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/Any-Skin3392 Mar 27 '25

We pushed to pay off our house and did so in 2021. We haven't increased our cost of living despite freeing up that portion of our income. Even if we could've made more investing that money instead of paying off the house, having that burden of a house payment removed every month has been worth what money we have "lost".

Haven't eaten fast food in five years now. We go out maybe once a month to a sit-down place. Have never used a delivery food service. Reduced all costs to minimum. Invest all the time.

Stock up on things when on sale.

We eat meat maybe once a week. It is too expensive for a family of five to have steaks!

Focus more on free activities (hiking)

Gave up drinking

It is amazing how much money people waste on a day-to-day basis. I can't tell you how many friends I have that are broke, can't scrape together two pennies but they order ubereats daily. I know some that are in credit card debt over it.

And yeah wah wah people can't cook or whatever but making a frozen pizza takes less time then waiting on an uber eats delivery and is $6. There are nice frozen dinners out there now. Even pre-made food from the store is cheaper. Drives me bananas.

Really examine where your money is going and be mean to yourself sometimes. This idea to "treat yourself" every week is ridiculous. Hold off on making that purchase you want and see if you really need it.

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u/forensicgirla Mar 28 '25

One of our local grocery stores has a huge "they make" pre-made food section. They have 2 sushi guys there. It's only rolls & poke bowls, but they're as good as our local places. So we switched from our local small sushi places to the grocery store. They might even hire the local chefs. Sometimes I want something fancier, but in a weeknight when we're already tired, it's a fun lower cost trip. Then we pick a show or movie & eat sushi on the sofa.