Food banks are getting crowded.

Thoughts today while I'm going insane trying to find my social security card.

From lessons I learned from Survivorman Les Stroud: When surviving, think within a circle. First find out what's around yourself. (Inner circle) Your home. Find out how much food you have and go from there. This very inner circle is your own personal responsibility. Your family, your kids YOUR dog come first before anything else. Your family and kids deserve a meal and their needs met before the car payment gets paid or wants are purchased. As a side note, when in a time of emergency such as we are in now sit-down and think for a second. What could I have done better to prepare for this. If this happens again how can I prepare for a future loss of income, disaster, or pandemic so my family doesn't suffer. If you can't even take care of your inner circle, why??

Is your car payment too high? Is your house payment too high? Are you taking too many vacations? Are you going into unnecessary debt?

I asked myself these question along time ago. I really reflected on them when my car broke down. 

If your first circle needs help get help but at the same time find out why. 

If you have excess beyond your first circle you work on your second circle. These would be extended family members neighbors and close friends. Take care of them before your third and  final circle. This is the donation circle. Food banks, church services, charities. If you're reasonably blessed go for it. I've warned before,make sure you know what you are donating to before you donate. As an example, a Father who has a 600 dollar Truck payment, a 300 dollar RV payment, 200 dollar vehicle insurance payment, 10k in credit card debt. A 10k gun collection 2 ATVs 2 newer Snowmobiles a brand new house 3 dogs and 4 kids needs help from his bishop with a mortgage payment and food. I know that's a little exaggerated but how about this one. A young couple one child 2 dogs 2 car payments 200 a month car insurance who took 3 trips last year. All 3 included roundtrip airfare and averaged around around 2500 each need help from the food bank. 

This does happen guys! Irresponsible spending creates a healthy market but as an adverse effect it creates a horrible situation if the market goes down which I and others have been sounding the alarm for years. Have some preparation in place for your future self. Reduce your spending. Realize car payments are a horrible way to buy a car. The only winner is the car dealership, the loan company, and insurance companies. Pets are great companions but when does the responsibility fall on you to feed and take care of them? If you're not able to take care of them in both good and bad markets, consider making your financial life better before getting a pet. Dogs are not human.  Just FYI.

More to come.