Through detailed case studies Ragnar shows you how carpenters, woodcutters, farmers, housecleaners, computer consultants, mechanics, lawyers, vendors, locksmiths and others are cashing in on today's booming economy - and keeping what they earn by not paying taxes. From these undergrounders you'll learn how to locate work, get paid without supplying identifying numbers, prepare a realistic budget, advertise your services or product and finance your project when you can't go to the bank. You'll also learn the pitfalls of working off the books and what you can do to prepare for them.
Ragnar's Guide To The Underground Economy
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About the Author
Ragnar Benson is America's most-esteemed survival expert. He has written more than 20 books for Paladin throughout the years on a variety of topics covering everything from weapons to politics to survival medicine.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."--The IRS
"I have seen taxes more than double during my relatively short time on Earth. A corresponding doubling of civility has not occurred." - Ragnar
I was watching the news today, and just when I think I've seen it all, there's a millionaire in a nice three piece suit begging for a handout. Yep, the CEO of Ford was asking for a couple billion dollars to just get by. Of course, he arrived in Washington D.C. via a company jet that cost $20,000 to operate roundtrip from Detroit. I didn't even make $20,000 last year, and I've never flown first class. I'm just a guy who works hard to make ends meet, wishing my disposable income wasn't so disposable.
So, just what is required to comfortably get by in our society? The experts seem to agree it's around $50,000. This should cover the purchase of a house, a bit of land, a new car every few years, and some recreation and travel. Don't forget to add some funds for food, clothing, and utilities. You should have some money left over for the occasional splurge on a nice dinner out. This makes for a comfortable lifestyle.
Federal and state income taxes account for about 42% of our personal income. Take 42% of fifty grand and you end up with $29,000. No wonder that Ragnar's Guide to the Underground Economy by Ragnar Benson and published by Paladin Press provides a plan for joining the underground economy. We could earn $30,000 and accomplish the same standard of living if the government would stop being so generous with our money. I've done the math and $30,000 is definitely easier to earn than $50,000.
Does this mean becoming a public tax protestor? The thousands of people currently working in the underground economy don't advertise their displeasure or call attention to themselves. Working in the underground economy is not about proving a point. It's about taking care of your family. Benson goes into the details of how to make a living without having a job.
Making a living without a job does not mean making a living without working. Ragnar Benson gives solid samples of people who are already doing this in small, inexpensive, easy steps. Ever have a garden and trade those tax-free tomatoes for some cash? Or do some engine work or some welding in trade for some firewood? Then you are a member of the underground economy.
The underground economy has its perks and its perils, and Ragnar covers both. If your only source of income is from the underground, there won't be any social security checks. Of course, at lot of us don't expect to collect from this government-run scam designed to crumble in the near future. Paying cash for every purchase is also a quick, painful method of calling the attention of a drug enforcement agent.
So, why not wait for a government bail-out? Why labor in the underground? Why seek independence from government programs that seek to keep you quiet and dependent? It's tempting to take that free money, but the startling truth is that people working in their own field for their own contentment are happier, more relaxed, and more productive than people working for no one in particular. People generally like to compete in the free marketplace as long as they are allowed to keep and enjoy the wealth they create...
"I have seen taxes more than double during my relatively short time on Earth. A corresponding doubling of civility has not occurred." - Ragnar
I was watching the news today, and just when I think I've seen it all, there's a millionaire in a nice three piece suit begging for a handout. Yep, the CEO of Ford was asking for a couple billion dollars to just get by. Of course, he arrived in Washington D.C. via a company jet that cost $20,000 to operate roundtrip from Detroit. I didn't even make $20,000 last year, and I've never flown first class. I'm just a guy who works hard to make ends meet, wishing my disposable income wasn't so disposable.
So, just what is required to comfortably get by in our society? The experts seem to agree it's around $50,000. This should cover the purchase of a house, a bit of land, a new car every few years, and some recreation and travel. Don't forget to add some funds for food, clothing, and utilities. You should have some money left over for the occasional splurge on a nice dinner out. This makes for a comfortable lifestyle.
Federal and state income taxes account for about 42% of our personal income. Take 42% of fifty grand and you end up with $29,000. No wonder that Ragnar's Guide to the Underground Economy by Ragnar Benson and published by Paladin Press provides a plan for joining the underground economy. We could earn $30,000 and accomplish the same standard of living if the government would stop being so generous with our money. I've done the math and $30,000 is definitely easier to earn than $50,000.
Does this mean becoming a public tax protestor? The thousands of people currently working in the underground economy don't advertise their displeasure or call attention to themselves. Working in the underground economy is not about proving a point. It's about taking care of your family. Benson goes into the details of how to make a living without having a job.
Making a living without a job does not mean making a living without working. Ragnar Benson gives solid samples of people who are already doing this in small, inexpensive, easy steps. Ever have a garden and trade those tax-free tomatoes for some cash? Or do some engine work or some welding in trade for some firewood? Then you are a member of the underground economy.
The underground economy has its perks and its perils, and Ragnar covers both. If your only source of income is from the underground, there won't be any social security checks. Of course, at lot of us don't expect to collect from this government-run scam designed to crumble in the near future. Paying cash for every purchase is also a quick, painful method of calling the attention of a drug enforcement agent.
So, why not wait for a government bail-out? Why labor in the underground? Why seek independence from government programs that seek to keep you quiet and dependent? It's tempting to take that free money, but the startling truth is that people working in their own field for their own contentment are happier, more relaxed, and more productive than people working for no one in particular. People generally like to compete in the free marketplace as long as they are allowed to keep and enjoy the wealth they create...
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm not sure what I was expecting but this book reads like a compilation of old Mother Earth News articles. I don't know where the author lives but the limited suggestions for businesses have been done to death around most parts so that leaves you with his "wisdom" such as; don't throw money around or keep a low profile to the government or to neighbors if you are operating a business out of your home...whoa...just slightly obvious. I was hoping for new thinking on finding niches in order to make a living, not suggestions that are marginal at best, such as collecting pine cones or working on cars in my backyard and oh yeah, the classic advice; don't blow your cover by buying a Mercedes with cash! Sheesh! Save your money.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While I agree that people should learn a secondary trade to have something to fall back on if the economy goes down the tubes, I do not like to place honest hard working people in the same category as "underground" merchants. This book is excellent for those of us who mindlessly followed the law for years and are fed up with unions, work permits and filing taxes. However, the REAL underground economy is much darker than simple tax evasion or "collecting syrup from maple trees" (a good idea nonetheless). What would have greatly enhanced this book would be sections on how to obtain things like apartments, used vehicles, and guns through shady channels. An especially good section would have been "How to contact and conduct business with smugglers and assorted "dealers." Otherwise, another good read from Uncle Ragnar.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
AN EXPERIENCED "UNDERGROUNDER" GIVES ADVICE TO NEWCOMERS
Ragnar Benson is one of the most famous Survivalist authors (e.g., Ragnar's Urban Survival: A Hard-Times Guide to Staying Alive in the City, The Survival Retreat: A Total Plan For... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Steven H. Propp
Library or borrow first!
Pretty basic stuff you can find on the 'net for free. It had some decent ideas, but nothing spectacular. It should have gone more into detail on most everything. Read more
Published 23 months ago by K. Hodges
Good book
This book has a lot of good information in it. But a good portion of it is common sense as well. I would still recommend this book to men and women that are unemployed and to kids... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Doug Thompson
income taxes
i just wanted to point something out to people. i have see alot of people when talking about income taxes say the government takes 50% of your income. Read more
Published on March 14, 2009 by skylark
Ragnar's Guide to the Underground Economy
Uncle Ragnar has come out with another terrific masterpiece! I virtually read this book cover-to-cover and put it down once for dinner. Nothing Mr. Read more
Published on October 1, 2001
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Seating in the relatively stark meeting/conference room was adequate for about 25. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Social Security, Papa Winslow, Uncle Sam New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Seating in the relatively stark meeting/conference room was adequate for about 25. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Social Security, Papa Winslow, Uncle Sam New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 1
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14
books
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- Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants by A. R. Harding on page 59
- Ragnar's Guide To Interviews, Investigations, And Interrogations: How To Conduct Them, How To Survive Them by Ragnar Benson in Copyright
- Survival Poaching by Ragnar Benson in Copyright
- Ragnar's Ten Best Traps: And A Few Others That Are Damn Good Too by Ragnar Benson in Copyright
- Ragnar's Action Encyclopedia of Practical Knowledge and Proven Techniques by Ragnar Benson in Copyright
- Acquiring New ID: How To Easily Use The Latest Technology To Drop Out, Start Over, And Get On With Your Life by Ragnar Benson in Copyright
See all 14 books citing this book
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