A Back-Up Plan For Survival...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 21, 2008 11:56am CST
With the economy failing and the prices of everything going up it seems that ppl should be at least thinking about the what-if’s in the back of there mind. What if the company you work for closes? Will you be able to live where you are? Will you be able to afford to pay the bills, put food on the table and for how long? What’s your plan if you can’t? Will you move in with a relative, move into low-income housing, get on welfare? Move to another area if there are any jobs or follow the jobs for as long as you can?
These aren’t pleasant thoughts but at the same time very necessary ones. We are already seeing businesses closing up around us and theres no solutions in sight. At some point we all may very well have to make some tough decisions. Now, I’m not trying to panic anyone or anything but simply trying to get ppl to think. Some ppl simply live in the here and now with no thought as to tomorrow, next week or next month.
As for Hubby and I, we have his Social Security disability which will be one of the last things cut if it comes to that and we live in apartments set up for the elderly, disabled and/or low income so moving probably isn’t going to be an issue for a long time and then it’ll be one of the last steps. If we absolutely had to move, I guess we’d be moving in with my Mom b/c she has a big house and there would be no where else to go. It would have to be an absolute no choice…no other option thing but at least if it really came down to the brass tacks we wouldn’t be sleeping on the street. Luckily we don’t have kids so it would just be him, myself and Morgana that we’d have to take care of.
What are your plans if it comes down to the brass tacks? Have you even thought about it or do you refuse to think about it till it’s staring you in the face? Where would you go if you had no other options? Do you think we’re heading this way and how long do you think we have to plan something?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
5 people like this
20 responses
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
22 May 08
I think a lot of people are oblivious to the world around them - they just don't see that things economically are getting worse - will probably get much worse before it gets better.
Many people don't give a thought to what they would do if they lost a job. People don't give a thought to the possibility that there might be a shortage of fuel or food - not just high prices - but an actual shortage, where these items would not be available at any price.
It scares me that so many of the younger people have never had to "make do" and don't know how to do many of the things they would need to do to be self-sufficient.
2 people like this
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 May 08
That is also my concern newtondak. I think those of us who have known bad times could make it, but what will the younger generation do? I fear some may prey on those of us who do know how to survive. I think it could get nasty, as one responder said, find me a cave, LOL.
1 person likes this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
23 May 08
I totally agree - when those who haven't prepared discover that there are those of us who have prepared - they'll be knocking down our doors!
1 person likes this
@prettiemammie (835)
• United States
21 May 08
Actually the company I work for, just closed down the customer call center in our office. And that is without a warning, one morning we just showed up to work, and they said hey you’re fired. Everything now is being out sourced of usa. I really hope my friends find a new job and I hope that I won’t be fired anytime soon ?
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
22 May 08
Our motto has been make do or do without. There is a lot we can do without if we need to cut back more and we have already cut way back but we can do more. First my hubby too is on SSD and I have NO insurance but use herbs and the like. I pray and put myself and my family in God's hands. We are not starving. We are clothed. We plan on a garden. If need I will stop driving and plan trips to town with others. Saving on licence fees, insurance and the like. If need give up the internet. If need sell everything we can to pay off or pay on necessary bills. Bottom line sell, get a camp trailer and move around as need. Or just live off the land. We can do it. Those who are lower income and already surviving and making do always have another plan and probbably 4-5 more. I know we do. Family can move in more if need. We help one another. There is always a way and most of all rely and trust God. I have seen miracles happen often.
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 May 08
Amen to that! I don't have to have a lot of fancy things to live or survive. As long as I can fish and carry water we will eat. I have taught all of our kids how to fish, they have never really had it rough, but as long as we stick together, we will make it, with Gods help. I don't worry about the cloths I wear, or the food I eat, I try to be like the sparrow, God does provide, if we believe and trust, it just may not be the way that some think it should be, we have to look for the little things God sends our way.
1 person likes this
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Interesting. I DID just get laid off. We weren't prepared for it, but we were saving up a lot of money to build a first class greenhouse for our farm.
So we have a lot of savings set aside we can dip into for mortgage payments if we need to. I do have a lot of investments for retirement I can pull from, but that's a LAST straw.
My husband still has his job and can get me health care through his work.
We also live on a working farm. We have eggs to sell and chicken and lamb meat. My garden is growing, and we have a fruit tree orchard. We can make some money to help in the meantime there. I am actively looking for a job and have a lot of friends around here who can help. So I am hoping I can still get a job. I may take a part time job, even at a MAJOR pay cut just to have money coming in. I am an engineer with an MBA, so part time jobs are like an 80% cut in pay for me, but something is better than nothing - I did apply for unemployment, which will soften the blow, but it won't go far.
1 person likes this
@syeryn (573)
• United States
21 May 08
I'm already scaling back. The commute of 104 miles per day with rising gas costs became a higher price than I was willing to continue to shell out each week just for the sake of having a career. So, I resigned knowing there are no positions in the area where I live. But, why work just to spend your money on gas, oil and tires for the car when it only put you in a higher tax bracket to begin with.
As for family, my children know that they can always move back home if times get tough for them.
1 person likes this
@lttlmischievious (126)
• United States
22 May 08
I do believe people should be looking ahead and finding out their options before this economy zero's down to nothing. We are definitely in a crunch, with the price of gas going higher and higher.
I am lucky I live in a Military town, and my job is driving a shuttle for the USMC. So I do not see me not having a job, unless the Military decides to move the 4 bases that surround it.
But, I have started planning ahead for retirement, though I have 13 years more to go. I have found the perfect Home Based Business online that will not only bring me an Early Retirement but, it will give me all the security I need and help me to be financially free. And, the greatest thing about it, it will never go out of business itself, unless the world comes to an end.
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 May 08
Well don't be greedy, if it is that secure, share the knowledge.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
21 May 08
well, this is a very interesting topic and it really makes me think... so far, my survival plan is just to hang on to my current job... so does my hubby... also, we pray to God to always protect and look after us so that we can survive... we don't want to be rich... we just want to be able to eat, pay all our bills and living expenses and still have a bit of money left for leisure and vacations... that's all... and we save whatever money we left every month from our paychecks for rainy days... that's all... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
21 May 08
Hmmm, let's see.... I guess we could always find another cave and get back to basics.
All we need is a water supply and firewood to keep the cave warm.
As for food, the whole getting back to nature has some appeal, although it might be a good idea watch Hannibal again for some preparation tips if things get too tight.
We may have to forgo the Chianti, but if things get too tight maybe we can just make do with some berries.
I think we could be headed this way if everyone keeps buying into this man made global warming, and the idea that we need to raise taxes to pay for an ever increasing government with a socialist agenda.
I think part of the problem lies in the plans of those who would force us into greater dependency on the government until there is no way to survive without it's help.
That is the goal of the liberals in the first place.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
22 May 08
Hubby's job is secure so far so I'm hoping nothing happens for another year. By then, the house will be paid for which is our only big bill. Once it's paid for and he then loses his job, we will be able to manage being he does have several paper routes he does on the side and I have mine. We would definately be getting rid of his truck then and just have my car so the insurance will drop as well. We manage, we always do somehow.
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
23 May 08
I used to worry about things like that when my kids were young. I was always afraid we could lose our house, or not have enough money for food. My husband used to get laid off for a few months from time to time. We used to have a big garden, so we always had something to eat, even if it might not have been what we wanted. We survived, and learned how to live well on a reduced income.
Now, the kids are grown and have their own houses. We could stay with them if we had to, but our mortgage has been paid for years now. Things could get really bad because of the high gas prices, so we are now driving more efficient cars instead of vans.
I've been reading a book called "How to Survive in the Wilderness With the Clothes on Your Back and a Knife in Your Belt". It tells you how to hunt, fish, forage for other foods,make useful tools and shelters. I don't think I'll ever have to use any of the techniques for survival in that book, but I feel comforted that I might be able to.
1 person likes this
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
21 May 08
If or when it comes down to that I'm sure we will do whatever needs to be done, however, I nor my s/o work for a company that will be closing anytime soon. We both work for the state but different branches. And he will be taking early retirement this fall, and will have full retirement benefits. Moving in with his parents is not an option since they have a fairly small house. If worse came to worse we could move in with mine, they have a large house and land with it, however, that would mean a 1600 mile move. I do think there is a possiblity that things will get tight for a lot of people, however I don't think it will happen all of a sudden, it will be a trickle down effect from the rising cost of fuel. It's not like we saw gas go from 1.99 to 4.00 a gallon in a weeks time, it happened over a 4 year period of time. If things start really taking a turn for the worse, the state starts cutting jobs, etc. we will do what is necessary to live within our means.
1 person likes this
@olivebranch56 (910)
• United States
23 May 08
What an interesting discussion. I have been in that place a couple of times in my life, and both times, family was there to lean on. Now we have 5 adopted children, so it would be hard for all of us to go one place. Like you my husband is disabled, and that was the problem before, he was waiting on disability and my check couldn't cover our expenses. The next loss came when I became disabled myself, I had to wait 5 years for a decision from our wonderful social security admin. for a decision, fighting the whole way. I have always said as long as I have my family I can live just about anywhere, it does make it harder now that we have the 5 little ones, but no matter what our family is a family of survivors, and we would find a way. When Hugo hit, we had no power for 3 or 4 weeks, shoot, my hubby is an old Boy Scout, he dug a cooking pit, we put a grate over it, and I had coffee every morning, we cooked our meals on it, the area we lived then had a couple of natural springs, we got water from them. We had some kerosene lamps, so we read books, played games with our 5 natural born children, who were all at home then, and I think we became closer as a family, because of it. So yes, I hope things wouldn't come to that, but if they did, I think we could and would survive. I think we as a people in America are survivors, and I believe we could and would rally together as a nation.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
23 Jun 08
Our back yard is huge, so we would probably go into growing our own veggies to save on money. Also, I don't work, being a full time stay at home mum, and my partner is a student studying from home, so we are on benefits, but I think our income is more stable than those in the work place. it helps having sites like this that allow me to save up for a little bit of self indulgence, though it takes me a while to earn anything! lol.
Yeah, my family is the most secure we have been in a long time (and that includes when my partner was working 60+ hours a week!) and while we don't own a house, we are reasonably financially secure.
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
22 May 08
I don't even like to think about it. If my husband were to loose his job, we would loose our house for sure. I just don't know what I would do if I couldn't live here. I have never been so happy in my whole life since we moved out here to the woods. I have so many animals now!
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
21 May 08
I think it will pick up... Lots of this I think came about because the media kept saying we were doing poorly economically even when we weren't but if you keep saying things long enough.. they happen.. Yet I think it will pick up. Although I do see a big crash somewhere down the road, if I'm reading things right, it's still a little ways off yet.. I'm thinking twenty or thirty years.. But we should always have some plans however! And stock up on some few things, afterall, even a big storm or something can clear the store shelves in a jiffy..
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
21 May 08
I do have a little bit of one. I can see it coming. The businesses are closing doors, more people without jobs, and higher prices. There are so many houses empty already. I think we will be living in homes with 3 or 4 families to a home. It is getting so terrible, and going to get worse.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
21 May 08
I am in the largest house, with the lowest payment in our family. Some family members could come live with us. I just found out that I will not be renewed in my main job contract next fall. I am now looking for work. I would really like to have one job and have it match my hubby's hours. People do need to have an alternative plan in case something happens.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
21 May 08
I really have not thought that far. But I have occasionally thought what if I did have to live with one of my children. The mere thought is enough to make me sick! As it is now I dont have a job and my husband has no insurance and no savings. Sometimes I think he might be in denial of the what if factor.
1 person likes this
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
21 May 08
These are the reasons why we need to be financially independent because we cannot rely on others to be financially stable. We need to be debt free and have at least an emergency fund of at least eight months. My husband is a nurse ,and this is a wonderful career because they are always on demand even if the economy is bad. I have a part time job and a business on the side ,so so far I don't see myself in any danger ,but I'm always prepare.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
21 May 08
My hubby works for a huge company, they are making some redundancies on Friday, my hubby luckily is not one of them, but for a while it was a scary prospect. We held our breath for a long time, and still we are not breathing easily because if things do not improve then obviously more redundancies will be made.
We have around 3 months money stored now just in case and because my hubby has worked for over five years with his company he would get a good chunk if they laid him off, so probably we could tick over for around 6 - 9 months.
Also we have protection on our mortgage so we would have help with that too, so we would probably be OK for about a year, giving us time to sort out another job for him, or me or both of us.
If it came down to us having our house repossessed we would be OK in that we have paid half of our mortgage off, so we would get half of the value of our house back so we would be able to rent somewhere and manage until we were back on our feet.
1 person likes this
