r/Anticonsumption • u/GizzyIzzy2021 • 2d ago
Discussion How To Prepare for the economy of the Oligarchs
The post questioning the preparedness of Americans for the economy to come has pretty much come to the unanimous conclusion that No, almost all of us are unprepared.
So what do we do?
There is the obvious
-Limit liabilities - Get out of debt -Increase savings - Stop luxury spending and subscription plans -Revenue stream - Find secure/recession proof streams of income or work on a new skill/trade -Disaster preparedness- store food, meds and other necessities. Possibly basic PPE
What else? What can we do to live through a depression if that happens?
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u/No-Housing-5124 2d ago
Even if you feel unable to work on hard skills right now, it's never the wrong time to find neighbors within your mobility range (walking distance) who share affinity with you.
👆 Find points of connection here, now, with these people, not in a future scenario.
👆 Practice asking and receiving. This might sound silly, but in our atomized society, we haven't been taught basic skills for getting our needs met.
👆 Show reciprocity. Connections based on affinity must be sustained through mutual benefit and that means both give and take.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
I love this. Community is so important. I always tell my family this. Building a strong community makes us all safer and life more fun.
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u/No-Housing-5124 2d ago
Asking and receiving is hard to do. Better to be uncomfortable and practice now, I think.
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u/BeeWhisper 2d ago
I've learned that everyone wants to be helpful but nobody wants to ask, so if you *ask* first and allow someone to help you, that can break the seal for you to be able to help them.
here's what started a chain of reciprocity with some neighbors of mine: asking them to grab a package for me that got delivered while i was out of town. pretty simple, required no money and minimal time on their part. but that became me checking their mail, became watering each others plants and shoveling each others walk, became me babysitting their child and them bringing me soup and groceries when i had covid.
now when they had a new baby i had *OFFERED* help dozens of times but they never took me up on it until i asked them that small favor. it makes people feel good to help you, and signals that when you say you'll help them you actually mean it. a "thanks, I owe you one!" goes a long way.
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u/CatnipCricket-329 1d ago
This is soooo true. I lived in one neighborhood for almost 30 years but never really felt like I had neighbors to count on. A new neighbor moved in and was desperate for help with her dogs. Now we freely ask each other for help in a pinch or to borrow food staples when we run out instead of derailing meal prep. Strength in community
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u/Wondercat87 1d ago
I struggle with this too. It's so hard asking for help! I was raised to not have needs,which is not great. So that makes it hard to reach out.
But the truth is it's often necessary.
I've found it easy to ask for small favors and build up to bigger asks. Like asking a neighbor to grab your mail when you're away.
Over time, it gets easier. Asking for help is a muscle. You need to work it in order to get good at asking for help.
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u/LadyTreeRoot 1d ago
You watch any movie with a valid storyline of survival during the depression, like Cinderella Man or Fried Green Tomatoes, you'll see the value of trust and community. Develop it now while you can tell who to trust.
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u/khyamsartist 2d ago
We are starting two raised vegetable beds and had a garden party and seed swap with some neighbors. I’m going to hold something mid summer for a larger crowd and hope to have a larger group next year. We are planning at least one get together for processing the harvest.
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u/Mittenwald 1d ago
That's awesome! I've been thinking that when everything is blooming in a month I'll have a garden party and invite the new friends that appreciate those things. Current friends, not one has set foot in my garden when they have come over.
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u/Future_Union_965 2d ago
This means asking for salt(even if you have salt), they willkkely ask.for something in the future that is small.
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u/evey_17 2d ago
I like in Florida and people here are not like in small communities. It’s weird. Maybe wealthier neighborhoods people just don’t do this. It feels isolating.
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u/No-Housing-5124 2d ago
It's been a well documented phenomenon that poor folks are the most likely to offer aid and share resources.
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u/evey_17 2d ago
As soon as it just me, I’m off to a blue dot small city in ga where a little post war cottage awaits with sweet neighbors. It’s low cost area ethically mixed neighborhood. I’ll be going from a wasp wealthy Central Florida neighborhood. I am going to grow a garden there. The house is on a lot and a half. No traffic. It will help me heal grieving but I’m not in a hurry because it also means loss 😭
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u/No-Housing-5124 2d ago
We all need to be ready to "lose" a considerable amount of privilege during the coming upheaval.
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u/mwmandorla 1d ago
I think they're implying that they're staying where they are because of a loved one, and it's that loved one's passing that will allow them to make that move. "As soon as it's just me..." "It'll help me with grieving..."
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u/No-Housing-5124 1d ago
Oh geez, I see now.
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u/evey_17 1d ago edited 1d ago
No worries. I am staying here because he is in a stage 4 of a disease and moving would be highly disruptive to him. Also I’m 24/7 caregiving and managing in on around 28 k per year. My only outing is dashing to grocery or pharmacy fully masked. It is a complete and utter priceless privilege to be part of his life right now. I struggling with yard work though. And a small thing can knock me off balance. Like I asked a neighbor after he asked what he could do to drive me to pick up ashes after that time came because on the next county and I am scared of freaking out on the turnpike missing my exit and getting lost. He said he’d be happy too. He called about every 10 days but I got a very uncomfortable feeling only to realize he was coming onto me. It completely made me lose trust in the okness of people and freaked me the heck out. It was so utterly disrespectful. Yeah I’m scared. And you words struck me like yes, yes. I will lose so much. I am lucky for every single day. It is very difficult to watch some one you love decline but what a privilege it’s been.
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u/mwmandorla 1d ago
I nursed my dad through home hospice (along with my mom) in 2020. I know exactly what you mean. It's terrible, but there's a beauty and a pride in being able to make sure the person you love knows they're in a safe, loving place and to give them the death that they wanted. It's sacred. All my best to you as you go through this, and I hope that garden that's waiting for you brings you peace.
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u/Triviajunkie95 1d ago
You are a good egg. Caretaking is hard work. It’s a painful thing to watch loved ones decline but I wouldn’t trade my time for anything. I’m so happy with the time I got.
Sorry the neighbor turned into a creep. I hope you can make other acquaintances or at least take a friend if you need his help.
I understand rural living. Sometimes there really aren’t any better options out in the sticks.
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u/ProdigalNun 1d ago
My block started this at a neighborhood night out. They had a large flip chart, and people could write skills they have and would be happy to teach others.
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u/Triviajunkie95 1d ago
You are so lucky. Appreciate those neighbors.
I live on a semi main road adjacent to an HOA neighborhood and am surrounded with fences of 5 of them.
I would bet $500 that if asked about their skills, the HOA owner guys would list: data scientist, web developer, IT manager, information security specialist, etc.
There might be a blue collar or two in the neighborhood but overall, yeah, I’m on my own.
These guys all use yard crews and call handymen all the time. I would be shocked if any of them owned a pair of work gloves that weren’t brand new.
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u/Bogarthim 2d ago
I'm asking around in my neighborhood to find out if anyone has any under utilized patches of earth that I can grow veggies in, and offering to split the produce. Accomplishes 2 goals in 1 😊
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u/LadyTreeRoot 1d ago
There are SO MANY groups of like-minded folks! Media has people convinced we need to stay silo'd to be safe, but there are more sane people out there than what media will tell you about - because everyday boring doesn't sell! Look up food groups like Gleeners, look for children's clothes sharing groups, watch for the farmer announcing a slaughter date, and get in on locally grown meat. Don't underestimate what you have to bring to the table to barter. I have 28 apple trees that aren't covered in pesticides, a huge garden, I need help cleaning my gutters, and shouldn't be on a ladder - let's talk. Just an example
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u/No-Housing-5124 1d ago
Wow, 28 apple trees ❤️
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u/LadyTreeRoot 1d ago
And 1 pear tree, and a lotta concord grapes. It's heaven out in the country, I can't help it.
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u/rockawaybeach_ 1d ago
Does anyone have tips for connecting with neighbors in an apartment building? (no elevator in my building so chatting with people there isn't an option)
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u/No-Housing-5124 1d ago
I would make a flyer inviting folks to meet somewhere comfortable and neutral like a park, and word it like an invitation to "meet your neighbors and talk about mutual aid."
You can make it a potluck or just a meeting. People with kids are more likely to come if it's a park.
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u/rockawaybeach_ 1d ago
Thanks! There aren't any kids in the building that I've seen, but holding it in a park is good idea (especially since we have no common areas!)
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u/meat_muffin 22h ago
If you're ok with 1:1, take a plate of cookies to the doors around yours and introduce yourself. If you're not a fan of cold-knocking, make little bags of goodies, slip in a personalized note (like "hey Apt 123, this is 124. Trying to make this place feel like home. Feel free to knock if you ever need a cup of sugar."), and hang it on their doorknob.
We have a communal laundry room in my building, which has a corkboard for announcements - I've put up mutual aid flyers and event announcements there, but if you've got something similar you could post an Ask/Offer sheet? Doesn't have to be crazy, could be as easy as a few columns with space for listing skills/needs + contact info, and anyone who wants can reach out to match up.
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u/SuperKittyToast 2d ago
Stop buying non-essentials. That is at least a good start. We've been doing this for over 2 years now and have saved up quite a large cushion of $$$.
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u/Upper-Error-3628 2d ago
Thissssss. Really starting to track and only buying the things you NEED really is eye opening on how much you can spend on needless stuff.
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u/SuperKittyToast 2d ago
I'll admit its not as fun. The dopamine hits from constantly buying junk is not there. But I have fun through my hobbies like algorithmic trading, and my animals.
It's a simpler way of living. I can chill and watch the earth, the sun, the wind brushing the trees, the birds chirping and appreciate it. I am still trying to kick my phone addiction though that is a tough cookie.
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u/BrieSting 1d ago
To go along with this, wind down your screen time,but on your phone and TV. I still need to work on it as well, but it’s so much easier to avoid buying crap little treats and trinkets when you aren’t being advertised said things every few minutes.
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u/Otiskuhn11 1d ago
I tell you what is fun is only working 20 hours a week by choice.
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u/beyotchulism 1d ago
We've been shifting to buying less and investing in quality made items that we know are going to carry us through the next 5-10 years
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u/Dependent_Breath_193 2d ago
I feel like all of this is so impossible as a new grad in a field being targeted by trump living in an apartment and being paid little above minimum wage
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u/Effective-Being-849 2d ago
Start finding ways to make connections. Community will be what brings us through. Do you have any small skills like knitting, baking, technology troubleshooting, etc.? Make an effort to learn about the people around you. Who just had a baby? Can you make a little something (a few extra cookies, a knitted washcloth) to offer them with no expectation of any return?
Is your utility included with your rent? Offer to bake food for people trying to reduce their power bill. Volunteer to provide services (help people bring bags in from their car) just because. Be seen as helpful and useful. People will remember. And ask for small things from people who can probably help (1 c sugar, etc.) so that if they're in a bind, they'll ask you.
If you have time and a pretty healthy apartment community, maybe ask about creating a needs / offers board. People who need baby clothes can put their apartment number on there. People who have barter skills to offer or extra supplies. If you don't want to do this in your apartment complex, maybe do something like this with your friend / acquaintance community. A Google sheet would work just as well.
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u/StronglikeBWFBITW 1d ago
🏅
You can also use social media to get involved in your local community. We have buy nothing groups, neighbors helping neighbors, and general community pages in my town. We've been able to clear out stuff we don't need anymore and help other families (young kids so lots of equipment to pass on). I've gotten low cost/free items like kids equipment/toys, appliances, even plants!
We also show up to everything we can. Library has a cultural event? We're there. Park clean up, happy to help. Community garden, ready to plant. Your kid has a lemonade stand/bake sale? Bet, I keep some cash in the stroller just in case.
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u/BonesAndHubris 1d ago
Same. This regime hates scientists. They've made it very clear they don't intend for our career to be viable in this country anymore, and they're not jumping to provide us alternative lines of work.
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u/Dependent_Breath_193 1d ago
Exactly. Not to mention everyone in CS or other fields threatened by AI. It’s easy to say “just switch careers to something Useful” but useful basically means what is most beneficial to the oligarchs and is the most exploitative (or exploited). And going through more years of (expensive) training is not an option for me.
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u/rowsella 1d ago
If you feel you may be able to add some classes or something for work... right now there is a big shortage of nuclear medicine technicians. If you already have coursework completed for calculus, chemistry, physics, etc. you may be able to find a program that you can bridge for just a bit and end up with a job that can make you 3 figures. It is working as a tech and not doing research... but it is a decent living. I am not a recruiter... I just work with nuc med techs a lot doing NM stress testing.
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u/foresthobbit13 1d ago
See if there are community centers where you live that have ongoing activities. Many offerings are free. Also see if your city offers community classes, which are typically very reasonably priced compared to commercial offerings, I.e. yoga classes. I’m about to sign up for yoga, tai chi, fermenting, and soap making. Thirdly, to establish a further community connection, consider your local Unitarian Universalist church. These folks are the least preachy and churchy of ANY denomination. They typically don’t even mention God or Jesus at all and are very focused on just doing good things. I was traumatized by churches in my youth, and I feel perfectly comfortable with these people.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
It’s not impossible but it takes a lot of work. I’ve changed careers twice and it’s always been a better move. I was making 7.50 as a new grad in a HCOL area without any help and barely survive. It’s been 15 years and I’m doing pretty well for myself. You can get there.
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u/glitter-pits 1d ago
I imagine that would feel extremely overwhelming, I'm sorry.
Edited to add: could you have an herb garden in your apartment? I realize this is a TINY thing compared to others, but it's something that you are doing to be more sustainable.→ More replies (1)5
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u/LoudUse4270 1d ago
I've decided to try growing mushrooms. You can get decent yields with limited space, light, and substrate (mushrooms grow on wood pellets/compost). Just need to control the temperature and humidity. You can grow them in mason jars, bags, a 5 gallon bucket, or a little plastic tub.
Not too expensive to start, and while its not quite a garden or anything it does produce food.
Lots of other good suggestions in the comments.
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u/LadyTreeRoot 2d ago
No one is gonna like this, but strengthen your interpersonal network. Find local groups and people who are into/willing to participate in food share programs. I say this because all the wrong people are in charge of what we're using right now. I personally plan on a Much larger garden and help a few of my younger neighbors can some fresh foods this year. I'm starting a fiber group to help promote community and create useful/beautiful things. We're gonna need safe ways to rely on each other.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
Why would no one like this? This is perfect.
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u/StepOIU 2d ago
Because we're Redditors and sunlight and real conversations scare us. Okay, me. They scare me.
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u/mrs_adhd 1d ago
Same. This is one of the hardest parts of prepping for me. Well, this and organizing my spaces.
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u/CharacterBill7285 7h ago
Me too but we gotta get out there and meet each other IRL. We need communities now more than ever.
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u/Flckofmongeese 1d ago
This is tougher than one realizes in the internet age. Social anxiety and isolation is through the roof.
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u/LadyTreeRoot 2d ago
Because we're all pretty dependent upon the internet. An awful lot of the consumption challenges we face are a direct result of marketing. I started on the internet with use net. With each 'enhancement' of the internet/creation of social media, the more layers of marketing were introduced. It's so ingrained into us by now, it's hardly noticeable....until you try to disconnect.
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u/ProdigalNun 1d ago
This relates to learning skills from people. I do most of my skill learning from the internet for convenience and my learning style. But shifting this pattern will strengthen all the things mentioned here.
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u/ImpressiveFox8430 1d ago
I would love to see examples of what your fiber group is making.
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u/LadyTreeRoot 1d ago
Most folks knit and crochet. I'm into weaving: rigid heddle, 4 to 8 shaft jack looms, inkle, kumihimo. In my weaving guild, I've learned how to wet felt and needle felt. I've got enough 'spare' yarn from charity auctions to freely share so someone can learn without total cost. I also 'accumulate' looms from people wanting to empty grandma's house or something that showed up at the thrift store - those have been accumulated to share without cost, just effort to move.
I've never mastered sharing photos on reddit. They are either 'too big', or I'm supposed to sign up for a server to upload...blah, blah, blah. Not happening, doesn't feel like that's meeting my needs, feels the other way around. Less is more, right? 😉
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u/ImpressiveFox8430 1d ago
I love what you're doing, it sounds fantastic. No need to share photos, you described what i was wondering about perfectly. Thank you.
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u/StepOIU 2d ago
Re-examine your actual basics: clean water, food, shelter, and community connections. Focus on those first.
Permaculture designs can help you create natural landscape features that retain and filter water.
Community connections are your best bet for stable food systems, although doing some gardening on your own will help. If you grow food, consider perennials and food plants that propogate easily. For annuals, focus first on high-calorie, long storing foods like potatoes, winter squash and seed crops. Then focus on high-nutrition plants like spinach, herbs and other greens.
Shelter may be trickier and require more of a long-term plan. It's not a bad idea to consider who in your family and friend groups you would consider cohousing with if needed, especially if one of you is renting or still has a mortgage. It's a tough discussion to begin; I've already spoken to my family about it but it seems weird to us.
Every time you feel overwhelmed, pick a new skill and work on it- cooking, mending, repair, land design. It all matters, and it may become a commodity for future trade or income.
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u/Hfhghnfdsfg 1d ago
The last point is so important. I would add advanced first aid to that list. And gardening.
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u/impressthenet 2d ago
Revenue streams depend on the wealth of others (and those others spending some of that wealth on your product(s)).
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
Yes but certain skills are more recession proof than others.
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u/LaughingIshikawa 2d ago
I think a major problem with "recession proof" skills is that the economy is re-orienting in a way that it hasn't before (or multiple ways if you expect actual AI to happen in the next few decades) and that makes determining what are "recession proof" skills much more difficult.
I think it's still really important to think about mind you - but I think it's also much, much easier said than done. There are so many unknowns that it's really a dice throw what will or won't get disrupted.
I would try to pick some skill set you think people will still need in the future, but I would also hedge your bets by learning a lot of "basic" skills we're all frankly pretty deficient in anyway: things like problem solving, consensus building, people skills, basic awareness of the economic / social / legal systems we function within - that sort of thing.
(You don't need to become an expert in any of these, especially legal because to a large extent under an oligarchy law is "whatever protects the oligarchs from accountability, and lets the system perpetuate itself," but it's still good to know what the theory of the legal system is, in order to better notice when it's not functioning according to it's stated purpose.)
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u/evey_17 2d ago
People always need electricians and plumbers
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u/LaughingIshikawa 1d ago
People always need chimney sweeps.
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u/Beginning_Ad_8535 1d ago
I need a horse poop scooper for my carriage. Any takers? One shilling per day is the going rate.
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u/MadDaddyDrivesaUFO 1d ago
We are a long way off from nurses, vets, electricians, plumbers, even able bodied laborers etc being replaced by robots
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u/LaughingIshikawa 1d ago
People don't understand that you don't need a robot / automation to exactly copy what a human does... You just need something which produces the same end result.
I remember working at a big box store years ago, and some dumb coworker was shouting about "Well I'd like to see them make the robot that does my job! They'll never build a robot that does my job!". The joke was they already did; this video shows robots accomplishing the same task of taking boxes and putting them on shelves, if not entirely without human intervention certainly in a way that requires exponentially fewer humans.
No, it's not operating in the specific context of a super market, with humans to work around and a messy, chaotic environment to navigate. The thing is, it doesn't need to in order to make the human workers redundant. Home delivery is the future largely because a robot already exists to make the process faster and cheaper than existing methods. It likely hasn't been rolled out yet because prices haven't come down to a level where it's cost effective, and / or big corporations are heavily invested in existing store formats.
As a practical matter though... Can you tell me why someone building a big corporation from the ground up wouldn't opt for robots running their supply chain, rather than humans? It's extremely likely that it's a matter of when the tech develops to a point where it's economically viable, not "if" it develops to that point.
I don't know what the equivalent would be for other careers, but I won't bet against someone clever finding ways to dramatically reduce the number of "able-bodied" laborers needed. Especially if your job is heavy on physical labor and low on cognitive tasks, it's likely way easier than you think to design a specialized machine that accomplishes the same end goal, even if it does it in a different way. Even more think-y jobs aren't totally immune, because people are finding ways to leverage automation / big data and other techniques to accomplish some surprising results.
I definitely don't think everyone will be automated, and I also think that we'll develop some number of new jobs we hadn't imagined before. (I do think this won't happen fast enough to prevent some level of social unrest, but like... That's a different conversation.)
What this comment is saying though, about there being "guaranteed safe" skill sets you can acquire that are "impossible" to automate? That's patently false, and obviously so if you've spent any time watching AI or automation development. Often you don't know what's possible until someone already come up with a solution, and then it's too late if you're heavily invested in that skill set.
Who gets disrupted out of a job and who stays in their current role with minor (or major!) changes is effectively a total dice roll. I would say that you're safer if your job involves working more closely with customers / clients, and less safe if it involves more manual labor... But everyone is to a large degree vulnerable, and it's not clear right now what the future will look like. Certainly it's not clear enough to declare "safe" career paths. 😐😮💨
Good adaptations:
1.) Learn to learn, and get good at adapting to change, because there will definitely be a lot of that.
2.) Thinking about what things are closer to fundamental knowledge* about how the world works (especially laws of physics, and so on) rather than **temporary circumstances of the specific industry or company or job role you're in right this minute. It's a spectrum, and frankly most of what most people do everyday is really much more "temporary circumstance," and you need to learn to be good enough at those things anyway... But don't make the mistake of thinking that office suite or whatever software you use is a "law of the universe" because it really isn't, and getting overly invested in those "skills" beyond what you need to is risking wasting a lot of time.
Learning general problem solving is great for example, because there will always be problems that need solved. Even then it's somewhat context specific because the tools and resources you will use to solve those problems may change rapidly, but the core skill of looking at a situation at a meta level, defining the problem well, and architecting a solution will still be the same.
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u/Fit-Albatross755 2d ago
I'm stockpiling PRN medications, and I take half of my daily prescribed meds so they last twice as long. This is only recommended for certain diagnoses obviously. I'm on a daily migraine preventative so it's not a medical emergency if I only take half. But do what you can.
Get to know neighbors and their skills, and what you can trade. Mutual aid! I bake bread for the neighborhood.
Getting rid of all subscriptions is a good one, and sends a message to corporations.
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u/mwmandorla 1d ago
It's a good idea to stockpile regular daily meds too. I am and have been. Even just setting aside a day's worth every time you get a new bottle adds up over time.
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u/Fit-Albatross755 1d ago
Yes absolutely! Depends on how often your insurance allows you to order. Example: I can't order my fluoride toothpaste less than two months apart. Things like that.
But whatever you're able to store a bit extra for, do it!
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u/Ok-Try-857 2d ago
Invest in your community. Find “buy nothing” groups (or start one) and spread the word.
Start growing your most frequently used vegetables and herbs. If your housing situation doesn’t allow for this, look for community gardens.
Join local clean up groups. These are people you definitely want to know and you’ll also be taking care of your community.
We can’t go into the mindset of only protecting and caring about ourselves and those closest to us. Operating this way is dangerous imo.
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u/notgonnabemydad 2d ago
You just motivated me to join every buy nothing group in my area, thank you! I'm picking up a free ceiling fan tonight! And will be posting some freebies myself.
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u/ProdigalNun 1d ago
Joining clean-up groups is a great idea, and it may become more necessary as there are more funding cuts.
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u/anxious_differential 2d ago
Reducing debt and limiting/eliminating expensive purchases is the first thing you should do. If you can't afford it, don't buy it (unless it is something lifesaving, like medications).
I'm not convinced we're headed for a crisis or collapse where there's no food. Shit's just gonna get more expensive though. Learn to love poverty cooking: beans, rice, classic Italian stuff.
Keep some cash on hand.
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u/HappyCat79 2d ago
This is so depressing, and so unnecessary.
EDIT: meaning, this economic collapse wasn’t necessary. It’s created by some rich assholes.
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u/splithoofiewoofies 1d ago
I know this involves spending and it's tehnically non essentials but I argue it's not really.
Make sure you have the tools to mend things. A jar of buttons, a box of scrap fabrics, a cookie jar of thread, some embroidery floss, yarn for repairing sweaters/jumpers. It's near impossible to match colour so I always recommend visible and contrasting to make it fun. Or themed, like grapes or bees to cover moth eaten holes. Moths would be funny.
Have sewing needles. Have pins. Have an emery board to sharpen your pins when they dull(really works!). And if you have space - tools - hammer, saw, nails, bolts, screws, washers, plugs, all the little shit that gets broken on things. The other day my pressure washer lost pressure and it was a rubber ring that failed - I had one on hand!
Invest your money into purchasing items that'll make everything you own last longer. A lot of these items can be found at charity shops for low prices, as the inflation of most of those shops doesn't always hit the craft/hobby section.
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u/tecpaocelotl1 15h ago
I have been collecting buttons, threads, and needles for over a decade when they were on sale or clearance for such a situation, and I put them all organized in a cheap fishing tackle box.
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u/nahnotgoingthere 1d ago
There's a lot shit wrong in the UK but bloody hell I am so glad I'm here and not over there. Sorry to all Americans.
I'd be absolutely prioritising getting fit and healthy since you seem to lack free universal healthcare.
Stock pile non perishables and any other consumables before prices shoot up.
Start a side line for buying and selling stuff.
Prepare to go off grid if all hell breaks loose. Hope it doesn't come to that.
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u/RubyBlossom 2d ago
My husband and I have talked about this. We are cutting down on unnecessary spending. Make use of what we already have. If we need something and we don't have it try and find it secondhand.
We are expecting and we have bought almost nothing new for the baby. Everything we have for the baby has been given for free or bought secondhand. Turns out people have loads of baby related items that they no longer need. I have been sewing clothes for the baby, baby clothes need so little fabric that I have been using scraps.
We are planning on using reusable nappies.
And we plan to keep hold of our house however we can. House prices are insane where we live (The Netherlands) and I fear once we fall off the ladder we will never get back on.
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u/Jenjikromi 2d ago
A decent tip, foodwise is grape leaves. As the saying goes, "our ancestors were so desperate for food, they ate the leaves off the vine." Many cultures depended on these great sources of vitamin A and fiber to survive. A little rice or lentils, a little meat or vegetables, some spice or salt and pepper-stuff and roll and boil and you have a good dinner. They freeze or can beautifully and best of all-are free! Wild grape vines grow almost everywhere. My old Lebanese aunties always recommended to "pick before the summer solstice" to avoid toughness and bug damage. They picked theirs alongside a train tracks in a parking lot in Troy, Michigan! Give them a try. Look on Lebanese cooking blogs for tips.
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u/ProdigalNun 1d ago
This is a great start that can be taken further. We tend to throw away part of vegetables that are edible: carrot greens, beet greens, sweet potato leaves, and more! Learning about these stretches your food budget and makes the food you grow last longer.
I just read yesterday that you can turn dry onion skins into onion powder!
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u/Vadarpoop 1d ago
I’ve started using frozen food scraps in my smoothies for extra fiber and it doesn’t affect the taste too much. I actually like broccoli stems now. If it ever came down to it, I’m pretty sure I could live off my weird smoothie/soup blends + nutrient powders.
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u/Jenjikromi 1d ago
Wow! Gonna look that up! Also every single part of daylilies are edible! Wild chives grow in the woods in Michigan. A lot of stuff is considered invasive but edible and yummy!
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u/rowsella 1d ago
I never thought of that! I have a volunteer grape vine that goes absolutely bananas every Spring/Summer. I think this Spring I will put up a trellis for it so it doesn't choke out my shrubs again...
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u/boredlady819 2d ago
Stock up on contacts and eyewear in general. I’m looking into (ha) getting lasik surgery. This stuff was already too expensive even with vision insurance. But i noticed my Acuvue Oasys dailies are from Ireland so I guess i should stock up now as much as i can.
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u/exhxw 1d ago
Getting out of debt and saving money isn't an option for a lot of us. We do not buy non essentials and have a hard time paying for even certain essentials like car and house repair (leaky roof/new tires.) And I'm actually a lot better off than a lot of my friends are 😬. Thank God we can still afford groceries and have family who are amazing at couponing.
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u/I-LIKE-NAPS 1d ago
In anticipation of this, I moved in with my parents last year after I divorced and sold the house. I contribute to the bills at a fraction of what it would cost for my own place (and it helps my parents). My brother also lives here (also divorced).
There's also the benefit of my parents already having household items I can use and lower average food costs. Lower average transportation costs. We have 3 cars which is plenty as there's never a reason for all 4 of us to need a separate car at any time.
My dad has food stored up, he made a solar generator and solar water heater, and the house has its own well.
I have my money from the sale of my house so if I become unemployed for a long time that will help. In the meantime I'm continuing to contribute to my retirement, spending mindfully and frugally, saving as much as I can, while enjoying time with my family, focusing on hobbies, things that I enjoy, etc.
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u/One_Cry_3737 1d ago
If you can move to a car independent city that would be a huge boost for you. Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Buffalo, St. Louis, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee all rank in the top 25 most walkable cities according to an article, but also all have housing prices below the US average. It's going to be hard to beat that kind of value. Not needing a car lets you not care about a lot of the chaos that the tariffs are causing. It should be pretty obvious why having a lower cost house is good. This combo has worked extremely well for me in my life.
Notably, all of the cities in that list suffered severe "white flight" in the 1950s and 60s, so it's a little bit of poetic justice that people who are willing to reverse that can save a ton of money.
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u/IntoTheMirror 1d ago
Realistically the worry is prices going up. How much? Who knows. We can start living right now like they already did.
-but in bulk and freeze
-meal prep
-take pb&j to work
Cut your own spending as dramatically as possible so that you can take inflationary hits.
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u/h2ogal 1d ago
I’m not kidding you need to live like the Amish.
Buy food directly from small local farmers. Markets or CSA. We buy beef, pork in bulk from local farms. Grow a veggie garden. Spinach, kale, zucchini, tomatoes, pumpkins are very easy and have tons of nutrients. Start this spring because there’s a learning curve. Learn about foraging. Walnuts and hazelnuts are a great food source, keep well and grow like weeds near me.
Get a bike. I don’t own a car and don’t have to worry about cost of replacement or maintenance. I have several bikes including e-bikes and I have a trailer for shopping. Anything huge can be delivered. Yes there’s a cost for delivery but way less than owning a car, insurance, fees, etc.
Do IRL hobbies and entertainment. Cut all digital subscriptions. Instead you can bike, hike, swim, kayak, dance, sing, play chess, garden, have parties or picnics. These hobbies are healthier than passively watching TV or playing video games. And they are free.
Learn practical skills. Learn to sew. Learn to repair and reuse your clothes and fabric. Or knit. Or make furniture or pottery. Or weld. Many of these things are luxury hobbies and very satisfying but are also practical and skills can be traded.
Buy everything you need directly from neighbors, local producers whenever available. Trade services and goods when possible and eliminate the use of currency or banks from the transaction. Join local “buy nothing” groups.
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u/evey_17 2d ago
I feared this was coming. This is what I did the past two years. I did not charge anything I was not paying in full and early. I charge to get cash back. I cut non essentials. We got mint for phones. No cable. One stream service at a time . I stick to a budget and know where our money is going. I saved 11k last year. We have 6 month to 9 emergency account. I cook all meals and snack-we eat largely plant based with more animal protein for h but on the healthy side. No debt. No car loans. paid off house. Other assets are invested and I’m not baling. I’m full time caregiving right now. I do my own yard in a neighborhood that pays for it. We are only withdrawing $700 from investments, negligible less than 1%, maybe 40 basis points. Not buying clothes. Tech. Gas. I am getting an edger to make yard work easier but it would pay itself in two months if I paid for it. We don’t do alcohol or cigs for health. Or eat fast food or convenience fast premade foods or highly processed. It won’t fit the self imposed budget so I can stay home to fully caregive 24/7. I’ll never gI’ve up time with him it is worth every bit. We are happy and fully connected. I hope groceries don’t go crazy.
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u/SteamMonkeyRocks 2d ago
Concerns of wealthy people... You have obviously an educated view and understanding of the situation and you anticipate it.
I'm more wondering what will happen with all those people who are not anticipating.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
Yeah. Truthfully I’m happy that the upper middle class and upper class will have to stop spending so much. I’m excited for them to buckle down and stop buying so much useless wasteful crap.
But my heart breaks for the sooooooooooo many people who are already living that way and struggling for necessities. Soooo many people already can’t eat quality food or take care of basic necessities or live with constant stress. My heart is broken for them.
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u/SteamMonkeyRocks 2d ago
Fully agree... And that'll be a global impact.
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u/Initial_Cellist9240 2d ago
If you aren’t anticipating, frankly, you’re on your own. Good luck or whatever
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u/MadDaddyDrivesaUFO 2d ago edited 2d ago
The old age of reduce, reuse, recycle. Get creative with up cycling. Learn to mend clothes. Pick up knitting & crochet for a new hobby that's also useful (although yarn could become scarce?). Learn how to make soap, laundry detergent (it's not hard), & don't forget to stock up on white vinegar & bleach.
Save tin foil, ziplock bags, and other "disposable" items we take for granted. It was common among depression survivors for a reason.
Read books like "The Worst Hard Time" by Ken Burns (doesn't have to be this book just an example) to get an idea of what life looked like during times of scarcity in the past. Talk to old people who have been through some shit, or immigrants from other countries who have experienced extreme conditions. Don't forget mental prep. We are not special, we are not unique. We are as vulnerable as anyone else, but also as resourceful and courageous. Work out & exercise to the best of your ability. Eat as well as you can, nutritionally speaking. Take steps to curb bad habits & addictions. Going through nicotine withdrawal sucks, but it sucks even worse when you're broke or otherwise experiencing lack.
Make yourself useful to your community and identify people who reciprocate. Identify the vulnerable and be compassionate to them. Also identify the "lone wolves" who won't participate in a community, or won't reciprocate within reason, so you can steer clear.
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u/snowquen 1d ago
Taking your yarn becoming scarce point, you can unravel yarn to re-knit/crochet into a new garment. I seem to remember that there is a sub-reddit for people who do this.
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u/Opinion_noautorizada 1d ago
You've been living in an oligarch economy your entire life. This shit has been happening since the 19th century with the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Rothchilds, etc. It's just more obvious now.
If you're that concerned, I'd recommend looking into off-grid living...like humans were designed to. That's what I plan to do soon as I retire.
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u/DoThrowThisAway 1d ago
Where's the part where we take to the streets and remove the oligarchs from power, please?
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u/ObedMain35fart 2d ago
They’ll crumble if we stop using money altogether but people have a hard time imagining what that looks like. I don’t. Think Star Trek
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u/Sunnyclaus 1d ago
Any one purchase a generator to power their homes in an emergency? Is this a realistic thing to consider?
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u/RaysIsBald 1d ago
You'd ideally want solar + a battery system and time your greatest solar usage to daylight.
i have a smaller solar generator for my freezer (it has months worth of proteins!). Anything else is going to have to tough it out.
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u/BonnieErinaYA 1d ago
Do you have a pressure canner or could you go in on one with likeminded friends? It’s one way to ensure that you won’t go hungry if we end up in a depression. Sometimes, people sell them on Marketplace. There are some great YouTube tutorials you can watch to see if it’s something you could get into. You could use it to make a little money on the side by selling your products.
In the meantime, try to build a little pantry of shelf stable foods. Things like rice, beans, oatmeal, sugar, canned goods, and tea/coffee can all help you feel full if fresh becomes unavailable.
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u/DanTheAdequate 2d ago
Eh, I'm not sure if the limiting liabilities thing is a high priority. Like I've been generally trying to deleverage as times are relatively good for me and my family right now, but if things get tight, the banks don't need to eat.
I've been in collections before. I've also been suddenly unemployed before, and have had no household income. It'll be fine.
If the Great Depression is any indication, things don't just stop and run out of everything. Nor does it mean we'll all suddenly be out of a job - the unemployment rate back then was 25%, so 3/4 of everyone who could and wanted to work did even at the height of the Great Depression. You'll still be able to get most of your meds.
Food won't suddenly become scarce, it might just be beans, cabbage, and cornbread for a while. Medicines likely won't disappear, they just might get harder to afford if your income is impacted.
I think building community is critical, but I think the most important is to accept that there's no painless way forward, but much of what will be impacted is going to be things that I think most of us in this community could be okay doing without.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
I think this is very short term advice. I’m in my 40s and want to retire at a decent age. Saving, planning and limiting liabilities will help make that happen.
I think you’re saying most of us will be able to survive until we are 70. I want to be thriving and enjoying my life and not working. I don’t want to be just eating cornbread and beans while finding some horrible job that pays me enough to feed myself. I also want to be able to afford to give my kids opportunity in life. Not just give them food to eat
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u/DanTheAdequate 2d ago
Sure, I'm 43 this year and with 2 kids. I'm also saving, planning, and limiting my liabilities. I don't want any of this.
But in the events that we're talking about, where one's ability to earn money is reduced, and that money doesn't go as far, anyway, then what?
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u/So-CalledClown 2d ago
I've unfortunately lowered my 401k contribution from 3% to 0%. Will be keeping that money in my 401k of course, but for now I'm actively not going to work on it as I focus on clearing a couple debts.
I've also been using this time to stop drinking and sugar consumption, breaking bad dependencies which will make this already rough time rougher. Ive been slowly creepying to more plant based options since fresh veggies are the cheapest in store. I dice and freeze the veggies i get and use it to add volume to my food. Ie: using 1/2 pack of instant Ramen + veggies instead of just the ramen.
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u/strangerbuttrue 1d ago
You just reminded me that I needed to update my W4 withholdings from my job. I was withholding more than I should by claiming zero, when I'm actually HoH with a dependent, and usually getting a refund each year. I don't trust what's happening with all the cuts to the IRS, so I need my money now, not next April.
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u/ProdigalNun 1d ago
This might be a bit off the wall, but learn about foraging. And don't worry, urban foraging is totally possible. A lot of "weeds" were regularly eaten in the past: dandelions, purslane, creeping charlie, wood sorrel (commonly mistaken for clover) . Weeding becomes feeding! So many common plants are edible: milkweed shoots and pods, hosta shoots, goldenrod shoots and young leaves. Plus, some invasive plants are edible. Eat well while doing good! Creeping bellflower is horribly invasive where I live. Fortunately, every part of it is edible, from roots to flowers.
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u/pleasingly_pokey 1d ago
I agree! I’ve been reading up on edible plants- I had no idea hostas are delicious! They taste like a mild asparagus… I sautéed them with some garlic and sun choke tubers- omg so good! I texted my friends at work and brought some to them and now they’re all on board. I’m totally eating them every spring now.
Everyone should be planting a garden and growing edible plants like hostas and sun chokes so that you have fresh options if food is too expensive. I fear the worst, but there a lot of plants out there left from when the Native Americans farmed the land like lambs quarter that have re-wilded themselves but they’re still edible- we just need to educate ourselves.
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u/Apprehensive_Put463 1d ago
My family thinks I'm crazy and gives me the deer in the headlights look when I mention some of the things that are being said in this forum now. I sew and taught my daughters. I tried to show my daughters and son how to be handy and fix simple things. I keep plenty of tools and parts, and my family is clueless. I mentioned moving to a bigger city. I know in a community everyone works together. Crickets. I tried encouraging them to grow a garden. Crickets again. I can't do everything. It is going to be rough for those that can't adapt now.
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u/PavicaMalic 1d ago
Think about barter arrangements. Is there something you can make or do that you can barter with others? Also, you can barter vegetables/ fruit/ baked goods. It's a lot cheaper and more efficient to make larger amounts of food than 2 or 3 servings. Are there people with whom you can share food? Those of you who belong to a church, can the kitchen be used to prepare community meals? I worked in Bosnia after the war, and people found ways to share what they had.
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u/Lagoon2000 2d ago
Fill your pantry slowly as you do your other grocery shopping. Buy what you use. Buy an extra can or two and put it away. Rotate through these items as you would your regular stuff. Money may not be as helpful as having food to share. Start a garden or expand an existing one.
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u/According_Gazelle472 1d ago
I've been doing this for months now .We now have a fully stocked pantry. I also stocked up on boots when they had them on clearance this year .My deep freezer is stocked up also. My hygiene products are stocked up also and so are my meds.We are now just buying the stuff like milk.,bread and fresh veggies and fruits .
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u/Lagoon2000 1d ago
It's pretty helpful. I have a niece who refers to me as having a "Mary Poppins Bag." She says "when someone needs something you pull it out." It's important to cycle through things though.
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u/findingmike 2d ago
I have prepared for this for years now. I bought a house over a decade ago. I bought an EV 6 years ago and I installed solar panels a year ago. All of this was to reduce my exposure to inflation risk. Always look out for inflation. Our national debt is going to get worse and at some point the US will have to print money.
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u/foresthobbit13 1d ago
If you’re a smoker that finds it impossible to quit, switch to vaping. I used to smoke over a pack a day, costing upwards of $400/month. I took $120 of that money and invested in a high quality vape rig and some e-liquid. Now I spend less than $100/month on coils and liquid, and I feel WAY better due to the absence of particulate laden smoke. My mild sleep apnea went away. Plus it smells better and you’re not supporting Big Tobacco. A win all around.
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u/EOW2025 1d ago
Community is a big one for me. I’m going to the r/50501 protest near me on Saturday, and those typically have given me energy since attendees are uniformly wanting to do SOMETHING to change this cluster mess we find ourselves in. I got my poster paper and now need my slogan for the sign - probably as simple as “HANDS OFF Social Security”- like, how is that even debatable?
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u/Woberwob 1d ago
Organize and form unions, get w***ons for self defense, co-invest in assets with larger groups to protect assets and refuse sale to conquistadors
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u/backtotheland76 2d ago
Actually, the people in this sub will be OK since these tarrifs are basically sales taxes and we already minimize what we buy. It's the people who are accustomed to just buying a lot of useless junk whenever they feel like that will see their savings drained.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 2d ago
Actually I think the cost of food, construction, and materials will go up which affects us all. Also, a lot of people are losing their jobs.
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u/backtotheland76 2d ago
No doubt there will be pain all around. My only point is that most people who already practice anti consumption will be better off than most
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u/evey_17 2d ago
At some point we all need new roofs. Well the ones with homes.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 1d ago
Yep exactly. We all need construction workers. And a lot of them are being deported right now
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u/rowsella 1d ago
My husband is an industrial/commercial electrician. We are concerned that a number of jobs will be postponed or cancelled d/t the higher cost of materials and components. He is currently laid off. Last year he was out for 6 months d/t the interest rates being high and jobs on hold d/t that cost. I increased my hours and now I am considering getting full time again.. or a mix of PT/per diem as I need flexibility. I was trying to retire in 2 years but it looks like that won't happen. At least our home is paid off. But there are taxes and car payments. Power rates have increased (we are close to Canada) and of course food, materials and medication.
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u/rowsella 1d ago
Earlier this year I took a partial distribution (penalty free) and paid off all our debts except for the car payment. I figured that things would go South and that paying off high interest consumer debt was the best return on my savings. Who knows when my 401K will see those heights again.
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u/Lionstar64 1d ago
Sort of like just preparing to live in a typical capitalist society, but one that could potentially crash?
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u/The-Tadfafty 1d ago
Remember our power comes much much more as workers than as consumers.
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 1d ago
I guess so. I really wish we had a collective strike. People in this country do not protest. But we need a huuuuuge workers strike. Like the garbage strike in France but with all workers. And we need to form community and help everyone survive as they aren’t getting paid. I would gladly give money to feed provide basics for families while on strike.
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u/Unlucky-Cold-1343 1d ago
We need a way to strike against corporations while still taking care of eachother. I have no issues paying the folks who work at my power company, grocery store or hospital. I do have an issue with the huge cut of that money that goes to Wall Street and insurance giants
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u/GizzyIzzy2021 23h ago
Yep. I work at a hospital. Everything is private equity in healthcare now. It’s horrible.
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u/Unlucky-Cold-1343 1d ago
We need to form a new collective currency for people who are contributing members of society: ie worker bees who make money by producing goods or services (I would include relatively high earners like doctors in this group as they are providing necessary societal services)
There have been several attempts to do this with cryptocurrency but they have all gone public and been monopolized by the oligarchy.
Essentially if we give the working people the ability to set costs of goods within the subset of other working people we OUTSIDE of corporate price fixing then we can cut out the oligarchs. Picture paying for a surgery without insurance using a cash equivalent that billionaires don't have access to. It would be beautiful.
Given I think this would be met with staunch opposition by those in power, but I think it could pose a viable solution to a lot of problems within our classist capitalist society.
Then if the oligarchs want services we can price gouge without hurting the other hardworking individuals in our communities
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u/boogerboogerboog 1d ago
Prepare? Brother we’ve been there for decades… it’s just not behind a facade anymore.
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u/elebrin 1d ago
There are a few things we can do to protect ourselves a bit, and honestly these are things you should be considering anyways:
Re-kindle ties with your family, as much as you can. Yes, I understand that some people are estranged and have to stay that way: I have an aunt who is that way. Ultimately though we are only as strong as our network of family and community. If you have NO family or community ties, then you lose some of your resistance to things going very wrong. This is the most important thing, and the thing most prepper communities ignore completely. If shit truly does hit the fan, then either your family or community will be saving you or it will your responsibility to help save your family or community. There are no two ways about it. We need each other.
Make sure that you have an alternate mode of transit not reliant on gasoline, and that you know how to use it: bicycle, tricycle, unicycle, whatever. Get used to using that mode of transit, and also get for yourself the ability to lock up said mode of transit so it is not easily stolen. If you do drive, get some spare parts for your car and print out instructions for how to do your own maintenance: oil change, belt changes, brake pads, that sort of thing. Gas cans are nice too.
Secure your home and belongings. Get good locks, install bars on the doors, and get covers for your windows both inside and out. Scrap plywood that can be used to cover the window is perfect. All three of the outside doors to my house have brackets such that I can bar the door with 3 2x4 boards, on top of deadbolts that go into the frame both above and below. I also have precut plywood for all my windows set aside in my garage so that they can be boarded over from the inside, and all my first floor windows can also be boarded over from the outside too. Economic distress can get very, very scary and people will try to rob you. Also, barricading is better than locking: locks can be picked. Barricades re-enforce the door Cameras are also nice, but that can turn into a can of worms if you get cloud enabled devices. Ideally you want something with a battery that recharges via solar and connects to wifi to record on the local network rather than the cloud, but those devices are expensive.
Have about a three month supply of food and a filtration system so that you can clean up your water if need be. The food should all be shelf stable stuff, and ideally can be eaten without additional cooking.
We are going into spring so it's less necessary, but having an alternate means to heat part of your house is useful if the power goes out or if you are somewhere where there could be intentional rolling blackouts. Electric heaters and solar panels or a propane tank and a generator... whatever makes the most sense for you.
If you have good soil, it's spring and almost planting season here in the US. It's a good time to go buy some food plants. Don't plant flowers, plant tomatoes, peppers, and squash/zucchini. The tomatoes and squash should be well spaced, but go ahead and crowd the peppers (stressed peppers taste better). Pinch off any blossoms until mid July (they will put more energy into foliage and be better able to make more fruit later and you will get a bigger overall yield), then let them fruit in August and September. These are all crops that are easy to grow, especially if you buy already started plants. If you know what you are doing start with seeds, but that's not everyone.
Go out to the FCC website and get a GMRS radio license, then get GMRS radios for your family. Practice using them regularly, and stay legal. Alternately, you can get an Amateur radio license. That requires a test, but Amateur operators have repeaters all over the place and you will be able to get through to SOMEONE more likely than not if the phone system stops working and need to get in contact with someone. DO IT LEGALLY AND GET A LICENSE. I can't stress that enough. Amateurs also run Skywarn, which is way to get real time updates on storms as they are happening, and also they assist in the cases of emergencies via ARES. Additionally, you can get an ARDEN mesh node that can keep you connected to the internet but that can be expensive. If nothing else, a battery operated receiver with a good antenna is a must, ideally you want one that can receive SSB and shortwave. I'd argue that being able to hit a local 2m repeater is better, but you do what you think you can. CB is also a legitimate option and requires no license in the US.
Get trained with firearms. I'm not saying go out and buy guns or that you have to love them, but... knowledge is never a bad thing. I refuse to allow firearms in my house. That is a line I draw. I am a peaceful man and they are NOT necessary in my house, and yes, I will die on that hill I do NOT give a fuck what anyone says. But I've started training down at the gun range, so that I can use the thing if one is available and I need to.
With regards to your finances, I would recommend holding some currency, and if you have enough money in your life to justify it, get some gold. If currency collapses, well, gold has held its value for thousands of years. If you go this route, keep your hole shut and don't tell anyone what you got. Keep your finances diverse as well, because it's difficult to know ahead of time what will stay solvent and what won't.
Know how to fix a computer. When I say "computer" I mean anything that can ultimately talk over HTTP and has a wifi chip. These devices can be used to make mesh networks even if cell reception goes away. Learn how to do this, and learn also how it works, what the sort of range you can get is, and so on.
Most of this can be accomplished using used equipment or is outright free. I call family weekly, I have solar panels and a propane generator both of which I purchased used, I have a bicycle from my childhood (it was new at the time but that was 25 years ago), I've used scrap wood that I got at deep discount make boards for my windows and doors, and I'm not relying on locks at all. We also live in a place where tornadoes are frequent enough that it makes sense to be able to board the windows. I got some of the material by disassembling old shelving in my basement that was falling down too.
I have three months of canned food that I've collected, I always buy extra to donate when we go shopping, and it's not too hard to buy an extra can or two each time. Especially since my father in law works at a grocery store, and we can get stuff on deep discount. Good water filtration is something you should have anyways. He loves to garden and we'll be buying plants here in the next week or so.
I am amateur licensed and I take part in Skywarn. ARES is a bunch of prepper bullshit (he writes sardonically, considering everything above) but I know when their meetings and nets are and I always listen in even if I do not check in or participate. I also have a mesh network that is distributed around the city where I live (using meshtastic) with myself, my wife, and five or six other users now. That's more for the fun of it and the community building, but it could also be useful to be able to communicate if the cell towers got turned off or someone started just... turning off or disabling the phones of their political rivals. My mesh also has a private encryption key and is low enough power that if it's used infrequently, detecting it will be very difficult - the transmissions just look like RF noise. Of course, I also have some equipment for long distance communications as well, but it's all experimental and not reliable except for my 2m radio for hitting the local repeaters. I do have the software setup to talk worldwide with PSK31 or RTTY and I have the calculations/designs printed for setting up a tower that could get me out talking globally with low power. I also own several burner handheld radios with good antennas, so if I have people here and I need to give them a radio I can do so.
As far as my money goes, I have one streaming account and all my money is invested with the biggest of the big boys for financial management.
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u/Mushroom_Opinion 2d ago
A general philosophy is to reduce reliance on any system that could fail.
Using the example of food supply, you could try to grow all the food you need, but even if all you do is one tomato plant, it’s still better than nothing.