The only difference with paying yourself SAVINGS as well as food (BEFORE paying bills) is: Choice! 

I am not sure if it is possible to have a mixed scenario of inflation and deflation: food, oil going higher but real estate going down.

Clearly you need cash to buy a food franchise, specifically fast food, so this question wouldn't apply to what to do with anything around 100k, most require 500k plus.

It is interesting to see the varying viewpoints on this subject and food for thought.Based on everything I have read in these responses, what I have learnt is that (a) our growing population should put a natural floor on home prices to reflect replacement cost minus depreciation and (b) if you can buy at deep discounts, you should do it because any future depreciation should be offset by the discount.My own decision based on all this is to perhaps continue with my flip business because it gives me returns similar to a good buy-and-hold property while keeping my cash free from any long-term committments in case the economy weakens.

The only dye test I know about is putting food coloring into the tank of the toilet to see if it leaks.

But, you're right that entry-level farming is very difficult to get into, which is why local ag is in a death spiral all over the country, at the same time that the city folks are begging for local organic food and willing to pay top dollar for it. 

When the government took food, energy, and housing out of the CPI they removed the 3 most important items in peoples lives.

I'm not looking to live high on the hog - just have a place to keep my stuff, cook food sometimes, and have a party or two.

I could go for Conejuitos mexican food, or Oakland gyros, followed by some blues at the Up & Under on Brady !!!!!!

Without me even asking he explained to me that his main business of building decks is extremely slow in the winder months so he works with a property manger then to keep food on the table.