All in yet?

[WILL]

Thanks for the well crafted reply. Alot of our finances are not very secure. Specifically, we're heavily invested in society functioning properly. For example, my retirement fund depends on the stock market and is directly tied to the value of the dollar.

On the other hand, we've also been wise with paying down our debt. Our only debt is a $25,000 mortgage. Our cars are paid off, we own no credit cards, ect. We have enough in liquid capital right now to pay off the mortgage if we had to. The home is worth an honest $300,000 right now.

I think being debt free would be a huge advantage in an economic melt- down. I also believe that if you are in debt for big money, society is at the stage where it's too late to try to dig out. IMHO it would be better at this point to put any spare money towards preps. I also suspect that as the economic situation worsens, people

[rockriver]

will,
i, in effect, gave my answer to your questions in my last post. storm shelter, fruits, septic, fuel, rural, value of dollar.

the other folks that post on here, "by their actions" have already answered your questions.

if someone thinks there will be an economic collapse, they will be securing the necessities of life for now and later.
if someone thinks there will be a flood, they will build a boat, or if a famine, they will stock their barns.

if someone thinks floods, famine, economic collapse ain't gonna happen, they won't prepare.

you sound smart. in my opinion, you already know the answer to your question.
God bless.
rr

[Gus14]

I live in a very small rural hamlet. It consists of a fire station, a church, 6 farms, and three dozen homes.
We have been through some trying times together but have always done well. We have been through 2 historic and devestating floods, a blizzard, and an ice storm that crippled power for a month and that has been in the last 8 years.
On every occasion we did incredibly well. Since our town was founded in 1789, the houses that are here were built long before residential power was even an option. Many were built with root cellars, hand dug wells, fireplaces, and cook stoves. Going back to self sufficiency is incredibly easy for us. Last flood we had the town was cut off to the North and the South. The only three East/West roads we have dead end. A good 4x4, ATV, or tractor can punch through to get out of the valley but that would be the only way. Since we were cut off the only traffic was on foot, ATV, or horseback so the farmer down the road set up the BBQ trailer on the bridge in the center of town....dont worry, a new bridge built in 1997 ensured it would be well above any flood, and fire it up. While the F.D. ran around town ensuring everyone was okay and all closure points were secure, the farmer cooked a whole hog for everyone. We cleared out the station and set up the tables, fired up the generator, and proceeded to have a town party while flood water went by. The three displaced families simply went over to their families house and stayed there while their houses were repaired.
Coincidentally, during the rebuild process, most of it was done by townsfolk as well because one of the farmers has a mobile sawmill and another fella in town owns a logging co. Materials and labor was free so FEMA could just keep right on drivin by when they came after the floods.
We all believe in self sufficiency around here and everyone has something to offer. I have the market on eggs around here, one of the guys down the road is the beef/milk connection. We have another family that has hogs, lamb, and rabbits. Water is plentiful and there are numerous sources. We have power failures enough out here that many houses have backup water supply built in. We all have gardens and trade among ourselves for fresh and canned items. Our canned apple/blueberrysauce has been worth more than the face value of currency around here.
85% of our folks hunt or trap (or both) regardless of sex or age (grandma Smith is 79 and still checks her traps daily). Twice a year we get together for a wild game picnic at the Church.
While I do have a 401k, that is my backup plan. That is my fallback IF everything stays status quo. My primary plan is continued building and prepping with our town to ensure we all can have a party while everything else seems to be falling apart.

[1Admin]

Thanks for the well crafted reply. Alot of our finances are not very secure. Specifically, we're heavily invested in society functioning properly. For example, my retirement fund depends on the stock market and is directly tied to the value of the dollar.

On the other hand, we've also been wise with paying down our debt. Our only debt is a $25,000 mortgage. Our cars are paid off, we own no credit cards, ect. We have enough in liquid capital right now to pay off the mortgage if we had to. The home is worth an honest $300,000 right now.

I think being debt free would be a huge advantage in an economic melt- down. YES. BETTER THAN ANY SMALL RETURN ON ANY INVESTMENTS IMO. I also believe that if you are in debt for big money, society is at the stage where it's too late to try to dig out. IMHO it would be better at this point to put any spare money towards preps. I also suspect that as the economic situation worsens, people’s ability to change their circumstances will be lost. In other words, if you want to move, do it now because soon no one will be able to afford to buy your house. You won't be able to afford new appliances when they break down, home repairs, new cars, ect. You will have what you have and that's it. Just like the first depression, there was no disposable income and you had to pick which necessities you could afford.

Anyhow, my point is that we strongly suspect that’s the direction America is headed. We’re looking at that and asking ourselves how far we want to go in order to prepare for that possibility. Would taking a loan on the 401K to buy gold be a good idea? DEFINITELY NOT. Should we stop contributing to the 401K? NO, BUT MAKES CHANGES -SEE BELOW Should we move from Florida to a better survival local now because it won’t be an option later? GETTING OUT OF FLORIDA WOULD DEFINITELY HELP BUT ABOVE ALL YOU SEEM HESITANT TO MOVE I wonder if anyone else believes America is on a crash course with financial melt-down and if they struggle with how far to take their prepping?

In your 401K your probably limited to a certain number of options. This is why I'm not very fond of them versus a Roth IRA. If you ever get the chance to rollover I definitely would. Being able to "make your own moves" and having more options for those moves, is certainly helpful.

I can tell you where I am at right now in my Roth- about 20% in international funds, 10% in "income" funds (bond) and about 70% in cash.

Market is 13,300 'ish now. Market high was 14,000 roughly a few years ago. I figure we are at or very near another peak and a correction is probably past due.

If the market goes really low, like it did a few years ago, I'll buy in with some of the cash.

After all, your retirement funds are part of your COLMOLLIIN preps, not your TEOTWAWKI preps....

[610Alpha]

Some 401's are offering a "Self Directed Brokerage Account", my current and former employer both had these. My current 401 is with Fidelity and my former was with Hewitt. I just rolled over my pension from my former to an IRA with RBC Dain.

[1Admin]

Will- did some of these replies answer your question?

Was it JUST your money you were worried about?

[WILL]

Will- did some of these replies answer your question?

Was it JUST your money you were worried about?

It's been nice discussing the issue here. Felt good getting some of this off my chest and hearing how others are preparing. I'm still unsure on how far to take it. I'm still worried I will have decided to no holds barred prepare for the greater depression too soon or not soon enough.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

It's been nice discussing the issue here. Felt good getting some of this off my chest and hearing how others are preparing. I'm still unsure on how far to take it. I'm still worried I will have decided to no holds barred prepare for the greater depression too soon or not soon enough.

I dont think any of us have the answers to the "what if's" at least i dont. I live from day to day and try and prepare as usual and try and react when possible. I've scored big on some things where we didnt suffer at all or very little such as natural disasters and struck out on others like the economy where I failed miserably and am still paying the price.
These things are investments and like many investments diversity is needed to succeed. The diversity in my case is a balance of the future being kids and college, weddings and keeping myself stable as possible for their sake and as head of the family. The other side is preps which might not get used such as NBC gear, pills etc. To me that is an acceptable loss of money which I have done for years and years in replenishing out of date stuff. Then there is then inbetween such as food, ammo, clothing which can be used in the COMOLLIN discussed here at S&P.
You will do fine, shoot your already ahead because you pay attention to whats going on around you and are trying to plan. Your not blind but your not ever the other edge either. Stay focused and you will make the right choices when needed.

[1Admin]

Well said Matt.