What are you doing to take advantage of the current situation in the US?

[MKinVA]

I don't mean hoarding toilet paper. Are you refinancing your home? Think real estate prices are coming down so shopping for a home or rental? Putting more money into market? Taking money out? Just curious after my sister said yesterday, I need to take advantage of this downturn somehow!

[Kris]

Honestly, I’m pretty repelled by questions like this.

Poor taste. Very, very poor taste.

[MKinVA]

Sorry to hurt your feelings. I guess there is no making lemons out of lemonade around here. Thought we could discuss new ideas and people encouraging each other, but let's wallow in despair instead.

[Kris]

Sorry to hurt your feelings. I guess there is no making lemons out of lemonade around here. Thought we could discuss new ideas and people encouraging each other, but let's wallow in despair instead.

I’m not wallowing in despair. I’m rich as hell and perfectly healthy.

But “taking advantage” of this horrific situation is not something I want to gleefully discuss on an internet forum right now. You enjoy, though.

[MKinVA]

Where did you get gleeful? I don't believe anything suggested gleeful. And if you are so offended, why even reply? Troll.

[Sailor Sam]

I’m working my professional network to see if I can volunteer as a deck officer aboard either the USNS Mercy, or Comfort. Which will be deployed inside the American EEZ, to take pressure off California hospitals.

I’ve also been working upwards of 30 hour stretches to figure out how to keep United States ships active and responding with up to 50% of the workforce unavailable due to sickness, or childcare. And also, what the ever loving fuck are we going to do if we have to turn a cutter into a quarantine area? Food, water, medicine, caretakers, isolation of sick from well.

There’s a cruise ship headed to FL, with 40 cases of flu-like symptoms. Betcha it will be 40+ before morning. Will that ship dock? If it does dock, where will the symptomatic go?

I’m not despairing. I’m far too busy to despair. But there’s absolutely nothing to ‘take advantage’ of.

[Wrenchturner]

I'm enjoying the interesting live streams on youtube.  I'm trying to slow down a bit in how I live.  Calling people that are dear to me.  Trying to be grateful and empathetic as much as I can.  Exercising more and trying to sort out my health.  Those types of things.

[MKinVA]

Where will the symptomatic go? How about the thousands of dorm rooms that have emptied out around the country? There must be hundreds of thousands of them where we should be sheltering medical personnel who need to separate from their families and where we could also set up remote hospital ICU beds. I have suggested to Virginia officials I used to work with that a local mattress maker could convert to making hospital beds to help but also so they don't go out of business.

This used to be a forum where ambitious people discussed ambitious ideas and goals. Now it seems to be populated by people looking to be triggered and offended. It's too bad. 

[ixtap]

Most of those dorms aren't empty. They are housing students with nowhere else to go.

Additionally, hotels are better than dorms, because dorms usually have community bathrooms, rather than individual ones. Hotels are actually being used.

[FINate]

We're enjoying the sudden and total disruption of life. The schedule is clear and free of busyness. We sleep in, cook fancy meals together, lots of quality time with the kids, family walks and bike rides, family game night, family dance party, and silly made-up games.

And taking advantage of school closures to get a glimpse of what it might look like to homeschool. We've been considering this for a while, not because we're unhappy with their teachers or the schools (they're great), but because we'd like more flexibility and think our eldest daughter would thrive in such a setting. We've already gained some important insights and now have more confidence that homeschooling is the right path for us.

Also like that people are home and accessible. I can call someone and they pick up and have time to talk, and vice versa. I'd rather see people in person, but an unexpected upside of sheltering in place is talking with more people and with greater frequency.

[martyconlonontherun]

Using the opportunity to reconnect with family and readjust what I value. Will try to position myself the best I can financially but also showed money isn't important.

[NorCal]

I am taking advantage of actually spending time with my kids (2 and 6).  I am trying to appreciate it, as I know (logically) that this time with them is rare.

I also started learning guitar just before this all started, but I'm taking advantage of the time to actually practice.

[MKinVA]

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/colleges-offering-dorms-hospital-overflow-virus-cases-69675409

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/connecticut-state-colleges-plan-to-offer-dorm-buildings-for-covid-19-patients/2243723/

Mobile field hospital to Danbury, dorms to be repurposed

And many others. New York is using SUNY at Stony Brook as well. Used to live there.

[Kris]

Where did you get gleeful? I don't believe anything suggested gleeful. And if you are so offended, why even reply? Troll.

Where did you get wallowing in despair?

[Brother Esau]

1. Adjusted the investment portfolio to a more aggressive slant (re-balancing/market timing...whatever)
2. Watching mortgage rates to possibly refi at some point
3. Working from home = saving on commuting costs
4. Watching flight/hotel rates for the next vaca
5. Been thinking about having some work done around the house (redo a bathroom, new windows, replace a fence). Hopefully get a nice contractor discount once this shit storm blows over.

"taking advantage" = being smart

[FINate]

1. Adjusted the investment portfolio to a more aggressive slant (re-balancing/market timing...whatever)
2. Watching mortgage rates to possibly refi at some point
3. Working from home = saving on commuting costs
4. Watching flight/hotel rates for the next vaca
5. Been thinking about having some work done around the house (redo a bathroom, new windows, replace a fence). Hopefully get a nice contractor discount once this shit storm blows over.

"taking advantage" = being smart

Good list!

DW and I happened to live in the EU for a time during the Great Recession. Not only were flights and hotels cheap, but almost no one was there. We visited multiple World Heritage Sites without the crowds. It was great!

After returning from the EU we got a bunch of work done on the house: new siding, new windows, kitchen remodel, and so on. Contractors were very prompt getting back to us with quotes, prices were great, everyone showed up and got the work done quickly. Materials where also cheap.

[Steeze]

Saving by not eating out, commuting, etc.
Working on side projects at work more
Added cash to the market
Converted some bonds to equities
Applied for a HELOC
Paid my HOA & insurance until the end of the year
Sleeping an extra hour each day
Watching movies / YouTube a bunch
Talking with friends on the phone / FaceTime more

[slackmax]

Gleefully enjoying the relative lack of traffic while people stay home. I am being good and only going out rarely.

Hoping for price deflation, but probably we'll get inflation, right? But hoping for deflation. One can hope.

Staying inside so much is doing something to my brain. I'm having great dreams,  and remembering them!   

Since TV is soooooo  boring after X number of hours, no matter how good the show is,  I've been forced to enjoy reading a good book again.   

Realizing how much I miss the socializing I was having at my weekly social gatherings. 

This is a once in a lifetime thing. What did you do during the great pandemic of 2020, etc?   

Fox aired a once in a lifetime one hour broadcast of music stars performing from inside  their homes yesterday, hosted by Elton John. Anyone see it? I just happened upon it by chance. It was great. And no commercials! Thank you, Fox TV !     

[soccerluvof4]

Enjoying the extra time with my kids
Getting projects done
Doing alot more outdoor activites for exercise
Buying the dips and Re-balancing as needed
Supporting local businesses best I can
Watching to much TV
Doing alot of the cooking

[sequoia]

Went fishing at local park twice last week when the weather was warm. It feels good to get out of the house and get some fresh air. I also get to spent more time with my wife and kid.

But I heard that they closed the park now because there were still people who did not practice social distancing. ~250 acre of land and probably less than 200 people based on the number of cars parked. We should be able to keep at least 6 ft from each other...sigh...

[Sugaree]

I'm working 11 hour days to pick up the slack for co-workers who are teleworking.  Even in IT, there are jobs that just can't be done remotely (though, I question whether or not the one I'm filling in on is one of them, but more OT for me).  What few debts I do have will be knocked out by the end of the year.  I'm hoping that cheap airline tickets will continue until August or September when the airlines open up the schedule for next summer. 

Other than that, it's business as usual.  I'm continuing to contribute to my retirement plans on schedule.  I may or may not be secretly doing the happy dance when the market goes down on days that contributions are scheduled to hit.  I continue to meal plan and order groceries for pickup.  I did have to actually go into some grocery stores to get a few things because of limits placed on online orders.  It was the first time I'd had to go inside a grocery store in almost a year and it SUCKED. 

[YttriumNitrate]

I just closed on a refi of my primary residence. I'm considering front loading my 401k for the rest of the year, and might start looking for a second rental house later this year. Depending on how things go, I might also get some work done on my house later this year (new siding, etc.) if the local contractors get competitive with their prices.

[bwall]

Importing protective masks and distributing them to my friends and family at no cost.

Timing the market to pick the stock I want to buy. Just kidding.

[Davnasty]

Biking around town in areas I would usually avoid due to traffic. Local university is empty so I've done lots of exploring. I've also learned that biking up and down empty parking garages is a lot of fun and there's usually a nice view at the top.

[Freedomin5]

Not really doing anything different, but one of the personal benefits of the current economic situation in the US is that the money exchange rate is finally working in my favor since I work overseas and get paid in the local currency which is then converted to Canadian dollars. This month, I “earned” $400 more than last month, even though I’m a salaried worker.

[Michael in ABQ]

No real change for me as I'm temporarily out of the US for a deployment.
I bumped up my TSP contribution to 25% in January so I'm getting lots of equities for cheaper and 100% tax free.
I'm trying to place a much larger order from my main supplier for a side hustle selling grocery products on Amazon. Going to purchase an entire pallet and have it shipped to a third-party logistics firm to handle since my wife can't go direct to the factory to pickup several cases at a time anymore. Sales picked up quite a bit in the last couple of weeks.
If I was home I'd be working from home and able to spend more time with my kids. As it is now, since they're home I do get more opportunities to talk to them due to the time zone difference.

[Just Joe]

Working from home but still need to go to my mostly empty work place a couple times per week for certain tasks for a few hours. Riding my ebike b/c I have time and b/c the roads are ever more empty.

I have enjoyed this spring more than most of my springs. Its like being a kid again with spare time to enjoy it. Normally spring is a very busy time at work and spring is over before I know it.

All reasons to retire but due to my late start I won't be retiring early by MMM just early compared to some of my peers. Sad that this spring has been so tough on other people's families and careers.

[Steeze]

Anyone planning on jumping into real estate if we see the market turn down in a big way over the next year?

[YttriumNitrate]

Anyone planning on jumping into real estate if we see the market turn down in a big way over the next year?

I've been looking into picking up a second rental unit for a while, but everything has been rather pricey. If there is a significant correction in prices, then I might finally jump in. At least back in 2009-2010, prices around me didn't fall much, so I don't have much hope on finding fire sale prices.

Also, there's 15 acres of ag land nearby that I've had my eye on for the last 18-months. If stocks rebound, and the seller cuts the price by 1/3rd, then I'd put in an offer on that land. But, that land would be a toy rather than an investment.

[EngagedToFIRE]

Hopefully get the PPP loan, then use it to pay my employees, rents, and utilities.  Which could create some nice profit for me.  Otherwise, relaxing - and taking advantage of the time with family, which has a lot of value.

[Bloop Bloop]

Anyone planning on jumping into real estate if we see the market turn down in a big way over the next year?

Absolutely.

The only other thing I'm doing to 'take advantage' of the situation is that I'm spending even less than normal. Weak economy + low interest rates = no impetus for me to spend on non-investment consumption. I'm not big on "supporting industries" - I'd rather just have the market sort out industries and some may just have to fail.

[penguintroopers]

Anyone planning on jumping into real estate if we see the market turn down in a big way over the next year?

Hubs and I are hoping to see a correction in our area, because values have gotten somewhat out of hand. It would be our first home.

[sequoia]

Anyone planning on jumping into real estate if we see the market turn down in a big way over the next year?

Absolutely.

The only other thing I'm doing to 'take advantage' of the situation is that I'm spending even less than normal. Weak economy + low interest rates = no impetus for me to spend on non-investment consumption. I'm not big on "supporting industries" - I'd rather just have the market sort out industries and some may just have to fail.

+1

We are also spending less than normal. We really try to go to grocery store once every 2 weeks. I ran out of coffee in the last two days, man I missed coffee for my morning ritual lol but will go to grocery store today or tomorrow.

We have not eat out since late February/early March (we usually eat out maybe once a week). I understand trying to support the local business/industry but I just can not take the risk getting sick.