I'm excited to be a part of a program this week where each day, a group of bloggers will answer a particular prepping question, and link to each others' sites so that our readers can compare our answers and be exposed to other ideas. We also invite our readers to participate by answering the day's question in the blog comments section.
Please also visit the other participants:
http://doomandbloom.net
http://modernsurvivalonline.com
http://prepplace.blogspot.com
http://rethinksurvival.com
http://seasonedcitizenprepper.com
http://apartmentprepper.com
Sit down, strap in, and please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle... Enjoy the ride!
Wednesday's Question:
What's the most important thing people can do to prepare themselves in today's troubled economy?
Easy... Two words... ELIMINATE DEBT! I'm a firm believer in Dave Ramsey's program of 7 baby steps.
- $1,000 emergency fund
- Pay off all debt except the mortgage using the snowball method
- Build an emergency fund of 3-6 months expenses
- Put away 15% of income toward retirement
- College for kids (or yourself, or skip it if it does not apply)
- Pay of the mortgage early
- Build wealth and give
Debt is poison and can destroy your life whether SHTF or not. In a time of bad economy, even historically "safe" jobs are at risk. Think how much better a layoff would be if you had no debt. Of course, a butt load of long term storage foods and other household supplies will also make it easier.
What's the most important thing people can do to prepare themselves in today's troubled economy?
d, agree completely with one possible caviat. we stocked up on staple foods before we finished with the bills. once debtfree, we doubled our efforts in food storage. we'll at least be able to eat. everything else i can sustain, but food production is not as easy as many think. i killed my first garden in thirty years:(, so i figure we better stock up to last few bad harvests. we're working toward sustainable food now with chickens in our near future and maybe goats as well. we're trying raised bed gardening this spring hopefully. thats my 2 pence.
ReplyDeleteI love Dave Ramsey's program. I was fortunate enough to win a copy and have been diligently working at it. Getting out from under debt is so freeing.
ReplyDeleteRiverrider, I think a lot of people had a rough time with gardening this year with the drought. Maybe a fall garden would be more successful? I think you'll really enjoy goats and chickens. I really miss my chickens and can't wait to have them again.
I agree with your selection, getting out of debt is hard but in the fragile economy it is very important. I am slowly working my there while also getting my food storage in line.
ReplyDeleteRiverRider - I think a very valid arguement could be made that some stored up staple foods could be considered a part of an initial emergency fund
ReplyDeleteEFS - I love it when readers interact and offer suggestions to each other! Thanks!
VT Paladin - keep on keeping on!