Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

I favour a well sharpened pike myself, although I gather they are quite hard to catch, and the thought of having a sharpened fish in my armoury is a little odd isn't it? Mind you, a nice lively live one with all those sharp and snappy teeth might be quite a deterrent mightn't it? Might give anyone who said 'give us yer money and make it snappy' a little surprise they weren't expecting anyway! What a whimsical thought!!!

Seriously though, weaponry of any kind is liable to be removed by the bad guys and potentially used against you so I'd rather not have anything obviously a weapon in my plans. We do though have a pick axe handle and a very heavy ebony walking stick in the umbrella stand in the hall and I'm told either of these would bring down even a hefty male intent on mischief if applied to the knees and lower legs, then you could whack them on the noddle and tie them up!!!

ivyleaf

Thanks for making me chuckle, Lyn.

Interesting times here; all our elderly radiators have been springing a leak over this past year (except for one which we managed to change in time - well, DS changed it, to be strictly accurate), and now today, after we got back from a nice lunch with my DBrother and SIL who were on a flying visit, SIL exclaimed that she could smell gas as we came into the house, Brother thought he could too, and DD1 who was with us agreed; so OH rang the emergency number. (He and I couldn't smell it!)

The chap came in about 20 minutes, disappeared into the cupboard under the stairs where the meters are, and declared that there was a "massive" gas leak :eek::eek::eek:

It turned out to be somewhere in the pipework rather than coming from the meter or the boiler or cooker, so the pipe needs replacing before we can have the gas turned on again.

It was too late in the day to check with our housing officer whether it's covered under the buildings insurance, but OH left her a message and hopefully she'll call in the morning. if she hasn't rung us by lunchtime he'll ring her again.

(I should explain that we live in a shared ownership house, but it was bought through a scheme called DIYSO and we have a "full repairing lease" which means we have to pay for all repairs ourselves rather than the housing association paying for them; we arrange our own contents insurance, but the buildings insurance has to be arranged by the housing association. They just tell us each year how much the premium is and we just pay it.)

Sooo.....no central heating or hot water for a while, but hey, we have plenty of warm clothing, a couple of portable heaters, a microwave and a slow cooker, a hotel nearby if we get desperate, and, most importantly, we're still alive! :beer:

Perplexed_Pineapple

GreyQueen wrote: »

Evening all. just stopping in for a contribution before heading into the kitchen to do something creative with mince - bygorry, do I know how to live or what?

Mince eh? It's beans for us... :rotfl:
I've been reading the posts about where to keep cash with interest. If we really believe that property and stocks etc are so massively overvalued (and likely to crash, which doesn't necessarily follow) the only sensible option is to invest in hard assets. Gold is traditional, although also overvalued at the moment IMO, so I think the best investments are likely to be in tools and equipment to improve life in a difficult world. Maybe we could get a deal on a bulk pitchfork order
Bottled two dozen bottles of foraged fruit wine from last autumn over the weekend - now there's a skill that will come in handy if the SHTF and at least we can spend the apocalpyse gently sozzled.
Lyn, I like your pike and pickaxe (sounds like a pub chain) plan, the world is full of weapons, sitting in my kitchen I could lay hands on any number of sharp/heavy/pointy/incendiary things that could be used in an emergency. The point about things like guns as weapons is that you don't need any personal strength or much skill to use them effectively; the other side of the coin is that pickaxe handles aren't much use unless you have a bit of welly to put behind them. Trouble of that sort is best anticipated and avoided rather than confronted if you can. Planning ahead, so that you don't have to go out for supplies in an emergency, could be a big help with that if social unrest broke out. If trouble breaks out we'd be aiming to keep a low profile and not be a target if at all possible. Weapons would be a last resort.

daz378

I found an old rent statement for 2005 £60 per week , now its 98 and i expect will go up another 4 or 5 quid in April....got some supper on ... simple fare burger and onion rings ... been watching FA cup at mates house ... while i removed omega plus browser hijacker.....windows 8 is annoying its counter intuitive..... having 2nd thoughts about tenerife will ring my other mate ...tony the binman and say bad idea going when my diabetes high blood pressure may be a factor..... probably cost me high insurance....when i just dont drink much anymore.........sorted shelves out need to stock up on fray bentosy .. the preppers friend

jk0

ivyleaf wrote: »

Thanks for making me chuckle, Lyn.

Interesting times here; all our elderly radiators have been springing a leak over this past year (except for one which we managed to change in time - well, DS changed it, to be strictly accurate), and now today, after we got back from a nice lunch with my DBrother and SIL who were on a flying visit, SIL exclaimed that she could smell gas as we came into the house, Brother thought he could too, and DD1 who was with us agreed; so OH rang the emergency number. (He and I couldn't smell it!)

The chap came in about 20 minutes, disappeared into the cupboard under the stairs where the meters are, and declared that there was a "massive" gas leak :eek::eek::eek:

It turned out to be somewhere in the pipework rather than coming from the meter or the boiler or cooker, so the pipe needs replacing before we can have the gas turned on again.

It was too late in the day to check with our housing officer whether it's covered under the buildings insurance, but OH left her a message and hopefully she'll call in the morning. if she hasn't rung us by lunchtime he'll ring her again.

(I should explain that we live in a shared ownership house, but it was bought through a scheme called DIYSO and we have a "full repairing lease" which means we have to pay for all repairs ourselves rather than the housing association paying for them; we arrange our own contents insurance, but the buildings insurance has to be arranged by the housing association. They just tell us each year how much the premium is and we just pay it.)

Sooo.....no central heating or hot water for a while, but hey, we have plenty of warm clothing, a couple of portable heaters, a microwave and a slow cooker, a hotel nearby if we get desperate, and, most importantly, we're still alive! :beer:

Gas pipe from street to meter is replaced by the the gas co. (They feed a plastic one up inside it, so no digging required.)

Frugalsod

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

Mince eh? It's beans for us... :rotfl:
I've been reading the posts about where to keep cash with interest. If we really believe that property and stocks etc are so massively overvalued (and likely to crash, which doesn't necessarily follow) the only sensible option is to invest in hard assets. Gold is traditional, although also overvalued at the moment IMO, so I think the best investments are likely to be in tools and equipment to improve life in a difficult world. Maybe we could get a deal on a bulk pitchfork order

While I agree that a crash or financial crisis is coming it may take a lot longer than anyone expects before it appears. Housing bubbles last longer than anyone expects. Though I look at this as a way to prepare for it, not to dismiss it. Globally there is far too much private debt and leverage about and that will have to unwind eventually. How is another matter.

Yes spending your cash into hard assets is one idea, but the problem I perceive is that even these will plummet in value when there is a crash. So even farmland will fall in value. The only real issue is the relative performance of each asset, which will fall the least. The reason that the very rich have been investing in hard assets is because they fear inflation and so have been buying rare cars and paintings with abandon, as these are good inflation hedges. Though considering that inflation has not taken off like they expected is why they will lose even more. Don't forget that nearly all economists have been wildly optimistic about growth and inflation. Those that are more Austrian leanings have been worried about inflation but after 7 years of excessively loose monetary policy globally it is nowhere to be seen. Most economists should be collecting unemployment benefit considering how wrong they have been with their forecasts. Even our Chancellor has had to put back his forecasts of fiscal balance back every year for 4 years.

As for gold I am not sure either way. The majority of people who promote gold are traders so have a massive vested interest in it. Or are pushing for a return to the gold standard, which is very deflationary in its own way. In a deflationary environment even gold will fall in value. Though once debt free I will consider buying some gold coins for long term, though not as an investment, but as a store of wealth to avoid keeping cash in banks. Plus they are highly portable in a real crisis.

I do agree in investing in tools. Though things that you can actually use. If you can make them pay for themselves by making things then all the better. Even a knitting machine could be handy. Though cash will be valuable, as long as it is not in a bank. So even while the central banks have printed trillions of dollars, euros and pounds when the next crash much of this money will lost as asset values fall. So inflation will not rip through the economy like some claim.

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

Trouble of that sort is best anticipated and avoided rather than confronted if you can. Planning ahead, so that you don't have to go out for supplies in an emergency, could be a big help with that if social unrest broke out. If trouble breaks out we'd be aiming to keep a low profile and not be a target if at all possible. Weapons would be a last resort.

In some respects we already have a good example to guide us re social unrest. The 2011 riots and looting will be a good blueprint of what to expect. The fact that in many areas people were still able to do many things during the day did minimise the impact on many people. I think that if social unrest does break out most people will be in the same boat, and so there will be a blitz spirit. Even rioters will need food etc, and it will be very localised to start with. Though I think that the triggers will be something like benefit cuts or abolition of employment protection rights.

Though it could get as violent as this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTVKSyX3yXs

ivyleaf

jk0 wrote: »

Gas pipe from street to meter is replaced by the the gas co. (They feed a plastic one up inside it, so no digging required.)

Thanks jkO, but unfortunately the leak is in the internal pipe, between the meter and the cooker

Ryanna2599

Frugalsod wrote: »

So I have bought a safe and will keep some cash in it but the bulk of my cashflow will be to clear debts and then invest in things that will help me cope with an inevitable downturn. I am looking at a dehydrator so I can store foods for a long time without the need for a freezer. Things that can lower my cost of living and have a high payback rate like insulation etc.

We're also trying to invest in the house (getting it reroofed with extra insulation) and buying useful things to help in the future, such as a dehydrator at the end of last year... I don't see how else to invest our meagre savings at the time being and as for pensions I've got many years before I become eligible (if that ever happens). Like many other people my retirement age has been increased and my work pension is a money purchase scheme linked to the stock market.

Another thing to be mindful of at the moment is the Dock Workers strike in the US at the moment. There are thousands of freight ships waiting to dock...which may lead to shortages of food and other items. If that happens and is reported by the MSM I don't know if people in the UK may start a run on stocking up at the supermarkets leading to empty shelves here...? The other knock on effect may be on items sourced from the US, eg rice - potential shortage or price hikes. Time to add some to my supplies I think...

jamanda

Hi,


Just delurking to thank Frugalsod and others for their clear, logical and commonsense posts regarding the economic situation. You are able to put into concise prose that which is fluttering around in my mind, and I'm finding the posts very helpful in clarifying my thoughts.


Thanks


J

Perplexed_Pineapple

Frugalsod wrote: »

While I agree that a crash or financial crisis is coming it may take a lot longer than anyone expects before it appears. Housing bubbles last longer than anyone expects. Though I look at this as a way to prepare for it, not to dismiss it. Globally there is far too much private debt and leverage about and that will have to unwind eventually. How is another matter.

Yes spending your cash into hard assets is one idea, but the problem I perceive is that even these will plummet in value when there is a crash. So even farmland will fall in value. The only real issue is the relative performance of each asset, which will fall the least. The reason that the very rich have been investing in hard assets is because they fear inflation and so have been buying rare cars and paintings with abandon, as these are good inflation hedges. Though considering that inflation has not taken off like they expected is why they will lose even more. Don't forget that nearly all economists have been wildly optimistic about growth and inflation. Those that are more Austrian leanings have been worried about inflation but after 7 years of excessively loose monetary policy globally it is nowhere to be seen. Most economists should be collecting unemployment benefit considering how wrong they have been with their forecasts. Even our Chancellor has had to put back his forecasts of fiscal balance back every year for 4 years.

As for gold I am not sure either way. The majority of people who promote gold are traders so have a massive vested interest in it. Or are pushing for a return to the gold standard, which is very deflationary in its own way. In a deflationary environment even gold will fall in value. Though once debt free I will consider buying some gold coins for long term, though not as an investment, but as a store of wealth to avoid keeping cash in banks. Plus they are highly portable in a real crisis.

I do agree in investing in tools. Though things that you can actually use. If you can make them pay for themselves by making things then all the better. Even a knitting machine could be handy. Though cash will be valuable, as long as it is not in a bank. So even while the central banks have printed trillions of dollars, euros and pounds when the next crash much of this money will lost as asset values fall. So inflation will not rip through the economy like some claim.

I totally agree but you only have to look at the varied claims made by professional economists (which change all the time anyway) to see that no-one can really foresee what will happen.

Frugalsod wrote: »

In some respects we already have a good example to guide us re social unrest. The 2011 riots and looting will be a good blueprint of what to expect. The fact that in many areas people were still able to do many things during the day did minimise the impact on many people. I think that if social unrest does break out most people will be in the same boat, and so there will be a blitz spirit. Even rioters will need food etc, and it will be very localised to start with. Though I think that the triggers will be something like benefit cuts or abolition of employment protection rights.

Though it could get as violent as this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTVKSyX3yXs

I've read that the "blitz spirit" was in part a propoganda item created by the government of the time to keep up morale, there was still looting and robbery going on although of course a lot of people gave their time and risked their safety to help others.
Like the video