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

**ironmaiden** · 04-11-2008, 07:54 PM

What if you being doing now if you had a crystal ball and found out that things were going to be worse a year from now? Gas higher, utilities higher, food higher...

**C@rol** · 04-11-2008, 08:25 PM

We live pretty well beneath our income and there
are still some small areas (ex. cable) that we could
cut back more. Continue to watch those grocery
and gas bills. The main thing is to pay attention.

**larabelle** · 04-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Good Thread. I would do what I am already doing and I would:
1.) Buy an electric blanket for the bed as well as those cold winter evenings in front of the computer and lower the heat further.
2.) Ban all air conditioner use and use fans.
3.) Eliminate home internet connection and only go online at work
4.) Only drive once a week and that would be on Sundays to church or possibly join one of the churches within walking distance of my home.
That is all I can think of for now. I can not wait to see the responses to this thread!!!

**AmyBoz** · 04-11-2008, 08:38 PM

1)Immediately begin to rebuild my stockpile
2)Pick up as many piano students as possible to earn extra money for savings NOW
3)eBay off everything that wasn't nailed down in this place to add to savings
4)Do everything we could to lower utility bills right now so we had the money to pay for it all later

**Lady_V** · 04-11-2008, 08:39 PM

There is an -if- ???

I am pretty sure it will get worse.

I can't reduce my car gas anymore than I have now. DD goes to private school, no buses and no families to carpool with.

We have already begun to cut the electricity use to minimum (we even have oil lamps at night ) I have a gas stove and heat, water and cooking is included in my condo fee.

I am trying to tuck away money when I can, even if it's 10 cents, it's 10 cents I wouldn't have had if I spent it.

We have become addicted to food... can you believe we eat it 3 times a day... 7 days a week??? We have already cut out beef and pork, limited the chicken to minimal and I make everything from scratch. Other than changing over to 'nothing but rice' there is little to cut back on there.

-- if it came down to the wire, actual depression, I would sell my condo for whatever I could get for it and the Old Man and I would live in the ex's garage (DD has a room there). The 2 men in my life get along very well, best friends (scary), and we all have DD's health and welfare at heart, so we would do whatever we had to to keep her healthy, housed and fed.

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-11-2008, 08:45 PM

We also live below our income level that's for sure, I have learned to live through hard time when money was very scarce. I dont think I would change anything right now except not driving anywhere but walking instead, using natural light and not spending on things we didnt need. We could also eat more rice and beans and spaghetti type dinners and limit meat.

We already have the heat turned off, we conserve electricity, we dont have cable TV, we limit showers (to conserve water) and I drive less, so we are atleast trying. I guess I also save a bunch of money but not eating steaks, pork or basically any other meats except chicken and I dont think I can get my grocery bill down anymore

**Hannahs mom** · 04-11-2008, 08:52 PM

Wow! DH and I have been thinking the exact thing - the world is getting worse and will it stop? The Bible readers out there know that the world will continue to get worse until the end. My DH truly thinks that we may be living in "those days" Just this past week, he has sold a spare vehicle, some property, and a rec. trailer, paid off a loan, and purchased two handguns. We've bought a freezer and have begun to stockpile, and have a big garden in the works.

**Marie78** · 04-11-2008, 09:02 PM

We will continue to do as we have been for the last few years. We don't spend much money on ourselves (not much of a need right now, having an apartment helps with that), we conserve electricity, and have learned to cook/bake more homemade meals and use what we have at home before making purchases.

If things do get really bad, we can carpool to work together. It would be a pain, but it could be done. We also could give up cable (not very willingly) and find a less expensive form of internet (even if it's not as reliable).

**CoCo** · 04-11-2008, 09:15 PM

I would find a larger group of friends to barter with, I would think about adding more edible foods to the back yard and front yard. I would learn how to grow and preserve the foods I can grow. I would also start thinking about the what ifs, just stick any bad situation in and try to prepare as much as possible. Learn how to keep animals such as hens, for eggs, rabbits for meat+ garden amendments. learn how low you can go on with daily comfort creatures. Plan ahead. This is what I do daily, so just being frugal you are on the right track to make bad times more tolerable.

**dianne9106** · 04-11-2008, 09:15 PM

Well - I reckon we would need to get down and dirty and finish paying off our van. We don't really have a lot of extras in terms of monthly expenses, but we would have to trim those more and save a lot more than we do now. We are not gazelle intense right now, but we would def become more so. I would also build my stockpile back up and start taking the bus!

**happimommi** · 04-11-2008, 10:42 PM

Stockpile chocolate!!!! LOL

**peanut** · 04-12-2008, 12:15 AM

I plan to fill the freezer this summer/fall with a year's worth of food...and stockpile up to 6 months of food.

I also think we'll be doing more to make the house weathertight. Maybe an insert in the fireplace.

Jean

**knitnmom** · 04-12-2008, 01:00 AM

I think I would put in more hours working to be able to pay off debt and save faster. I know I could put in more time right now than I actually do.

Tami

**Didi** · 04-12-2008, 04:31 AM

I think things are already getting worse: gasoline is getting more expensive, gas, electricity, food.

Things we're doing this year:
- solar boiler (saves gas... break even in 7 years or less)
- solar panels (there is a good Dutch programme for that... but you have to dig out the cash in advance)
- use cloth diapers for the baby we're expecting

What we also could start doing:
- have a vegetable garden
- use the cars less, cycle more often or take public transport.

**ladykemma2** · 04-12-2008, 06:34 AM

i would stock pile cases of candles (IKEA)

i already have a years worth of food, restock as necessary. a years worth of laundry detergent, dish soap, toothpaste, hygiene items need to be replenished.

inventory, repair, and replace garden tools. purchase garden seeds (lots)

fix up, do necessary repairs on the house now, while money is available.

take in a roommate or two. split expenses.

i have already cut off cable.
I will not cut off internet for any reason.

In houston texas, i am going to try a year without air conditioning. I know from 2 week long camping trips, that once my body adjusts, I am just fine in the heat. I need to purchase or create those window thingies that block the window from being opened.

think about another solar oven. I found that when I used one, I really needed two.

my teaching job is secure. my pension is secure.