As the title mentions, the best time to prepare for difficult times is during good times. I know, you’re thinking “thank you Captain Obvious”. The fact remains that most of us are short term focused when we should be (at least somewhat) longer-term focused.

Very few people thing of saving for a child’s college before they have kids. If you think it through though, do you expect to have more or less money after you have kids?

Use your brain a little bit and think about it. Perhaps you should be saving for your own college again, even if you’ve already graduated. If you think you might return to school some day to change careers or get an advanced degree it might be a good idea.