Surviving the Middle Class Crash - Part 2 By Barbara Peterson

[Demeter]

OpEdNews

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_barbara__080203_surviving_the_middle.htm


What if you woke up in the morning to discover that your bank account had been wiped out, your cupboard contained food for only a week or so, the electric bill was due as well as the mortgage payment, car payment, and credit card bills, and you had no idea how to cope? Think about it. This scenario is not as uncommon today as one might think, and will become more common-place as people lose their jobs, prices go up, and interest rates rise. In fact, this is the type of scenario that must be prepared for if we are to survive the middle class crash, and the time to prepare is now!


Some of the things we can do to prepare are:

1. Purchase a used vehicle and pay cash. You now have a car without payments.

2. Pay off your credit cards. Late payments incur charges that will quickly lead to an increase in the balance of your loan that will become impossible to deal with.

3. Invest in solar for your home.

4. Start a garden.

5. Start a food storage program.


Some of these things are more expensive than others, and thereby cost-prohibitive, so do the things you can. Prioritize according to your abilities, then start working on completing the items on the list.


What is more important, a shiny new vehicle with large payments, or an older vehicle that will not end up in the repossessor’s lot when the money runs out? Credit is not the way to go. If you cannot afford it now, don’t buy it. Just stop shopping! Solar can be put together one piece at a time. Here is a link to a site that shows you how to make a solar generator for $350 or less. A garden is not difficult. Even if you do not have a yard, herbs and some vegetables can be grown indoors in pots. Food storage consists of collecting staples such as wheat, dried fruits, canned vegetables, and any other things you can think of that will store safely, and that your family will actually want to eat. Just remember to rotate your supplies so that they do not go bad, and don’t forget water. Here is a link to a site that will calculate what you need for the number of people in your family.


It is time to spend our time wisely by planning an alternate lifestyle. We need to become more independent and wean ourselves from going to the grocery store every other day and shopping for things we simply cannot afford. By becoming more self-sufficient, we not only become healthier and stronger, but better-prepared to meet the coming financial crisis.


In the next column, we will start to talk about what happens if a catastrophe hits before you have had time to prepare. Believe me, it can happen and does, every day. My husband and I are experiencing this right now! You are welcome to join us as we learn to cope and share our experiences.









Authors Website: http://spktruth2power.wordpress.com

Authors Bio: Barbara H. Peterson is retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. After retirement, she went to college online to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business, and graduated with honors. The most valuable thing she received from her time with UOP was a realization that her life's passion is writing. Now her business degree sits in her desk drawer, and she counts herself in the category of Writer/Activist. Someday she will make money writing, but that is not why she does it. "I do it because I must. A driving force compels me to reach out to others with what I learn about the condition we the people are in, and that is what I devote my time to. After all, time is the most precious thing we have, and the older I get the more I want to use it wisely." One day Barbara would like to visit the land of Israel, where a tree was planted in memory of her grandmother. Of Hebrew heritage, she believes that Israel is the promised land. Her philosophy is this: You are on this earth for a reason - to fight for the light. Your words are swords that penetrate the darkness with truth and light. You have a purpose.

[MercutioATC]

1. Sound advice under any circumstances.

I have a mortgage. Cars are all paid off. Credit cards will be paid off in a few months.

I have at least 4 months of food for me and my son stocked. I also have the ability and supplies to start a garden if necessary.


Whether it be a relative short-term hardship like losing one's job or something longer-term like a pandemic, this sort of preparation is something everybody should do.

[ixion]

2. I've bought some property out in the back country

it's all paid for. I'm paying off my credit cards as quickly as I can, and beginning to store food and buy camping equipment and gardening tools. I've got a small solar system started, but need to expand it a bit still. Hopefully I'll get set up before the crash comes.