Just some initial suggestions. I will be ammending this page periodically.
Consolidate any debt you may have now ! Negotiate fixed interest rates with your lender even if these are higher than those you pay now. There is a possibility that at some stage the interest rates will rise higher, much higher. Imagine that your mortgage lender will ask you to pay 12% or 20% interest. Will you be able to pay your monthly fees ? Will that house be ever yours ?
Do your self-sufficiency check. Are there any aspects of your life where you are totally dependent on government, governmental agencies or "automated" supply systems (food stores, electricity, gas, water, etc). Now imagine that the agency or supply chain fails. How long are you and your loved ones going to survive without them and what would you need to do. This analysis can easily identify your vulnerable areas.
http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse/chapter-20-what-should-i-do
Only keep enough cash in your bank for your routine, necessary and expected expenditures.
Most of EU/UK/US banks are full of debt. If the system fails the bank failures will spread throughout the world like a wild fire. The situation is deteriorating now. EU politicians only have a "plan to have a plan". Runs on the banks are not impossible. One day you may wake up with the banks closed and your account inaccessible. ATM machines will be empty within minutes. Shortly afterwards there will be panic buying. Shops will take cash but credit cards would not work. This is of course a SHTF scenario but it can happen and you will not be warned ahead !!
Do not keep your savings in cash. Do not invest into any paper based assets denominated in USD, GBP or Euro. The current crisis is indeed a credit/debt bubble. The international banking system and other speculators created wast amount of "derivatives" or IOY (I Owe You) papers based on nothing else than debt. They sold this junk to other banks, pension funds, etc. Wast sums of credit or "money" are required to service this pyramid scheme. Governments are trying to prevent collapse of the scheme by printing more "money" (a.k.a. QE). This is creating inflation (rising prices), which is destroying the value of currency, i.e. savings, pensions, salaries, etc. There is a real possibility of "hyperinflation" phase that could eliminate pensions, savings and other similar assets totally.
Hyperinflation if Germany 1923: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI1i5yhwOz8
Inflation in the US today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7fPh7wEyI8&feature=related
Use your savings wisely. Obviously, if you have no savings and no spare money you can just relax and "watch the show". Otherwise:
Consider buying gold and silver. Even if the metals seem overpriced they still are a very good hedge against the coming inflation.Gold has been the store of value for centuries. Coins are very liquid and tradeable even in SHTF situation. If you measure the price of oil in gold...it has not changed for years. If you measure the price of oil in £/$/€ it has gone up tremendously. What does it tell you ?
30 year gold price: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7284184.stm
Why gold(complex): http://goldsilver.com/video/debt-collapse-20-000-gold-mike-maloney/
Why silver (simple): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKzNVrZ5Q_s&feature=fvwrel
Where to buy physical metal: http://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/
Goldmoney: http://www.goldmoney.com/how-it-works.html
Buy food with long shelf life and other items of daily use in bulk and store these at home if you can. This will save you money by buying at lower prices. If hyperinflation occurs, people may need to spend everything they have just for food. Remember, any major economic hit could mean panic buying in which case shops will be empty within days. If you have supplies at home to keep you going for at least 6 months you are likely to withstand the first impact and then adjust to the new conditions better.
Food price inflation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMyCet5oIWA
Empty UK shops due to snow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=145lHsoI1qc&feature=related
When SHTF .....
Further advice on more comprehensive and rather more "crazy" survival strategies can be found here:
Analytical Survival http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnENYaKJUV4&feature=BFa&list=SP7ABCD5802D03363E&index=4
PLEASE BEWARE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS COMPILED FROM MANY SOURCES. IT IS NEITHER PRECISE NOR EXHAUSTIVE. THE PURPOSE IS TO STIMULATE YOUR INTEREST AND SELF-EDUCATION. I AM NOT AN EXPERT. YOU ARE ADVISED NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION BASED ON THE ABOVE INFORMATION WITHOUT EXERTING YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE, YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND USING YOUR OWN BRAIN. I CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE OR LOSSES YOU MAY SUFFER BY FOLLOWING THE ABOVE ADVICE.
