Saving Money

I've been thinking a lot about potential future situations. Although I often think 'worst case scenario' (strange flu pandemic turns everyone into brain-eating zombies, thus requiring remaining survivors to stay behind locked doors), it's more likely that this economy will sink into a depression that lasts for years... or even decades.

Obviously, food storage (and ammo storage) could be useful in an economic depression, since they could help stretch a paycheck, provide security during a time when government resources are limited, and give us the freedom of self-reliance to a certain degree. Hubby's job (medical) may still have some demand, but that doesn't make him immune to layoffs (even medical people will be scooping up whatever work they can). And if he can't work for some reason, we're shit-out-of-luck, since my profession is writing/editing. Not exactly a high-demand job during a time of economic hardship, you know?

So though food storage is useful, I've also been thinking more and more about building up a cash reserve. I suppose, if the dollar isn't worth shit, my money in the bank won't be worth shit either. But just in case it turns into a matter of skyrocketing unemployment and high (but not astronomical) food prices, I'd like to have a little nest egg stashed away.

Unfortunately, I am the "spender" in my family. I do a lot of it online (hence, my Lenten sacrifice), and the UPS guy knows me by name. I recently took over all the bill paying in my household. It used to be Hubby's job, but I thought that I might resist spending a bit if I was in charge of the household budget.

For the next few months, I'm going to try to spend less, save more, and possibly earn more (although magazines haven't been beating down my doors with writing assignments lately). I want to get a handle on our budget (especially now that Hubby's salary has decreased) and figure out where our spending leaks really are.