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How To Survive The 2011 Economic Collapse Part 3
Step 3: Learn Some Skills That Your Can Barter With!
When the Economy craps itself out completely then modern currency will become effectively worthless.
In order to get good and services you will have to learn how to barter.
So what skills can you learn now to barter with if the economy fails??
Growing your own food
Don’t learn it because it’s the latest cool thing – this is a skill we used to know and have forgotten.
Check out the first part of this series for for info.
Food Preservation
It’s one thing to buy and store extra cans of beans, but do you know how to can your own fruit, or vacuum-pack or dry other goods?
This is a valuable skill to have no matter what but in a total economic collapse knowing how to preserve food will be a potential live saving skill (you might not starve in winter for example!)
Chopping Wood
Very few people know how to chop down a tree or even spilt wood with just an axe.
Knowing how to do this properly could make you a valuable asset in your community.
Cooking and preparing food from scratch
Again, it’s one thing to be able to make a good dinner, but can you make your own granola? How about catch, cook and clean your own fish? Most people don’t even know how to make their own bread.
Make a Fire With No Matches or Fuel
This should be #1 for obvious reasons. But it’s also a great skill to have if you wanted to barter with someone for some other skill.
Catch and store your own rainwater
Just because the economy-as-we-know-it fails doesn’t mean you’ll be living in the woods in the middle of nowhere – but this would still be a really valuable skill to have which you could also teach others.
You can make solar stills to convert sunshine and humidity into water and catch it in a cup. This is so simple and basic we should all know how to do it.
Tying Knots
Another basic “girl/boy scout” type of skill, but very handy, especially if you ever really needed it. Not all knots are equal!
Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting
Sewing sounds boring to me, but I can do it(if I have to!). Some people can’t though.
Far less people can knit.
Sewing for mending purposes is a really basic skill that would be easy enough to teach.
If you had to, you could make your own mats, rooves, and blankets if you know basic sewing and knitting skills.
Stay tuned to Step 4 on How To Survive The 2011 Economic Collapse.
How To Survive The 2011 Economic Collapse Part 2
Step 2: Kill The Debt!!
That’s right folks!
Now is the time to pay off as many of your debts as possible in preparation of the coming economic collapse.
Try to allocate a portion of your disposable income to paying off your debts completely, rather than paying only the minimum payments and carrying a revolving balance from month to month.
If economic calamity leaves you with few monetary resources, you’ll want to avoid aggravations from debt collectors and lawsuits from creditors you cannot afford to repay.
Get into the habit of using cash instead of credit cards to help avoid aquiring new debt.
Concentrate on paying off high-interest debt, loans with adjustable rates and unsecured debts first.
Sell expensive vehicles that have loans to pay off what you owe, and buy cheaper replacements using cash.
In order to survive a total economic collapse, you need to have assets, not liabilities.
Please Note: If you and your family have limited or modest income then obviously storing food and other survival resources is a higher priority than paying down debt. No point being debt free if you starve within a couple of weeks of the Collapse!
Key Points
. If you have enough income then try to pay off your debts as fast as you can.
Credit card debt is the major debt that you should be focusing on as the interest that is tacked onto it by the Credit Card Companies can cripple you if you don’t hit it on the head.
Remember though, if you have a limited or modest income, focus on storing food and other supplies first, debt second.
. Do everything you can to keep your job. As long as you have income coming in, you’ll be okay. In a growth economy, it’s much easier to find a new job, but this isn’t that kind of economy.
. Renegotiate your credit card payments or interest.
. Stop contributing to your children’s college savings plans. (You can start this up again when the economy improves.)
. Set up a budget. Go through your expenses with a fine-tooth comb and postpone, eliminate or reduce any that you can.
Part 3 Coming Soon!!
How To Survive The 2011 Economic Collapse
Holy Koala!!
That was my reaction when I saw that the IMF has stated that we are on a collision course for a MAJOR recession/depression in the very near future.
The deadly combination of a dire European financial situation coupled with the near non-existent growth of the US markets means that we may end up falling head first into a big ol’ pot of turmoil.
Once this news started spreading the Markets crapped themselves and started falling faster than lead coated bowling ball thus adding more fuel to the wildfire.
This is a shining example of how unstable the current world wide finanical situation is.
It’s safe to say that economic disaster is now imminant, we get that.
Now more importantly: How Can You Survive It??
Step 1: Growing Your Own Food
That’s right folks, the most obvious suggestion is first.
Some of you may think that all your need to do is buy a lot of seeds and tools and then once things start to collapse you can leap from your lounge chair, plow up the backyard and have food growing in no time.
Wrong!
Do you have any idea how fickle vege gardening can be?? You make one stuff up and you can screw up the entire growing season.
If you have no experiance then believe me, you will make mistakes (hell I’ve grown veges all my life and I still make the odd screw up!).
It’s one thing to screw up when your life doesn’t depend on it, but it’s entirely different when it does.
NOW is the time to start gardening so that when you really need to, you can depend on yourself to provide you and your’s with a source of food.
So what should you do first??
Read, read, and get to work!
Got backyard with a bit of lawn?? Chuck some raised beds on top.
Live in an apartment?? Get some large containers and grow things out of your balcony.
Got lots of room for a garden?? Borrow a tiller and go nuts!!
The most important thing is to do a truckload of research and constantly read up so that you have a better chance of success.
Also start buying seeds NOW (even if it is autumn in your part of the world) and keep them stored away safely.
Seeds will most likely be in short supply once a major crisis takes hold so get in first!
Note: Only purchase Open Pollinated or Heirloom seed varieties so that you can save the seed for the next season.
Seeds cannot be saved from Hybrid varieties.
So to wrap up this section here are some keypoints to remember:
. Do as much research as you can on vege gardening via the internet as well by purchasing some good gardening books that are specific for your geographical location.
. Pick a gardening style that best suites your living arrangment, whether it be container gardening, raised bed gardening , etc.
. Only buy seeds that are Heirloom or Open Pollinated varieties as Hybrid seeds cannot be saved.
. Don’t just buy a lot of seeds, put them in a box and forget about them. Seeds tends to lose viability as time goes on so rotation is very important.
. Start gardening now, even if it is on a tiny scale.
. Work out your area’s soil type, disease issues, pest issues, etc.
. Work out which tools you will need and purchase them as required.
. Work out what varieties grow best in your area and go with them.
Part 2 of How To Survive The 2011 Economic Collapse: Coming Soon