Before we run out of oil and/or are affected by the prices cause due to high oil one has to consider the reason why resources are going higher and US buying power lower. This is one of the first major problems that will be experienced by Americans and rest of the world secondly. This main problem is devaluation of US dollar.
As a reserve currency most goods are priced in US dollar so looking at oil at $80USD doesn't mean that oil went up that much in other currencies -ex. Canada, Euroland.
As this seems to be done by design America will suffer first and most likely drag the rest of the world down with it.

It's totally true that everyone should have survival skills which has been lost by majority in the of developed nations but the times aren't tough yet and there is still time to get ready. The first major crises will most likely be the currency crises which is starting to unfold, and this is what can trigger everything else. At this time the first thing people should do is get out of debt. Review your mortgage contracts and make sure there is no clause anywhere where banks can call in their loans at any time. As a loss of possesisions would be a first major hit to the household which would put such ones very much dependent on the government.
Internet is still freely available and one can learn lots about practically everything imagenable so it would be a good idea to learn some survival skills which include growing food, surviving without power or heat. Possibly having backup plan for water source or how to treat the water to make it drinkable. Also other articles haven't mantioned fishing - another food source that can be utilized.
Good times have lasted for a long time and many in developed nations forgot how to work hard to stay alive and most can't remember the last real hard times - in US that would be some 80 years ago.


What will trigger the hard times it's hard to say for sure but anyone looking can see there is something bad in the air. Will this be just another end of world empire or something bigger only time will tell. Let's not forget Mat 24:21