Post by frostbite on Apr 18, 2019 13:53:47 GMT 10
I work for a very large government organisation, and this morning at a workplace meeting the boss informed us about a colleague that has been on extended leave. And how the organisation's emergency hardship fund had been enacted to provide a payment for this person, who is now destitute.
.
It would seem that Dufus (as I shall refer to him), has suffered his own shtf event, largely self inflicted. No zombie apocalypse, no pandemic (except maybe chronic stupidity), no severe weather event, world war, invasion, earthquake, asteroid hit, no peak oil or peak food. But a life threatening shtf event nonetheless. One that could have been avoided with some prior preperation.
So let me introduce you to Dufus, whom I have known for about 4 years. Dufus is a 46yo male, whom I imagine falls in the lower end of the obese scale. His diet consists mainly of beer, marijuana and junk food. His only exercise is walking between the fridge and the lounge. He looked as healthy as a public toilet seat. Dufus has I think, 8 or 9 dependant children, to at least two different women, because he lacks any sort of self control or moral responsibility. The tax payer funds his offspring.
Dufus was earning about $70-80k a year. He would often boast about using all of his allocated sick leave every year. 'Use it or lose it' was his oft quoted saying. Dufus didn't save any money, I guess alcohol, drugs, fast food and child support is expensive. He owned nothing but an old motorcycle and an even older car.
Several months ago Dufus got sick. Something to do with fluid on his heart. His medical advice is only a transplant can save him. He has about 25% heart capacity, which means he is now living as an invalid with his elderly parents, and requires assistance to even get to the toilet. Whatever limited paid leave he had is long gone, so I assume he is now on some sort of welfare. I don't know how much the hardship grant was, but I expect it was not much. He has no assets or cash reserves to fall back on.
So here's a reminder for us all, that often a shtf event is not one written about in the expert's blogs, but can be just as devastating. Never forget the very real value of a healthy diet, regular exercise, a frugal lifestyle, a bank of paid leave, and a substantial cash reserve.
You never know when you might need it.
.
It would seem that Dufus (as I shall refer to him), has suffered his own shtf event, largely self inflicted. No zombie apocalypse, no pandemic (except maybe chronic stupidity), no severe weather event, world war, invasion, earthquake, asteroid hit, no peak oil or peak food. But a life threatening shtf event nonetheless. One that could have been avoided with some prior preperation.
So let me introduce you to Dufus, whom I have known for about 4 years. Dufus is a 46yo male, whom I imagine falls in the lower end of the obese scale. His diet consists mainly of beer, marijuana and junk food. His only exercise is walking between the fridge and the lounge. He looked as healthy as a public toilet seat. Dufus has I think, 8 or 9 dependant children, to at least two different women, because he lacks any sort of self control or moral responsibility. The tax payer funds his offspring.
Dufus was earning about $70-80k a year. He would often boast about using all of his allocated sick leave every year. 'Use it or lose it' was his oft quoted saying. Dufus didn't save any money, I guess alcohol, drugs, fast food and child support is expensive. He owned nothing but an old motorcycle and an even older car.
Several months ago Dufus got sick. Something to do with fluid on his heart. His medical advice is only a transplant can save him. He has about 25% heart capacity, which means he is now living as an invalid with his elderly parents, and requires assistance to even get to the toilet. Whatever limited paid leave he had is long gone, so I assume he is now on some sort of welfare. I don't know how much the hardship grant was, but I expect it was not much. He has no assets or cash reserves to fall back on.
So here's a reminder for us all, that often a shtf event is not one written about in the expert's blogs, but can be just as devastating. Never forget the very real value of a healthy diet, regular exercise, a frugal lifestyle, a bank of paid leave, and a substantial cash reserve.
You never know when you might need it.