Venezuela
Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2018 3:18 pm
so...
was talking to someone visiting from Venezuela, and had a very interesting conversation, thought it really useful so paraphrasing below.
when things went bad, they went really quite quickly from a bit difficult / so-so (2012) to really quite bad (2015), by the time it was getting bad it was to late to do anything about it for most people - no time to stock up, etc. Those who could left the country, and this really accelerated from 2015 onwards, those with medical qualifications, family overseas, foreign passports etc. Making it even worse for those staying in terms of accessing medical treatments, etc.
food is available, but not much, it is expensive, and no real choice - anything that needs to be imported is very expensive and hard to come by, and this includes medicine, etc. She does not send money home as not only are items expensive the supply is very unpredictable, she buys medicines here and sends back, (no idea how she sources here). Soaps, shampoo, clothes are all luxury items.
people are really literally slowly starving, both the calorific and nutritional intake, people on fixed incomes such as pensioners are the worst hit.
the point she made is that Venezuela used to be a 'rich' country, and developed, and people thought it would never happen to them, so are unprepared for it psychologically, it can happen and does happen to normal people...
Sourcing food, and queuing is really time consuming. Urban residents are at a huge disadvantage, rural residents or those with family who can grow their own food are at a huge advantage. Everything is done on the black market. Fresh food, vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk, butter are impossible to get except at a huge price.
life savings have been wiped out overnight
Mental health has really declined, people are stressed, depressed, bored, tired, etc.
no end in sight
the actions i am taking away from it
re-organising the house to make as much storage space as possible, unfortunately a modern house with very limited storage
increasing the amounts of over the counter medicines and personal care items in stock - enough to last years (!?!)
increasing the amounts of some food items i stock such tea, coffee, sugar, wine, chocolate. dried beans, rice, flour, olive oil, etc.
although tiny garden we grow some fruit and veg, more as a hobby for our little boy, but next year going to get really organized to grow and store
get chickens - had as a girl, and fresh eggs really good for making pasta, cakes, etc. and excellent source protein if no meat
i am thinking of preparing for a recession hobby - sewing and knitting, could be really very useful and good to keep busy
buying craft activities, clothes, for little boy
we have pensions, longer term savings/investment for son, but i also have cash savings - going to keep enough for 6 months, and buy gold with rest, and make sure pensions and his savings invested in international funds rather than UK funds.
any thoughts or suggestions welcomed.
was talking to someone visiting from Venezuela, and had a very interesting conversation, thought it really useful so paraphrasing below.
when things went bad, they went really quite quickly from a bit difficult / so-so (2012) to really quite bad (2015), by the time it was getting bad it was to late to do anything about it for most people - no time to stock up, etc. Those who could left the country, and this really accelerated from 2015 onwards, those with medical qualifications, family overseas, foreign passports etc. Making it even worse for those staying in terms of accessing medical treatments, etc.
food is available, but not much, it is expensive, and no real choice - anything that needs to be imported is very expensive and hard to come by, and this includes medicine, etc. She does not send money home as not only are items expensive the supply is very unpredictable, she buys medicines here and sends back, (no idea how she sources here). Soaps, shampoo, clothes are all luxury items.
people are really literally slowly starving, both the calorific and nutritional intake, people on fixed incomes such as pensioners are the worst hit.
the point she made is that Venezuela used to be a 'rich' country, and developed, and people thought it would never happen to them, so are unprepared for it psychologically, it can happen and does happen to normal people...
Sourcing food, and queuing is really time consuming. Urban residents are at a huge disadvantage, rural residents or those with family who can grow their own food are at a huge advantage. Everything is done on the black market. Fresh food, vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk, butter are impossible to get except at a huge price.
life savings have been wiped out overnight
Mental health has really declined, people are stressed, depressed, bored, tired, etc.
no end in sight
the actions i am taking away from it
re-organising the house to make as much storage space as possible, unfortunately a modern house with very limited storage
increasing the amounts of over the counter medicines and personal care items in stock - enough to last years (!?!)
increasing the amounts of some food items i stock such tea, coffee, sugar, wine, chocolate. dried beans, rice, flour, olive oil, etc.
although tiny garden we grow some fruit and veg, more as a hobby for our little boy, but next year going to get really organized to grow and store
get chickens - had as a girl, and fresh eggs really good for making pasta, cakes, etc. and excellent source protein if no meat
i am thinking of preparing for a recession hobby - sewing and knitting, could be really very useful and good to keep busy
buying craft activities, clothes, for little boy
we have pensions, longer term savings/investment for son, but i also have cash savings - going to keep enough for 6 months, and buy gold with rest, and make sure pensions and his savings invested in international funds rather than UK funds.
any thoughts or suggestions welcomed.