Prepare for What’s Happening to America - The Finances

In my last post, an article entitled, What Happened to America? The Change, I outlined eight shifts that were taking place in the new America. In the next eight posts I’ll share a few thoughts on what we might do to prepare for our new America. The first of the eight is reprinted below:

1. America's Lack of Financial Management: Our national debt will continue out of control and more and more government programs will be cut. America's time of leading the world in economic matters is over. We will begin to feel this in our everyday lives. Manufacturing jobs are gone forever and service jobs are all that remain for the masses. Our standard of living is going to continue to decline, public services will decline and the pressure to live day to day will become the priority for more and more people. Obamacare will increase costs beyond what any of us can imagine and, it will reduce health service to a crawl, and get worse each year. 

One of the hallmarks of the present administration is our of control spending. Our national debt is out of control and will continue out of control. Government programs will be cut as we proceed into 2014 and the voters will eventually realize where we’re headed and begin to respond, each in their own ways.  The standard of living for most American’s will never be what the baby boomers have enjoyed. Your children will not enjoy the same benefits of living in America you have enjoyed.s going to continue to decline, public services will decline and the pressure to live day to day will become the priority for more and more people.

So what can we do within our own circle of influence to prepare for our coming financial problems? Lets look at a few simple things everyone can do right now.

1. Budget: While this is something we should be doing anyway, most people don’t. Right now you need to realize that now more than ever you better have a household budget. Get your finances as close to right as you can. The goal is to be independent, not dependent.
2. Question Every Expenditure: If you and your family are going to be independent and survive the years ahead you’re not going to be going out buying the latest video games, having vacations all over or even buying that new car. Decide the difference between a want and a need. Most Americans don’t know the difference. 
3. Investments: If you’re lucky enough to have investments be careful. Never place all your eggs in one basket and while the stock market may have hit 15,000 plus yesterday, its a legal Ponzi Scheme manipulated by America’s new ruling elite. There is no rhyme or reason it hit 15,000. It is not performance based. Make sure you have your eyes open and your pocket book closed. There is a collapse coming because no family, corporation or government can continue to print money and succeed.
4. Safety Net: If you’ve ever experienced serious personal or family struggles you know that your true friends are few. The same will be true in the new America. That means the government isn’t here to help. Get real. Prepare yourself and your family for the new America where financial stability will be enjoyed by only a few. You should prepare both financially and physically to survive at least three months without work, grocery stores or city services if you happen to live in a city. We’ll talk more about this specifically but think through what money you would need, what food and water you would need. Understand, this isn’t doomsday stuff this is simply reality. If you choose not to, and know it is a choice, you choose for you and your family to spend time down at the local community center with a few thousand of your closest friends.

For now, lets leave it at the items above. Its a start. What’s important is to ‘start’. Don’t say you can’t afford it. What are you spending on satellite, booze, cigarettes ... it can be done. Eat the elephant of preparation one bite at a time.

Be Ready ...