Paul and Sarah Edwards have built a middle-class lifeboat and want others to do the same.

Sarah summarizes: "If you have a job, keep it! But arrange to have an independent source of income if you can — something to fall back on if you lose your job."

Workers can't always control the first part, but the last part may be doable.

The couple recently completed their 17th book, "Middle-Class Lifeboat: Careers and Life Choices for Navigating a Changing Economy." It's a hefty advice book designed to help people "safeguard their livelihood."

The couple, who live in Los Padres National Forest and co-direct the Pine Mountain Institute, came up with a list of jobs they believe have four "sustaining" qualities. They are resistant to offshoring, not unduly dependent on discretionary spending, not easily replaced by technology and likely to be in demand.

Many of their suggestions involve hands-on work, such as child care and pest control.

Others ride the virtual wave, using the Web to provide services such as language translation or customer support.

Still others dovetail with demographic trends, such as remodeling homes for seniors.

But the 50 jobs they feature fill just half of the book. The rest focuses on the other thing that makes a financial lifeboat float: reducing living expenses.

When the Edwardses were in Kansas City recently to attend Paul's high school reunion, we talked about wood pellet stoves. I was uninformed on that fuel- and cost-saving subject. They weren't. They're heating their home that way, and they've organized a buying collective with neighbors to get better prices on wood pellet delivery.

Consider them evangelists in the DIY sector: Save money by doing it yourself.

They preach reduced consumption and recycling. Their neighborhood, for example, holds clothing swap meets and tool exchanges.

They trade or barter for goods and services.

"Our message is self-sufficiency," Paul said. "There are fundamental things that won't change — the lack of cheap energy, globalization, job cuts. We can't depend on our employers or the government. We need to join with other people in organizing co-ops."

Sarah said they've interviewed many people "who feel stressed because of their expenses, who are paying for too many services they could do themselves."

There's fundamental truth in that. Most could easily eliminate some expenses. But the reality is most of us make conscious cost/benefit analyses every day.

It's our time versus the cost of someone else's time to provide a service.

It's our money for something we want versus not buying it now — or ever.

Sarah and Paul met as students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has a law degree and she is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in ecopsychology.

They were pioneers of a sort in writing their first book, "Working From Home," which focused on that increasingly widespread trend.

Check out what they have to offer at http://www.middleclasslifeboat.com.

Together, they've made decisions that have given them some self-control. That, they said, is the best defense when the figurative floodwaters rise.