The recent collapse of Washington Mutual Bank and the near collapse of the entire financial infrastructure in the country has underscored the need to be prepared in every way.  Obviously, you should be minimizing your debt, maximizing savings and setting some food and money aside to ride out the coming hard times.  Most economists believe the bailout (whatever that turns out to look like) will have little effect, and that it is just delaying the inevitable.  I agree.

Now is the time to line up your ducks.  You’ve had plenty of warning of impending financial disaster.  What have you done to prepare?  I know many of you have done nothing.  Just like the people in Texas this year and Louisiana last year who knew there was a calamity coming and did nothing to prepare.  Those who were prepared, took appropriate measures and heeded the warnings came through able to move forward as they e emerged from the other end of the disaster.  Others lost everything.  What will you do?