Thoughts on the "Recession"

I must admit to you that I took "Economics" the summer before my Jr. year in college and worked HARD to get a C+. Like everything that requires any sort of thinking beyond the philosophical, I leave those advanced topics to my husband, and now sons. As long as something starts when I press "power", I'm happy.
Yet, even with my lack of hyper-intelligence in these areas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that our economy is quickly degenerating. I've never seen so many homes for sale; never seen gas cost this much, and never watched before my very eyes the prices at the grocery store rise, rise, rise. Joe is an at-home economist and has foreseen our current crisis coming for a few years now. He's had us take various measures which, although may seem rather dramatic, bring him peace of mind that his family will make it through a deepening recession and possible impending depression. Regardless of what your opinion is re: the economic state of our nation -- none of these ideas or suggestions will be to your detriment. Our motto: "Better to be safe than sorry."
Here are a few things we've done to insure that we'll have adequate finances, food, and supplies.
1. Buy now -- the prices will only increase as the truckers slow down due to the cost of fuel.
2. Buy local -- as much as you can -- prices will be lower.
3. Load up -- just today we bought restaurant size bags of sugar(s), flour, salt, baking soda, beans, and rice. Especially things which must be exported (such as coffee and tea) will increase significantly in price. Non-perishable items which store well are great to buy in bulk. Now is the time to make room in your basement or garage and store things in waterproof, highly sealed bins.
4. Since the actions of the federal government will continue to lead to the devaluing of the dollar, it would behoove you to put a portion of your savings in precious metals (gold or silver).
5. Take advantage of the used-curriculum sales at this time of year to buy next year's homeschooling books. Don't go overboard on buying. Reality is that most of us could wear this year's clothes indefinitely (it might help with weight maintenance - eh?). In addition, although we might love new furniture -- being a good steward of our current blessings would probably be the wiser choice right now. Put your money into savings and be sure and keep some back as on-hand cash.
6. Plant a garden and learn how to store and use your harvest for as long as possible -- this might include learning to can, dry, or freeze fruits and vegetables as well as herbs for seasoning.
7. If you have the space and can afford to -- keep some animals solely for the purpose of butchering. At very least, a few chickens are a good investment with a good return -- not only eggs to eat but also the possibility of butchering them if necessary.
8. Store up on fuel now -- who knows what the price will get to?? Keep your eyes open for the best price and store in safe containers for use with lawn-mowers, tractors, and other yard implements.
9. Learn to cook from scratch -- I'm always amazed at the difference of people's food budgets between those who 1. eat out often, and 2. buy and eat only pre-made, pre-packaged food. Slowly work yourself off the typical American diet and begin to cook and serve food the old-fashioned way. You'll save tons of money AND feel good about yourself in the process.
10. Stock up on necessities -- t.p., dish soap, feminine products, etc. As I mentioned -- with the increasing cost of fuel, getting the products to the consumers will add to the total cost. If you can make the space and can afford to do extra -- stock up now.
11. Buy seeds. Yep -- a bit over the top, but should things get really ugly -- better to be safe then sorry. They store best in a cool, dark, dry climate and should be good for a few years if stored as such.
12. Make every effort to not add any more debt to your life -- buy with cash or not at all.

If you want to learn more -- check out the blog: coffeeteabooksandme.blogspot.com