What would you do now if you knew things were going to get worse?

[trishh]

I would sell one car.
Get closer to work. have.
Square foot garden if live in city. learning how again.
Walk every else.
Learn to barter with others.
no air conditioner in summer.
eat casseroles 6 times a week and meat 1 time a week maybe on Sundays.
where cloths more than once if clean enough. already do
make own laundry soaps and dish soaps.
wash dishes by hand. do pots and pans and some plastics and baby bottles.
no more dryer hang dry everything always. starting already.
no cable and only one phone and maybe no phone.
get solar lights and hang in living room and bedrooms by windows and only use those at night. getting this week.
take only baths with few inches of water.
stock pile food. already do.
cvs shopping. already do. these are just some of my ideas.

[Sonnenwende]

I totally agree.

Please. And even if that was true, who do you think is to blame for that? They just naturally came out evil?

[Holly]

I'm with the we'll do whatever it takes to protect our family.
We help anyone who really need s it, even if we are short ourselves but If they try stealing it , they will meet with
some very unexpected surprises.
The moral foundation that was in the country during the depression died along time ago.

[cab54]

joyofsix-----

I wonder of you can trade adult college-educated kids for MORE? You certainly ought to be able to.

[frugalandsimple]

Strive to be debt-free and save as much money as possible. Stay home as much as possible and find things to do to keep busy.

[englishcottage1]

We usually try to live beneath our means, even when things are very good, because we know that this is not how it will always be. I believe you have a right to protect ones own property, everyone has a choice to help or not to help other people, that is your own choice. Life is about choice. I don't believe that the younger generation is bad, I see alot of good in these kids around here and have high hopes, of course that's not all of them, but I think the same comment can be used for any generation. The world is different now then even when I was growing up (and I'm not that old, LOL) but as it was said, the younger generation was taught their livestyle and attitude.

Now back to the orginial question, we know, because of the type of business we are in that the next two years are going to be very tough for us, no matter what happens in the economy, the past two years have been very good for us, so we paid off debt so that is not a major issue for us, we still have monthly bills to meet, but we worry about the gas, the food, the heat etc just like everyone else. My garden is going to be expanding this year and I am going to learn how to can, I have usually froze alot of my harvest, but learning to can will help my stockpile. We are already in the process of putting in rain barrels and we are looking into both solar and wind engery, just wish it didn't cost so much to save money, LOL. I agree with what is said about not telling people what you have in the means of food, in case it ever did get that bad, but until it got dire, I would help when I could. I think people come together more in the time of need, but need and desperation are two different things.

[Buc-O-Mama]

I think the hardest part about all of this for me is the fact that my youngest daughter has special needs that are becoming more special all the time. New things come up physically that we don't even have a diagnosis for, nor the ability to know how to prepare for her future. Not much scares me, but her vulnerability does. I wish I knew what she might need in the future, besides the basics, but we don't at this point.

The items that I'd like to stockpile more of:

TP and feminine items
pet supplies
airtight containers to hold dry goods

We are on track with paying off things and saving. We recently traded in a gas sucking vehicle for one that does much better on gas.

This spring I've made my first attempt at growing veggies. Hopefully, my thumb is turning a little less brown and next year I can grow more.

[Clutterbug Jen]

Here's a few of the things I'd do:

- Stockpile non-perishable food, non-food essentials [toilet paper and so forth and cat food, etc.]

- Save every penny that I can

- Look for recipes for more frugal meals for a single person

- Start buying some of my groceries at Sav-a-Lot [which I should be doing already anyways!]

- No eating out at all

- Quit putting minutes on my cell phone

- Have cash on hand in smaller denominations

- Barter for things I need

- Sell anything I could that I truly didn't need [or love and couldn't live without]

~*Jen*~

[carlitasway]

Please. And even if that was true, who do you think is to blame for that? They just naturally came out evil?

You mean not everyone had Rosemary's baby? JK. I know not ALL kids are selfish but I see so many like that. Of course I blame the parents. It takes time to teach compassion and values and it seems more and more parents don't have time to teach values anymore. And I'm not talking christian values I'm talking just plain common sense ones. If I offended you, I'm sorry but maybe you live in a place where the kids aren't all about themselves. That's all I seem to see where I live, though.