Waste Not, Want Not

Well, I guess if you’ve come back to my blog, I haven’t scared you off, and that’s a good thing. And I want you to know that it’s not my intent to frighten you, but to give you information, so you can easily incorporate what you learn into your everyday life. Before you know it, you’ll not view the changes coming our way as frightening, but as challenges.

The first clue for me that things just weren’t right was the passage of the TARP Bill. I’ve never been particularly political, but when you hear one respected economist after another saying, “there’s no way out of this,” it tends to make you sit up and take notice.

A simple explanation of what happened in the waning days of 2008 is that all of our debt caught up with us….that’s your and my personal debt (credit cards, etc.); federal and government agency debt (too many people wasting the tax payers’ dollar); banks handing out bad loans that could never be repaid, and on and on.

Congress was told that if the TARP Bill (Troubled Asset Relief Program) was not passed, the entire financial system would collapse. $700 Billion was needed by the Federal Government to help bail out (or pay off) financial mismanagement. Problem #1: Where was that huge sum of money going to come from? Answer: Just turn on the printing presses, and we’ll make some! Problem #2: Did it really reduce any of the debt? Answer: Not even close!

Bottom Line: There isn’t enough money (manufactured or real) to stop the madness, because the spending hasn’t stopped! Here’s the way I see it: At the very least, the Federal Government is acting irresponsibly with our money, and at the worst, there is something more sinister at work; something designed to alter the structure of our financial principles.

I don’t know about you, but I’m of the generation that doesn’t take our prosperity for granted. And when I hear respected economists (of all political persuasions) state that our debt is “unsustainable”, then I’m able to discern that there is a reckoning coming. So what should our response be? I didn’t buy into “everything will be OK”… “this is just a bump in the road”….”we’ve seen tough times before, and America always bounces back”.

I have to admit it was kind of lonely seeing things so clearly, and I can’t explain it, but it just made sense to prepare for “rainy days ahead”. If there was even a possibility of an economic collapse, even a temporary or small one, what were the things we would need to secure? It didn’t take long to figure that food was at the top of that list!

So I began buying extra items at the grocery store---canned goods on sale, laundry detergent, peanut butter, and that one item we would not want to skimp on…..toilet paper! I made a few changes to my laundry room, added extra shelving, and developed a system for keeping track of expiration dates.

Two years ago, most people laughed at us; thought we were over-reacting, and couldn’t understand our concerns that food prices might soon escalate. “Prepper” became a term that was mocked and suggestive of a fringe movement. I promise you, the ranks have grown, and fewer are laughing now.

So if you still haven’t seen the light, or can’t see the forest for the false trees you’re being shown, then I urge you to consider taking the first step towards storing up some extra food for your family, just in case I’m right. And what’s the worst you’ve done? Bought tomorrow’s food at today’s prices, and actually saved money. That’s more than our government has been able to do!

And if you are already on “the crazy train”, please have patience with those who are slower to board. With growing dissension and hostilities in our country, we need to help others whenever we have the opportunity. Be respectful of their apprehensions or resistance, and look for your chance to present your case. And if you just can’t reach them, then be prepared to move on….without bitterness and resentment. There will come a time when they will seek you out. Because no matter what is coming, we are all going to be in it together, and we are going to need each other.

TOMORROW: Advanced Food Storage Options

And for those of you who want more economic information, here are two blogs, I recommend: Financial Physician, and SurvivalBlog, (Scroll down to “Economics and Investing”).

Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom, a house is built; through understanding it is established, through knowledge its rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”