How do you prepare for bad economic times with no money?

[ZzzImAsleep]

There are many people here talking about preparing for another crash, but my question is how do you prepare when you have no money? I can barely afford food right now, so gold and silver seem to be out of the question.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the cash strapped? I want to be prepared, not just for bad economics times, but because it is smart to do so.

 

[Keith and stuff]

I recommend learning how to farm, fix cars, fix motorcycles, fix bicycles, and/or other trades. Perhaps build raised beds and a greenhouse. If possible, plant berry bushes on your property. If possible get some chickens.

 

[RDM]

The only thing you need to survive is food and water. Learn how to garden and buy a few chickens. Garden provides plenty of good food. Chickens lay eggs (good for protein) plus the chickens multiply to provide further food source.

 

[hazek]

Figure out how to provide as many people with as much value in circumstances likely to arise in the future.

 

[Seraphim]

Basically, this.

I recommend learning how to farm, fix cars, fix motorcycles, fix bicycles, and/or other trades. Perhaps build raised beds and a greenhouse. If possible, plant berry bushes on your property. If possible get some chickens.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Less is more. be creative.Everyone will be clinging to their useless possessions that can't fit in 1 briefcase...dont be that person clinging to more than a briefcase worth of items.

 

[sluggo]

Exercise regularly. Cut out the junk food, cigarettes, and only drink booze occasionally.

Your health is one of the best investments you can make, and it doesn't cost anything to make improvements.

Being fit in times of turmoil is something you can't put a price on.

 

[tfurrh]

Your biggest concern will be keeping your domicile. If you cant make rent, you're out. If you cant make your mortgage payment, you're out. If you can't pay your property taxes, you're out. That means any gardening, ranching, or tradesmanship offered at the aforementioned residence will be toast as well. If you cannot get your pad secured by the time the SHTF, I would suggest moving in with a solid family member or close friend. Offer to help out in exchange.

My personal goal is to have only property taxes to pay. That should buy enough time for any temporary SHTF scenario to ease over.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

I have the ability to run off to the middle of nowhere and live off my grandfathers old farm...

But I live in Chicago instead, and as much as I want to run away I feel as though it's my duty as an American to keep fighting.

My advice to you is make sure you have at least 1 gun you really like (that's easy to reload) and buy a lot of ammo, the rest really doesn't matter imo.

 

[Danke]

Move to a liberal neighborhood that shuns gun ownership. It will be a turkey shoot when the SHTF.


Of course, I'm just kidding, I wouldn't do that...

 

[anaconda]

Exercise regularly. Cut out the junk food, cigarettes, and only drink booze occasionally.

Your health is one of the best investments you can make, and it doesn't cost anything to make improvements.

Being fit in times of turmoil is something you can't put a price on.

Very insightful and wise.

 

[Kluge]

Move to a liberal neighborhood that shuns gun ownership. It will be a turkey shoot when the SHTF.


Of course, I'm just kidding, I wouldn't do that...

Of course you wouldn't, you don't have to move.

Seriously though, I'm with tfurrh--that's the goal whether tshtf or not. A secondary goal would be to produce enough from the land to cover the taxes and the firewood (30 acres, lots of woods, and it's heated by an outdoor wood boiler.) Heck, it'd be nifty to be able to cover the propane & electric strictly from production off the land too. Of course, all of that is dependent on selling my house, then buying the new one.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I recommend learning how to farm, fix cars, fix motorcycles, fix bicycles, and/or other trades. Perhaps build raised beds and a greenhouse. If possible, plant berry bushes on your property. If possible get some chickens.

All good ideas. I would add learning the common welding methods so you can fix various damage around the house resulting from SHTF.

 

[Danke]

Heck, it'd be nifty to be able to cover the propane & electric strictly from production off the land too.

Get Kludge on of these:

 

[LibForestPaul]

1. Health, as stated previously.
2. Shelter is less important. From previous reading material, you may be forced to relocate, quickly.
3. Connections, especially those in government.
4. Government employment if possible.
5. Fixing things, everyone will be fixing things. Doubtful fixing bikes will be helpful. Now, learning light trades (sheet rock, plumbing, electrical, automotive) to do your own repairs might be helpful.
6. Planning, if required to move, where will you go? Family, friends...walk, hitch a ride?

http://jcharper.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171:ussr-collapse-russia-in-the-1990s&catid=14:stuff-happens&Itemid=12
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=16627

http://ferfal.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-04-05T16%3A32%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7&reverse-paginate=true

http://www.grabtheapple.com/forum/general-discussion-round-table/your-haiti-bag

www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedness
/Preparedness.pdf

Note: Take the above in slowly...

 

[thoughtomator]

people seem to be preparing for nuclear war... that's not how it's going to go down

To prepare for the future, acquire skills, not things. Things can (and likely will) be taken from you, skills cannot. People who think that having money will protect them are wrong; no asset will be safe from this government's ravenous craving to deny the simple requirement of responsible financial behavior - a balanced budget.

 

[rockerrockstar]

What countries will be hit? I would think with this global economy most countries should fall like dominoes.

So what currencies may be strong after the fall besides gold? I know this thread is about if you don't have money but figured I would ask anyways.

"no asset will be safe from this government" you probably are right. When the SHTF the government may confinscate your assets and redistrube or just use them for their own welfare. If you got a good food storage the government probably knows about it if you paid with plastic or debit/credit. I have heard that if they think you are stock piling that they may keep track of you. Of course these are rumors. You will have troubles moving money out of the country if SHTF.

You are probably right about having skills that will be needed. Just what will they be. I hear that farming will be one. Since there will be a food shortage more than likely. The trades like plumbing, mechanic, welder, etc... But what others do you think will be important.

I hear having land that is good for farming may be more valuable in the future.

 

[camp_steveo]

I am hopeful that we have 10 more years.

My main goal is to buy a home with 1-2 acres for less than $40k, which is reasonable in east TN. I think I can have that paid off in ten years.

In the mean time I plan to be cultivating the 1-2 acres with garden vegetables and some chickens. We will be canning the vegetables.

I would like to have a natural gas well on my property along with an emergency generator that runs on NG and is hooked up directly.

Hunting and fishing will be essential too. I would prefer to have my land adjacent to a large area of woods such as a state forest.

These are some of my thoughts about the next ten years.

 

[Noble Savage]

3 most important future commodities are adaptability, endurance and luck.

 

[Seraphim]

You're a titan of insight. LOL.

3 most important future commodities are adaptability, endurance and luck.