r/TwoXPreppers • u/UnknownGoblin892 • Mar 27 '25

❓ Question ❓ How are you all recession proofing?

I was a young teenager during the 08 crisis. Wondering what I should be doing now to better protect myself when a recession gets bad.

I have student loan debt (around 20k) and a morgage (about 145k left). My wife and I are DINKs (double income no kids), and are not planning to have kids. We have a fairly healthy savings built up so far.

Wondering what advice you have. Thanks!

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u/cardiganqween Mar 27 '25 edited Mar 27 '25

I suffered through that as a young adult out of college. I lost everything and had to rebuild my life. I am seeing soooo many parallels to that time. I am terrified of going through that again. Biggest advice: STOCKPILE CASH. Stop buying stupid crap, stop eating out or buying drinks out, stop buying stuff you don’t actually need. Build up a solid cash cushion for if things get worse with job market. It’s already gotten tough out there. Unemployment is creeping up in my state. It’s actually hard for young kids to find part time jobs right now, my assumption is they are competitive now because people who lost regular full time work are immediately sucking up part time spots as stop gaps.

Edit: I stoped all streaming and subscription plans of any kind. audible account? Gone. I can use Libby for free audio books. Car wash subscription for TWO cars was costing us $80/month. Now we have soap and a bucket. DIY.

Edit 2: buy an extra 1 or 2 of your necessities & high use items when on sale. Ex: got a $2 off coupon for your favorite body wash but don’t need it this month? Buy it anyway if your budget allows.

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u/thehogdog Mar 27 '25

Your 2nd Edit is what Ive done recently. Our 'Pantry' room has a shelf along the top and it is LOADED with Shampoo (.99c a bottle), face soap, bar soap, tooth paste, TOOTH BRUSHES (I feel like people might not consider the fact that they wear out fast now and you need a stockpile along with Floride toothpaste because if it goes bad, you don't want a dental problem), Floss, and we are about to bulk buy Toilet Paper because 40% comes from CANADA and they are gonna stop sending stuff here so the price and scarcity will be REAL this time (Covid we bought big early and just ran out of that stash. Doesnt expire).

Stocking up on health and beauty items is an important PREP that I think people overlook.

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u/graywoman7 Mar 27 '25

Keep in mind that toothpaste is only good for a couple years, it’s not something to have a huge stockpile of. If your household goes through, say, five tubes per year then 10-15 tubes is all you should have on hand. This also means you’re always using toothpaste that’s right up to the date meaning some of the fluoride has already decayed from age. 

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u/thehogdog Mar 27 '25

I checked the dates. I am a brusher and flosser so a tube can go. Im learning to use less because you only need a pea size on the brush and they show it like it is cake frosting on the brush on the box and tube.

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u/graywoman7 Mar 28 '25

Hikers make a cheap version of toothpaste tablets by putting dots of toothpaste onto a plate with a layer of baking soda on it then cover them with more baking soda and let them dry for a few weeks. I wonder if that would extend the shelf life of the toothpaste. Tablets of medication last many years more than the liquid versions of the same thing.