Make a Community Wealth Plan (Because We Get Through This Together)
From isolation to interdependence.
👋 This is part 6 in the Recession Survival Series. Each one is packed with practical, no-shame strategies to help you navigate tough times—especially if you’ve got ADHD or just hate all the usual money advice.
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If there’s one thing recessions are great at, it’s making people feel like they’re on their own.
But that’s a lie—and a dangerous one.
Because the truth is, we don’t get through hard times by doing everything alone.
We get through by showing up for each other.
We build what we need.
We trade, share, support.
We form little circles of strength and say: No one gets left behind.
This post is your guide to doing exactly that—creating a small, local system of shared support.
Whether you call it mutual aid, community resilience, or just “neighbors helping neighbors,” the outcome is the same: survival with dignity.
Let’s dig in.
What Is a Community Wealth Plan?
It’s not a bank account. It’s a map.
A Community Wealth Plan is your personal blueprint for:
Who you can count on (and who can count on you)
What resources you can share or exchange
Skills you and your neighbors bring to the table
How you stay connected and resilient when things get tight
It’s not about charity. It’s about mutual care—everyone gives and everyone receives.
Start with a Pod
Start small.
A mutual aid pod is a group of 5–15 people who agree to look out for each other.
You don’t need a nonprofit or a Facebook page.
You just need people and a purpose.
Here’s how to build one:
Reach out to 3–5 people you already trust—neighbors, coworkers, friends, people from your building, school, or spiritual community.
Explain the purpose: “I want to start a small group where we check in, trade skills, share resources, and help each other out during tough times.”
Hold a first conversation (can be a text thread, group chat, Zoom call, or backyard meetup).
Map your group’s strengths and needs:
Who has extra food or supplies?
Who can offer child care, rides, or job connections?
Who needs support right now?
Set a rhythm: Weekly text check-ins, monthly meetups, or quick calls.
Ways to Share Resources (Even With Nothing Extra)
You don’t need to have “extra” to participate.
Mutual aid is based on solidarity, not surplus.
Some ways to exchange value:
Time bank (1 hour of help = 1 credit)
Skill swaps (meal prep for resume help, tutoring for car repair)
Shared pantry box or group shopping (buy in bulk, split the cost)
Community garden plots or microgreens trays
Group subscriptions (split streaming or software)
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present.
Want to Join Instead of Start?
Not everyone wants to organize—and that’s okay!
You might be able to plug into an existing network:
Search “mutual aid + [your city]” on Google or Facebook
Look on www.mutualaidhub.org for a map of local groups
Ask at local libraries, co-ops, or food pantries
DM organizers you follow—they often know what’s happening on the ground
Interdependence > Independence
If we keep being told that we’re on our own, it’s because someone benefits from us believing that.
But the reality? You’re not.
A single person struggling is a crisis.
A group of people supporting each other is a network—and that’s what gets us through.
You’re not a burden.
You’re a part of the solution.
What’s Next in the Recession Survival Series?
The final two guides are coming up next:
What to Say When You Can’t Afford Something (Without Shame or Excuses)
How to Mentally Survive a Recession (Without Turning Off Your Humanity)
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