More TW Tips for the Global Recession

What's wrong with this man? He is a trader on the NYSE, and has just received $700 billion dollars from you and I, the American taxpayers. He should be happy, but instead he looks as if he might hurl. Maybe he knows something we don't?

We are still not in a recession. When we do finally get there, and our fearless leaders tell us that we are there, most likely, we will look just like this man. The important thing now, is not to dwell on how stupid we taxpayers were to give this man $700 billion, but to prepare yourself for the coming hard times. Many of us, are without basic survival skills, having learned to rely on Pizza Hut, or McDonalds to provide dinner or lunch. Cooking Is a Survival Skill. And there is good news people. If you can boil water, you can cook. There are lots of inexpensive dinners you can make if you can learn this one skill. Pasta, rice, vegetables, soup, stew...all sorts of things can be made for dinner using just this one skill. The upside to cooking, is that in the winter, when you are freezing your canolies off because you can't afford to turn on the heat, gathering the family in the kitchen around the stove can prevent frostbite.

In my last TW recession tip post, I suggested going down into the basement to look for clothes from the 80's and 90's. I did just that today, and found many things to wear, but very few that still fit. Sewing Is a Survival Skill, although, I have to admit, it is much more difficult than boiling water. The first time I tried to sew a button on, I gave up after trying to get the thread through the needle. There are needles that you can buy that already have the thread put through the eye of the needle. I have found that these are also quite frustrating if you have poor eye sight, I stuck myself with the pre-threaded needles a dozen times before I gave up. But don't worry. If you can't sew, I've found another way to make a size 8 fit like a size 12. Take your shirts, it works best with heavier cotton things like sweats and t-shirts, douse them with water, and then gently tug on them as they dry, being careful not to tug too hard. After about 4 hours of gentle tugging, your sweat pants and shirts will fit. Do Not Ever Put Them In The Dryer Again.

Here's another tip. Don't Sell The Mini-van. Gas prices are coming down. I know, I know, you can't afford to go anywhere. But the mini-van is roomy and comfortable, and if you lose your home, with gas so cheap, it might be cheaper to huddle the kids into the mini van during the winter, than renting an apartment. If you still have your house, you might be able to rent out the mini-van to a family not so fortunate. The kids might not like it, and try to escape the warmth, but that's what car seats are for.

Buckle up. We're in for a rough ride.

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