How to Survive a Depression

Member

By WriterGig
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (11 Ratings)

Survive a Depression

With troubling economic news comes the worry of how to survive a depression. During times of economic depression jobs can be scarce and hard to get, money is tight, and luxury items out of the budget. To survive an economic depression you will need the help and support of your friends and neighbors, flexibility in the job market, items to barter and trade, and the ability to grow and produce at least some of your own food. Here are some tips to help you figure out how to survive a depression.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Build relationships.

Build community. During an economic depression, personal relationships become very important. As jobs and money become more scarce in the economy during a depression the relationship that you have with your neighbors becomes critical. Hard times can be much easier to handle if you have a community support network--you need a community to learn how to survive a depression. Get to know your neighbors now, while times are still good, you don't want to have to meet your neighbors for the first time when you need a favor.
Step 2

Find work.

Find work in a recession-proof sector. As you try to survive in a down economy, you will likely need to be flexible and multi-talented to find work. Many jobs that once were in high demand will no longer exist or will have a very tight labor market. Brush up on some old skills or build new ones as you consider jobs that might be needed, such as security, medical, teaching, food production. The ability to make money in any economy is key to knowing how to survive a depression.
Step 3

Save cash.

Keep some cash on hand. A basic emergency fund of American dollars as well as silver coins is key to making it through bank runs, prolonged banking holidays or cash shortages. You may at times have trouble finding merchants who will accept a check or credit card, but cash and coins are "real money." Money on hand will enable you to survive a depression more easily.
Step 4

Store for barter.

Put in a supply of items that would be good for barter. In an economic depression, money is not as easy to come by and your friends and neighbors will still need basic items. To survive this lack of money, you will need tangible items to trade and barter. Stock up on salt, sugar, coffee, matches, edibles, tools, repair kits, sewing supplies and hunting ammunition.
Step 5

Grow food.

Plant a garden. Growing your own food will be a critical skill in order to survive a depression. Although it is fairly simple to grow a kitchen garden, many people do not have the experience or skill to grow sufficient food to keep themselves and their families fed. Start a hobby garden now so you know what it takes to make plants produce.
Step 6

Keep chickens.

Consider raising backyard chickens if at all practical. Something as simple as a flock of meat chickens or several laying hens for eggs can make a big difference in gaining a measure of self-sufficiency during hard times.

Comments

infois said

Flag This Comment

on 5/1/2009 If you need to know how to survive a depression just say out loud now Jesus I believe and I receive you in my heart please heal me. Remember God loves youfor more help please please go to leroyjenkins.com

Truckergirl said

on 3/22/2009 Great ideas. We had already planned on laying in a supply of non-perishable food, but I never would have thought about things like sewing supplies and matches until it was too late.