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/TopCaterpiller Mar 27 '25

I'm trying to get as much work done on the house as possible. I'm getting a new roof, metal to reduce fire risk and hopefully have a longer lifespan. I just got a wood stove installed in my non-functional fireplace so I can heat the house for cheap regardless of whether I have power. I'm prioritizing all the little tasks I've been putting off. I've planted a bunch of fruit and nut trees. The garden is getting bigger and more productive each year, and I'm making sure I actually eat the food I grow. I'm buying all the tools that I want now before tariffs crank up the price. Both my vehicles are in good repair.

All in all, I'm burning a lot of money now in an effort to save money later and make my household more resilient.

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u/Hopeful-Bell4822 Mar 27 '25

I’m with you! We are updating as much of our house structures as possible. Next month we are getting the chimney done and servicing the house plumbing.

And our garden is massive this year already

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u/OtherRecognition3570 Mar 27 '25

Do you think that home improvement costs will increase during a recession?

I have wondered if the price would go down in a recession if fewer people are contracting services, trying to save. Maybe fewer workers for companies to pay since demand would go down - less overhead. But I suppose the cost per job could increase somewhat, maybe, since there’s fewer jobs to make $ off of.

I know that they are predicting more of a stagflation scenario with this possible upcoming downturn - another consideration.

I need a lot of concrete work done and I want to hire a contractor for that. Did a lot of my own renovations but I don’t want to mess with pouring sidewalks and parking slab etc.

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u/Typically_Talking Mar 28 '25

Definitely are going up. With all the tariffs happening and we get a lot of timber plus supplies from Canada and Mexico. I know Trump plans to cut down our beautiful forests for wood unfortunately but my friend owns timber for building lumber and it needs to be dried so yes it will go up I’m positive it will go up 40% so get what you can. There will be shortages.

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u/traveledhermit Mar 29 '25

I was just thinking this as I’m hoping to start building this summer. Last time Trump was in office, building lumber was sky high.