I was trying to raise a family & make ends meet during the Carter years of high inflation. Carter got stuck with the bill for the Viet Nam war. How does a 15-18% mortgage sound to ya?
Anyone who doesn't think there is another round of the same garbage coming has their head in the sand....or someplace darker.
Some cash in hand for emergencies....bout a months worth of expenses and the rest into gold/silver.. not stocks but in hand..gold is more stable. A supertanker full of oil if ya got the bucks for it.

....oh and get out of expensive hobbies.