I've given a lot of thought to writing a diary like this, as I've begun my own preparation for what looks to be the next Great Depression -- all the signs point to it, and a lot of really smart Kossacks are talking about the potential. What I'm going to offer is by no means exhaustive, and I'd encourage readers to contribute their own ideas -- I'll be happy to add them to the diary.
A lot of this is common sense. But at the same time, Americans -- myself included -- are not always all about common sense. We're where we are now because we've ignored the advice of our parents, or our grandparents, who lived through the 1930s. So this is a way to get back to that. And if we don't enter a depression, you'll have picked up some sweet skills. I'll be picking some of them up myself.
There is one thing I am absolutely NOT looking for, and will troll-rate on sight: and that is people slamming others as stupid for living beyond their means. We've beaten that horse to death. This is my only rule for playing in this sandbox.
That said, below the fold... and read the comments! Some wonderful advice in there.
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