Excellent input!

Your ideas on investing in producing assets are something I’ve been bouncing around in my head for the past couple months, especially as I’ve become an avid reader of John Robb’s Global Guerrillas blog.

I find myself trying to balance common-sense prevention and sustainable living with the apocalyptic, survival-nut thinking of some. I think that many in the survival community spend their whole life in fear of impending doom and whether they’re prepared for it or not, that’s a terrible way to live. Yet they also have some valid points!

The renewable energy sources sound great, but how long would a small wind turbine, for example, have to operate before it made up for it’s initial cost in energy savings? Or is the goal to have it as an energy supply in case of emergency? Probably both I would guess.

“We grew up in a society which assumed perpetual economic growth. Due to bad government, corruption and a changing world, that assumption is in grave doubt.” — very well put!

The entrepreneurial spirit of America has made our economy resilient in the past, but I’m not sure if it will be enough to overcome the gross govt mismanagement of the past several years. Our national debt situation is nauseating and it appears no one seems to care that much on Capitol Hill.

Your final point is spot on – we simply cannot rely on the govt to ensure future security and prosperity.

The part about generosity in hard times is vital but often overlooked. Everyone who survived the Great Depression seemed to have a tale of a generous soul rescuing them.

As a part of D-I-Y & diversifying investments, putting money into producing assets (as opposed to paper assets) may be a timely idea. Examples? Hydroponics to grow food, food processing machines, reloading equipment for ammunition, a premium sewing machine, rental of garden plots, and renewable energy (solar cells, solar heaters, small wind turbines). Hand-in-glove with this concept is turning leisure activities into productive ones, such as gardening. The additional value here is ensuring a supply of necessities even if the money and/or supply systems fail.

A final area isn’t really financial advice, but it certainly effects finances. Failed health and failed marriages ruin financial well-being. Attending to basic health concerns is essential to avoid disastrous medical bills arising from chronic ailments. It never hurts to walk through the cost of a failed marriage with a spouse – the good news is the great financial benefit of a healthy marriage.

We grew up in a society which assumed perpetual economic growth. Due to bad government, corruption and a changing world, that assumption is in grave doubt. Unless someone lives in Washington DC, a person doesn’t have to look too far to find a former white-collar professional with a master’s degree flipping burgers or sweeping floors. Our economy is in real trouble and there isn’t recovery in sight. The vital message of generosity needs to ring through – government can’t bail us out of this one on its own. We have to help our family, friends and neighbors.

Thanks for the shout, I agree completely that finding balance with your money is the ultimate goal and often one of the most challenging aspects of personal finance and life.