The Beauty of a Recession — Where to Invest Now

If you came looking for stock tips, surf on. The market is too volatile. Think tangibles.

As everything crashes around us, deals abound.

The following advice is only for those out of all debt except possibly mortgage. Otherwise, the best investment you can possibly make is to pay off all the debt you can.

Assuming your pantry is stuffed to bursting, all your bills are caught up, and your garden is growing… or about to, let’s look to the future.

Winter clothes:

The kids don’t stop growing. While cool weather gear is on clearance, consider buying for the future. Simple, classic styles a size or two ahead. This goes for you, too. Nice coats, wool sweaters are all deeply discounted, yet many sizes are still available. Warm clothing= a need

Electronics:

My mom just got a printer for less than the ink that goes in it. Keep your eyes peeled. Try woot.com that offers a new gizmo every night at midnight. Computer, DVD player or digital are dying, now is about the best price you’ll get. Electronics (used for money making purposes)= need Otherwise, like it or not, they are wants.

Furniture:

I have no idea why furniture sales go to heck. Do that many people really redecorate before their furniture literally sits them on the ground? I’ve never been that financially comfortable. Well, what ever. The prices are great. So if you’ve been wanting to replace that chair that has a funny smell that the dog has chewed to shreds, go for it. Cash, paid in full, only. The only furniture that is truly a need is a mattress that gives you good enough rest to keep trudging. For the most part, like it or lump it, furniture is a want.

Luxury:

Oh, there are deals here, but I generally consider them thoroughly in the want not even close to need category. Too bad. Surf to some other blog to learn about them.

The general theory — once you are paying for an 80% off item, you are paying less than the store did for it. Yippeee!

(Neighbor Nancy looks over her glasses and contemplates the recliner with all the exposed wood due to the cats wrong assumption that it is their clawing post. She dismisses the idea, realizing the money is still better spent on canning jars.)

(sigh)

What wonderful thing

Gardening Questions: Who Ya Gonna Call?

(Neighbor Nancy draws her chair up to the computer and begins writing with her hands still alarmingly crusted with soil. )

Everybody get confounded by their garden. Everyone. Sooner or later, even the most experienced green thumb is stumped by some odd plant behavior.

So, what do you do? To whom do you turn?

You county extension agent.

Every county in the US has one, whose knowledge is backed by a major land grant school. This person’s salary is paid for by your tax dollars and is available to you.

Whether you need to choose the right variety of wheat to plant on 1,000 acres or you windowsill Christmas Cactus won’t bloom, these people have the answers.

I was shocked to learn that just the average person could call them, attend seminars or participate in workshops. ( I thought the extension agent was just for farmers, not every dad-blasted citizen. Silly me.)

Last Spring, I attended the most informative lecture on backyard fruit trees. The example used was just a dwarf apple tree in a city backyard.

Last fall, I attended a “Caprine Weekend” to learn about backyard goats. There were non stop workshops on every goat topic you could dream up. It was magnificent and I left with new confidence. The whole weekend camping and learning experience cost $35. Yup, that’s it. The fee was just to cover the camping.

My heroes.

You can ask these guys anything. Anything! If they by some odd chance don’t know the answer, they know where to find it.

These are also the people who can tell you about your soil. For $9, you can get your soil tested. Plus, get super specific personalized recommendations for improving your soil for your specific needs.

Your beloved potted plant looks ill and you don’t know why? Take it for a ride to the extension agent’s office.

So, don’t be shy. Give your extension agent a call, visit her office or look her up on the internet. You won’t be sorry.

(Neighbor Nancy disconnects to call her extension agent about how to plant a little backyard plot of oats.)