As vagabonders, financial rejiggering might always be on the horizon — or maybe you’ve done it already.  As economic depression looms for many, the prospects of being footloose and not exactly fancy free are intimidating.  As vagabonders by choice, we tend to be a little more conservative with spending than most, but what if you need some guidelines for how to scale back your lifestyle before you take it on the road?  Or if you are suddenly thrust into a jobless existence before you planned on it?

First, this article from the New York Times gives suggestions for running a “financial fire drill”, or a theoretical scenario of what you would do if you lost your job.  It goes over slashing spending (and what to cut) and some concepts that might seem pointless to vagabonders, like using credit instead of savings in a worst-case scenario.  While the article may not necessarily be written just for YOU, it does have some useful tips on preparing for a drastically reduced circumstance.

Second, important to remember that you’re not destitute (probably).  This article is a fascinating delving into the difference between “homeless by choice” and not. If you ARE homeless not by choice, or are about to be, there are options for you.  The article talks about barest necessities, and offer options for where to allocate your funds.

Obviously, money is an important asset, but it is not the most important thing.  Consider working for trade or barter, or potentially drastically slicing your living expenses to get by on less (sleep rougher, eat more monotonously, don’t buy new stuff) and remember: there is always a choice.  If vagabonding isn’t working for you immediately, then you can always come back to it after awhile.  Staying on the road while you’re scared and alone is no fun; nobody will think less of you if you want to settle down and try to create a safety net.  We do this because we like it, not because we have to, after all.