Life is too uncertain, and that is why you should always be prepared for the future because you do not know when there is a catastrophe, natural disaster or a economic depression. Being prepared for the future means you should save on basic things needed for survival. Shortage of food is the first thing that comes to mind when there is an emergency. Stocking on food items is a great idea to counter any such threat. You can not build a stock of every food item that is consumed in your household, but you can surely stock non perishable items such as oats, wheat, rice, powdered milk, dry fruits etc. If you can grow some food in your garden this will not only help you sustain a food crisis, but also supply fresh food to your family. Now you should clear your debt, as being in debt augurs ill at times of economic depressions when jobs are hard to come by but the monthly installment can not be given a miss. You should also start building on your savings by depositing money in safe instruments. Buying precious metals can be another way to tide over severe financial problems.