Preparing for the next collapse

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So it's the equivalent of you making $100,000 per year, spending $165,000 per year, owing $550,000 on your Visa card and adding $65,000 to your Visa debt each year.

Using this example, Paul Ryan's plan is to cut spending by $235,000 over the next 10 years (so essentially spend $141,500 per year instead of $165,000) and stop increasing your Visa debt in 2040.

Keep in mind, Paul Ryan's plan will probably not pass the Senate as it's too "draconian".

So far we've cut 38 billion dollars from this year's budget (or using my example, cut our spending by $1492 this year.)

Well, if we want to take it down to that level, then I'd say that I wonder why nobody is talking about Uncle Sam seemingly being destined to take a lower paying job while having all these expenses. As an individual, I have worked towards better paying jobs and I have myself and have known a number of people that ended up taking another job to meet their obligations. You see, spending is but one side of the equation. An important one for sure but not the only one by any stretch of the imagination despite what the few would like to suggest...

Edited April 10, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[mawilson 2,133]

Well, if we want to take it down to that level, then I'd say that I wonder why nobody is talking about Uncle Sam seemingly being destined to take a lower paying job while having all these expenses.

When the economy grows, so does the tax revenue - a pay raise for Uncle Sam. The problem is, whenever Uncle Sam gets a pay raise, he spends even more money, and each year the problem just keeps getting worse.

Without a balanced budget amendment, Uncle Sam cannot be trusted to act in a fiscally disciplined manner.

[slim 1,525]

From the Posts, take it most are thinking about it, but few are "preparing"?

For the last few years I've been "wasting" every spare FRN I have on defense/prep materials, investments and training.

The problem I run into is I live in an urban area and sheltering in place is not a very good option. It makes almost no sense to sit on a mountain of food and water when that mountain is going to be overrun with zombies in the short few weeks post-collapse. I've directed my efforts now to becoming mobile and networking with folks who have a good place to go.

I'm sitting pretty to bug-in for natural disasters or short civil emergency type scenarios and then will load up and get mobile for bugging-out in the week or so following a catastrophic collapse of society.

have ammo. lots of ammo. have good fields of fire.

I believe investing in lead and brass is a lot more important than gold and silver, 401k, etc.

When you look at the recent problems we've had here there were folks who said things like, "My 401k lost over 50% of it's worth. How could that happen?" I'm not sure what those folks are planning on doing when the lights go out and don't come back on. What, are they going to take that portfolio of papers down to the market and try to trade that for some food? "See, here it says I have $249,984 in investment. I'll pay you once all this gets straightened out, I promise."

If you truly want to be prepared for a collapse, the number one thing you can do is become self sufficient. Stockpile non genetically engineered seeds and grow your own food.

I'd almost agree with this but there are too many "what if" scenarios that present themselves so that's why I say being "well-rounded" is better. There are hardly any folks in the US right now that are self-sufficient. A community is almost always necessary and since it's a community, barter items will be required.

In what I presume will be a post-currency barter economy with either no law enforcement or third-world-style corrupt law enforcement, guns could be a valuable commodity for barter.

Not necessarily for barter, but in maintaining law and order and ensuring you get full price for your barter. If the "gang" is the only one with water, guess how much water is worth?

If everyone in line for water has a gun, the "gang" may be able to figure out a more fair price.

I would expect that after a year or two a bag of rice would be worth more than any gun. Realizing that half of the population would likely starve to death.

The type of collapse dictates the necessity of resources.

If we simply continue along the path we're on now - the slow creep toward dollar devaluation - we'll need things like foot-peddle sewing machines and butter churns so we can do tasks required for survival in a semi-civilized world without all the Wal-Marts and big box stores. Think more like 1875. You'd need your bag of rice, but you'd be better off eating it so you could go to work to buy better food.

If it's something like a widespread natural disaster(s) where the world as we know it ceases to exist overnight you can expect things to be somewhat civil until the initial food supply runs out and folks realize the power is not coming back on, the food trucks are not coming, and the governemnt is not going to hand them something. Society will get extremely primitive, extremely quick. Post-Katrina NOLA was a microcosm of that scenario. Imagine that on a nationwide scale. Give me my gun over my bag of rice any day in that scenario.

The truth is the scenario that happens is likely to be a combination of those. Look at what happened in the Former Soviet Union or the currency crises in Argentina and now Greece. Life went on. Sure, it was different, but there weren't zombies roaming the streets and you didn't need your gun or your bag of rice. Sure, it was nice to have those two things and they probably did help out (I know the people with them felt better) but it wasn't really TEOTWAWKI. It was just life.

I'm buying up twinkies. I already have 2,000 boxes.

"A vortec six f'kin liter v-8, a box fulla hollow points, and Lord willin’, a GD twinky."

IMO Ammo would be a lot more valuable than the gun itself. Someone will always need ammo. Cigarettes/tobacco would be another good barter item.

No good preps are complete without a couple cartons of Marlboros and box of Jack Daniels or Johnny Walker. Excellent barter items. As is toilet paper!

And don't forget about young women. Absolutely one of the hottest commmodities in any primitive society!

Cash as in actual cash stuffed in the mattress?

Yes, but in a stable foreign currency. Folks in Ukraine could've had Dollars, Euros and/or Rubles and been just fine protecting their investments. However, we here in America aren't going to have many folks who will accept Euros, Rubles, Pesos, Yaun, Loonies, etc., so we'll probably have to stick to USD. If there's society "somewhere" in the US (and maybe even the world) we'll be OK with dollar bills. Otherwise, small denominations of silver, gold, platinum, and other "precious" items like food/water, fuel, jewelry, etc., will be worth more than paper.

[mawilson 2,133]

Very good post - thanks, slim.

[dalegg 143]

Last week after heated debate the 2 parties agreed at the 11th hour to cut $38 billion dollars from spending. The most conservative plan offered on the table was $61 billion by the GOP/Tea Party.

So, regardless of looming government shut downs we could not get an additional $20 billion from a 1.6 Trillion deficit cut, that's not even 1.5% of the problem.

We already saw that tax hikes for anyone are out of the question. Honestly I don't even know what could be cut from the budget to make up for another 1.5 trillion dollars. If I'm not mistaken, the deficit is actually larger than the total discretionary spending portion of the budget and it seems that we cannot even hit 2% of that. It makes no sense to me. We were able to run a government without almost no deficit just over a decade ago and now we cannot operate without being 60% in the red?? It's crazy. The next collapse can't be that far away.

[mawilson 2,133]

Last week after heated debate the 2 parties agreed at the 11th hour to cut $38 billion dollars from spending. The most conservative plan offered on the table was $61 billion by the GOP/Tea Party.

So, regardless of looming government shut downs we could not get an additional $20 billion from a 1.6 Trillion deficit cut, that's not even 1.5% of the problem.

We already saw that tax hikes for anyone are out of the question. Honestly I don't even know what could be cut from the budget to make up for another 1.5 trillion dollars. If I'm not mistaken, the deficit is actually larger than the total discretionary spending portion of the budget and it seems that we cannot even hit 2% of that. It makes no sense to me. We were able to run a government without almost no deficit just over a decade ago and now we cannot operate without being 60% in the red?? It's crazy. The next collapse can't be that far away.

Yep.

When it happens, most people won't know what hit them.

I work in finance and even some of the people I work with have no idea how massive the deficit is.

There's got to be a way to explain it even to the dumbest fucktards to make them understand what the future holds and vote the Republican-Democrat regimers out of office.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Last week after heated debate the 2 parties agreed at the 11th hour to cut $38 billion dollars from spending. The most conservative plan offered on the table was $61 billion by the GOP/Tea Party.

So, regardless of looming government shut downs we could not get an additional $20 billion from a 1.6 Trillion deficit cut, that's not even 1.5% of the problem.

We already saw that tax hikes for anyone are out of the question. Honestly I don't even know what could be cut from the budget to make up for another 1.5 trillion dollars. If I'm not mistaken, the deficit is actually larger than the total discretionary spending portion of the budget and it seems that we cannot even hit 2% of that. It makes no sense to me. We were able to run a government without almost no deficit just over a decade ago and now we cannot operate without being 60% in the red?? It's crazy. The next collapse can't be that far away.

In the 8 days preceding "the deal" to cut $38.5 Billion,

the federal debt jumped $54.1 Billion.

On March 30, the debt was $14.2101 Trillion.

On April 7, the debt was $14.2642 Trillion.

Since the start of the current fiscal year, the debt has

increased by $653.4 Billion.

The fiscal 2011 deficit will be $1.68 Trillion.

(Source: Bureau of the Public Debt)

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

[SMOKE 1,426]

When it happens, most people won't know what hit them.

what have you done & are you doing to financially prepare? are you staying here or moving abroad?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Yep.

When it happens, most people won't know what hit them.

I work in finance and even some of the people I work with have no idea how massive the deficit is.

There's got to be a way to explain it even to the dumbest fucktards to make them understand what the future holds and vote the Republican-Democrat regimers out of office.

Why? Most people are managing their finances exactly in the same fashion the government is.

[dalegg 143]

Why? Most people are managing their finances exactly in the same fashion the government is.

Exactly. We just need another credit card application to come our way to save the day. Why can't some country offer us 0% financing for the first 6 months on all balance transfers or something sweet like that?

[mawilson 2,133]

Why? Most people are managing their finances exactly in the same fashion the government is.

But not forever - the day of reckoning always comes - when you lose your credit rating, your credit cards and possibly your home.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

what have you done & are you doing to financially prepare? are you staying here or moving abroad?

We own property (paid for) in Ukraine, a nice flat actually. The amount of ammunition I have on hand or can make with components on hand can only be measured in tons. It cannot be carried in any normal vehicle, it is that heavy. I moved it all last year and made a separate trip with a 24 ft truck. It isn't really just for a disaster. I shoot a lot and buy stuiff in bulk. I also have a lot of obsolete firearms for which you cannot buy ammunition and when I run across components for them (brass cartrudge cases for example)I buy all I can get. It has a "forever" shelf life, so why not?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Why? Most people are managing their finances exactly in the same fashion the government is.

That is true but not in this house. Our only debt is a reasonable mortgage. Very reasonable. Alla just bought a new car, -0- down, -0- interest. She will make the payments for a few months and then we will write a check to pay it off. She wanted to build some more credit and at -0- interest, why not? Her education is paid for in full until she finishes her Master's, Sergey's is paid in full through this year and he has a full ride for the next two years. No student loans. She will use a credit card, particularly store cards (Macy's, Bon Ton)if they give her an extra 10% off (many do) and then she just pays it off when the bill comes.

Ukrainians are not big on "credit" and I had virtually no debt when I met Alla. I have no pressure in my life to buy things we can't pay for today. She IS a bargain hunter though and if someone will give her another 10% off to use their store credit...she is all over that, then comes home and writes a check to pay it off.

[웃 910]

Call me stupid but I don't think the "next collapse" is gonna be as a lot of you guys make it out. Recessions happen in every healthy economy.

Buying canned goods and making sure you have weapons! This sounds very retarded to me.

Sounds like some people have been watching a little too much Glenn Beck.

[mawilson 2,133]

You think our government can keep borrowing trillions of dollars forever, never intending to pay it back?