Every year, my family gets together the items that we have decided we no longer need, and has a Tag Sale.  For the last few years, I’ve been taking a look over all the items, and putting aside the ones that I think would be good to save for a SHTF senario.

A pair of old boots, that are in good condition, but never quite fit right, will not sell for much at the tag sale, BUT, if I put them in a box with other SHTF extras, one day, someone in my community may need them.  It’s then that even a pair of boots that only fits so-so would come in handy.  Perhaps I would even be able to trade them for something.

I’ve watched items like this, backpacks, long johns, socks, jeans, candles, etc that all can be squirreled away in a separate part of my storage area, as “just in case” items. All of these preps will cost you nothing, and if well organized, can even be stored in backpacks or duffles, by sex and aprox age.  This way you can easily give a backpack to your 10yr old niece that arrived with her mother, unexpectedy after TEOTWAWKI.  Imagine what value that former “junk” would have then!

I’m glad to be able to write this post, as it looks like we are turning a corner.

It will take a long time for the whole economy to catch up, but it seems like we are on an up swing.  After the deepest depression since the Great Depression, that is certainly welcome.

I’m impressed that our system was able to avoid an entire collapse.  Though I wonder, if we didn’t do all the bailing out of banks, (each one of us now has a $500,000 dollar debt backed by the Chinese) and other companies, where would we be now?

When the day comes, how will our Chinese Overlords treat us? hopefully better than their own citizens…

Well, it looks like the fed is going to take more emergency action with a .75 to 1 percent cut in the federal funds rate. What does this mean? This drastic cut signals that the downturn is out of control, and they are trying desperately to rein it in. This also means that we can expect it to last longer than experts were previously predicting.

Events over the past week have cast doubt on one of Wall Street’s cherished hopes: that the economic downturn lasts only until the summer before rebounding. – marketwatch article

The current Credit crunch is effecting the entire market, and uncertainty is everywhere. The fed is trying to combat this, but it may be beyond their control because of the nature of the new instruments being traded.

Friday, the Fed said it “is monitoring market developments closely and will continue to provide liquidity as necessary to promote the orderly functioning of the financial system.

If the fed does get this under control, have they gone too far to fast? could there be a whiplash effect when the economy turns around, and further send us down deeper?
The fall dollar also has large consequences for the average person, their paycheck is getting smaller every day. Goods they are used to purchasing such as gas, heating oil, and wheat are skyrocketing. Scary times, for sure.

One of my SHTF senarios, infact the one that I feel is most probable is a serious economic decline. This is something that we are currently in the process of going through, and analysts where it will end.

According to a New York Times Article:

On Friday, the Commerce Department’s consumer spending figures supported TrimTabs’ view of a consumer slowdown. It said consumer purchases rose 0.4 percent in January, barely above the inflation rate of 0.3 percent. The data seemed to show that the only money being spent was going to cover increased living expenses. And if you’ve bought groceries lately, these costs also seem far higher than the government posits.

Another worrisome sign is that on “January 14, 2008 the FDIC web site began posting the rules for reimbursing depositors in the event of a bank failure.” (article here) Are they simply updating their policies, or are they aware of something that is coming, and don’t want to panic the masses?

The combination of the signs that one can find everywhere, like in the housing market, all point towards an extended downturn in my humble estimation. I’d much rather look at this with a glass half full perspective, but I’m a realist, and can’t continue to fool myself.

Pull those seatbelts tight, I think we are in for a ride!

I’ve always been interested in preparedness, whether it is for a bad storm, or more serious emergency. Over the last few years I’ve gotten a few things squared away, and want to help others who are interested in beginning their own preparations to avoid some of the common mistakes and missteps. The more people that are prepared for rough times, the easier it is on all of us.

Am I a wacko? if the SHTF, most would probably not consider me that… but there are people in current times that may feel that way. It doesn’t bother me, and hopefully it doesn’t bother you. My comfort during last years ice storm, when we lost power for 53 hours, was far above that of many of my neighbors. They were the ones borrowing candles and other items from me, and came to understand that they should be better prepared for the next incident, whatever it may be.