beat recession

101 ‘MUST HAVE’ RECESSION-BUSTING HINTS AND TIPS By Michael Green

The legal stuff to bear in mind The author and publisher of this book, and any accompanying materials which constitute the toolkit, have used their best endeavors in preparing this information. The author and publisher do not warrant the performance or effectiveness of the websites listed in this information, nor can they warrant the applicability of any of the material to an individual circumstance. All the links are provided for the purposes of information only and are not warranted for content or accuracy, either for implied or explicit purposes. The manual contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited and legal action will always be sought. Distribution and/or Redistribution Rights There are no redistribution rights available for this eBook or Toolkit. The material is only available from http://www.HowToBeatRecession.com HowToCorp Ltd operates two partner programs. An affiliate program and a Joint Venture Partner Program. For information on becoming an affiliate in order to be able to promote this product, please go http://www.howtocorp.com/affiliate For information on becoming a JV Partner for this program go to: http://www.howtocorppartner.com/jv/signup.php (all applications are assessed manually). Legal matters Please see www.howtocorp.com/legal for further legal information including disclaimer, earnings and privacy policies.

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Contents

THE LEGAL STUFF TO BEAR IN MIND ............................................................................................ 2

Distribution and/or Redistribution Rights ............................................................................................................ 2

Legal matters ....................................................................................................................................................... 2

ARE WE IN A RECESSION? ................................................................................................................... 4

WHAT ABOUT THE SELFEMPLOYED? .......................................................................................... 4

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? ................................................................................................................. 5

WHAT CAN YOU DO? ............................................................................................................................. 6

RECESSIONPROOF JOBS ..................................................................................................................... 7

DAILY LIVING: GETTING PERSONAL ........................................................................................... 13

DAILY LIVING: TIPS AND TRICKS ................................................................................................. 18

DAILY LIVING: RECESSIONPROOF THE KIDS ......................................................................... 19

RECESSIONPROOF YOUR FINANCES .......................................................................................... 22

RECESSIONPROOF YOUR PORTFOLIO ...................................................................................... 23

WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED DURING A RECESSION? ............................................................... 26

SUMMARIZING FEARS OF THE RECESSION .............................................................................. 27

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Are We In A Recession? Economically speaking …

recession is commonly defined as, “a negative real economic growth for two or more successive quarters in a year.” Recession is cyclical. A clear indicator is

typically a stock market drop based on the belief that business won’t be as profitable in the period ahead.

A

Recessions lead to significant job cuts as consumers stop spending, so recessions see a decrease in economic activity.

The unemployment rate around the globe is rising as firms layoff workers in an attempt to stay afloat. Unemployment impacts society economically as well as socially. Unemployment benefits may be claimed when an individual has been forced to quit the job, but of course the best option is to find a new position. There are of course a few tricks to finding and landing a well-paid job in a down turn economy. A very useful resource is this 'Secret Career Document'. Which is downloadable from http://EHYPE.w owhired.hop.clickbank.net

What About the Self-employed? Does the recession affect freelancers?

nemployment statistics do not accurately cover the many self-employed people whose income is slashed by economic recession, although their businesses continue to operate. Business debts may rise substantially, severely impacting longer term insecurity.

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Small business freelancers and self-employed individuals are feeling the recession too. Where big businesses and small offices are able to reduce costs in small ways, the self-employed (working from home) find it much more difficult to save on costs. Short of turning off the AC in summer and turning down the heat in winter, there are few costs a self-employed professional has to reduce. Branching out in a recession is one way for self-employed individuals to stay afloat. Big businesses are looking to cut overhead and benefits costs, and this is a good

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time for independent contractors to fill the void. However, not all self-employed freelance professions are as flexible as say, photographers, technical writers, IT designers and engineers, etc. Freelance accountants, small-client lawyers and other home-based workers, for example, are having a tough time in the recession. So the self-employed are definitely a big and often silent part of any downturn.

How Long Will It Last? No Crystal Ball

o one knows specifically how long the recession will last, how bad it will be, if it will degenerate into a depression (where job losses result in severe and widespread

poverty), or if we’ll bounce back soon and quickly. Two things are sure:

• “We’ve been here before, though this is

worse than perhaps any recession for 90 years” and

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• It will not last forever. Approach the hurdles of a recession calmly and logically. Do not sell all your possessions and assets. It will eventually end.


What Can You Do?

Recession-Proof Yourself!

n the following pages, you will be given tips on how to “recession-proof” yourself, your investments, your businesses, and your environment, in areas of:

• Your job, career and business

• Daily living,

• Personal finances and credit, and

• Personal investing.

Some tips you may have already begun implementing. Other hints and tips might be more applicable for those whomove assets and investments around.

have the flexibility to

I

In all I’m proud to present more than 101 recession-busting hints and tips that you can use to practically alter the way that you experience this downturn.

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Recession-Proof Jobs Looking for a job or think you might be soon?

egin recession-proofing your career by recession-proofing yourself. There are things you can do to protect yourself in

case the recession impacts your company and your employment. Start now – do not wait until you find yourself laid off or otherwise unemployed.

B • Advertise and network – Blogs are a good way to share who you are and

what you do. You can raise your professional profile by interacting and connecting online. Get yourself known, so if the worst happens, time in between jobs will be less. Blogging is a good way to attract new job opportunities. Remember, many times it’s not what you know, but rather, who you know? You can even start a blog in order to generate income directly. How? Check out my own How To Blog For Cash to find out more: http://www.howtocorp.com/sales.php?offer=EHYPE&pid=14

• Slowly begin to create secondary income – Begin freelancing. Start a part-time business. Business owners typically have more than one client, which helps recession-proof their operation. Therefore, if your full-time job and/or salary disappears, you can help “cushion the blow” by transitioning your part-time freelance business into fulltime work (at least until you can secure another job with benefits).

o Be sure your prospective part-time freelancing (business) does not conflict with your daily employment and your employer’s conflict-of-interest policies.

o Create your own website and offer consulting services or specific products.

o Start an online business. Over time this can become more profitable than your day job. There are plenty of internet marketers who make 6-figure-incomes (I should know because I’m one ☺), some who make millions and still more who just make a few thousand very welcome dollars every month. The concept of creating your own digital product and marketing it is straightforward enough, though it requires a bit of discipline on your part. I’ve written a toolkit called Create and SELL Products ONLINE which

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o Create an “ad-supported” blog. Here’s a great guide with details called Blogging To The Bank at: http://EHYPE.bttb1.hop.clickbank.net/

• What jobs are in demand? - Pay attention to what the market is offering.

Even in a recession there are certain professions and occupations that are needed. There are many sites that will send you periodic emails with job listings. Even if you are not actively seeking new or emergency employment, you can quickly view what types of positions employers are trying to fill. craigslist.org, Careerbuilder.com, and Monster.com are several popular sites but there are many others.

• Hone your skills – While you are between jobs, or even if you are fortunate to still be employed during the recession, consider updating your certifications, licenses, and skills. There are many opportunities, from vocational and community college schools, to unpaid internships, to trade and union sponsored refresher and training sessions.

• If money is tight, opt to do volunteer work for a non-profit organization. This serves two purposes: you can learn the basics of tasks you previously did not know how to do, and it allows you to socialize and network with a variety of people who may know employers that can use your skills, or be employers looking for someone just like you. Volunteers of America is a good place to start http://www.voa.org or CSV if you’re in the UK at http://www.csv.org.uk/Volunteer

• Network, network, network – Keep your social skills intact as well. Online social networks and blogs as well as family and friends offer personal support while you are looking for employment as well as provide contacts and job leads.

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Picking a Recession-Proof Industry

f you have been laid off and have to find a new job, or you are new to the job market, just out of school, or deciding on a career, and you aren’t certain how long the recession and its residual

effects will last, there are some fairly “recession-proof” careers you can investigate and/or choose that have a better than average chance of “weathering the storm” and its “fallout”.

Recession-proof jobs are those that continue to be needed.

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Strong growth = the potential for being recession-proof.

• Healthcare is one of the fastest growing career areas. Half of the fastest

growing occupations are in the healthcare sector. This includes health services (i.e.: physicians’ assistants and physical therapists) and home health aids (i.e.: medical records technicians).

• Teaching is fairly recession-proof. Do your homework on particular demographic statistics for various geographic areas. Check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics online for historic teaching stats and high-growth areas. Teaching is not recession-proof in low-growth areas of the country, but it is a transferable skill and this guide will help you into the right kind of teaching job: http://EHYPE.waxler.hop.clickbank.net

• Energy is a primary global economic concern. It has come to the forefront in many political elections. Jobs related to alternative energy, oil, gas, and nuclear sources should see stronger growth in the coming years.

• Global warming is also a main concern among nations. The environmental

sector is an immense and fast-growing industry. According to Rona Fried, president of sustainablebusiness.com (a networking service for sustainable businesses), “Not only will professionals with skills in sustainability issues be in demand through the end of the decade, we are likely to shortages of professionals with 'green' skills.”

• International business provides a recession-proof career if you have a strong

and useable knowledge of other cultures and languages, and can work in another country. You will be in particularly high demand if you are “first-generation Chinese” with the ability to communicate in Chinese and with applicable business skills.

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• Crime does not know recession. If anything, tension and pressures caused by

a recession might contribute to an increase. Law enforcement officers, port security police, and international experts will continue to be needed.

Do you want to become a State Trooper or police officer but have become overwhelmed by the process? There are resources available to help you prepare for police officer tests and oral boards. This is one of the best: http://EHYPE.gdspoi.hop.clickbank.net/

• Computer/IT/Web Development businesses and industry need employees. If you have these skills, you are a hot commodity! If you are looking for a new career or training that will get you back into the workforce, these are areas that have a great deal to offer.

Jobs That Do Not Require A Degree …

inding stable work with good pay may ordinarily be more of a challenge for those without a higher education, but that’s not necessarily the case in a downturn when semi-skilled and unskilled work can be in demand still.

Those who push themselves forward and are less picky tend to do the best in this climate.

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• Electricians and mechanics (often do require skills training)

• Hospitality (hotels, motels, and restaurants)

• Retail

• Health, medical, and dental (assistants and clerks).

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Daily Living: Being P

e PROACTIVE

roactive

and get a grip on your s.

y being active! This is difficult for most of us,

r a recession (even if it’s hools rules for financial survival:

at least 6 months of daily expenses. This is your “emergency fund” and should not be used

on borrowing against your home equity line of credit to see you through a recession period. The burst real estate bubble has devalued

or

on around you in your workplace. pany or organization

hin your company, and you

Bpocketbook and your daily expense

egin recession-proofing bprosince economic reports of doom and gloom become so frequent, we

eventually tune them out. And when we wake up one day to massive layoffs, volatile markets, and constant economic news of global failures and crises, it’s too late. By then, all we can do is “damage control”.

However, if it’s never too late to proactively prepare foarrived) by returning to old sc

B

• Set aside some of your current income – enough to pay

for any other reason than to see you through a (recession or) dire emergency!

• DO NOT plan

homes. Many mortgage debt is higher than the home’s value. Review your equity line of credit agreement. In most instances your lender can reduce your credit if your house value falls or your financial situation changes.

• Imagine what would happen if, heaven forbid, you should lose your jobyour household income is suddenly reduced. What would you do? How would you act? Where would you go? Thinking about these issues in advance can help if the worst happens.

• Pay attention! Be aware of what is goingIs management suddenly changing age-old comtrends? Is there talk of a reduction in employee hours, rumor of impending layoffs, or talk of company troubles with funds, suppliers, clients, or agencies your company does business with?

• If you anticipate future employment cuts witfeel you have enough seniority to survive company job cuts, but perhaps

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might be forced to take a reduction in pay, begin trimming your personal expenses now, so by the time the worst happens, you will be accustomed to living on less. Therefore, “tightening your belt” will be less stressful or painful since you transitioned yourself into spending less.

• Consider alternative means of creating or acquiring income. Are there skills or hobbies that can become a source for generating secondary

rtfolio to ensure it is diversified and balanced with “recession-proof” investments. For example, the global oil crisis has

n, “Cash is King.” Rapid movements in interest rates may make credit purchases unwise. It is equally unwise to

income? If you lost your job, could this secondary income source effectively supplement public assistance to weather you through the recession period? Again, think about whether you could in fact make money out of your own hobbies and interests. If you know a lot about any subject then the chances are that other people would like to know about it and the internet makes monetizing your interest easy. Check out Create and SELL Products ONLINE at: http://www.howtocorp.com/sales.php?offer=EHYPE&pid=30

• Review your investment po

seen oil stocks slide. However, companies producing snack and food products, pharmaceuticals, and products the average person needs and uses in daily living, have investment offerings that will remain more stable throughout the recession period.

• Remember that during a recessio

make unnecessary purchases because if rates increase then repayments could prove tricky. As the economic recession ends, your personal recession-depression period could begin! Do not let this happen.

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Daily Living: Getting Personal Save yourself! Be smart and creative. Learn new tricks and conserve. Instead of thinking, “What do I need?” think “How can I save or reuse this?”

enerally, and without too much thought, we can discover there are expenses we have incurred that we can easily get rid of without ever missing whatever it is they pay for! The following are some

small and personal suggestions for helping pare down your household and personal expenses, either to help reduce costs, or to help you hold onto the money you have – to spend on other things.

• FIRST and foremost – do not take on any new debt!

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• Secondly, secure the roof over your head! If you are a homeowner, and you begin having problems making your mortgage payment, talk to your broker BEFORE you get into a position of flirting with foreclosure. The lender/bank would much rather you stayed in your home, than added to their ever-growing inventory of foreclosed properties! Ask for options – there are many as a result of the Freddie Mac Fannie Mae government rescue. In some cases where there are not as many options, ask your lender about a “mortgage payment holiday” (more common in the UK).

• Lower your (total accumulated) interest rates and monthly payments by

consolidating your debt. In fact there are a whole series of strategies that you can consider to become debt free. Check out debt free in 3 years at: http://EHYPE.mission2k.hop.clickbank.net/

• Opt for 0% balance transfer offers and lower interest rate credit cards.

• Opt for a “cash back” credit card. If you pay your balance in full each month, you will get cash back on your purchases.

• “Pay as you go.” Remember, “Cash is King”. What you purchase, you own.

What you do not have the cash on hand to purchase, you might find you didn’t need anyway.

• Budget your purchases. No impulse buying! If you are tempted to buy on

impulse, be sure you have the cash.

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• Contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (in the UK) or government Consumer

Credit Office (in the U.S.) for information about getting help with restructuring your debt-to-income, and creditor, problems.

• Go online and compare phone and cell phone providers. Do you need both a

“land line” telephone and a cell phone? Do you need cell phone Internet and Text Messaging if they cost extra? Who and where will you call? How often? Decide which features you absolutely need and which carrier is the least expensive for you. Many vendors have family or buddy plans. Do some homework and reduce your monthly cost.

• Think energy conservation. Look around your house to save on your monthly

utility bill. Some things you can do for little or no cost include installing a water meter and flow controls.

• Cut your electricity bills. Check your insulation, and weather stripping. Insulate

pipes as well as attic and crawl spaces. Turn down your thermostat (10-20 C. or 65-68 F.). Consider running your vehicle on biodiesel. Find out how here: http://EHYPE.amdproduct.hop.clickbank.net/

• Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Use timers to turn your lights on and off for conservation as well as for security. Install energy-saving CFL light bulbs.

• Shut your water off when you are not using it, such as when you are brushing

your teeth and rinsing dishes.

• Thinking green also saves you money. Consider driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle and carpooling. Utilize public transportation. Organize a vanpool. Opt to walk, cycle, or buy a scooter/motorcycle.

• Go online and compare vehicle insurance. Many insurance companies offer

discounts on polices combining multiple vehicles, home, and recreational vehicles. Many also have discounts according to age and good driving records. Some companies such as AARP cater to those over 50 years old. In the UK use a site like http://www.moneysupermarket.com/ to buy your insurance after making comparisons. In the US a website like https://www.carinsurance.com will provide you with comparisons in your State.

• Timing is everything. When are the times when traffic is least congested?

When event tickets are the cheapest? When there are 2 for 1 restaurant entrée specials?

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• Use the recession as an excuse to stop a bad and expensive habit. Stop

smoking or gambling or reduce the nights, or time, you spend at the pub after work. Need help? See: http://EHYPE.quitsmokin.hop.clickbank.net/

• Conserve fuel by consolidating your trips. Create a list of errands and then do them all in one trip. You might also find you have more time later to do other things you enjoy and didn’t have time for before.

• Fill your fuel tank in the morning when the air is cooler and the gas is dense (you get more gas and less air). Fill your fuel tank when it is half empty or cash in on plenty more vehicle tips and tricks, including turning your car into a hybrid! Here: http://EHYPE.acsecure.hop.clickbank.net/

• Use online resources to compare and find the cheapest gas prices in your local area or on your commute. gasbuddy.com is one such US site.

• Use discount gas cards. Grocery stores such as Safeway, and Costco, offer gas discount coupons.

• If you drive a long distance, or take a trip, keep a steady foot on the accelerator, or use your cruise-control feature.

• Similarly, make shopping lists and stick to them. Do you really need those six crème-filled pastries or the extra bag of chips?

• Clip and use store coupons. Look for sales, but consider where the sales are. For example, driving across town, or to the next town, in high traffic, may cancel the benefit of the sale’s advertised savings. Get more tips on this subject with http://EHYPE.brpublish.hop.clickbank.net

• Consider “family & friends nights”. Instead of going out and paying to be entertained and being tempted to overspend or buy souvenirs that will only be stuffed in a closet, consider having one night a week, rotated among couples, family members, or friends, where everyone meets for a meal (a potluck where each person brings an appetizer, dessert, salad, or casserole), theme party (wine tasting, fondue, BBQ) or game night (board games, card games, athletic games, televised sport events).

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• Consider cooking large amounts and freezing portions to heat & serve quickly on nights you are rushed, worked late, or are just too tired to cook. It is more cost effective and probably healthier than take out or delivery plus tips.

• Another variation is the “cooking once-a-week” routine. You and several family members and/or friends meet in the largest kitchen available to prepare courses, side dishes, breads, and desserts. Each person is responsible for chopping and slicing ingredients, cooking, baking, or wrapping and sealing. At the end of the day, each “cook” has food to heat & serve for his/her family for the following week. (This is a revived tradition when families were large, time and money were scarce, and work was longer and harder).

• Pack a lunch - lose the pounds. Its cheaper, more convenient, and healthier to take your own food with you than. For example, put your Starbuck’s money in a jar, and purchase instant cappuccino mix from the grocery. Most offices have microwaves to heat water. Take cut celery and carrot sticks, or box of “Twigs”, to work with you. Fill a small container with Ranch dressing for dip. It is a healthier mid-afternoon snack, and “pick-me-up”.

• If you must, only order food off the “dollar menu”.

• Make your own pizza, or purchase a cheaper take-and-bake pie than ordering one delivered (w/tip and delivery charge) or at the restaurant (with soda, alcohol, and side dish offers that add to your pizza bill).

• Give up soda. Drink water. In some areas it is necessary to buy bottled water. But, it is still cheaper than soda, and better for you. You can purchase flavored bottled water, for taste.

• If you are in a suburban or rural area, generally purchasing a water filter system allows you to have fresh water from the tap. Many refrigerators have water and ice systems. Don’t like plain water? Add a tea bag and cubes for ice tea, or any of many instant mixes. In summer, sit the glass of water with a tea bag in it on a ledge in the sun – make sun tea! Add cubes and voila!

• Try growing your own. Many veggie plants and herbs can be grown in pots on a small balcony or deck. You do not need to purchase a fancy greenhouse to have fresh berries, fruits, and vegetables. You will know how they were grown and will be relieved that no harmful pesticides, that cannot be easily washed away, were used. Read up on the subject with this handy guide http://EHYPE.jhw00.hop.clickbank.net/

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• Freeze, can, dry/dehydrate. Purchase (or grow) fruits and vegetables in bulk at markets during the growing season when produce is cheap. In the wintertime, you can be eating nearly fresh peaches, pears, and strawberry jam! If you have a hunter in your household, process and freeze the game, foul, and fish.

• Keep your freezer full. A full freezer uses less energy than an empty one. If you need to fill your freezer, fill a milk jug with water and put it in the freezer.

• Cancel subscriptions to save money. Instead, read newspapers online and checkout magazines, books, and movies at the library.

• If you have to, or want to, travel, use hotel points, airline miles, and online off-season and promotional discounts. Also a great way to pay for vacations at place like Disney. Here’s how to do it: http://EHYPE.dwinsider.hop.clickbank.net/

• Instead of paying for entertainment, opt to take hikes, go biking, camping, picnics, and other no-cost or low-cost trips.

• In the US, ask your doctor to recommend generic prescription medications. Target and Wal-Mart advertise many generic prescriptions for just $4.00.

• In the US, pay medical expenses out-of-pocket with pre-tax dollars from a

flexible spending account or cafeteria plan. • Clothing expenses can add up. Limit shopping. When you do, shop at

discount stores, thrift stores, and during sales. Consider sewing. Discount fabric is easy to find at outlets and garage sales.

• Many years ago children had "good clothes" and "play clothes". To cut costs

and keep nice clothes looking nice, have children change after school into "play clothes".

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Daily Living: Tips and Tricks Changing your spending habits can add up to much more money in your pocket.

• Prepare for next Christmas. Shop for gifts all year ‘round.

• Save your change. Don’t spend it. Save it. It adds up

quicker than you might imagine.

• Clean your closets. Have a garage or yard sale, weather permitting, or sell your unused items on eBay, Etsy (for handmade items) or craigslist.

• If you are a dual income family, restructure your

living expenses so you can live on one salary, and save the second for life’s extras. Then, if the recession causes a layoff, your routine won’t change significantly. You may have to sacrifice life’s extras, but you will still be financially ok.

• Similarly, if you get a raise, do not alter your lifestyle.

• Use a budget and create a spreadsheet to track expenses.

• Compost. Start a small garden plot and compost to fertilize it as well as

reduce your refuse you pay to have hauled away.

• Shift your focus on helping and working with others. Helping others takes your mind off your immediate situation and gives you a sense of contentment and gratitude for what you do have.

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Daily Living: Recession-Proof the Kids

Don’t underestimate what, and how much, they understand about a downturn.

ids are more in tune with what goes on in the world than ever before. With the Internet blogs, MySpace postings, and comedy news and shows based on current events satire.

Many of us grew up with little or no concept about how money came into the household let alone how the lights stayed on and food was on the table – nor, honestly, did we

ally care!

ital.

es have caused everyone to sacrifice some of the extras they are use to.

ces, as well as preventing their college fund from stagnating or drying up.

actly how your children will learn to problem-solve when they become adults.

re However, when times are tough, as they are now, it is important everyone in the family gets involved in conserving, sharing and caring. Family support in any crisis is v

K

• Without too much detail, and depending on the child’s age and

comprehension level, explain where the money comes from, where it goes, and how (economic) issu

• It might be a good time to discuss how your teenager can contribute to saving

for their college. Every bit helps, and they can feel they are a part of helpingfamily finan

• You are their role model. What you do and how you handle this recession

period will be a visual lesson for your child. If you panic and hold your head in your hands, worrying and complaining, instead of actively seeking to stabilize and rectify your financial challenges, that’s ex

• Compare prices at the grocery store. Get your children involved in finding 2-

for-1 deals. Have them clip coupons from the newspaper. If you have severalchildren close in age, make a game out of finding the best and most money, time, and labor savings items and events. At the end of each week, give the

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“winner” for the best recession-proofing suggestions a small token reward (ice

o l

ing have someone take care of the little things, or

watch your own small children so you can have a free night to relax and

Be honest. Do not “blame” any person or boss. It is what it is, and you are by .

you by surprise and in a new direction! Be sure to tell them that they have made a significant contribution to the family financial situation and

ore clients than you as one person can handle, be sure to share your success

ou ur teenagers to test their entrepreneurial skills.

They may work after school at fast food restaurants, movie theatres, in

because they wanted the children to focus on their schoolwork. Its debatable if the children actually

e see the jar fill up. Larger

denominations of pay should be put into a bank account. Go with your teenager and set up an account for that purpose.

cream, movie rental, a weekend without chores, etc.)

• Remember how proud you felt when you had a cup full of change at the end of the day when you set up your lemonade stand? Encourage your children tbe creatively entrepreneurial. Selling lemonade or mowing yards aren’t logicaduring the winter months. But, your child can offer to shovel snow off walks, walk the neighbor’s dog, or babysit. With so much pressure on adults durrecession periods, it is nice to

reconnect with your spouse.

• If you find yourself laid off, do not try to hide it from your children. Again, remember, kids are very perceptive and will know something isn’t the same.

no means the only worker that has a family to support that has gotten laid off

• You might be surprised. Children are often more inventive and creative and open-minded than adults on a number of things. If they know you are looking for a new job or something to tie you over until your company begins recallinglaid off employees, they may blurt out some magic solution at the dinner tablethat will take

well being!

• When you do find work or successfully set up your own business with m

with your children as well! Be grateful for their honesty and openness.

• Allowances have become commonplace. Due to the recession, it may be necessary to reduce allowances or cancel them altogether. But before ydo, begin by encouraging yo

grocery stores, or in retail.

• Typically parents discouraged teens from working,

spent any more time on their schoolwork, or not.

• Set up a system of saving with your child. If they have a part-time job or do odd jobs from time to time, provide them a clear glass jar, and encouragthem to save their change in it. They will eventually

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• It might be a good idea for you and your child to set up two bank accounts:

one for their own spending money, and one for savings (for college, a vehicle,

a graduation trip, etc.)

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Recession-Proof Your Finances

Even if you’re working, a downturn can take its toll on your finances, so get yourself prepared.

repare yourself before inflation, interest rate hikes, and wage reductions and layoffs happen. There are things you can do early to avoid a bankruptcy situation later.

• If possible, increase your monthly payments on credit cards, student loans, and other debt to recession-proof your finances. Paying down your balances will reduce your monthly payments and increase your credit score over time.

• If you think you might sell or have to sell your property for

whatever reason (due to job loss or recession events), invest in paint, minor repairs, and marketing so you can be sure you get the best price for your property.

• Look for alternative plans for Internet, cable, and phone.

Considering getting a less expensive package plan. Don’t buy features you won’t use.

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• Be actively involved in your pension fund. To recession-proof your finances.

Shift the funds from aggressive high-risk and equity funds to more conservative and safer municipal funds.

• If your credit is good, and if the offering is logical, consider refinancing your current mortgage at a lower interest rate. The general rule is to consider refinancing if your lender can offer you a 2% or more decrease in interest rate from your current rate. Otherwise, fees and points can consume any significant savings.

• Reduce your employee-sponsored health and retirement accounts

contributions if possible. Limit the contributions only to what is needed for matching employer funds. Put the money saved in a savings account.

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Recession-Proof Your Portfolio

Surviving the Ups and Downs of Wall Street, Euro, and Asian Markets

e saw a mortgage and credit crisis, and on its heels, the admission that, yes, we really are in a recession! The markets have risen and fallen daily. How does a private person

hold onto what they’ve worked so hard to build? How do you recession-proof your portfolio?

Losing some of your investment during a recession is to be expected. But you can minimize the losses.

• Remember, before you focus on your portfolio, review your credit and interest debt. Some pay half or more of their income toward interest debt. Are you paying more toward interest debt and incidentals than you need to?

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• Trim your expenses. Track your monthly spending. Once you have your monthly expenses calculated, multiply that by 12 to determine your annual spending and a snapshot of your spending habits. You can trim your expenses in areas where you see overspending.

• A special fund should be set aside to pay for special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. and not be part of the general expenses fund.

• Personal investing money should be set aside apart from the general expenses fund from which rent/mortgage, utilities, food, and insurance payments come out of.

• Dollar-cost average your monthly portfolio investment. Dollar-cost averaging is a periodic contribution to a stock in your portfolio regardless of its market value. Shares continue to accumulate. When the recession is over, the stock value will increase accordingly.

• When a recession period occurs, limit your exposure by investing more

conservatively. Avoid high-risk stocks and high-risk investments. Safely invest in:

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o Government and short-term bonds.

o Large company stocks (companies with solid financial histories).

o Large companies in recession-proof industries (energy, pharmaceuticals, paper/food/consumer staples).

An Old Investing Adage … When earnings growth is abundant, the market prices it like water. When growth is scarce, its prices like diamonds.

• Diversify, diversify, diversity. Balance your portfolio with stocks from recession-proof large industries that are not as affected by cyclical moves and impacts.

• Avoid industries focused on luxury items/discretionary spending goods.

o Invest in:

• short-term bonds,

• international stocks, and

• domestic, large-cap, high dividend yielding stocks.

• Companies that manufacture and sell food, beverages, tobacco, household products and personal care items historically hold up well during recessions because people buy these products regardless of economic conditions. Large-cap consumer staples companies tend to pay significant dividends that steadily increase.

• The healthcare sector and pharmaceutical companies produce predictable

earnings and revenue in economic downturns. They also pay substantial dividends.

• The Fed typically lowers interest rates when the economy begins to slow

down. Rather than leave your savings in an interest-dependent savings account, protect your savings by investing it in a 6-12 month CD. Ideally you will purchase the CD before interest rates fall.

• Government agency bonds also tend to stay and pay fairly consistent and a

higher rate of return.

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emember what you hold in your portfolio are portions of businesses, not just stock. Those who purchase stock shares because they go up or down are gamblers. Know that the recession is a cycle. To be a successful investor, you must remove your emotions from investing and separate the stock price

from the business. They are not the same. If you can manage this, you and your portfolio will weather the recession period.

R Also, if you are a long-term investor, falling prices can be their own blessing. Falling prices give you the opportunity to buy more stock at a lower share price, which will eventually increase over time.

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What can be achieved during a recession?

Don’t Worry, Be Happy …

here are bright spots even in economic downturns and if you keep a positive attitude then you will be able to find them.

• Look for a number of undervalued stocks and bonds to

purchase if you are fortunate enough to have some excess money. There are great opportunities for long-term investing.

• Check out trading system such as:

http://www.stock-commodity-trading.com/go.php?offer=EHYPE&pid=1

• Cautiously take advantage of the lower interest rates. For those with good credit, there are no barriers to borrowing cash. Mortgages are cheaper.

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• Depending on where you live, take a look for the tax breaks. Homebuyers who could not afford putting 20 percent down on their new home will see these.

• Check out the vast array of grants, many of which are only available because

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Summarizing Fears of the Recession

It isn’t where you begin … its where you end up! here have been many homeless. Some of them are famous (entertainers, actors, financial moguls), and they freely disclose details about their “period” of homelessness. The key word is “period.”

Remember that the recession is cyclical and will not last forever. Jobless rates will eventually decrease and production and consumer confidence will return. And homelessness is an extreme outcome of a downturn and despite high foreclosure and repossession rates you’re unlikely to end up in this position with plenty of advance planning. If you do then life is not over. Stay positive and work through the various issues that will arise. One thing these famous post-homeless individuals all agree on is, it was an experience that made them draw on their innate perseverance.

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• Save rather than spend.

• Don’t make panic decisions.

• Stay the course and network.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but remember, people more willingly help those

who help themselves.

• Don’t be afraid to share your fears and experiences with others. You’ll be surprised to find, in the current economy, you probably are not alone. Two heads are better than one and input, suggestions, and solutions on how to better your personal situation may come sooner.

• Take time to check out helpful reference guides like “The Insider’s Guide to Surviving the Recession” from http://EHYPE.dricheson.hop.clickbank.net

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Don’t just survive it – Excel! Just like most bad things in life, the downturn can actually be a catalyst for you to achieve a great deal. Strange as it may seem, this could be the ideal time to reset your aims and objectives. It’s not by coincidence that many of the world’s most successful people had their break when they were nearly down and out. Now I hope the situation isn’t that serious for you, but since you’re reading this ebook you obviously have some concerns about money or at the very least you want to protect yourself against needing to worry in the future. And whilst most of this ebook has concentrated on ways to save you money – it’s obvious that another sound approach is to actually get out there and make more money. So in these final pages I’m going to let you in on my own personal secret to financial security. It’s not flash or clever… but it just works… incredibly well. What do I do? Simple. I sell information online that others find so useful that they’re prepared to buy it. What kind of information can you sell? Actually just about anything, my products range from books about enjoying a better golf swing – see: http://www.HowToAchieveTheSwingInGolf.com to instructions on introducing email usage policies in a business – see: http://www.Email-Policy.org to toolkits about writing ezines – see: http://www.EasyEzineToolkit.com and much more besides (I’ve printed a full list at the end for your reference). But the thing that these apparently completely unrelated toolkits have in common is the method that I’ve used to publish, market and distribute them. They ALL follow the exact same system which I’ve explained in a seminal toolkit called Create and SELL Products ONLINE and if you haven’t been fortunate enough to experience the joys of successful online marketing then you’ll definitely want to get your hands on a copy of this toolkit.

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I should point out that if you’re looking for some kind of get-rich-quick scheme then I would strongly recommend against involving yourself with internet marketing. This is a serious business which only works when you apply yourself just like you should to any other entrepreneurial activity. That said, there are a number of enormous benefits to selling information online including the fact that you won’t need to physically shift stock around (I show you how to make your products digitally downloadable) and a VERY low Cost of Sale (I show you how to market your product without expensive promotional programs and there really are few other costs involved).

Check out my Create and SELL Products ONLINE toolkit at http://www.howtocorp.com/sales.php?offer=EHYPE&pid=30 Here are five reasons why this is the right time to discover or finally master internet marketing:

• A recession gives you the perfect excuse/requirement to develop a proper additional income.

• You can do this without giving up your day job (at least not immediately).

• Online marketing works either part-time or full-time (to suit your needs).

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• Without wishing to make this sound like hype, successful internet marketers can easily make 6-figure-incomes and many of us do – even part-time.

• Complete flexibility. You can work on this from home, from work, from a yacht in the med (really, you’ll see inside Create and SELL Products ONLINE that this is precisely what I’ve done!).

• I’m about to raise the price of the Create and SELL Products ONLINE toolkit, but since you’ve taken the trouble to download How To Beat Recession I’m going to guarantee last year’s pricing via this special link:


Michael Green Founder: HowToCorp Check out all my toolkits at http://www.howtocorp.com

P.S. Remember, don’t just survive the recession – Excel here.

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P.S. As promised, here's the rest of my How To Corp range: Create Your Own Newsletter http://www.howtoWRITEaNEWSLETTER.com Publish A Money Making Ezine http://www.EasyEzineToolkit.com Get your own Ezine Editors List http://www.ezine-editors-list.com Become A Great Public Speaker http://www.HowToPresent.com How To Publish PDFs In 5 Mins http://www.howtoPDFcreator.com Beat Stress And Be Happier http://www.HowToFindHappiness.com Build Info Products http://www.CreateAndSELLproductsONLINE.com Create A Product Seminar http://www.create-a-product-seminar.com Protect ClickBank and PayPal Sales http://www.Easy-Download.com Start Your Own Forum Today http://www.HowToStartaForum.com Get A Corporate Email Use Policy http://www.Email-Policy.org Get Corporate Internet Use Policy http://www.Internet-Policy.org Perfect Your Golf Swing http://www.HowToAchieveTheSwingInGolf.com The Answer To Your Dreams http://www.Meaning-of-Dreams.com 24 Keys To Promote Anything http://www.HowToPROMOTEaProduct.com Sales Letter PERSONALIZER http://www.SalesLetterPersonalizer.com The Secrets Of Movie Making http://www.Instant-Movie-Making.com The 10 Laws of Joint Venturing http://www.HowTo-JointVenture.com Turn Your AdSense Into Gold http://www.PureAdSenseGold.com Learn How To Blog For Cash http://www.HowToBlogForCash.com Be your own Traffic Czar http://www.Traffic-Czar.com 101 Essential Hints & Tips http://www.101BusinessTools.com Try The 20/20 Challenge Today http://www.the2020challenge.com $30k in 30 days or refund it http://www.MoneyTreeChallenge.com
















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