this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025
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Banks are estimating 65% odds, people are dumping us Treasury bonds, there is reporting of a purposeful weakening of the dollar, and I'm seeing the first price hikes enacted. Any suggestions for how to prepare for the shitstorm that's coming?

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[–] compostgoblin@slrpnk.net 47 points 2 weeks ago

Right now, nothing, really. There’s a lot of confusion and volatility at the moment, so I’m trying to keep a cool head rather than react blindly. I’m going to keep my head down at work, keep contributing to my 401k like normal, not make major unexpected purchases, and maybe re-up on some bulk staples. If shit keeps getting worse, I’ll adapt from there

[–] Blackout@fedia.io 31 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

By getting into a great depression

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

That's awesome!.... An awesome depression!

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I was already trying not to spend money on anything, so I'm pretty set.

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 14 points 2 weeks ago

The best way to prepare for a recession is to be part of the cause of a recession.
It's dumb, but it's true. I'm doing the same thing.

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

Like others here, there's not much extra I can do. My job seems very stable, I have no auto loans, both the family cars are in okay condition, I have a fixed rate mortgage, health is okay, and aside from one small loan I am paying back the debts aren't bad.

A bottle of things I need to revisit:

  • I stocked up on non-perishable foods that my family will eat. But I need to do a bit more on this front.
  • I'm trying to cut back on extra spending. This is the biggest problem I have right now. Mostly due to unexpected bills and death-by-a-thousand-cuts small purchases.
[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I just filled my closet, my sons closet and my daughters closet with toilet paper. Also shoved som in the garage.

[–] ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 2 weeks ago

Bon appetite!

[–] Blaze@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] mesamunefire@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Dont you know everyone on the internet is American /s ?

[–] CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee 7 points 2 weeks ago

Like in 2007, a US recession can easily lead to a global recession so I wouldn't be so quick to think this will be isolated to the US.

[–] Irelephant@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

I'd say this is going to affect us as well.

[–] Ziggurat@jlai.lu 8 points 2 weeks ago

Unpopular opinion but Don't panic.

It's been decade that economy has been shit for real people with crisis starting before the previous one finished, high unemployment, stagnating wages, expensive real estate and more

If you're rich enough to be impacted by stock market collapsing you're already way above average.

Sure it's not making things better, and not the moment to change job, but it's been shit for a while and will stay shitty. The era when boomer could find a job without any degree, get a living wage with yearly raise and promotions is over.

[–] CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

My job's unlikely to go anywhere unless I commit a heinous crime and I already live well below my means in terms of required expenses.

I'm probably going to be fine, but just in case I intend to increase my cash savings and stock up a bit on nonperishable food and other required household goods.

Other than that there's not a lot of prep I can do.

[–] ILoveUnions@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Same for me. As long as people are still shipping things my job will be safe. My hours slimmed, sure, but I've got enough seniority to ride out lay offs

[–] CobblerScholar@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

Learning as much as possible about self sustained living. Even if the worst doesn't come to pass I'm still going to be less reliant on multi billion dollar companies that don't give a fuck about anything but taking more of my money from me. Me growing my own food is the most satisfying middle finger I can give to those greedy fucks

[–] Opinionhaver@feddit.uk 7 points 2 weeks ago

For the past 10 years I've already lived as if I'm going to lose my job tomorrow. I'm probably better prepaired than the vast majority of people though I still don't feel that way so I just keep saving and investing more while trying to live as cheap as possible. Ironically though my work situation has never been as busy as it's now. My job is recession-proof(ish) and I can't be fired so atleast there's that.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Not a whole lot I can do beyond what I already have done for unrelated reasons:

  • mortgage is on fixed interest.
  • car loan is mostly funded by some extra money I have coming my way.
  • employment contract is pretty solid and includes a hefty severance package if ended prematurely.
[–] sxan@midwest.social 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We're in a similar boat:

  • low, fixed-rate mortgage - we got lucky in the timing.
  • cars are paid off, but one is overdue for being replaced. Soon, it's going to start costing more to keep running than it's worth.
  • have severance, but with the mortgage, and cost of gas & electricity, it won't last long.

Also, we have no other debt. We'd be fine if the market weren't on a slide.

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I just replaced my car, mostly due to upkeep costs. But while I can manage the car loan as it stands right now, once my grandparents' house is sold, almost all of my share will go into the car loan.

The severance obviously won't last forever (6 months-ish), but I live in a "socialist hellscape scandinavian country" (Glenn Beck told me so, I didn't know how awful I had it until I accidentally watched Fox News in 2008), so even if it takes me a while to land a job I'm not too worried. Plus I have plenty ty of c9ntacts in my current field of work, so even if things were to go to hell, I'm sure I'll land on my feet.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I live in a "socialist hellscape scandinavian country"

You lucky bastard. You looking to adopt an older married couple?

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Unfortunately I barely have the mental bandwidth to handle a girlfriend, four kids, and two cats.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

But you could have 6 kids, and 4 cats!

[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's wild some people don't take mortages in fixed values. Especially when it's already low.

And if rates goes lower, you can renegotiate your fix one.

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

An adjustable rate is the right choice of you're confident rates will drop and you can accept the risk of being wrong.

[–] JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 2 weeks ago

Just waiting for the government services i rely on to disappear pretty much

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Leaving the country and padding my reserves

I know it's gonna hit everyone, but I'm trying to mitigate the impact

[–] gigachad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Rule #1 of investing: if it looks like a scam I invest

Rule #2: fight club

[–] Stamau123@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

I bought canned goods and clothes at costco. Just got my taxes, gonna do it again.

[–] midori_matcha@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

I'm just digging a hole in the ground

[–] pezhore@infosec.pub 3 points 2 weeks ago

I'm getting back into small scale hydroponics. I have a decent setup from IKEA containers to grow a few leafy greens, and we're starting some raised planters for beans, peppers, and tomatoes. It's not enough to fully survive without a trip to the grocery store but it's something.

[–] Sequentialsilence@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Getting ready to buy as many stocks as I can, I need a retirement plan, and if I can get in while markets are low, I can retire in 10 years.

[–] GrumpyDuckling@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

Saving scrap metal instead of putting it out for the scrap guy. Scrap is going to be way up. Before tarriffs I did a bunch of maintenence and repairs on the vehicles, so they should be good for awhile. Will probably start focusing on what I'm going to be selling off and finding stuff to flip for a profit (sorry not sorry). I'm thinking about starting an automotive repair business since new car sales will likely slump and people will keep cars longer.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 weeks ago

I just made a shopping list of bulk items im going to stock up on tomorrow. Just staples like four, rice, beans, pasta and stuff like that for now but I might start doing some small scale gardening. I only have a tiny patio to work with so probably potato buckets and small herb garden. Other than that, its just kinda wait and see i guess.

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I buy everything I know I'm going to need in bulk, and spent the last seven months adding extra goods to my pantry. For example, I never needed toilet paper during COVID.

Other than that, I'm just saving money every paycheck and living within my means. I will spend every spare dollar buying stock and crypto while prices are depressed, though. It's like a steam sale for your pocketbook.

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

The only thing I did recently was buy a replacement device for one I had that was crapping the bed and would need to be purchased soon anyways, but decided to buy something now before it completely died just in case prices sharply rose in the next few months.

Other than that, nothing really. I am putting away as much money as I can in savings, avoiding large purchases/being generally frugal, and taking good care of my things so they last as long as possible. Life's not perfect, but I'm making as soft a cushion as possible in case things do get worse.

Not to say the future is set in stone or that we shouldn't be worried, but even the Great Depression only lasted about a decade, and it's still crazy to me just how quickly the last one went by. I have a place to live, enough money put away that I could probably last it out that long one way or another if I was laid off tomorrow, and a generally supportive community around me where people look out for one another.

But I'm lucky, I know not everyone else can say the same, so I hope you're all doing alright out there.

[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 1 points 2 weeks ago

Not much I can do, really. I can't just run off and get tanks and such for kerosene (heat if we lose power) and diesel (the tractor I use in my fields) in any meaningful quantity.

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I'm.pulling all my money from the bank so I can have it ready to buy as many houses and condos that I can when we reach bottom.... LOL s/