7 Practical Steps to Survive the Next Great Recession

By Cade Shadowlight
Recent economic indicators suggest trouble on the horizon. The ADP National Employment Report revealed a loss of 33,000 jobs in June, while Microsoft announced plans to cut 9,000 employees. Whether you believe a recession is imminent or not, one thing is certain: economic downturns are inevitable. The time to prepare for the next Great Recession is now, while the economy is relatively stable. Here are seven actionable strategies to help you weather the storm:

1. Accept Your Vulnerability
   No matter how skilled or valued you are, no employee is indispensable. During a recession, downsizing can hit anyone. Acknowledge this reality and take proactive steps to strengthen your position.
2. Become Invaluable at Work
   Make yourself harder to let go by expanding your skill set. Stay current in your field and learn new skills, even those outside your current role. In a recession, companies often expect remaining employees to handle multiple responsibilities. Versatility can make you a keeper.
3. Stay Professional and Drama-Free
   Avoid giving your employer a reason to target you during layoffs. Follow company rules, steer clear of workplace conflicts, and refrain from bad-mouthing colleagues or the organization. For more tips, check out the 15 Commandments of Keeping Your Job on the Wealth From Chaos website (article link).
4. Prepare for a Job Hunt Now
   Even with your best efforts, job loss is a possibility. Keep your resume updated and maintain current contact information for references. Build and nurture a professional network. Connections through friends or colleagues are often more effective than job boards or employment services.
5. Diversify Your Skills
   A recession may force you to pivot to a new industry or start your own business. Take classes at a community college to learn skills like marketing, public relations, or coding (recommended book on Amazon). Consider reading SPIN Selling by Neil Rackham (Amazon link), a business classic on effective sales techniques. Explore trades like plumbing, electrical work, or HVAC repair as a backup. The broader your skill set, the more employable you’ll be.
6. Strengthen Your Financial Foundation
   Financial preparedness is critical. Create a budget, live within your means, pay off high-interest debt, and build an emergency fund. Prioritize saving at least $1,500 for emergencies before aggressively tackling debt (while still making minimum payments). To jumpstart your savings, consider hosting a yard sale to declutter and raise funds or brown-bagging your lunch to save $25 a week, which is $650 in just six months. For more guidance, read Financial Preparedness from a Survivalist’s Perspective on the Wealth From Chaos website (article link). 
7. Stock Up on Essentials
   Food storage and other preparedness measures can be a lifeline during tough times. A prepper I know weathered the 2008 Financial Crisis after both he and his wife lost their jobs. Their stockpile of food and supplies sustained them through months of unemployment. Start by acquiring two weeks’ worth of food and essentials, then aim for a month, and eventually six months or more, depending on your comfort level.

Final Thoughts
Economic downturns test our resilience, but preparation can make all the difference. By enhancing your value at work, diversifying your skills, building financial security, and stocking up on essentials, you’ll be better equipped to face whatever lies ahead. Start today and your future self will thank you.

Ready to take charge of your future? Subscribe to the Dystopian Survival email list by clicking here for expert tips on self-reliance, preparedness, and survival. Join now!

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Survivalist Family, by Joe Fox (Viking Preparedness) is currently available at Refuge Medical for only $20. Great guide to beginner and intermediate preparedness and survival. Highly recommended!

7 Pillars of Self-Reliance for Surviving a Dystopian World

By Cade Shadowlight

When the grid fails, supply chains collapse, or society unravels, will you be ready? Self-reliance is the cornerstone of survival in a dystopian world. It’s not just a skill, it’s a mindset that ensures you thrive when others falter. Self-reliance means trusting your own judgment, skills, and resources over that of indifferent authorities, self-serving experts, or failing institutions to navigate crises, from natural disasters to economic collapse.

Self-reliance doesn’t mean isolation. It’s about maximizing your capabilities while building a trusted network. Drawing from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance (Amazon link) and modern survivalist wisdom, here are seven pillars to master self-reliance in 2025 and beyond.

1. Take Charge of Your Life

Don’t wait for government aid or external rescue. Prepare now to secure your survival. Stockpile food, learn to purify water, and plan for self-sufficiency. In a chaotic world, relying on others can leave you vulnerable. Act today to shape your future.

Example: When a blackout hits, the self-reliant prepper powers their home with a solar generator they built months ago, while others scramble in the dark.

2. Own Your Outcomes

Stop blaming others for setbacks. Whether it’s a job loss or a natural disaster, your response defines your self-reliance. You may not always be able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it. Focus on solutions, not excuses. Reject the victim mindset and take control of how you adapt to challenges.

Example: If your home is robbed, the self-reliant rebuild and learn from the breach, never dwelling on what was lost.

3. Stay Informed

Knowledge is power in a crisis. Monitor local threats, global trends, and survival techniques. In 2025, with misinformation rampant, verify your sources —  especially on social media, as well as mainstream and alternative news platforms. Track weather, supply chain issues, and economic shifts to stay ahead. An emergency radio is non-negotiable (Amazon link).

Example: By following global news and local alerts, you stock up on essentials before shortages drive prices through the roof.

4. Define Your Purpose

Know your why, whether it’s protecting your family, building a homestead, or securing financial independence. A clear purpose drives action and keeps you focused during crises. Set specific, measurable goals to guide your path.

Example: Aiming for food security in a year motivates you to build a survival pantry and master gardening (Amazon link) before shortages strike.

5. Think for Yourself

Resist external pressures, such as groupthink, political correctness, government mandates, or media narratives. Make decisions based on logic and your personal needs. In a dystopian world, blind conformity can be dangerous. Trust your judgment, and prioritize what matters most in your situation.

Example: During a crisis, a self-reliant prepper weighs risks and decides whether staying or evacuating best protects their family, even defying official orders if necessary.

6. Master Diverse Skills

The more skills you have, the less you depend on failing systems. Learn survival essentials like foraging, bartering, and first aid (Refuge affiliate link), but don’t stop there. In 2025, skills like cybersecurity (to protect your data) or alternative energy (like solar panel maintenance) are just as critical. Every skill strengthens your independence.

Example: Being able to repair a generator keeps your home powered during a grid failure, while knowing how to barter secures supplies in a cashless economy.

7. Build Real-World Experience

Self-reliance means maximizing your strengths while connecting with trusted allies. These seven pillars are your foundation for surviving a dystopian future. Start small: choose one skill, practice it, and share your progress with our community.

Example: Spend a weekend without electricity to refine your off-grid setup, learning how to cook with a solar stove or purify water without a filter.

Start Your Self-Reliance Journey Today

Self-reliance doesn’t mean going it alone. It means maximizing your capabilities while building a network of trusted allies. In a dystopian future, these seven pillars are your foundation for survival. Start small: pick one skill, practice it, and share your progress with our community

Ready to take control? Join the Dystopian Survival email list by clicking here to stay informed on all aspects of self-reliance, preparedness and survival. Share your top self-reliance tip in the comments section below, or on social media with #DystopianSurvival. Let’s build a future where we’re ready for anything!

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Review: The Old Farmer's Almanac Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook

By Cade Shadowlight

I picked up a copy of Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook by Old Farmer’s Almanac last year, and it quickly became my favorite gardening book. Currently only $12.79 on Amazon (about 35% off its regular price of $19.95), this 200+ page guide is packed with gardening information for both beginners and experts. It’s filled with detailed articles, pictures, and step-by-step instructions. It even includes journal pages to record your gardening activities, such as soil tests and seed-starting records. I highly recommend this book to those new to gardening and even to those of us who are seasoned growers.

The book covers essential topics, including:

• Getting Started
• Tools for Success
• Above-Ground Gardening
• Container Gardening
• Indoor Gardening
• The Dig Less, Mulch More Method
• Facts About Fertilizers
• How to Fight Disease and Pests
• Seed Saving
• Crop Rotation
• Soil and Composting (multiple articles)

It also features encyclopedia-like entries on 32 vegetables, each with 2–5 pages of detailed information, planting instructions, and recommended varieties. Vegetables include:

• Root Crops: Beets, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, turnips
• Leafy Greens: Kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard
• Brassicas: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi
• Legumes: Beans, edamame, peas
• Nightshades: Eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes
• Alliums: Garlic, onions
• Others: Asparagus, celery, corn, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, summer and winter squash, sweet potatoes

The Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook not only equips you with practical gardening knowledge but also empowers you to take control of your food supply in uncertain times. Growing vegetables offers everyone the chance to grow your own food, get exercise and fresh air, and reap the rewards of working with nature. In an era of uncertain supply lines and high inflation, gardening provides an important sense of security.

Grab this book to start building your food security today:  https://amzn.to/3ubG8lC