RRC Archives

So, I read the Lexington paper most days, and spend a little bit of time on cnn.com, msnbc.com, and supertopo.com (seriously). I understand the the news likes to talk doom and gloom, since it sells more ad space, but with each day bringing some new, and many times, serious, bad news, what do you think the next couple years is going to be like? Yes, a lot of the problems are self-inflected - over reliance on oil, overuse/abuse of easy credit, overextending, etc. But, even if you are on solid economic ground, these issues will end up effecting everyone, sooner or later. Do you have a plan for dealing with a downturn, whether it be short or longer term? I know that there are always ways to survive and even prosper, even during severe economic depressions. Just wondering if anyone has really put much thought into the what ifs?

Wes: this is a political post. Shame on you.

smaller houses, fewer kids on average,

try to stay put and buy, in general focus on earning interest (no matter how small) instead of paying interest, live less extravagantly to make this so

go greener, ride the bicycle, think about water catchment options at home, composting toilets, sunlight

avoid processed food, avoid cheap chains (Hardee's, McD's etc.), cook at home, plant a garden, freeze and / or can, eat less (or no) meat.

get involved in local government to promote X area of green space in the city for Y area of new development.

end our presence in foreign countries and focus on solving our problems at home (it is time for more of a world-united effort), put more resources into the study of alternate fuels and space exploration instead of defense.

amen. definitely try to live greener.
however, we all need to watch ourselves in the hesitation to procreate. who is going to be in the workforce to pay our social security and medicare when we get old?

if i hit hard times soon, it's time to at last live like a hippie out of my car and chop wood under the table to support my climbing habit.

I would think we all, if we truly cared, would quit driving to the Red to climb, which wastes ton of natural resources.

PS- What time do we leave tomorrow Caribe?

Does anyone know of a 4 wheel drive vehicle that gets good gas mileage? If not 4 wheel drive than at least a vehicle that can make it into the pmrp repeatedly without sustaining damage. It seems that the biggest obstacle to climbing will be rising gas prices.

caribe, Some nice ideas, but seems like most are pretty long term. And being green is nice and all, but I think that will be the first causality of any downturn - people would gladly pay $2 a gallon for gas, even if it causes twice the pollution. Already, demand for organics is decreasing, while their cost is increasing. Seems like it costs more to live a "green" lifestyle then not, and when you start having to chose between being green or really cutting back on your lifestyle, which do you think will go first?

Lexington, and KY in general has missed most of the worst of it, so far. But for how long?

wes, I think you are looking for the practical things. eating out less (or none at all), never driving your car with just one person in it, all lights off when not in use, thermostat adjusted, save more, spend less, buy store brand foods, not spending frivolously (movies, clothes shopping, new draws) etc.

reality is all of us have been over consumers for so long, that it feels like punishment to cut back.

Yeah, those are nice day to day things, and that will pay off. But, what about strategic planning? How will your sources of bills and income change? Are there better careers then others during a downturn? Should homeowners get out now while they can still get most of their money back, or be prepared to wait out any slump in prices? If you have a nice car (with ave. payment), should you sell it, maybe take a hit, and get something much less nice? Take your money out of the bank? Spread it around to other places?

JeffCastro wrote:Does anyone know of a 4 wheel drive vehicle that gets good gas mileage? If not 4 wheel drive than at least a vehicle that can make it into the pmrp repeatedly without sustaining damage. It seems that the biggest obstacle to climbing will be rising gas prices.

Pontiac Vibe.

30 mpg and has never bottomed out or spun tires getting in or out of the pmrp and thats more than I have seen from the all mighty Outback. Not to mention that the Vibe is way more comfortably, better designed and cheaper with better gas mileage.