How To Survive The Global Credit Crunch Banking Crisis

By Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyo, The Free Advice Man

First of all, a WARNING!

The ideas I provide herein are primarily directed at people ages 40 and up, but may also benefit people between 18 and 39. Some of these ideas are strictly meant for adults, and are not suitable for minors. That said, this is a worded article, without graphics or pictures.

Foreword

At the time of this writing (October 11, 2008) the world financial crisis is spreading fast and wide, and it is eating up the savings and wiping out the security of countless tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, of Americans and Europeans, not to mention others around the world! Even if any overdue government intervention manages to slow down the escalation of this global financial fire-storm, even if such intervention manages to halt further disaster, millions of adults in their late 30s, 40s and older, especially those who were hoping to be able to retire in a few years, will end up in very dire circumstances! That is, unless they manage to get the kind of relatively wise advice that I am offering right here, right now!

We can argue till we are blue in our faces about who and what is exactly to blame for this very dangerous and painful situation, but the fact of the matter is that if you want to survive you are going to have to think and behave differently, because in a sense the problem was also caused by the cumulative effect of all those who wanted to get rich quick and/or make easy money, and who took privacy too far!

SIX PRACTICAL IDEAS ON HOW TO SURVIVE THESE VERY HARD TIMES
(Mind you: these ideas are for people living in North America and Europe)

1. Perhaps the single most intelligent and wise thing you can do is share living space and expenses with other adults who are also at risk of becoming homeless! But this idea works best if there is total intimacy between all adults living together. For example; a couple who can no longer afford the house they were living in find another couple in the same situation, who they find mentally and physically compatible, and with whom they are willing/desiring total intimacy with! The two couples find a small apartment with one fairly large bedroom and in order to cut on winter heating costs they sleep together in one King-size bed or two smaller beds put together! Of course this level of intimacy can only work if there is a mutual attraction and a mature, sharing, non-jealous, non-possessive attitude between all four persons. Ideally the couples should be bi or bi-tolerant. In this kind of intimacy it is possible to share food costs and other expenses much more effectively, thereby reducing overall costs and actually having the benefits of a relatively healthy and exciting six life! This kind of foursome relationship, call it a “closed-circle poly-amorous relationship”, requires safe-six practices (until such time as it can be considered safe to dispense of the use of prophylactics, etc.) and a mutuality of sharing that is truly void of any possibility of cheating and disloyalty! This kind of relationship is usually harder for men to accept, especially given their insecurities about women and their natural fear of other men, but if there is a total bi attraction between all persons then this can work to reduce costs by as much as 40% or more! In terms of car-pooling, buying food at wholesale prices in bulk, cooking rice and beans, sharing heat, space and pleasures, this is really a win-win idea! This kind of group living is also suitable for hetero swingers, but not as secure. Obviously sharing such relatively small spaces with people you are not attracted to is virtually impossible and potentially dangerous! A closed circle foursome can be a very safe way to live, even in terms of STDs, provided proper caution is taken at the beginning. Once the economy is relatively stable and sound again, then this kind of foursome relationship can also be beneficial in terms of acquiring serious property (a house big enough for more luxurious living).

2. Another idea, related to the first one, is forming a Group House situation, with a whole bunch of other adults who share almost identical political or religious views and life-styles! Needless to say, you will need to have a very intelligent set of House Rules, Regulations and Responsibilities List (printed and posted for all to see and abide by). Such a List must be created at the very first meeting to establish such a Group House, and everyone should have equal, open, democratic say in what will be on the List. Also, there should be a kind of mutual agreement on what I would call In-House Emergency Sponsorship for any individual or couple who unexpectedly lose their source of income, until they find another source. And there should be realistic limits to how far things can go, even in terms of Emergency Sponsorship. It is very important in such a Group House situation that all involved agree to furnish full documentation as to their actual legal identity and status and agree to have their personal and professional references checked! The last thing one wants is to come home and find out that someone broke into their room and stole stuff. Which is why it is also advisable to consider placing a cheap CCTV system in the common areas and hallways of the house, which may seem a bit expensive (for around $400 this can be solved) but is worth the added security!

3. When really hard times hit it is a very good idea to be willing to go to restaurants and food shops and find out if the manager or owner would be willing to give you some Food help, made up of end-of-day food items that would end up being thrown out or destroyed, so that you can then spend less cash on food! After all, you may need the cash for other things, including the rent, transportation and basic hygiene.

4. A group of families and/or childless couples can create a Group Discount Food-buying Cooperative Alliance! Imagine being able to put together a shopping list of food items for several dozen people and then going out with a small van and negotiating with retailers and/or wholesalers to be able to buy food in large bulk quantities at a lower per unit cost!
This is the general principle already in use behind COSTCO and Sam’s Club and other similar bulk discounters! Sure, the retailer or wholesaler might wonder why they have noticed fewer customers, but so what!? You have a right to create a cooperative joint food-buying scheme and do so without letting the retailers and wholesalers know.

5. If you are a single male or female in your late 30s or older and you are willing to marry up or just have a long-term relationship with someone much older then you can avoid the risk of going hungry and homeless during these hard times! The question is how flexible you are concerning the age difference (chances of someone 40 finding a wealthy 60 or 70 years old person are greater), and how attractive you can make yourself be. For this to work you should lower your expectations in terms of physical appearance and condition. If the person has a nice home, enough money and a nice temperament then that is all that matters. For this purpose there are Internet dating schemes and you can always pay close attention to your local news and changes in the status of persons.

6. Creating a Super-Tent Emergency Housing Community! Individual tents by themselves are not suitable during the cold months of winter, but imagine if you formed a group of several dozen couple, or families and decided to purchase a large Circus Tent or even just a large Outdoor Events Tent! And then you cover the ground with wood crate suspenders (the hollow wood-framed things used by forklifts to lift stuff), on top of which are placed sheets of artificial plastic grass or simple water-proof nylon coverings. You then set up all the individual tents within this larger group tent and in the middle of the large group tent (Circus Tent) you place an empty steel barrel that will be used to burn heating logs! In even colder climates you might want to double the concept! A Large Circus Tent in which several smaller Event Tents are erected, within which individual tents are erected! And you contract with a portable potty (toilet) company and a company to provide clean drinking water in large volume bottles! Also, you make a deal with a local church or other religious establishment or even a motel to have a shower room available! You can organize and finance this with the help of local not-for-profit organizations, local government and social activist groups. The local city council should be willing to provide a publicly owned space for this purpose, preferably one that is fenced-in and with a volunteer group to insure that only legitimate tenants come in and out! Security can best be insured by a volunteer group who would insure that tents are padlocked and that no one is threatening anyone else.