Deb Russo is a FIFO wife of the offshore kind. Her husband works on oil rigs and vessels. Typically, he does a four-week-on and four-week-off roster. They've lived their entire 14-year relationship like this. Initially Deb's husband was in the Navy, then he shifted to work in the mines and did the 28/7 roster (Deb's least favourite!) With this offshore roster, though, she wouldn’t change a thing.

According to reports, former Rio Tinto boss Tom Albanese believes the commodity downturn has reached the bottom of the trough and is on its way up again.

Yet here I am writing a piece on how to prepare for tough times in the offshore industry. 

The global oil crash has seen many overseas and Australian companies axe their exploration budgets, and this includes exploration in Australia. The shelving of Woodside's floating LNG project in the Browse Basin is a massive indicator of the current economic climate.

Oil and gas industry players are making major capital funding cuts, selling off non-cash producing assets, curtailing new projects at the design phase and keeping their focus on their onshore cash-producing projects. Offshore production remains, but some jobs are now considered 'non-critical', so contracts aren't being renewed for many local and expatriate staff.

Add to that the current battle between unions and the government over standards and conditions within the Australian maritime and offshore industry, and job security is almost non-existent. As one industry insider said: "There is a blood bath going on."

At this stage, my husband has no contract after August because there are no new contracts available. With exploration at a standstill, construction work has ceased and rigs and vessels are being operated by skeleton staff. Many of his colleagues are also without work and hold little hope of returning to the industry.

So what to do? Prepare! We have 20 weeks to put a plan into action. My husband loves this industry and it's become a way of life for us, but reality is setting in and we've decided it's better to be safe than sorry.

If you're in the same boat, here's what I'd recommend:

• Don't sit on your hands. 
• Work-wise, update all your tickets. Up-skill and diversify where and while you can. Make yourself as employable as possible.
• At home, tidy yourself up financially. Tighten your budget. Ensure your savings are enough to tide the family over until you win a new contract or a job at home. Consider downsizing "stuff" and perhaps living on a smaller budget. 
• Revisit your financial adviser (ask friends for recommendations if you don't have one already).
• Get a second job in your "off" time, even just a part-time role. This is particularly important for FIFO workers like my husband, who's always worked in defence or offshore roles, so has never really been able to demonstrate his work ethic to local employers. This month he started working with me in an avocado farm, not only to bolster the savings but to make some connections.

If August comes and we have a new FIFO contract, all well and good. We'll be in an even better place for tightening our budget now.

More columns from Oil & Gas Mum Deb Russo:

• To protect those you love, prepare for the worst
• Christmas and the meaning of "stuff"
• Surviving with a growing brood when your husband works away
• Top tips from a frugal FIFO family
• Don't be afraid of tough conversations - your relationship will be better for it
• Put your marriage first. One day, your kids will thank you for it
• Clever mum's guide to juggling work and kids when your husband works FIFO
• Christmas? Been there and done that!
• My top tips for next time you're wearing that nurse's hat
• Don't play the waiting game. Get busy with your own life instead
• Easy tips for taking the stress out of drop-off day
• Real friends care about me. Not what my husband does for a living
• Learning the hard way to ask for help
• To be the best possible mum, you need to look out for number one
• The airport drop-off - learning the art of leaving
• Why I left the kids at home and went to Paris with my husband
• When your husband does FIFO, are you a single mum?
• Use 'welcome distractions' to survive long FIFO swings that seem to drag forever
• Those little words every FIFO mum dreads: "I don't want Daddy to go back to work."
• Heard of life hacks? They're great for FIFO families
• Winnebago wonders: blessings of a FIFO wife
• Beating the loneliness of FIFO life in winter
• Diary of a FIFO mum (4.30am starts included!)
• My husband spends 2016 hours of quality time with us every year. Beat that!
• Deb's advice for FIFO newbies
• Put some va into your relationships's va va voom
• Organisation: the key to sanity in FIFO households
• How to ease the pain of being apart for special events
• Four weeks apart from your loved ones? It's just part of the job on an oil rig!
• An oil & gas mum's advice on raising your own little superheroes
• Introducing my fantastic FIFO family

Check out Deb's daily blog at www.thefifowife.com.au and if you've got any questions for her, please click here.

And here's another oil and gas couple's advice on making FIFO family life work when you're working offshore.