Are you ready for when it starts to get really bad?

[wartrace]

Will you be able to stay in your home with no income or the very small check unemployment will provide? Will you be able to feed your family with no income or the small check unemployment provides? Will you be able to protect yourself with no help from the "authorities" due to their budget cutbacks?

Do you have a plan if everything turns to crap & starts hitting the fan? What will you do for food, shelter & security? Denial is one way to deal with the potential problem & I wish you well. For those of you who have a plan I would like to hear it.

[slackmaster]

1. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to stay in my home and keep eating

:hi:

[wartrace]

5. Have you started stocking extra food? Paid down any debt on the house?

In what way are you prepared? For instance, last year I bought a years supply of long term storage food. I will be able to eat for a full year with no income.

[slackmaster]

38. Because I long ago recognized the need to be prepared for earthquakes

I have for many years kept on hand stocks of food, water, fuel, cooking facilities, medication, tools, firearms, ammunition, battery-operated lights, etc. etc.

I don't have enough for a year, but any situation in which I'd NEED a years' worth of supplies would be such a disaster that none of the normal laws or rules would apply.

[wartrace]

43. People have been unemployed for over a year.

Having food stocked for times like that is not a bad idea in my opinion. To know it is there "just in case" is priceless.

[AnneD]

152. A full pantry is better than money in the bank.....

My family are not Mormons but we put up a years worth of food an have all our lives. Even in college a had stuff squirreled away. The only time I didn't have a pantry was when I had been unemployed for almost a year and had eaten through it. That is the commodities I recommend folks have on hand.

[wartrace]

155. Yep, you can't eat guns or gold.

Food is the second most valuable thing on earth after clean water.

[REP]

169. But I can take your years supply of food if I'm armed well enough

That's my plan. Best armed motherfucker in the wasteland,

[wartrace]

177. I assure you that it will cost you more than it's worth to try.

The years supply of food only cost me 2,400 dollars, in order to be "the best armed individual in the wastland" it would cost you quite a bit more than it would to buy your own food. The plan you have formulated will last a couple of days until you find out you AREN'T all that.

[tsuki]

134. Hurricanes do the same. My friend once asked me, "Why so

much bleach?" LOL

[sandnsea]

2. Oh fucking christ, come to my house

We'll figure it out from there.

Stop terrifying people.

[BlooInBloo]

3. It comes from watching Mad Max too many times.

[wartrace]

32. Or cracking a history book.......

Are you ready to survive a replay of the 1930's? How about from the German perspective? Think about it.

[BlooInBloo]

35. Quit while you're behind, tiger.

[wartrace]

42. So, you claim that people should NOT prepare?

You are in denial. Do you honestly think "things are getting better" when GM announced job cuts of 47,000 people? Hide your head in the sand if you wish, but you are doing a disservice to others when you dismiss the possibility of having to fend for yourself in the future. Ask the survivors of Katrina if they wish they had a back up plan.

[BlooInBloo]

44. Hush. Go watch Red Dawn some more.

[wartrace]

47. Bye.

[BlooInBloo]

49. WOLVERINES!!!!!!!

:rofl:

[cliffordu]

114. Well....

:rofl:

[Hannah Bell]

125. do you honestly think people as a whole can "prepare" for being unemployed for several years?

or, as you suggest in one post, for when there are suddenly no grocery stores?

they can't. serious preparation would have involved joining an amish colony when you were 18, or devoting your entire life to amassing the property & skills to enable life off the grid.

even if you own property & have no debt, there are taxes, unless the government collapses.

if you didn't have anything but a job to start with, you're sol unless you know people with resources to spare.

if it comes to 25% unemployment again, it won't be solved by everyone devising their individual fixes or by individual "preparations".

[wartrace]

154. I guess we can agree to disagree.

I didn't ask how it will be "solved", that is above my pay grade. I asked how INDIVIDUALS here on D.U. are planning to survive if they become a victim of the "Bush" economy. I am interested in how people are going to face the scenario, you didn't have to play the game. Your anger at the mere suggestion of preparing is puzzling to me. YOU think I am crazy for suggesting that people might want to come up with a plan if things go bad for them? NOT planning is a better plan? Being hopeless is better than trying?

I find that attitude quite peculiar.

[Hannah Bell]

164. my *anger*? i think you're reading more into it than is there.

i took "if things get really bad" combined with "denial" to mean you were talking about the equivalent of the great depression, & imo, people in generally can't adequately prepare, because the nature of economic crisis is it knocks all the preparations to smithereens.

sorry you see this as anger, it's nothing but the cold truth imo.

[babylonsister]

4. Bookmarking.

:P

[Epiphany4z]

7. i am prepared to

eat all babylonsisters candy hearts.....I am jelouse....I want more!!! lol

oh jeeze really I am never prepared...but the good news is I had nothing to lose...so I count myself as ahead of the game.

[wartrace]

16. Janis Joplin....

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose! I am losing my job of 18 years in May (Bridgestone/Firestone), I will finally be free!

[tnlefty]

79. That sucks wartrace, and after 18 yrs.!

Unfortunately it's happening all over.

[wartrace]

94. They laid off people with thirty years "invested".

It doesn't suck, it's just what happened and now we have to deal with it.

[kestrel91316]

23. You need to pass some of those candy hearts around instead of hogging them

all for yourself.

[babylonsister]

Honestly, I would if I could.

DUers have been beyond generous, and I'd love to share. I did get a chance to hand out several of my own, but wish I had more.

[ConcernedCanuk]

107. Good idea

.
.
.

:popcorn:

[wartrace]

12. I did say those in denial need not reply.

Have fun, I will stay here.

[elizfeelinggreat]

58. Thank you

for a sane response. :hug: This is what will need to be done if any of us are to make it through a really tough time. Turn to one another. People should not assume the worst!

I can share, you can share, we can care about each other. The media convinces us that we are alone yet we are not alone! We are all human beings and want the same things for ourselves and our families.

[akwapez]

65. I'm always amazed at this type of response to questions about preparing for bad situations

Seriously, what does it hurt to make an effort to be prepared? Anything can happen at anytime. I, for one, support and admire anyone who takes extra steps to improve their families chances to survive the unknown. Why not be reasonably prepared?

[sandnsea]

77. You can't "reasonably prepare" for economic collapse

And it does no good to terrorize people the way the OP has done. All people have prepared as best they can. And I don't want to live with any of the survivalist nuts anyway.

[wartrace]

93. I will be unemployed in May, I am trying to see what others are doing.

Is there something inherently wrong with trying to prepare? Am I nuts to want to survive? Am I terrorizing people by noticing all the people being laid off these days & wondering how our economy will be "normal" with so many people losing their jobs? If I had true "malice" in my heart I would never had brought up the subject, I would pretend there was nothing to be concerned about.
Three months ago I was SURE I was immune and then they announced a closure of my facility. That resulted in a loss to our local economy of around 50 million dollars a year. I wonder what the 48,000 people being let go from GM will do to the economy?

[Two Americas]

83. it is no accident

The well being of some depends upon the rest of us being passive and vulnerable. It is the nature of the system. I can understand that some are not worried or vulnerable, and God bless them. They are fortunate. But why would they mock and ridicule the fears of others? I think that can only be because the more successful people have thoroughly internalized the "free market" system, and see the rabble becoming alarmed as a threat to the prosperity of them and their class of fortunate people.

This absurd idea that if only we did not talk about being at risk we would not be at risk is a key component in the web of lies that defend the system and perpetuate the illusions about it.

[sandnsea]

91. rotflmao

I'm eating my "preparations". I could be homeless any day. I just know better than to dwell on it and I know better than to think you can prepare against these things. I know better, not because I am "fortunate" and have "thoroughly internalized the free market system" - but because I've never had a pot to piss in so I know how it is to live that way. It's no big hairy deal. Come to my house. I'll have one somewhere. We'll figure it out from there. That's how it works with the "rabble".

[Hannah Bell]

95. when the only risk under discussion is the risk of apocalypse, & the only action

under discussion is putting in a garden & stocking up on ammo, it's fear-mongering.

if things are really so dire, why aren't the fear brigade out storming their city halls to get their government to use their moving equipment to put in local gardens for all, & volunteers to take care of the water supply, & opening up empty houses to house those without, etc., etc. - instead of building solitary bomb shelters in their basements?

i've seen this movie too many times before, i'm sick of the doomsters.

bomb shelters, y2k, rice panic, oil panic - they're always there, ready to sell you gold bars, guns, & freeze-dried water.

their vision is of a bunch of competing "tribes" defending themselves from each other in the midst of a mad max landscape. no thanks.


and even worse the "prepared" ones: "i made my plans years ago, now have 30 acres of hydroponic gardens next to a national park, a herd of dairy cattle & my own oil well to fuel my private helicopter, so i can cruise around & look down on all you unfortunates."

[Two Americas]

124. I didn't read the OP that way

Maybe I missed it. I read "are you prepared?" as a rhetorical question as much as anything.

As far as individualism goes, the things you mentioned are associated with the right wing, but liberals have their own version of individualized approaches to the crisis. Those seem less wacky, but are just as much about individualism.

I don't see the OP precluding collective action and cooperation.

[eridani]

168. Part of being prepared is establishing and nurturing strong social ties

That will be of more use than hiding out in your own widdle bunker all by yourself.

[earth mom]

117. You're right and I'm seeing a lot of the ridicule on this thread.

It wasn't that long ago that a thread like this would be seriously discussed and given the respect it was due.

People losing their jobs and homes isn't a joke. :grr:

[sandnsea]

120. Nobody is ridiculing real suffering

We're ridiculing the grab a gun and head for the hills because they're going to come and eat your dog and rape your woman idiots.

[Two Americas]

121. no guns, no hills

I don't see the OP saying that.

[wartrace]

130. I suppose you are picking up on the "no help from the authorities" part of my O.P.

I intended to imply there will be little in the way of help from government that will be stretched very thin by increased demand and reduced budgets. My state is already running out of unemployment funds. I am sure that we will be straining all of our other budgets for helping people in trouble. In my area they are cutting back on police AND firefighters. There is a good chance that if your house catches fire they might not get there as quickly as they used to. Why people immediately come to the conclusion that I am saying you have to have an ammo dump when I say "no help from authorities" is beyond me.

This crisis for me, is the lack of income and not "the end times" as some of the right wingers refer to at times.

[firedupdem]

105. For real! I just lit a cigarette and took a swig of my husbands beer! n/t

[Deja Q]

108. I too am tired of peoples' fearmongering.

Nobody knows the future. But whining and bleating about the worst case scenario does nobody any good.

Also, President Obama has said time and again about looking forward. This means "everybody, shut the fuck about about maudlin doom'n'gloom scenarios".

These doom'n'gloom wankers would be wise to listen to the man.

[wartrace]

111. I wish I had the luxury of being tired....

All I have to look forward to is my termination date in May and very few job prospects. Oh, I guess we should all just shut up about "the worst case scenario" even though it's only a month or two away. Must be nice to have a safe & secure job......

[Kashka-Kat]

140. whining & bleating? we were having an interesting CONVERSATION - that's when people exchange views

and don't start off with "stfu"

Sheesh.

[jmg257]

148. Everybody but Obama of course. Only he is allowed to be 'realisitic"? nt

[Two Americas]

118. this is obscene

Millions of people are teetering on the edge, and far too many are already suffering terribly.

To mock them and ridicule their fears is truly obscene.

[sandnsea]

119. You're picking a fight

I'm telling the OP to stop exploiting people's fears.

Grow up and stop stalking me.

[Number23]

181. lol

[Uben]

6. Suze Orman says......

.....you need an eight month cushion in the bank in case you lose your job. Eight months is the avarage time it takes to find employment these days. Eight months of house payments, gas, grocery and utilities. That's a lot of money, but I strived to always keep a cushion because I have gone through three lay-offs in my life and the eight months is about right.

[AnneD]

10. In Houston in the 80's....

when we went through something like this Baloon mortgages and savings and loan collapses etc-it took me a year just to find a part-time and 2 years to retool myself. I chose wisely though and as a nurse I can get by. Paying off my debts every payday and surviving this time around.

[Uben]

19. You're a smart gal

Of course, you live in Texas, so you have to be! I was laid off all three times in the eighties, right here in Texas. Those were some tough times. I managed to survive because I had a little cushion built up. It also allowed me to raise both daughters the first six months of their lives while the wife was working. I couldn't even find a minimum wage job for 6 months! And when I did, I jumped on it....working at a lumberyard. What a difference twenty years makes. Those tough years gave me insight and inspired me to get in gear. Fortunately, I found some really good jobs and made some really good investments since then and now I am recession-proof, retired, and relaxed!

[AnneD]

141. Those were tough times here in Texas......

I worked with one of the 7 sisters :) The 80's is how I lost my first retirement nest egg-I literally ate it to survive. I made a lot of financial mistakes but I learned. Became a single parent and did my parental and societal duties and raised a smart confident young adult that is making her way through college on her own. She has to make it on her own because the tech bubble bursting took 1/4 of the rebuilt nest egg.

This time around I have have the Teachers State Retirement fund and 403B (like 401's). I have shifted the 403's to as safe as I can make it several years ago. I have different eggs in the basket now-some have varying levels of risk and some are as secure as you can get. I am lucky that I won't need to retool this time around should I lose my job.

Hubby and I are paying off our debts and are almost debt free. We don't have a home yet but we own an RV outright and can live on relatives property should the need arise. We own our cars out right, have a years worth of food in the pantry, and cash on hand. We will survive most of what can happen and may even get to retirement after all.

I learned a lot during the 80's and how to survive in Texas was one of them. And if you can survive the Bush years as a Democrat in Texas-you can handle just about anything.

[Ilsa]

98. Yes, we've got enough in the bank and savings to cover

us for even longer. The hard part for us is getting ready for retirement in fifteen years.

[OwnedByFerrets]

99. I dont know but ONE family in my sphere who has that much

We certainly dont.

[Deja Q]

109. Let us know when she gets laid off.

[roamer65]

158. Delete.

[graywarrior]

8. I'm homeless as of April 15....lol

[azmouse]

26. That makes me very sad.

I wish there was something I could do to help you. :hug:

[graywarrior]

30. I just need to get creative

I have 6 weeks

[wartrace]

36. Could you buy an RV or something?

There are some pretty good deals right now on used units. You are half way there if you have shelter.

[graywarrior]

68. Hmmm.

:thumbsup:

[juno jones]

139. That is a good idea.

I'm sorry to hear about that. :hug:

If you can find it, 25-30 ft is almost livable.That amout of space usually gives you a bedroom of sorts-or a bathroom, depends on the layout of the RV, you'll wish to establish your priorities. :) A park that will take such a trailer is rather inexpensive. It will get you by until other things evolve.

Hell, I'm looking for one myself. I've done this too many times and I don't have enough money to keep me in in this house I'm renting forever. :shrug:

[wartrace]

156. I've seen used ones in the 28ft range for under 5000 dollars.

You can live anywhere there is work. You will have the freedom to move anywhere.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

90. Sandnsea will take you in she already offered.

[bertman]

9. I'm collecting recipes for how to cook fat, rich, white people. Anybody know any good

ones?

[AnneD]

13. Check that classic book.....

How to Serve Man.

[Cronus Protagonist]

28. I beleive, as a meal, that would be called "homme"

As in beef=cow, pork=pig and chicken=hen, homme=man :)

[Tashca]

74. Bizarre question for you.

I was just reading a presentation about Quantum Physics and Agriculture.

One page had the words in the same order you do....cow, pig, hen, man....exactly the same

Now tell me this is just coincedence???...The presenter was from the Netherlands.

Too bizarre...I just had to ask...

[Cronus Protagonist]

116. It is a coincidence entirely

...or the hand of God!!!

(cue Twilight Zone music here)

:)

[AnneD]

142. Was that......

Netherland or neitherland....(theme from Twilight Zone continues)

[customerserviceguy]

62. The people or the recipes?

I'd suggest Bushco, but they're so damned hard to clean!

[Release The Hounds]

153. Try this one, but leave some dust on parts of the cover:

[Fovea]

11. I am gunned up, Jessie James-like

in a little fortress of a neighborhood

[wartrace]

18. So you plan to eat how? n/t

[panader0]

14. As th eowner of a small business, I can't get unemployment

unless I go bankrupt. I own my house, but utilities, gas and food, plus land taxes could get me. But, nah, fuck 'em, I'll make it.

[wartrace]

39. That's the spirit!

I wish you well. Having a paid for place is a real advantage.

[azmouse]

15. I'm watching this thread to see which DUers are well stocked and

then I'll go raid their house.

:evilgrin:

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. !

:evilgrin:

[wartrace]

22. If you show up I will try to feed you. If you try to raid me you will have to deal with the "boys",

[azmouse]

24. They're beautiful.

I bet they'd really like some treats. Then while they're busy....

:hi:

[wartrace]

29. That's only half the crew.

I have six in all, they always bark well before anyone could approach. HOWEVER, if you have dog treats I would be glad to feed you in exchange!

[mzteris]

31. no fair

posting awwwwwwwwwwwwwww cute! pictures unannounced!

[marksmithfield]

63. Wannbe dobermans

They look like mine, happy to lead you to the family silver! for a dog biscuit of course!

[wartrace]

69. I don't need anything from them but a warning bark.

I won't own dogs that will attack humans. I have insurance for my "stuff", all I ask of them is a bark if they see something unusual when I'm home.

[AnneD]

143. I'm the same way....

their ears, eyes, and noses are better than mine. I only want them for an alarm system....although my Chihuahua mix thinks he is a pit bull.

[aquart]

127. Yeah, real scary. Do they lick you to death?

[L0oniX]

54. I wouldn't recommend that....

[Michigan-Arizona]

174. Great idea!

We're both in Arizona so that mean's we could car pool to save us even more money, lol.

[mecherosegarden]

17. We have an old RV

We are making whatever sacrifices we need so we can make the RV's monthly payments . We think that , if we lose our jobs, it will be cheaper to live in an RV than to pay rent. We are trying to save as much as we can and we have the pantry almost full of non-perishable food. Security, that is another issue. I sure don't know.

[wartrace]

25. That is a good plan in my opinion.

You will have a roof over your head and something to eat. I am sure you will figure out the safety issues.(I suggest a couple of fire extinguishers at the minimum)

[ThomWV]

21. I know this may sound odd, but we are pretty safe from everything but taxes

I'm retired from the Federal Government and my wife receives a Social Security disability until later this year when she will be old enough for straigh SS. So our incomes, though small, are more or less guaranteed as long as the republic stands and money still has value. We own our home. Every year our property taxes - both real and personal - go up, as do state income taxes, which we both still have to pay.

Oh, and that one killer in the room Health Care Cost. Even with the Government program it is expensive and it too gets more pricy every year. My cost went up by $50 just this month. That's $400 a month is what it cost for that program that all the Senators and Congressmen have.

[Hekate]

34. That's similar to us -- we look secure but know that one major medical could upset our plans...

Mr. H is not quite ready to retire from teaching at 62 but The Governator and the Repubs in the California Legislature may force his hand.

Could we take the kids back if we had to? Of course we would, but this is a small house. We'd have to rent storage space and so would they, that's for sure.

Hekate

[Lars39]

40. Ask the county trustee if there is a program for tax relief, if you are retired

and don't have much income. TN has a tax relief program to help the elderly and disable vets with their property taxes.

[sandnsea]

56. OR defers taxes

The problem is the person who inherits the property has to be thousands of dollars in interest, which can be double or triple the amount of taxes deferred. People should consider those programs carefully. They are a godsend if there aren't any other alternatives, but some folks might want to just cash out and put their money somewhere else so they have it if they need some kind of intermediate care.

[blues90]

27. NO , how does one prepare for the un-known

It's me and my wife and 4 cats . we don't own much of anything and have a small car and live in an apt. If we can't afford the rent for some reason then what's the point of stocking up on canned food when there would be no place to store it. I wish we had an old motor home or even a van just in case.

We don;t have guns and have the desire to shoot anyone.

[marketcrazy1]

37. I am stocking up on food

and other needed items, I have like minded friends who will share resources. if TSHTF we will help each other get through it.

[Warpy]

33. I have no debt

and I have a full stock of skills. I know how to cope with no electricity, no heat, and sporadic water. I've done it before and I can do it again.

I just didn't want to have to do it again quite so soon.

[Kashka-Kat]

41. I've thought about it - I can survive on very little but the key will be connecting up w/ others

who are equally resourceful - bartering, scavenging, improvising creative re-use of old stuff.

Food - I dunno, that's the big unknown isn't it? It's one thing to be cold but OK surviving as a squatter in your house without electricity and another thing to be starving and ill.

Here in Madison WI we have a great history of community, cooperatives, alt currencies and alt economies/

We also have a lot of pampered prima donna types who although nice enough people professing "correct" progressive values have never really gotten out of their middle class comfort zones a day in their lives - how adaptable are they? That I'm not sure of. Could we go back to the group living & communistic pooling resources of our hippie dippie youth?

BTW The whole hippe thing I think has been long trivialized and whitewashed into being just a middle class kid thing. In reality it really was MUCH MUCH more than that....

[wartrace]

46. Cooperation with neighbors will be important.

It really isn't a "hippie" thing, it is group effort. If you only had to heat one structure, if you had three people in the garden, three chopping wood, & three people raising livestock & hunting you are ahead of the game. The more people contributing to the group the better off everyone is.

[Chorophyll]

66. You sound like you're looking forward to this a bit.

I'm not saying things won't get dire, but I am saying that your tone is a bit odd.

Instead of asking us how we're preparing, why not do a post with all your suggestions?

[wartrace]

73. For me it is reality.

I am being laid off on May first. I am going into survival mode, I'm sorry if I seem like I am looking forward to it. I am trying to see what others are doing to prepare. I still have two more months of paychecks to get ready.

[Chorophyll]

78. Okay, I see.

I'm sorry to hear that. But I still think the tone of your original post was inflammatory, and that's why people are responding the with the "Red Dawn" and "Mad Max" references.

Maybe your situation won't be as bad as you fear.

[wartrace]

86. I apologise for the "EOTWAWKI" tone.

I really think things are going to be rivaling the "great" depression and people are going to be suffering. I have seen no sign of anything that gives me hope that things aren't getting worse. 48,000 layoffs today from GM today didn't instill any confidence.

(EOTWAWKI= End of the world as we know it)

[Chorophyll]

88. It's bad, no denying it.

Everybody's uneasy, at the very least.

You might want to add your personal story to the OP. You'd get more of people's real thoughts and less of their snark, I'll bet.

[pipi_k]

175. No need to apologize, as far as I'm concerned...

because for you, it will be the EOTWAWKI.

For a while, anyway.

Even in the best of times, losing one's job is scary. These days it's positively terrifying.


I say ignore the people who accuse you of trying to "terrorize" others. One guy posting on a discussion forum can't "terrorize" anyone who doesn't already have some deeply disturbing mental problems anyway.

Listen to the others who have suggested that getting in touch with others...community cooperation...is probably one good way of surviving. If you have any special skills, then bartering can be a great help.


I understand your worries...they're valid as far as you are concerned.

Having a Plan B is never a foolish thing

:)

[conscious evolution]

101. I can attest to this.

I live on a big co-op house with garden space in a nieghboring landtrust in a big city.Many of the nieghboring homes and properties are also co-op or communal living places.Working as a group we have put together a place where we will get by if the shit hits the fan.

Ours is a hippy thing,though. :hippie:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

45. I have wrapped my house in plastic and sealed it up with duct tape.

I have cauldrons of molten lead on the battlements, crocodiles in the moat, and land mines in the lawn. I've taught my cats to hunt for me; I have a great recipe for weiner water gravy; and I make my own underpants out of sandwich bags.

I'm ready. Bring it on.

[Tampa Rob]

53. OK, THAT made me laugh. Nicely done!

TR

[Lady Effingbroke]

61. ROFL!

:rofl:

[ConcernedCanuk]

112. I never put underpants in my survival plan - silly me!

.
.
.

but I got 8 pairs of long-johns

dis be Canada

we's cool

[Political Heretic]

48. I've already built my tribe, and we have a lot of guns.

So bring it on.

[wartrace]

51. How will you feed your "tribe"?

Guns are not a good source of fiber. Have you any plans or did you you misinterpret my O.P. as a "buy guns" post? Protection WAS listed as the LAST item on the list, wasn't it? Is your home paid for- do you have some place to go? Do you have food stored? Do you have the means to feed yourself? Do you have any other plan than an armed tribe?

[Political Heretic]

55. We'll take someone elses food.

Yarr! :rofl:

[wartrace]

57. So you're a Republican?

Not much of a plan if you ask me.

[Political Heretic]

59. No, I'm someone who isn't taking your thread seriously.

I've played Fallout 3. I'm ready. :D

[wartrace]

81. I sure hope you are right.

I hope the grocery will always be open for you and that you will always have money to buy the food in that store. I am being laid off in May and will now be facing a situation you are "not taking seriously". I guess your situation is a lot better than mine is, enjoy!

[Political Heretic]

100. I didn't say anything about that. I just said I wasn't taking your post seriously.

Which is to say nothing about what will or won't come in the future, only that I'm not in the mood to fret about it.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

92. Why most liberals don't have guns?

According to some of the ill informed who reside here anyway.

David

[Political Heretic]

103. No, I think it was the take food from others part....

...which does sound pretty un-cool :)

[wartrace]

104. Sort of like what the republicans did to our country......

Could Bush have done any more to destroy this country? I doubt it, it's as if he had the book- "How to destroy America in eight years or less".

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

123. I didn't really think I needed the sarcasm tag.

[Bluebear]

115. Why is it that you generally show such contempt to the people who "reside here"?

Hmm?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

122. Only for the narrow minded, sorry I don't suffer fools well.

I would like to see several examples though.

David

[TheWatcher]

166. It's amazing how you live with yourself, then.

It must be absolute torture.

:rofl:

[Chorophyll]

72. ...

This thread is not unlike some of the stuff that the Freeps posted around Election Day.

Instead of throwing out scary questions, why don't you put together and post a list of suggestions? Otherwise, your comments about "community" ring pretty false, and you can expect more levity in the responses.

[Mari333]

50. Yes. I have decided not to worry about it.

Que Sera, Sera.

[L0oniX]

52. Got guns, ammo, 3 months worth of canned food, LP tanks for the grill, mega gallons of water...

and much more.

[Dukkha]

60. I just need a knife

then sneak up behind a freeper, get his gun, then keep working my way up from there like that.
:evilgrin:

actually I already have a gun.

[lumberjack_jeff]

110. You need a knife? Ha. I only need a ballpoint pen... and a rolled up magazine. n/t

[yodoobo]

64. No I'm not.

And it keeps me up at night.

[elizfeelinggreat]

75. You can come to my house

:hug:

We don't have much but we will share

[yodoobo]

87. Thanks

This place is great.

Even though its an anonymous forum, I sense that if I really did show up your doorstep, you'd take me in.

:grouphug:

[TheWatcher]

167. Believe it or not, there ARE a lot of people like that here.

Sometimes you can't hear them above the snark, but they are here. :)

[Mike 03]

67. Pretty much so. I have had a plan for eight years.

This was coming. And I began to prepare for it.

Thankfully I'm in good shape, and I hope others are as well. This won't be easy going.

[Mike 03]

70. Kick and rec, BTW, NT

[stuntcat]

71. We're just lucky we're not in debt

We just spent $1,000 on our oldest cat but now his teeth are taken care of so we shouldn't have any surprise cat expenses for a while.

We've learned to scrimp the last few years so we can't cut back much more. We're also lucky our parents and aunts and uncles can help us.. if worse comes to worse we won't be homeless at least.

[wartrace]

136. Being debt free is going to be a good thing for you.

I have my home paid for so at least I will have a roof over my head. (if I can pay the tax)

[sendero]

76. Most folks..

... have done a really good job of convincing themselves that things can't get that bad. I hope they are right, but I'm not so sure. Most of them were saying that we "might" have a recession. Few are willing to admit we are already in a depression. They will always be a year behind the power curve.

I've been preparing for this since 2005, so I'm about as ready as I'll ever be.

[Mike 03]

80. You are making good points, but I think you could have a more positive effect if you were a bit

more compassionate.

Not everyone suffering right now is suffering due to "denial." It's a bit late to pick up on that theme.

[wartrace]

97. However some who are not suffering YET are.

Many believe it could never happen to them. I wasn't too concerned until I was given MY pink slip, I thought I had enough "seniority" to survive.

[Hannah Bell]

129. not meaning to rub salt into the wound, but you had an 18-year seniority with

a major corporation. didn't you prepare?

& if you didn't, how would you think people with fewer resources would do better?

the population as a whole can't "prepare" for Depression. if they were "prepared," or had the resources to "prepare," there wouldn't be a depression.

Part of what Depression is is destruction of the resources people thought they had "prepared", i.e. 401Ks, pensions, home value & ability to sell it, social & economic networks, etc.

the failure is systemic, not individual. the system puts everyone in jeopardy for the decisions of a few.

it does the same even in "normal" times, we just don't see it that way because we're conditioned to believe unemployment, homelessness, propertylessness & dependence of 5-10% of the population alongside the vast wealth of 1-3% of the population is "normal".

[wartrace]

133. I prepared as best I could.

Even though it is a major corporation not all of them pay really well. I did prepare enough to be able to scrape by on unemployment but I curious if others had thought of things that I failed to do. Maybe I can do something these last two months to increase my ability to survive. One thing I have done already is stop my 401k contributions and adjust my w4 withholding.

[Hannah Bell]

82. are you ready to see the backside of the doomsters who pretend that

their backyard garden & 60 lbs of rice is going to save them if the shit really hits the fan?


y2k, etc. doomsters love doom.

my plan if things get that bad is to shoot myself. the idiots holed up with their ammo dumps are welcome to the carcass.

[Mike 03]

85. LOL. Yes, exactly. NT

[sufrommich]

96. lol! nt

[Avalux]

84. Well, I certainly have given it a lot of thought.

I just lost my job 2 weeks ago so out of necessity, have had to figure out how to survive. With unemployment and very little debt (thankfully), we will be OK for now.

If the situation becomes horrible as you state, we will go to my parents' house. It's paid for - a homestead of sorts, and my Dad has plenty of guns for hunting but also for protection if need be. We will garden as well.

My 86 year old grandmother recalls the Great Depression and how grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. all lived together; we would do the same.

[Lorien]

89. I've already been unemployed for nearly three months

not sure how I'm going to keep the house, though I do have mortgage insurance.

[wartrace]

102. I'm sorry to hear that.

IF you know you are going to lose it save the payments you might send them and use them to take care of yourself first. If I am ever at risk of losing the house I am going to look for a used travel trailer that I could live in. I would probably go to various friends homes and park it for a couple of days at each, just long enough to not wear out my welcome.

[SeattleGirl]

135. Do you know if your mortgage covers a period of time when you

are unemployed?

I don't own a home, so am not familiar with mortgage insurance, but I hope it can be of help to you in keeping your home.

[spanone]

106. survivor man.....hate that show

[leftyclimber]

113. I'm in an apartment

with an 8'x8' organic garden, as well as upside-down maters and peppers, which is NOT enough to provide a year's worth of veggies (unless folks have some suggestions in that regard).

I'm in school on research assistantship (which earns me $100/year too much for food stamps, wahoo) and will be for another year at least. If my program has the funding they'd likely hire me on as a postdoc or an instructor if things got really ugly in the rest of the academic world.

If things got REALLY out of hand, I have no doubt that my car would be repo'ed or that I'd be on the Peanut Butter Sandwich Diet (tm), but I think I could get by. If all else failed, I'd bring in a couple of roommates outside of my lease and get the rental expenses down to a super-cheap level, and we could pool our expenses to try to fill our bellies on something other than junk every so often.

I grew up on government cheese and all the related acoutrements, so being hungry wouldn't be alien to me. Because of my upbringing I know how to stretch a food buck until it screams in agony, so I can eat on the cheap (and somewhat unhealthy) in a way that will at least give me some calories to burn while we gut this thing out.

After I got my BA in 1993 I lived on $100/month for about 6 months. I had a load of roommates and we all paid $75/month to cover rent. The other $25/month went toward food, in the loosest sense possible. (The differences now being that I have a garden, so I'd have slightly better food opportunities, and I have some extra weight on so I wouldn't look like a concentration camp victim by the end of the bad situation.) I lost 20 pounds I didn't have to lose that year, but I and my roomies (in similar straits) got by. I wouldn't enjoy it, but I could manage.

[BlooInBloo]

126. Shorter OP: FEAR! FEAR! FEAR!

[SeattleGirl]

132. Sadly, I wish you were right.

But given the economic shit storm this country is going through right now, I don't think it's fear-mongering to bring up what could be a very real possibility for many, many people.

[crimsonblue]

128. whatever. I'll probably resort to stealing and conning people.

[SeattleGirl]

131. MrSG and I are fortunate, in that we have an extensive family network

that would step in to help if we needed it.

Fortunately at this time, even though MrSG was laid off in December, I got a really good job in October, and make enough to pay the bills and feed us, even if his unemployment ran out. All our credit cards and other debts are paid off, so all we have is our monthly household bills and the rent.

I know, though, that other people aren't as fortunate.

And I know that things could change for the worst, but at this time, I don't think they will.

[wuvuj]

137. Bottom line....

* you can store enough canned/dry food for 1 month for 1 person in a laundry basket..this will last 1 to 3 yrs..and can be used normally.

* you can have some containers for water ready to fill when needed

* you can store other supplies such as soap...t paper...emergency radio...flashlights...cooking stove...etc

* you could buy and outfit a van or camper of some type..learn to camp

* you could repair or further relations with relations?


Those still in de Nile are watching too much boob tube?

This "recession" as far as jobs are concerned will likely not bottom out till the end of 2009 (more likely 2010?) with maybe another 2 million jobs lost...if we are lucky? There is a possibility of a flu pandemic...stock Vit D? There is a possibility of Mexico falling apart. And the usual possibility of another terrorist attack. An asteroid could hit the earth. The earth could tilt on it's axis...you'll need a good compass?

On the other hand...Jesus could finally show up...or the aliens could intervene. Or you can simply close your eyes and pretend everything will be OK....but open them just enough to watch TV to keep up on your indoctrination so when "they" show up at your door...you will have the right answers.

[4lbs]

138. Well, if it gets *really bad*, people will resort to what they have in the past for employment and

money.

They'll either join the federal government employment rolls, or join the military ranks.


There has already been an article or two written about how people that lose their private sector jobs are increasingly entering the federal government workforce. Right now they seem to be the only ones really hiring in large quantities. For example, the US Customs and Border Patrol units have more than 11,000 job openings, with about 7,000 new in the last 3 or 4 months. Overall, the federal government has added 200,000 jobs in the same time period that 750,000+ private sector jobs were lost.

Then there are the high school seniors or twentysomethings, unable to pay for college or rent, with even part time job prospects looking dim right now, joining the military hoping to leave in 4 years and get a GI Bill education or better job prospects.

[ejpoeta]

144. well, we are better off than a lot of other people.

we basically have our car loan and two other loans that we are working on paying off as soon as we can. then we have our property taxes. we own our property outright, so as long as we keep or taxes paid.... we should be ok. WE have been quite mindful of conditions, and have been consciously working towards getting our debt down to a minimum. We do not have credit cards, just our bank cards. I worry more about my family members who are struggling right now. I have a brother in law who has watched most of the jobs at his plant go, and the real possibility that soon his may too as LAPP insulator seems to be moving all their operations overseas. now that would be a death sentence for them, as they have really been struggling to keep up with their bills.

[Z_I_Peevey]

145. No debt, I own my hovel and I own my vehicles.

I have land, seeds, guns, ammo and a water well.

So yeah, I'm as ready as one can possibly be.

[wartrace]

163. Do you use heirloom seeds?

I just started using them three years ago in order to save the seeds for next year. I haven't had to buy replacement seeds since. Have you thought about a small poultry coop? Fresh eggs & meat! I am right with you, I bought 15 acres & have been gardening for a while, well water & am as ready as I am.

[Z_I_Peevey]

172. Some, yes.

And I'd love to get some chickens and goats, but right now I don't have the time to take care of them, what with the job and all.

[fuggbush21]

146. I'm not to worried.

I know my job is secure for the next 3 years at least. I have housing that won't be taken from me, a basic $250 a month stipend for food, and health care is not really a concern either. My pay can't be cut unless I do something really stupid, or Congress orders it. So I feel pretty secure right now. The only thing that can keep me from being taken care of is a denial of reenlistment in 3 years.

[jmg257]

147. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes..

And none of your business, 'cause it won't be pretty.


Did you ever see any of the Black Friday videos? Of the guy getting killed at Walmart? And that was just to save $10 on a TV.


When it gets "really bad" and "the crap hits the fan", your unemployment checks will be the last thing to worry about.

[wartrace]

157. Ah, the denialist.

Yep, it is pointless to prepare. Have fun at Wal-Mart.

[jmg257]

160. Dude, did you even read what I wrote? These are answers to YOUR questions.

And DEFINITELY not about having fun at Walmart.

Try reading it again, in the context of a response to what you wrote (which of course is what it is).

Let me know if you still need help in understanding it.

[wartrace]

161. I apologize- I mistook it as something other than it was.

I never claimed to be smart, just prepared. I am sorry.

[jmg257]

162. No sweat! Cheers! nt

[REP]

170. It just means he's 'easy pickings' when the time comes, wink wink

[J-Lo Biafra]

149. YOUUUUU ARRRRE DOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

150. Thankfully, I'm In A Position Where I Don't Have To Worry About Such Drama.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

[Kashka-Kat]

151. Having/sharing contingency plans lessens fear, doesnt exacerbate it

First off, I am enjoying this interesting discussion on “what would you do if.” Thanks to OP for setting a calm and decidedly non-hysterical tone

It’s the hysterical posts about how we should not be having this conversation ( “stfu” as some so eloquently put it) that I have a problem with.

Like the man said, “the only thing to fear is fear itself”. If we know we have resources, options, contingency plans should the worst happen, then we stop being afraid.

I don’t see the Amish worrying about economic collapse although I know to some extent their economies are interwoven with ours. Not that I want to be Amish – it just illustrates the possibility – no, reality – of alternative local economies. I have some relatives in rural areas that have gone Amish over the past few decades, after many family farms folded in the 80s. A lot of my family of the older generation who farmed thru the 1920s up until the 70s/80s are gone now, along with the knowledge of how to survive off the land. But I imagine a lot of this knowledge could be easily relearned from the Amish neighbors down the road. Some of my relatives still have some land and I’d probably volunteer as a hired hand if they were going to go that route.

Another strategy I’ve had all along, since I don’t have much of a retirement account and will probably have to work some until I die – staying as healthy as possible, avoiding inflammatory disease thru diet. A lot of concrete SCIENTIFIC evidence is coming out now about the causes of inflammatory diseases such as cancer, diabetes, etc. Yes, there is genetic pre-disposition but definite environment & diet components. I’ve been on the anti-inflammatory diet for about a year now and already have had some long term health problems cleared up. (Had a minor relapse over the past few weeks involving large quantities of sugar & chocolate but oh well! I’ll get back on the wagon soon enough.) Beans, rice, vegs are the cheapest food and also the most nutrient rich. That of course assumes accessible, affordable food.

[wartrace]

159. Do you have a link to that?

The diet idea sounds like something I would like to investigate.

Thanks!

[Kashka-Kat]

171. anti-inflammation

Hi, this is the book I read and it got me started (happened to find it at a yardsale one day)

http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Inflammation-Now-Richard-Fleming/dp/1583332006/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235054857&sr=8-1

He focuses mainly on heart disease but other inflammatory diseases (in my case IBD, rosacea,joint pain)respond very well to it as well. Now, the diet some would call pretty restrictive – no sugar, processed foods, flour, or grains – not even whole grains in phase 1, only vegs, legumes and fruits and nuts but I gotta tell you, once you lose the carb craving everything tastes amazingly good and does not feel like deprivation AT ALL. There is such a huge variety of fruits and vegs and other things available these days, small amts of organic meats/eggs are not terribly expensive either.

Re: economic crisis, frankly I'd be glad to be done with the excessive materialism of this culture but food - knock on wood that we can continue to have accessbility to good food.

(If you want to discuss the diet further off the forum just let me know - k-k)

[wartrace]

176. Thanks for the link, I am going to check it out. n/t

[shadowknows69]

165. Treading water now and already taking it into my lungs

Crime is looking like a valid plan at this point

[a la izquierda]

173. My husband and I own nothing...

but a car-we rent an apt. He's got a little debt, less than $2000. I owe the government a ton in student loans, but they're the least of my concerns. I've got a job as a TA with the university, and his job is secure for now, because he works in a bizarre field.
No kids yet, and aren't planning them until this crisis moves along. His mom is secure...we'd pack up the dogs and head east if things got that bad. We do not buy into fear. It is a waste of energy.

[wartrace]

178. In my world the fear has become reality.

The plant I work at is shutting down permanently. 1500 people will lose their jobs at this union plant, many will lose their homes, their cars & even their lives. I am going to be Ok but I know many who have no clue how they will pay the house note. So far there have been three suicides and we still have three months til the closure day.
I'm glad you are not worried, others are a bit concerned.

[a la izquierda]

180. I understand the worry, my dad works for

Merrill Lynch. 56 years old and isn't sure what tomorrow will bring. And I have two young siblings.
It's not that I'm not worried...I just can't. I'm an anxious person to begin with...if I worried about something so big, I'd be dead.
Good luck :hug:

[Pattib]

179. Hubby gets military retirement pay, I am the sole employee of a

Used bookstore. My employer is doing good business. I guess I am fortunate. I only want to work part-time and am working 40 plus hours a week. My husband's current company is laying off people. Hopefully, not him. My kids have graduated from college and are both working. We always say that if things got bad we would be able to live off the military retirement pay. Hey, it would be tight but we could do it. I have been donating a lot of stuff to the goodwill and have bought groceries for the food pantry in town about six times since Thanksgiving, when they first opened it. I don't know how bad things will get around here. There seems to be a lot of for rent signs up though. There was always a shortage of rental properties around here, not any more.

[ecstatic]

182. No I don't have a plan. I'm hoping for the best,

not the worst. I do have a modest savings but if everything goes haywire as you're suggesting, that might not even matter.