how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[silkiechicken]

Simple, we will live and change our life style. I mean, we have running water, food, electricity, and even clothes, even if it is very expensive and we go into debt. I just think of the many many people who don't have the option of running water, there's not food to buy even if there was money, no electricity, and wear the same clothes day in and day out.

My mom says we, as in us kids, are a spoiled culture. At our age, she dreamed of eating bread from America. They had a TV with one channel that made them "rich" on their street, even though their toilet was a bucket with ashes in it from fires. A bucket that they had to take out every night and dump into the back of a wagon which would collect the city's waste to throw on crops. Crops that she had to go to 3 months a year as part of her "education" to walk in to step down weeds and pull off leaches. A snack was the strings from the inside of a bannana peel. That was the good life too, as a child of a doctor. I like to put things into perspective at time and just be glad we have what we do have.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I filled my little car yesterday it cost me $50. I use to pay that to fill my truck up last year. My truck now takes a $100 to fill it up. My hubby rides his motorcycle to work from Ocala to Miami every week and back. He said the other day it use to cost him $18 one way. Now he said it's costing $40. He doesn't even try to drive the car anymore it was costing over $400 a month just to go to work and back. I can't imagine what will happen if it goes to $7. I don't see how the truckers will be able to keep driving to deliver goods to the stores. Which in turn will drive up prices more in the stores.

 

[texasreb]

Quote:
Good post, I agree. We as a society are spoiled. We confuse want with need.

 

[Skyesrocket]

My husband drives over an hour each way to work and back. When we moved out here we never dreamed gas would go this high. He has worked for the same company for 30 years and was planning on retiring from there. I don't have a clue what we will do.
Moving back in that way just isn't an option for either one of us. We love our little farm and this community.
We really can't live anywhere else cheaper than we can here. We have a well and septic, so no water or sewer bills. We have a natural gas well, so no heating bills. We had the satellite dish turned off. I just don't see where we can make anymore cut backs...but we have to with the price of gas jumping up 10 cents a gallon at a time.

 

[k0xxx]

There may come a time, not too far down the road, that we look back at $& a gallon gas as "the good old days". Robert Hirsch, Management Information Services Senior Energy Advisor, gave a dire warning about the potential future of gas prices on CNBC today.

“[T]he prices that we’re paying at the pump today are, I think, going to be ‘the good old days,’ because others who watch this very closely forecast that we’re going to be hitting $12 and $15 per gallon,” Hirsch said. “And then, after that, when oil – world oil production goes into decline, we’re going to talk about rationing. In other words, not only are we going to be paying high prices and have considerable economic problems, but in addition to that, we’re not going to be able to get the fuel when we want it.” LINK

It looks like my solar charged electric golf cart will be making rounds to the grocery store, if there is anything on the shelf at those transportation prices.

 

[CarriBrown]

We do confuse want with need and we are now paying for it.
What am I doing to live? Selling my dirtbike, along with all of the parts I have to go with it... We don't eat out, ever. We don't use the A/C (remember how it was 100 a few days ago? No A/C. Period.) We've pretty much cut out all luxuries. It sucks, but at the same time, I have a house to pay for... and I'll do anything to keep my house payments up to date.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Your neighbors sound wonderful and wise! This is how it used to be and I think this is the only way people are going to get by with this economy.

Work towards debt freedom, don't buy it unless it is necessary and you can pay cash, ditch the big, gas guzzlers, run the roads less. We did very well before the age of cable TV, cell phones, microwave foods and new cars. I buy a used vehicle for cash, no car payments and liability-only insurance can help you save enough for repairs. Down-size your life, stay at home more, cut costs every way you can. Throw away the credit cards now. Cancel the cell phone (not necessary as you may think.) Cut off the cable...who has time for TV when you are growing and processing your own food? Grow a garden or become a part of a community sponsored garden. Recycle items that you would normally consider as junk...find a new use for them or barter them for things you CAN use. Use your local library for books, movies, computer time. Make it a game for your children to see who can come up with ideas to save money. Do all your grocery shopping once a month. Make your own laundry soap, bread, etc. The list goes on, but Texasreb sounds like they are going in the right direction. Forums like this help tremendously to gain ideas from others across the country and how they are getting by.

 

[Ericasl]

Gas went up 6 cents last night here in Idaho. We really are starting to do things different, My garden is alot bigger this year and we are cuttng back.

 

[cjeanean]

I have a 93 toyota camry POS, and my hubby has 2001 ford f-150 and blows almost $30/day on gas....

 

[texasreb]

My SO and I work hard and we both have full time and part time jobs. So far, we are not hurting financially, but we will be before long if things keep going the way they seem to be.

We know that our cars are a luxury, a "want" and not a need. It sure seems like we need them, but we don't. Our lives would change if we gave them up, but we wouldn't cease to live and live fairly well. If I had to give up my car I could bicycle to work (20 miles). Would I like it? Heck no! Could I do it--you betcha! I could also stay in town all week with friends and come home on weekends. I wouldn't like that much either, but it wouldn't kill me. I live in Texas where it's hot and humid, but the temperature wouldn't kill me if I gave up my AC. I could re-arrange my life so that I can take better advantage of the cooler times of day and lay low in the heat. I could also easily do without heat--and it can get cold in Texas! I could bundle up, fire up that woodstove (and even cook on it if I had to).

And yes, we are lucky to have such a great relationship with our neighbors. We worked hard to foster and develop that relationship with each and everyone of them. Neighbors are like family--you're stuck with them and you don't get to choose who they are, so why not be friendly and helpful towards one another. I wouldn't have picked them all as friends--we are a diverse group--but I'm glad I took the time to get to know them and call them my neighbors.

I encourage every single member of BYC to try to make friends with your neighbors even if they aren't your type of people...Some day they just might save your life!