Collapse now and avoid the rush

[Lord Beria3]

In terms of personal collapses here are the thing I have been doing:

1) I have made the decision not to ever buy a car (I will instead only rarely use the family car and rely on public transport).

2) My biggest decision, acquiring a flat, will be in the countryside rather than a urban location. This is designed for a long-term perspective that a home within a wide expanse of countyside/farming land is better than a highly populated urban centre.

3) I have tried to cut out materialistc 'stuff' from my life.

4) I have made a conscious effort to cut back on energy usage.

5) I keep my bills to the minumum and don't spend silly money on new stuff. For example, I haven't paid a penny on my last two phones as the mobile contract allows to purchase a cheap phone free after 18 months of using a phone.

Reading Greers article, the biggest thing in my opinion was his emphasis of a Plan B if your job goes down. Having a sizeable secondary income could be critical.

This is something that I need to work on. Ideally, I was thinking of owning a second property and renting in out long-term and using that money as a savings and a income stream if I ever lost my job.

[SleeperService]

Thanks for the positive thoughts everybody. This thread was starting to freak me out but, as everything has gone OK so far today, I think I'm OK again.

You're all right of course so I'll be looking for a job to keep me going while I make much better and urgent preparations then when/if things go bang again I'll be in control.

It's all so easy when it's pointed out of course. Now I need to dig a while and make a suitabily cunning plan.

[peaceful_life]

Forget about 'feeling stupid', that's just another link in the shackle.

That was in the past. I've now made the move. Are you still in the North West Highlands?

Down south at the mo, surrounded by affluence and ignorance.

Will be returning though at some point though.

[Tarrel]

Let us know when you do. I get the impression PS members are a bit thin on the ground up here.

[Tarrel]

Thanks for the positive thoughts everybody. This thread was starting to freak me out but, as everything has gone OK so far today, I think I'm OK again.

You're all right of course so I'll be looking for a job to keep me going while I make much better and urgent preparations then when/if things go bang again I'll be in control.

It's all so easy when it's pointed out of course. Now I need to dig a while and make a suitabily cunning plan.

Every cloud has a silver lining, SS. I had a disastrous Autumn and early part of this year, business-wise. Our biggest customer pulled the plug on all their commitments, in what they term a "financial brown-out". It panicked me slightly into pulling our move forward and, at the same time, freed up time for me to get on with it. I've not looked back. Ultimately it was a catalyst that worked in our favour.

This could be your time.

[woodburner]

Wise words from Snail

There really is no point in trying to maintain your current lifestyle, it's going to change, so why not choose changes now while you still have some control ?

That bit is possible.

It's a big step, to sell up and move somewhere more suitable, but I suspect many people realize it is the only option - they just can't quite bring themselves to jump off.

That bit isn't possible for most people, only for the very few. If everyone was to try it, where would they all go?

If it's to get a piece of land somewhere......... Well that was the case a few decades ago where many farms were just a couple of hundred acres, and employing a several people. Now farms are a couple of thousand acres, employing one or two people.

[the_lyniezian]

5) I keep my bills to the minumum and don't spend silly money on new stuff. For example, I haven't paid a penny on my last two phones as the mobile contract allows to purchase a cheap phone free after 18 months of using a phone.

There's embedded energy involved in buying a new phone after so short a time. As with probably certain materials involved in the electronics that aren't renewable, and the plastic (oil)...

Hardly a positive contribution to manging the collapse, unless you need the upgrade.

(Try still using the same phone for the last 10 years like some of my relatives...)

[the_lyniezian]

As for me though... needing to cut down seriously. Using the computer and listening to a record at the same time? Leaving the radio on all night? (And guess who bought a new computer not too long ago...)

EDIT: and that's just off the top of my head...

[Catweazle]

It's a big step, to sell up and move somewhere more suitable, but I suspect many people realize it is the only option - they just can't quite bring themselves to jump off.

That bit isn't possible for most people, only for the very few. If everyone was to try it, where would they all go?

If it's to get a piece of land somewhere......... Well that was the case a few decades ago where many farms were just a couple of hundred acres, and employing a several people. Now farms are a couple of thousand acres, employing one or two people.

I agree, not everyone is going to make it the easy way, those who leave it too late will be in a poor position.

[Lord Beria3]

the_lyniezian - to be fair, I did have one phone for three years until I thought I had lost it.

My current one I have had for 18 months and I intend to keep it for a good 5 years or so (unless it breaks)... Either way, no intention of spending money on a mobile!

I dislike the current fad for iphones and blackberries, prefer a old fashioned nokia!

[rue_d_etropal]

I suppose I have had longer to think about than most here. I used to ork in IT, initially moving round from job to job, when I got bored and wanted a new challenge, then when the interest rates were going sky high, along with my mortgage, I jumped ship and ent freelance(it wasn't super big money, just enough extra to cope0, then contracts started to get more difficult to getr, especially after year 2000, and the final blow was 9/11. My last contract as for a Scottish bank, which is now part state owned, so I have less simpathy for banks now.
For past 10 years I have had downsize house, and live without a mortgage, had one sort of a job for 3 years, but that was peanuts, and kept myself going creating my own artwork. It has not made any money but kept me going off the rails. I am also fortunate to have had family support, and this has allowed me to start plan B(or was it always plan A) and buy a house in a small town in France. Plan is to move down there eventually. It has no land but countryside is on door step as are local shops, best of both worlds. Having something to live off is main problem, but hoping that there will be a market for my artwork. At least it might be something I can use to barter for food etc.
In some ways I would like to see the crash happen in one go, as people ould then have to sort things out, but it will probably be a slo descent initially, which mo any wont notice enough to do anything practical to plan for future.
I hope to be able to cope, but more worried about my children, who are almost all finished in education system and will need to look for jobs in future.

[sweat]

I agree, not everyone is going to make it the easy way, those who leave it too late will be in a poor position.

There is no easy way for everyone to move, just what is it your advocating? For the most part people will have to prepare, adjust, and collapse where we are. I could say more, but Greer has spelled it out thoroughly in said blogpost and comments.

[Catweazle]

I agree, not everyone is going to make it the easy way, those who leave it too late will be in a poor position.

There is no easy way for everyone to move, just what is it your advocating? For the most part people will have to prepare, adjust, and collapse where we are. I could say more, but Greer has spelled it out thoroughly in said blogpost and comments.

I advocate adjusting your lifestyle now, while you still have choices. Some people will not do it, they will carry on, hoping things will get back to normal. For them, the future looks difficult. Others will be pioneers, leaving their past behind and building sustainable futures initially for their families but long-term for everyone.

The third type, who I have little sympathy with, are aware of the coming problems but are either too idle or too nihilist to change their lives.

[hodson2k9]

I advocate adjusting your lifestyle now, while you still have choices. Some people will not do it, they will carry on, hoping things will get back to normal. For them, the future looks difficult. Others will be pioneers, leaving their past behind and building sustainable futures initially for their families but long-term for everyone.

The third type, who I have little sympathy with, are aware of the coming problems but are either too idle or too nihilist to change their lives.

Id say I'm definitely in the 1st category. Except i know things wont get back to normal.

Tbf i don't really have no other choice but to hope. Unfortunately I'm in the situation where there isn't really anything i can do.

It's rather depressing when you have children to look out for

[peaceful_life]

I advocate adjusting your lifestyle now, while you still have choices. Some people will not do it, they will carry on, hoping things will get back to normal. For them, the future looks difficult. Others will be pioneers, leaving their past behind and building sustainable futures initially for their families but long-term for everyone.

The third type, who I have little sympathy with, are aware of the coming problems but are either too idle or too nihilist to change their lives.

Id say I'm definitely in the 1st category. Except i know things wont get back to normal.

Tbf i don't really have no other choice but to hope. Unfortunately I'm in the situation where there isn't really anything i can do.

It's rather depressing when you have children to look out for

What about hooking up with another family, cohousing and the like, maybe start a CSA?