how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

We as a generation are spoiled. Just look around at the big developments they are building - huge houses, no yards. They all want to prove they are bigger and better than the rest. I used to be one of those - trying to keep up with the Jones'. Then I met my DBF a couple years ago who is the exact opposite and I have learned so much.

I bought a pellet stove so I didn't have the huge gas bills. We both have huge gardens and sell, can, and dehydrate our produce. I grow (and sell) all the plants myself in my basement and then my greenhouse. In the winter, I grow lettuce, spinach, peas, and tomatoes in the basement. We got chickens for eggs and some for meat. We shop at Aldi's, Sav-a-Lot, flea markets, and online. We cut out our landline phones and use our cell phones (except to go online). Cable TV is still our one luxury. Well, his. Gotta have those sports...

We stopped eating out, going to bars, and buying fast food. Instead, we shop at the local markets, buy fresh, and cook enough on the weekends to eat all week and found that it's something we love doing together.

We've found that cutting back is not just a necessity. It is actually a more enjoyable way of life. Well, for now anyway, until it gets really bad...

 

[sundance]

since we live 14 miles from town and also live on a fixed income, we try to make any purchases all at the first of the month, but we also live on the side of a mountain with clay and ROCKS(they reproduce overnight),at 71 I have a small garden, and my chickens,DH keeps all the children's cars running but my gd works in the boro about 25 miles from home so no way for her to ride a bike, my sil got laid off after nearly 15 years on the job and at his age not much chance of getting one, but he does hunt and always gets his deer.I am buying food by the case when I can and will start making my bread, we don't eat that much but i have 4 dogs and they are a part of our family, I can't give them up,have given almost everything else up.our p/u has almost 140 thousand miles on it but it's cheaper on gas than the car, have to have the a/c due to a heart condition (both of us) so no help cutting off the A/C. we don't have cell phone service this far out,but have to have the phone for the 911 service,My kids have always complained about mama being stingy, guess they are glad now, since they hopefully have learned some lessons,we made it thru hard times before, and with God's help will do so again. marrie

 

[The Chicken Lady]

We're saving money toward continuing our educations. I'm working on my master's degree, one class at a time, and my husband is slowly building up his computer programming certifications so that he can be a database administrator (he already has his bachelor's degree in computer science). More education will mean a higher income for both of us. We are cutting back a little, but it doesn't hurt as much when we both have steady, good-paying jobs in fields that aren't going to disappear due to changing technology or be shipped off to another country. I am thankful every day that our parents pushed us to work hard in school and finish college.

If you're interested in the economy and why things are changing so quickly, I suggest picking up the book The World is Flat at your local library. You either have to adapt to the changing world economy or be destroyed by it.

Encourage your children to get as much education as they can. Commit yourself to making sure they get into college and have the high school grades that will get them scholarships (free money that they never have to pay back).

At the same time, the ideas that many have suggested -- like working with neighbors -- never hurt. It's time we got to know our neighbors and slowed down our pace of life a little. We're losing the good in our society and a lot of that is because of too much money and the "Me first!" mentality.

 

[Pupsnpullets]

This may sound callous and I don't mean it to, especially to people with health issues, however, having less spending money means less 'luxury' foods and/or dining out, as well as more exercise as bikes and horses will be ridden. Ultimately our health will probably improve as we'll no longer be ingesting what the AMA has been telling us is bad for us for years. Add exercise to the equation, delete mind-numbing video games and t.v and we will eventually have a lot to be grateful for.

Barb, the optimist

 

[kisat]

I feel like venting something so pardon me

I don't mean any of this to sound rude, insensitive, or offensive in any way.

I would like to point out too, that none of us are saying by any means that people in other countries aren't having it hard, but as someone pointed out. Those people in the other countries are coming here to live. We aren't going there. As the saying goes, 'You're only as strong as your weakest link/player.' Well, right now because of all this price raising, a lot of people are at risk of losing the roof over their heads. Because a lot of people are working just to pay for their gas to get them to work as well as food. Then to figure out the bills on top of that, is another thing all together. Even when they were barely getting by as is. It's one thing to point out the fact that people can cut back if it means paying the bills, but what does it affect when they've already cut back as much as possible and can go without the heat, electricity, etc. But what about paying the mortgages and the bills that keep the banks from taking their houses?

I know my businesses are certainly suffering because of that. I can't run around to peoples' homes to delivery products since I can't afford gas. I can't send them in the mail since I can't afford stamps. It doesn't matter anyway since most of my customers can't afford what I sell anymore. They have to put their money towards food, gas, and even stamps are now expensive. So I'm basically shelling out more for my business than I am taking in and my business is suffering because of that, but I'm losing money. For me, my mom and I realized that it's cheaper anyway for me to stay home because it cost me more to work in my Nanny job - that I lost because of health reasons - than it did staying home and helping out around here. Also since she suffers from health problems that sometimes end up with her needing to go to the ER ASAP, which is expensive, but at her age, it could be fatal if we didn't. So it's better if I'm here in case she needs me.

Then, you have someone like my brother, who is also barely making it as well and he lost his Owner Operator Trucker business because his gas alone was running him pretty much 3/4 of his paycheck and he still had to shell out money for his truck, his insurance, road taxes, state taxes, etc. Truck Drivers pay a lot of taxes and fees - Yeesh! He could make a $3,000 week and only see maybe $100 of it take home. Then, the next month he may not have even have had money because no work, or because his truck would break down and again, it would be his expense to pay. Truck drivers already had it hard and now gas is going to kill a lot of them because it's the gas, and business, that keeps them running.

I just wanted point out that I don't know anyone on here that doesn't sympathize with how hard other countries have it. There will always be someone worse off then you/us, but when you think about it, if price inflation keeps up and people start losing their homes and become homeless because they can't even afford the roof over their head, then what about those people that run to us to start a new life? How many of those that come here won't even be able to make a life here? Aren't we supposed to be taking care of the other countries? So what happens when our prices peak, things start happening, and then those same people that run to us for help, we can't afford to help? There is a reason that they run to us for help and choose this country to come to to live. That's why we're suposed to be the land of the free. But what happens, when we can't even take care of our weak? Then, where does that leave everybody else? Yes, they have it hard in other countries, but here there are people starting to verge on losing their homes because they can't afford anything. My brother and I both should be able to live on our own at our ages, but we live with our mom because we can't even afford to move out, without it ending up that we have to move back home eventually - which we've both done already, and a lot of my friends are in the same positions. Times are hard. And just because we don't have it as bad as other countries that have it worse, doesn't mean it isn't hard on the people living here. Not all of us live in million dollar homes and eat caviar every night. It's tough for us, just like it is in other countries, just in a different way.

Sorry, had to vent, but I just wanted say my peace about none of us not being grateful for living in this country - we all are. And, this has been in my head so I needed get it out

I'm grateful I can choose to wear what I choose. I'm grateful that my food is clean and healthy. I'm grateful for everything this country is and has, and is about. We all are. I just think that as people have said, 'It's an individual change that makes a difference.' One small drop of water causes a ripple that grows larger and only multiplies. Starts with a drop

And I agree, neighbors - especially in the city we tend to forget about them - can help. I sell my neighbors eggs when I end up with too many, she takes the chicken's compost for her gardens, we help our neighbors move. Everybody has to start looking out for each other if we are going to make it. I'm done venting, gotta go check on my chickiebabes

If you disagree with anything I've said, let me have it

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Good post.

As our standard of living goes down, our quality of life can go up.

 

[heritagebirds]

I retract my former posting as I realize in posting it that I am not being thankful and joyful. I suggest that if you are unhappy with the state of things that you look for better choices in electing politicians.... If you are unhappy with things in your life....make a change in it. I think that unless the People of this country demand changes, they will not happen. Make big oil listen...it will impact everything else, but I'll bet all of the politicians own stock in oil...hmmmm

Peace and blessings to you all

 

[2dream]

I quite reading at page 10 and jumped on over to the last page. Lots of good reading, tons of great ideas.
Not only by World Standards are some of us extrememly well off but by our own Nations standards as well. TV's, computers, cable, a/c.
There are so many homeless people in this country alone that have nothing but a shopping cart full of scavanged belongings. If you are posting here and complaining about high gas prices but still going away for the weekend - you really have nothing to complain about yet. Are you feeling the crunch? Yes. Are any of us on this forum really poor? NOPE - Not if we still have phones, computers, and are able to connect.
I do not mean to be unsympathatic or sound like any of us do not have anything to be concerned about.
I just think we should count the blessings that we still have and prepare for when we have a different type of blessing to be thankful for.

This is almost a personal vent about truck drivers - so don't read if you don't want to.

And Oblio13 - I think you ask if truck drivers paid 96% taxes? NO not 96% - However, truckers not only have all the taxes you have for your private vehicle but they pay triple what you pay. Plus, they have extremely high insurance rates, tires that cost a $1,000 each not to mention maintenance that would make your head swim.
And if you think none of that is important - try being on the highway with a trucker that does not maintain his truck. So yes, a 3,000 dollar check can amount to a negative amount of money in his/her pocket if all the odds are against them that week. And with diesel prices higher than gasoline - go figure. We as a nation can not live without our truckers. Its how we get our food, clothing, and all the other little necssary and non necessary things we shop for.

NO I am not a trucker, NO I do not have a trucker in my family. These people just have my utmost respect and all the room I can give them on any road I happen to be on. I always give them not only room but I will personally block traffic so they can move over and get where they are going.
They are just people trying to make a living at a very thankless job.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I have a feeling this thread is going to go downhill fast...

I think the poster that pointed out that we all have the Internet and therefore, are still quite wealthy by world standards probably made the best post thus far.

Maybe instead of competing to see who has it the worst (which won't help anyone AT ALL -- and besides, it's lame watching everyone throw their own pity parties), we should be figuring out ways to help one another by offering solutions to everyday problems. There is a great thread on here about money-saving cooking, for example.

 

[kisat]

Now that's a great idea. Oo, and that's a great idea for a topic too. Money-saving ideas