Let's take my 1981 8' Python for instance. I paid 529$ for it, it wholesaled back then for 289& I believe. Now it's worth more but the value hasn't really gone up much.

Using the above example, I considered the weekly wage a guy in my trade earned working the same hours, then versus now, and price would be pretty darn close to one weeks gross, then versus now. Higher price, essentially the same value. The same out of pocket blow to the bank account.

Do you ever try look at things like this?

That’s a reflection of inflation. Generally, it is not that the price of things has gone up, it is that the value of fiat currencies (including the dollar) has gone down.

It's what Warren Buffett calls a non-productive asset, very similar to gold, or the modern bit coin. Simply put, they do not produce anything. Gold, or guns, just sit there. They don't try to lower their costs. They don't try to increase revenue, margins, etc...

Now, that's not to say I am not envious of a 1981 Python. A work of art. Great gun to fire and to look at. It can be used to defend yourself if necessary.

However, by and large, they are not great investment choices.

I too look at the value of things in terms of the work it takes to buy or it verses the number of dollars. I also consider the cost of replacing something verses the how many dollars someone may give me for my something. I have a used truck that would sell quickly for an inflated price but I feel it would be costly to replace it because new trucks like it have almost double in price since my purchase but my salary hasn’t doubled.
This is why the capital gains tax needs to factor inflation. You are often taxed on the amount your dollar has been devalued and they keep raising the tax rate.

I used to look at things and think "how many hours do I have to work to pay for that?". And that would help me decide the value of an item to me.

quote:

Originally posted by TomV:
I used to look at things and think "how many hours do I have to work to pay for that?". And that would help me decide the value of an item to me.

That’s it. The old saying “time is money” rings true. Time is your asset. You sell it for money that you barter for other assets.

It could also be looked at as a store of value.