this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
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What kind of things could a person carry to sell and how if they ever had to forcibly leave?

I read diamonds are worthless second hand.

Solid gold seems legit but not sure if coins or jeweler is best.

I saw something about getting gold chains to trade individual links in a emergency.

Are there any other good tips?

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Edit: Put in a Consolidation effort based on comments and side research

  1. Jewelery is good getting through customs as some countries have limits on what you can take over borders. Canada for example has 10k limit before you have to delcare and it is not clear if per person.

1.a) Always buy jewelry you plan to wear anyway because you will not get full value back.

1.b) Buy from reputable locations. Looks like Mene was a popular one.

  1. Gold coins are good but get normal ones like Eagles, Buffalo, or Maple as it's easier to sell. Fancy ones are cool as collector item but will require more haggling.

2a) Bars are cheaper over spot but can be harder to sell overall

2b) Seems like libertycoin had consistent reviews.

  1. Cash is light but if your origin country currency dips then it's worthless.

  2. Crypto requires you to have your wallet seed and importantly access to a pc and electricity.

  3. Make sure to have a backup skil/trade to live off of.

  4. Transferring money between banks can have legal issues.

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[–] Anarch157a@lemmy.dbzer0.com 45 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Currency. Paper money that has high acceptance internationally, like US Dollars or Euros, both can be easily traded by local currency pretty much anywhere in the world.

[–] Banana@sh.itjust.works 25 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

Idk how long the US dollar will have high acceptance internationally. I mean it may not change much or it may change a lot, depending on what happens the next few years.

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

My buddy grandpa left murica to go to his home country but traded all his dollars to local currency. When he got off the boat local currently collapsed hard. Huge fear of mine.

[–] Banana@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

Ah fuck that's scary

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[–] PiecePractical@midwest.social 13 points 3 weeks ago

Seconding this. The best money is still money.

If you can't get a good stable currency or you have legitimate fears that the currency you can get is in danger of some kind of collapse, gold or silver coins would be your best second bet. In this case you'll want well known coins minted by an actual government such as an American gold eagle or the Canadian silver maple leaf rather than the coin shaped "rounds" that a lot of places sell. The rounds will have the same issue as jewelry, you'll have to haggle over weight and quality every time you sell one. Actual coins issued by a government mint will have pretty well established values so they will be easier to sell at a fair price.

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[–] Gayhitler@lemmy.ml 34 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If you’re planning to leave with enough time, register a business or trust or something, transfer your money to a shell company, repeat as necessary then transfer it to the place you’re trying to go.

Use the tools of the people with money not the tools of people who get patted down for loose change by the tsa.

[–] twice_hatch@midwest.social 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] bountygiver@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

Extremely effective, happens all the time with amounts more than an average person can ever earn.

[–] Gayhitler@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago

It’s one technique used to hide and move money all the time.

A different way is to buy some asset in the destination nation then sell it when you arrive. So like a bond or an etf share or something.

[–] iii@mander.xyz 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (7 children)

Good usecase for bitcoin, bring your private key

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[–] jet@hackertalks.com 19 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Besides the utility of a go bag.. having portable wealth can get you into trouble with the police or border crossing agents.

Civil asset forfeiture is a very real thing at border crossings. If you must take portable wealth have documentation about where it came from a available

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[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Printer ink.

I’m just kidding… listen to all the other smart people in this thread and not me.

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 4 points 2 weeks ago

Well I think ink is worth more per volume than blood.

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 16 points 2 weeks ago (11 children)

Bitcoin is best. Can theoretically keep your wallet seed in your head instead of paper or on phone. Anything physical is subject to border guards or other transporation/exgress/ingress assisters.

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)
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[–] notfromhere@lemmy.ml 13 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

You could also explore some crypto options like monero (XMR). It can be theft resistant if you set it up properly.

Edit: Mind replying to me instead of downvoting? What is the problem with crypto in this scenario?

[–] IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Lolol, it's the Reddit mindset, they see "Crypto" they insta downvote.

Btw, there's always like 1-3 downvoters from bots, even if you make a totally non-political post like a picture of a cat. That's just how Lemmy is.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not a topic I'm super familiar with, but I feel I've heard people often are either robbed or have their items confiscated by authorities. Same with unhoused people not wanting to have stuff that would make them a target.

If it was something you had a little bit of prep time for, ziplocking USD or EU and seeing it into a grubby jacket where the repairs would blend in and not garner attention would be the most portable and effective thing to do while minimizing theft potential, other than having all eggs in one basket unless you split it between different garments. Also make sure it is pretty weatherproof to prevent mold damage.

It also has the benefit of being immediately usable, should you need to pay for transport or food. If it was seen in a puffy coat, one could discreetly remove one pack of bills while leaving the rest secure. The immediacy that cash can be used may make up for having something potentially more valuable that you would have to barter or fence, as pretty much any human has a need for cash.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

To add that secret compartments in your accessoirs.
My sling bag for example has 2 velcro pouches on each side of the band. You would think they are sewn shut but on closer expections they are actually vecroed.
Using it as a emergency storage for some coins. Helped me once already.

Not putting in a link until requested. No need to advertise :)

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[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Transfer your money to an overseas bank in your target nation.

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I Heard there are some complications with that. Some people said consult a lawyer before moving finances.

[–] SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Good advice. Same with real estate. There are all sorts of laws in target nations you'd never expect. For instance, some nations will tax your money hard if you try to leave them.

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[–] ReadMoreBooks@lemmy.zip 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

US: The way to effectively do thos is to open a series of accounts, in a tree structure, in countries that aren't CRS compliant. Disperse the money into the structure. This will buy time, mitigating losses in the event of an asset freeze, likely not being caught until FACTA reporting to the IRS. Get the money out ASAP. There's better methods if laws don't matter.

[–] IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

If you are fleeing from the US, get a bunch of guns. Gotta make money from illegal weapon sales overseas, just as the founders intended. 😎

God Bless The 2nd Amendment πŸ™

(Also, build a backyard nuke while you're at it, sell it to the Libyans)

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[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Heroin is quite compact, and always holds its value of you're travelling from lower socioeconomic to higher.

[–] Spacehooks@reddthat.com 5 points 2 weeks ago

Rofl fleeing country.

Let me get my brick first.

[–] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If you are serious, learn a trade. They will always be in demand.

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[–] Skydancer@pawb.social 10 points 2 weeks ago

Coins vs jewelry doesn't matter. Weight and purity are all that count when selling.

[–] LiamTheBox@lemmy.ml 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

A few iphones, they tend to have a high demand and prices are stable for a few years.

This is not advice

[–] TonyTonyChopper@mander.xyz 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

What do you mean by "this is not advice"? You just gave an answer to their request for advice. Your comment is advice.

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It only angers your intelligence officials if it is advice. "Not advice" means begging to stay friends. I advise staying friends, overtly, with NSA, to make sure that first they come for others.

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[–] katamari_22@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago

GOLD JEWELRY

[–] Briaaahn@lemm.ee 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
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