to the Investor Shed Podcast with your hosts Nick Beveridge and Jeremy Kitchen! In this episode, we take a deep dive into alternative investing, focusing on silver as a unique and tangible asset for long-term savings and inflation protection.

Nick shares real-life stories of using silver to cover financial emergencies — from making payroll to buying a car for his mom — and explains why he views silver as a “fun and safe” alternative to keeping large amounts of cash in a savings account. We also cover the pros and cons of bullion vs. numismatics, tips for spotting fake silver, and how to navigate the market when buying online or at a local coin shop.

Whether you're a real estate investor, a business owner, or just trying to protect your wealth in uncertain economic times, this episode will give you practical insights on how precious metals might fit into your strategy.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why silver can be a safer store of value than cash

✔️ How inflation quietly eats away at your purchasing power

✔️ How to avoid scams when buying silver online

✔️ Spot price vs. premiums explained

✔️ Collectible silver vs. bullion (numismatics 101)

✔️ What “junk silver” is and how it retains value

✔️ Where to buy trusted silver (websites + local shops)

✔️ Why diversification is crucial — even for real estate pros

✔️ How silver has helped Nick in real financial emergencies

📢 Disclaimer:

This episode reflects personal opinions and should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor, especially when it comes to precious metals, tax strategies, or using retirement accounts like IRAs for investing.

📌 Inflation Clarification:

We mentioned on the show that cash loses about 13% per year due to inflation — that’s an exaggeration. Here's a more accurate breakdown:

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  Official U.S. inflation has historically averaged 2.5%–3.5% annually.

  
  


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  Including essentials like food, housing, and energy, real-world inflation often feels higher — in peak years like 2021–2022, headline inflation spiked to 7%–9%.

  
  


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  Some alternative models (e.g. ShadowStats) estimate 5%–8% average annual inflation, but these aren’t officially recognized.

  
  

👉 Bottom line: Cash does lose value over time — just not always as dramatically as we joked about. We're not economists — just two guys who like silver and real estate.

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Alternative Investing

01:00 – Why Silver Is Appealing Right Now

02:51 – Understanding Silver Prices & Inflation

05:53 – Silver vs. Cash for Emergency Funds

09:14 – Buying Silver: Spot Price & Premiums

11:49 – How to Spot Scams and Fakes

17:55 – Numismatics vs. Bullion Explained

25:51 – Silver in Real Emergencies (Nick’s Stories)

32:20 – Junk Silver: What It Is & Why It Matters

34:38 – Gold vs. Silver, Currency Collapse Scenarios

43:43 – Real Estate & Wealth Building Strategies

50:14 – Final Thoughts: Risk Management & Diversification

🔗 Connect with us:

Official YouTube Podcast Page: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInvestorShed

Nick Beveridge's YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@NickBeveridge

Real Estate Website: northidahorei.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063653307069

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinvestorshed/

📈 Hashtags & Keywords:

#SilverInvestment #AlternativeInvesting #PreciousMetals #InflationHedge #InvestingTips #Bullion #Numismatics #JunkSilver #GoldVsSilver #CashAlternatives #InvestorShedPodcast #RealEstateStrategies #WealthBuilding #Cryptocurrency #EmergencySavings #DiversifyYourPortfolio #HardAssets #FinancialEducation #NorthIdahoRealEstate #NickBeveridge #JeremyKitchen