“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” — Harry S. Truman
Experts are debating whether the US and inevitably the world economy is headed for a recession.
Currently opinions among economists are split at about 50-50 to whether the US will experience recession in 2008. Other economists say that fear of a recession could help to cause one. And still others claim we are already in a recession.
If the economy is heading for recession, what should you do? Should we just plan on standing in soup lines and getting government cheese? Or is there a better way?
Here are 9 ways to recession proof your life you can start today…
Recession proof you:
1. Pay off credit - Probably one of the most powerful recession proofing moves you can make is to pay off all your debt. Paying off your credit means you won’t be a slave to your bills. It gives you the power of your paycheck and interest when you place money into investments.
- Sell off to pay off
- Pay off your smallest credit first
- Increase credit card payments without charging more
2. Delay gratification - Long gone are the days of allowing 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
Now almost every business is designed to provide immediate gratification. You want to rent a movie? Fire up iTunes and watch it - now. Want some new software? Download it - now. Want a new gadget or gizmo? Order it today get it tomorrow via free overnight delivery.
What this “fast service” sets us up for is a feeling of need for immediate gratification. However, immediate gratification also hits your wallet very hard.
3. Develop long-term savings goals - How much money do you want to have when you retire? Starting earlier on that savings plan than later always works out better than starting later.
Recession proof your Work
1. Develop your niche - As you work at your career, moving toward a specialization is what brings in the bigger bucks. What is your specialty? What do people need from you the most? That is likely your specialty or niche that if honed will
2. Learn more - I sometimes hear stories of employees turning down free training. An employer offers to send you off to skills development training and you say no? Why would someone do that? Training offers opportunities to grow. It is also a good way to get away from the daily grind and give your mind some new ideas. But long term, it means more money in your pocket because you’ll develop new skills.
3. Take on the hard jobs - What are some of the jobs you can do well, but other people hate? For me, it’s marketing analytics (statistics). I love doing it, but others either don’t have the patience or simply hate the constant anylizing… By becoming the analytics guy, I become recession proof because if they get rid of me, then someone has to step up and do it.
What “hard job” do you actually like that you can volunteer to do? By doing it, you become the hero, the person they have to keep around.
Recession proof your family
1. Get your spouse/partner to sign on - Family men and women, it’s critical to get your “better half” to sign on. If you are saving but your partner is spending, then you are countering each other’s efforts. Have a sitdown where you both can express your thoughts and feelings about money. Do you want to constantly be running from creditors? Or do you want a sense of freedom that financial independence provides? Talk it out and reach an agreement.
2. Teach your children to delay gratification - Kids want everything. It’s your job as a parent, or older sibling, to help teach them their wants will always exceed the money. This is a challenge when they face the pressure of other kids and their toys. I think the best way to do this is I teach my kids to make things. Whether it’s a woodcarving, origami, dream catchers or planting a terrarium, by making things, patience is a natural by product. Patience is also a key to to delaying gratification, obviously. And when they learn to build, they learn that they don’t necessarily have to buy something when they can make something of equal interest.
3. Involve your children in family savings goals - Help your kids learn not to spend every dime. When they get a gift from Aunt Rose or earn some money for vaccuming the floor, take a portion and put it into savings.
译文:
九种生活中抗经济衰退的方法
你邻居丢了工作是经济衰退，你丢了工作是经济萧条——Harry S. Truman
专家们争论着美国经济以及势必受其影响的世界经济是否正趋于衰退。近期，经济学家对于美国2008年是否会经历衰退的争论不相上下。另外有些经济学家认为，对经济衰退的担忧反而会导致衰退。也有一些认为我们已经处于衰退。
如果经济趋于衰退，我们该怎么做？我们只是袖手旁观依靠政府的力量吗？还是有其他更好的方法？
你现在就可以做以下九件事以抵御经济衰退影响你的生活。
个人抗经济衰退措施：
1.还清贷款：也许，你所能采取的来抵抗经济衰退的最有效措施是还清你所有的债务。还清贷款意味着你不用成为账单的奴隶，受其困扰。当你将资金用于投资，收益会成为你很大的能动力。
你应该：
a.廉价卖清实物来偿还债务
b.从还清你最轻的债务开始
c.增加你信用卡的还款而不是更多的消费
2. 延续客户的满意状态 ——企业在四到六周内完成交货的日子已经早已离我们远去。如今，几乎所有企业都给客户提供即时的服务使其满意。如果你希望租一部电影，使用itunes你就可以立即观赏。如果你想要得到一些软件，那么你可以通过下载。如果你想得到一个小配件或者小器具，今天订货，明天就可以通过免费的隔夜件收到。
3.设立长期的储蓄目标——当你退休的时候你希望能有多少钱?尽早的作出储蓄计划比晚决定要好。
职场抗经济衰退措施：
1.提高你的专项技能——在你事业生涯中，你的专业技能给你带来更大的资本。你的专业是什么？人们最希望从你这得到的是什么？那就是你的特长以及专项所在，也是你需要精心深入提高之处。
2.博学——我有时听员工讲他们拒绝免费培训的事。老板给你提供技能发展与培训的机会，你居然拒绝？为什么有人会这么做？通过培训各种机遇会因此成熟，它也是一种让你从日常工作中摆脱出来，让你的头脑有新鲜想法的好方法。而就长期来说，培训意味着你能赚更多的钱，因为你掌握了新的技术。
3.从事那些别人觉得有困难的工作——你能做的很好而别人讨厌的工作是什么？对我来说，市场分析（统计）就是这类工作：我喜欢统计分析而别人却因为没有耐心或者只是讨厌持久的分析而不喜欢。当我成为一个分析师时，我便抵抗了经济衰退，因为如果他们没有我，那就必须有人得到提升来做统计分析。
家庭抗经济衰退措施
1. 和你的配偶/伴侣签约——在一个家庭中，如果你和你的配偶签约会显得很挑剔。但是如果你在储蓄，你的配偶在花钱，那么你们在互相破坏对方的努力。找个你们能各自表达彼此对金钱想法和观点的地方好好地进行交流。你是否希望始终通过债权人维持生计？又或者你希望得到一种财政独立而带来的自由感？你们该把这些问题谈个明白并达成协议。
2.教你孩子持续他们的满意状态——孩子们想要所有一切。作为父母，或作为兄长，你们有义务教他们懂得他们所需求的始终是超过金钱的。当面对其他孩子带着玩具时，他们会感到压力，但这是一个很好的挑战。这种情况下，我认为我所能做的最好的办法就是教孩子自己制作。不管是木雕折纸，模拟接球手，还是在容器里饲养动物，通过制作一些东西，耐性是一种自然产物。显然，耐性也是持续孩子满意状态的关键。当他们学着去养成耐性，他们发现他们并不一定要去买一些东西，他们的制作有着同样的乐趣。
3.让你的孩子也参与储蓄计划——帮助你孩子让他学会不要乱使用每一角钱。当他们从亲戚那得到礼物或者因为打扫房间挣得钱，他们应学会从中取出一部分存储。