2. Don't try to sell your house for 2004 prices. Too many people are still in a house that they can barely afford because they are trying to sell it for more than anyone will buy it in todays market.
3. Find a cheap/free living situation. Move in with your parents/relatives/friends if you can.
4. Figure out how to make extra money online.
5. Save at least 30% of your income. Do not invest it unless you are extremely confident in your investment or large solid blue-chip companies like apple have dramatic stock plunges.
6. Learn to cook at home, and how to shop better at the grocery store. If you buy real nutritious food from the grocery store and cook it at home instead of eating out, you will save a significant amount of money each week. Don't go to the grocery store and buy a bunch of snacks. A big plus: your health should improve dramatically if you do this.
7. Spend your money on things which have real value to you. It's important that Americans continue to spend money. We should vote with our money though and spend on things that have true value to us, instead of spending on luxury items like jewelery, way too expensive clothing, electronics we won't even use etc.
8. Reduce your energy footprint. Get more efficient lighting, shut off lights, electronics, computers when not in use.
9. Learn basic survival skills like how to build a fire, create shelter, ration food, grow food, store food, do first aid etc. No one is hoping for the worst, but you never know how bad things could get.
10. It's the new year! End your senseless addictions to Starbucks, cigarettes, and McDonald's hamburgers.
