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#210045 - 10/21/10 06:17 AM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Richlacal]
MostlyHarmless Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/03/09
Posts: 982
Loc: Norway
Originally Posted By: Richlacal
Repairmen/Craftsman will Always be in demand wherever there are, Actual Homes/Apts/Bldgs Occupied by People!


Yes, but Ferfal's point is that there will be A LOT of unskilled, semi-skilled and highly skilled craftsmen offering their services. High competition means the prices for your services go down. At the same time, inflation means the price for everything else goes up. Which means that if you work as a craftsman/handyman you will have a hard time making enough money to sustain a family. You will (probably) work 16 hour days and STILL not make enough money to feed and school your children, maintain your house and so on.


Being able to import and sell supplies (pipes, nails, whatever) to those craftsmen seems like a much better business idea.


If you're able to deliver a service that everyone needs (and will pay for), but no one else is offering, then that is a different story.

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#210050 - 10/21/10 10:23 AM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: redflare]
quick_joey_small Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/13/09
Posts: 571
Loc: UK
> What does he consider a "recession proof profession"?

In the early 90s reccession, I asked my accountant what would be a good business to start. He had every sort of small business and tradesmen on his books. Most were struggling. Two were raking it in, even though they had to pay council taxes of £2,000 pound a week.
They both had pornography shops in Londons red light district :-)
qjs

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#210051 - 10/21/10 12:03 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: redflare]
Eugene Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/26/02
Posts: 2995
"recession proof profession" Director of offshoring

What quick_joey_small said it true in any recession or even in smaller areas od economic depression, porn, alcohol, cigs, lottery tickets, etc are the biggest seller. Look at rural areas of KY, WV, etc or look at the inner cities, the small convieneince stores, beer drive throughs, payday loan shops, buy here pay here car dealers are the healthy places. Plunbers and electricians and roofers and carpenters don't make the money because when it gets that bad people don't fix (or pay to fix) things, they let that outlet or light go non working, they let the roof leak, they wrap the pipes with duct tape. Yes they 'fix' things but they are really just band aiding things due to not having the funds to fix them right.

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#210058 - 10/21/10 01:50 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Eugene]
Tarzan Offline
Member

Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 146
Loc: Washington
Blast, I have to confess to not reading the book, and it's been years since I was in somewhat regular correspondence with FerFal but the gyst of what I got from discussions with him was your typical "modular replacement" type repairman that just pulls a part off a shelf and replaces it, a la changing hard drives, had a tough row to hoe, but a real repairman/craftsman capable of fabricating and modifying or repairing things would be able to get by. This is supported by my own experiences in third world countries as well as other areas of austerity.
Folks who can improvise, adapt and modify things in their environment to their needs tend to be successful survivors. Rigid thinkers do not.
I have seen some very ingenious repairs by "bubbas" or semiliterate peasants that have been actually very innovative. Those kind of folks will survive in the jungles of the Philippines, the hills of Arkansas or the streets of New York regardless of circumstances.

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#210070 - 10/21/10 07:23 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: MostlyHarmless]
Richlacal Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/11/10
Posts: 778
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Mostly Harmless-Being able to import/sell supplies,Stop right there!#1-What country is going to Honor your De-valued Credit/Currency for said"Imported Supplies"?#2-Where are you going to SAFELY store these supplies,IF You can SAFELY transport them?#3-What security system do you have?-Afterall your Country just Fell into Anarchy,You will be in charge of Your own Security!#4-Who will you turn to for help?You CAN"T do Everything yourself,& That is a Fact!#5-You are in Dire Need of someone you can Trust,Someone that Watches your Back,Who did All of that before the Country went Kaput? Answer: Your Craftsmen/Handymen,Your Housekeepers,Your porters,Your nanny,Your Butlers,Your Janitors/Custodians,Etc. Those folks Never Live Real well,whether the Economy is Up/Down,One thing for certain is,They are Always working,Consistently!In a Scenario such as Buenos Aires,Argentina,The #1 winning factor was /is TRUST! WHO are you going to TRUST?Martial Law will be Implemented,Looters Shot on sight!That Huge family across the street from your House,Just went on a Rampage,Looting/Stealing from other neighbors,Just 1 year ago,You & Your family Enjoyed a BBQ,with these same folks!Life will Never be the same,Again!



---Begin Translation---
Mostly harmless-being able to import/sell supplies, stop right there! <----Line does not translate.
#1-What country is going to honor your de-valued credit/currency for said "Imported Supplies"?
#2-Where are you going to SAFELY store these supplies, IF You can SAFELY transport them?
#3-What security system do you have? - Afterall your country just fell into anarchy, you will be in charge of your own security!
#4-Who will you turn to for help? You CAN'T do everything yourself and that is a Fact!
#5-You are in dire need of someone you can trust, someone that watches your back, who did all of that before the country went kaput?

Answer: Your craftsmen/handymen, your housekeepers, your porters, your nanny, your butlers, your janitors/custodians, etc. Those folks never live real well, whether the economy is up/down. One thing for certain is, they are always working, consistently! In a scenario such as Buenos Aires, Argentina, the #1 winning factor was /is TRUST! WHO are you going to TRUST? Martial law will be implemented, looters shot on sight! That huge family across the street from your house, just went on a rampage, looting/stealing from other neighbors. Just 1 year ago, you & your family enjoyed a BBQ with these same folks! Life will never be the same, again!
---End Translation---



Edited by Blast (10/21/10 08:50 PM)

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#210074 - 10/21/10 07:48 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Richlacal]
Richlacal Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/11/10
Posts: 778
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
All those folks that Have a hard time living in Argentina,Guess what? It's a Miracle...They are ALL still alive!FerFal made a Decent profit on his Book,Just from his Point of View,& I'll bet he is loving It!He seems to have a decent amount of Followers,Just remember,Don't Drink the Kool-Aid,lol!

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#210157 - 10/23/10 12:23 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Richlacal]
Blast Offline
INTERCEPTOR
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 3760
Loc: TX
Why repairmen will have a hard time in bad economic times:
There, I fixed it.

Seriously though, most people will take the cheapest route to fix things.
-Blast
_________________________
Foraging Texas
Medicine Man Plant Co.
DrMerriwether on YouTube
Radio Call Sign: KI5BOG
*As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn a sales commission on Amazon links in my posts.

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#210183 - 10/23/10 09:45 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Blast]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
Originally Posted By: Blast
Why repairmen will have a hard time in bad economic times:
There, I fixed it.

Seriously though, most people will take the cheapest route to fix things.
-Blast


Right to the point, and spot on.

A lot of people are like this right now, and some like my father are like this their entire life. grin
_________________________
Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

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#210192 - 10/23/10 11:43 PM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: redflare]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
People will typically patch and repatch mechanical and shelter systems but most everyone will heroically defend a set standard. I've seen people patch together plumbing and electrical systems but they always find the resources to keep the toilet flushing and the TV working. Some people could seemingly eat dirt and live in a ditch as long as their video games worked. Everyone will defend those things that define 'civilized' for them.

The good news is that people who can make things work always have work. Bad news is that getting paid is always harder than finding people who want work done. People willing to pay substantial sums of money will have had the system patched many times so the jobs you get as the expert of last resort will be larger and more complicated than would otherwise be the case.

If you work these sorts of situations always get the cost of materials and living expenses covered up front before you start work. You can go a long time breaking even or with minimal profit. Losing money on a deal can be financially fatal.

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#210194 - 10/24/10 01:27 AM Re: Surviving the Economic Collapse by FerFal - review [Re: Blast]
Richlacal Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 02/11/10
Posts: 778
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Hey Sheriff,That was a Good Fix! Nothin' wrong with a little humor,I find it is Alway's Appropriate.I also give you Praise for the Typo correction,My writing skills are Lacking at best,& I have to learn Not to, Think Aloud,Whilst typing!My knowledge of The Argentine Collapse is Derived from The Many "Argies" I grew up with,& They are a Great Bunch of Strong People!

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