Not sure of the rest of the world, but in the coming weeks in the U.S. there is going to be a lot of money handed out by the government. 1200.00 stimulus checks per person, and an additional 600.00 per week on top of normal unemployment. For many people, this will equate out to more per week in earnings than they have ever made weekly.
Many Americans have grown accustomed to the habit of buying now, not worrying about tomorrow. I suspect that despite the hoarders who have caused many shelves to be bare, many will quickly forget as their bank accounts flood with money. Nowhere will this be a more destructive behavior than those who live paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings. Or worse, those like myself who have a mountain of credit debt that is the cause of the week to week living. I'm hopeful that many will take heed of recent developments and realize this is no time to gamble with this government flood of money into our pockets.
I haven't decided percentages yet, but in a general direction I plan on splitting up the additional revenue something like this.
Maybe 1/4 over my normal cash flow going to stocking up on goods. I don't want to ever be caught short like I was in the last several weeks. I'm thankful that I have bought bulk somewhat before this hit, but in no way was I prepared. Most thankful I buy TP in bulk though.
Maybe 1/4 preparing to move when my lease is up in 4 months.
Maybe 1/4 set aside to get my business I paused growing fast once whatever this is going on subsides (but who knows what the new normal will be economically).
The last quarter paying extra on all my credit, attacking the least owed first. Time to pay this shit down and make my way off this treadmill.
It's hard to imagine what will be left once this all unfolds, but I fear for all of us who come out of this owing lots of money. I suspect that those who owe the most and find themselves in a default state after all this money is being handed out will find life more difficult than it was before the pandemic. While I have not read anyone mentioning this, it seems clear to me that many things are being tested whether most realize it or not.
1- Air quality as most of the traffic is off the roads. As many manufacturers close down. Even the skies have been free when I walk of the chemtrails in the sky.
2- Levels of compliance. As the restrictions tighten, I'm sure it's being noted who is complying and who is not. I have even read now where one state (Massachusetts) is wanting anyone who drives intot heir state to self quarantine now for 14 days. Not sure what that will do to the goods reaching stores, as I can't imagine to many truck drivers will want to hole up there for 14 days.
3- This one is most pertinent to this post. Testing who will do what with the additional money. Who will rush out buying big screen TVs, new game consoles etc. I imagine there will be many folks who will take the subsidy money in one hand while calling their creditors showing the other hand saying it's empty and they need a deferment. I worry over those who choose the latter. Then there will be those who use the money to try to become more self sufficient. Who will not only pay their bills on time, but even pay more.
I could list many things being tested. as it occurred to me many years ago that compiling data on people is what they do. Now is not a good time (not that there ever was) to continue exhibiting poor choices while sticking the hand out. The masters of the plantation are watching every move as they move the feeding trough. This is the time to make every move count. To see if this time can be used to lessen their direct hold on us by smart(er) choices. Being free has costs, like doing without if you don't need it, and working towards as much self sustainment as possible. As long as others are allowed to own a chunk of our doings (creditors), the idea of freedom is little more than a fancy. The corruption is real, and in little ways many of us have succumbed to the promises of immediate gratification. Gratification is fun, but not worth years of sweat as time marches on. Now is the time to extricate as much of our sweat back as we can, as they placate the cattle with fattening treats (subsidies, better known as our future sweat).
There is a major shift happening, one that has the potential to devastate everything as we have ever known it. I urge everyone to prepare for something worse coming. Please don't be lulled into a false sense of security because there is more money in your pocket for now. Use it wisely. Might not make any difference, but maybe it will.