brought on by a variety of factors, but most particularly Peak Oil - the
lessening production of petroleum. (For full information on Peak Oil,
see Dry Dipstick -
No matter what happens to the economy, you'll probably still need
income. Work continues even in hard times. Sadly, and ironically, at a
time when so much more needs to be done, it gets harder and harder for
people to act...
Many predict that the world will soon experience an economic depression,
brought on by a variety of factors, but most particularly Peak Oil - the
lessening production of petroleum. (For full information on Peak Oil,
see Dry Dipstick -
No matter what happens to the economy, you'll probably still need
income. Work continues even in hard times. Sadly, and ironically, at a
time when so much more needs to be done, it gets harder and harder for
people to actually find jobs.
We can guess what type of jobs might disappear first as a result of
decreasing oil supplies and economic collapse--such as housing
construction, highway construction, just about any kind of construction
for that matter, credit cards, banking, stocks and bonds, overnight
tourism (daytrip may do okay), airlines (but bus and maybe even
railroads may do well), the automobile industry and all its related
businesses, hotels and motels, drive-through fast-food, car washes,
chain stores dependent on cheap goods from China, and so on--but it's
probably more useful to try and predict what type of jobs and skills
will be most needed.
We assume they will involve basic needs--food, water, health, and the
like. There will probably be much more focus on repairing items than
replacing them, so cottage industries like small appliance repair and
clothing repair could do well. Escapist entertainment and fads were
thriving during the Great Depression of the 1930s and there's no reason
to believe similar, low-cost businesses might not do equally well now.
But you shouldn't count on someone hiring you. Plan now to work for
yourself, providing goods and services to people who need them.
We can't make any guarantees, but the following ideas are good
possibilities. And they should get you thinking in the right direction
about other likely businesses.
Barter Network
When people don't have money, they do barter. They've always got
stuff--and skills--that they can exchange. Set up a barter network, help
others do it, and take a small cut of the action.
Beer and Wine Making
No matter how hard times get, people will still want beer and wine. If
you can turn the stuff out at home, you've got an endless supply of
barter material.
Bicycle Sales / Repairs
The first thing you should do right now is run out and buy as many used
bicycles as you can. Used bike sales and repairs should do very well.
You could even add motorcycles and scooters, because of the good gas
mileage they get.
Car Repair
While this is no time to be in the new car sales business, car repair
should be fine as people try to keep their existing vehicles running as
long as they can--and as long as they can afford the gas. Consider basic
car repair/maintenance where you go to the customer's home to do the
service. You might even have luck with ongoing maintenance contracts.
You could also give car repair classes.
Cheap Luxuries
Even in hard times--actually particularly in hard times--people will
want to spoil themselves now and then. But the luxury has to be cheap.
It might be a special chocolate chip cookie, or delicious homemade
candy. Or maybe it's very special handmade giftwrapping paper. Or
fragrant handmade soap or a hand-carved wooden toy.
Computer Repair
Computer repair and maintenance should do exceptionally well. People
will no longer be running out to buy the latest upgrade (computer,
monitor, printer, etc.) but will be more interested in keeping what they
have working properly.
Delivery Service
It makes much more sense to pay a slight fee to have a store deliver a
purchase to you than to get in your car and make a round trip to do it
yourself. Smart store owners will offer free delivery in order to
attract customers. (On a larger scale, companies like UPS and FedEx
should do well.)
Entertainment
People want to be entertained, particularly when times are tough.
Consider bringing together talented people to offer live entertainment
in neighborhood or community locations. You probably won't get rich but
you'll have a good time, and you and the entertainers will end up with
more money than when you started.
Errand Service
On a more personal level than a delivery service, errand services can
combine your needs with similar needs of others, to provide services
cheaper than you could do them yourself. This might be pickup and
delivery, but could also include banking, taking children to
after-school classes and sports or pets to the veterinarian, and a
variety of other activities.
Fads
It would be nice to invent, and get rich off, the next fad. But you can
also stay in touch with the culture, and offer low-cost ways for your
community to enjoy those fads.
Farming
You don't have to have a huge farm to have a healthy farming business.
An acre of land and a lot of hard work will produce what you need for a
small-scale business. Consider also specialty items such as mushrooms,
herbs, or sprouts. Because of the many uses of hemp, that will be a
great crop once it's legal--or at least possible without enforcement--to
grow.
Herbal Treatments
You can grow, or forage for, herbs and use them to make healing
concoctions, syrups, salves, teas, and a variety of other healthy items.
You could also use flowers for Aromatherapy.
Home Repair
People will have to do what they can to keep everything in their home in
working order. If you have carpentry, plumbing, electrical and a wide
variety of other relevant skills, you can be a big help to those people.
You might even have success at teaching these skills to others.
Instruction
You name it, someone will be interested in it. Whether it's using tools,
playing music, sewing or storytelling. The lessons likely to do best
will be those focused on basic essentials, saving money and protecting
health, such as gardening, food canning, inexpensive home cooking, yoga
and other health exercises, meditation and relaxation, herb foraging and
use, and pet care.
Instructional Video Library
Considering setting up an instructional video library; videos and DVDs
that teach people various skills, whether they're home or car repair,
sewing, musical, language or any of hundreds of other subjects.
Raising Chickens and Rabbits
Lots of people might start their own gardens, but very few will raise
their own meat. You can take advantage of that by raising chickens and
rabbits-and other critters if you've got room.
Rental Library
Libraries aren't just for videos and books. Consider offering specialty
kitchenware, car and woodworking tools, games, toys, household repair
tools, gardening equipment and literally anything else you can think of.
Seamstress / Tailor / Clothing Alterations
In hard times, people can't afford to simply buy new clothes to replace
slightly worn clothing. Darning socks will be back again. Sewing and
knitting skills are no longer common, nor are sewing machines. Anyone
with these skills will be much in demand.
Small Appliance / Electronics Repair
Till now it's been cheaper to throw away a broken radio, telephone,
blender, microwave, coffee maker and similar appliances than to have it
repaired. That time is over. With the end of cheap imports, and loss of
income, people will no longer be able to afford new items. They will
either have to do without, or find someone with the skills to fix them.
Soap Making
Everybody needs soap. While there might not be a time when you can't
find soap to buy, you'll save money, have some fun, and end up with an
excellent barter item by making your own soap. Here are some more
recipes. While you're at it, here are some skin care recipes.
Toys and Games
There was a time when toys were not mass-produced plastic things. They
were carefully crafted from wood, cloth and other natural materials,
were treasured by the children who received them, and were passed down
from generation to generation. Create some yourself, and you'll have
customers.
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