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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 16:41:17 GMT
Hi everyone. I was at the other place and left there in march. For some reason I decided to log back in and found a message from manygoatsnmore telling me about this board. I am so glad to have found that message and to be here. Yippie.
Anyway, my question is, and also not sure to put it here or in prepping....us anyone else living, homesteading, prepping on less than $1000 per month? We are actually under $875 per month. I'd be interested in learning any new tips, tricks, etc. We are off grid, and have no utilities so big savings there, no car payment, mortgage. Our biggest expense is actually our cell and WiFi bill, its the only way we have to get online and have a phone.
So, please share your experiences. Thanks
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Post by Billie on Sept 22, 2015 20:43:40 GMT
Can't help with your question but sure glad you saw MGM's message an found us over here. I was missing Yogi stories!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 22:16:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 22:32:15 GMT
Thanks, I read that post last night. I cook from scratch, can lots, no refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, etc. Don't miss any of that. I was wondering how others on a limited income were doing. Even though our income is little, I feel we are living a very rich life. We have water, solar power, no neighbors for miles, a pond, a very nice cabin in a forest and bears literally at our door, on our roof, on the roof of my vehicle. Having a small income makes you appreciate what you have and allows you to think and live outside the box. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 22:42:06 GMT
Thanks, I read that post last night. I cook from scratch, can lots, no refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, etc. Don't miss any of that. I was wondering how others on a limited income were doing. Even though our income is little, I feel we are living a very rich life. We have water, solar power, no neighbors for miles, a pond, a very nice cabin in a forest and bears literally at our door, on our roof, on the roof of my vehicle. Having a small income makes you appreciate what you have and allows you to think and live outside the box. That sounds like a very rich satisfying life indeed! I am envious  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 12:53:22 GMT
Lindamarie,
If you search back on the old forum, you'll see a thread I started with a similar title that generated a lot of responses.
As for us, we could get by on $1000 per month if it wasn't for our mortgage. I am toying with the idea of buying our next place for cash, even if it is not exactly what I want, just so I don't have that debt hanging over my head.
Quiet in the Land
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 13:35:50 GMT
How do you all get by on less then $1,000.00/month?  We don't have a mortgage or car payment and we bring in $2,7000.00/month and a lot of months we are short, God forbid we have a problem arise. |
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Post by shellymay on Sept 23, 2015 13:43:16 GMT
lindamarie, Welcome........Please tell me how long it took to get to this point, inquiring minds want to know I wasn't on the old forum so don't know much about everyones past, can you give a sorta short story on then and now? |
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Post by Melissa on Sept 23, 2015 14:46:09 GMT
We still have the Tightwad Tips thread and archives, under the family forum. Always many good ideas there.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 14:55:11 GMT
How do you all get by on less then $1,000.00/month? We don't have a mortgage or car payment and we bring in $2,7000.00/month and a lot of months we are short, God forbid we have a problem arise. Hi, I'll try to explain, were you in the old other group? We are off grid, 16 years and counting. We are 3 miles from all utility lines.....phone, electrical, water, cable, etc. We are miles from any people, we do have bears, one of which we have named yogi, he is a regular visitor. We have a small solar system, started with just two panels 16 years ago and this past winter have added two more, we now have a total of four 50 watt panels. They are enough to run our lights which are all 12 LED, yes even in winter, charge the cell phones, the portable DVD player, and a 450 watt inverter. We use the inverter to use small things....my iron when not running wood stove to heat the sad iron, hubbys guitar and amp, and my serger and brother machines, although I mainly use my treadle. We have a 5000watt generator that we bought when we moved here to top off batteries when severs cloudy days, we have not had to use this for about 5 years. By trimming trees and moving our panels we get plenty of charge. We have no refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, etc. These would require a bigger system. We use our root cellar, spring house and in winter our icebox, I wash laundry by hand...plunger, washboard and mop wringer. I line dry outside and by woodstove in winter. Our water is gravity fed from a spring that is about 700 feet away and elevated above our home. Great tasting water by the way, we heat this water thru a solar setup in summer and in winter thru copper tubing that is wrapped around our stove pipe. We have an old 68 gallon water heater that is our hot water holding tank and 3-50 gallon barrels that is our water holding tank. I'm a vegetarian, hubby eats meat...but our food bill is not very high. We usually have a big garden, this was the first time in 20 years without a garden, we were doing work around the homestead. I buy in bulk when possible, not all bulk buys are cheaper. I order from a co-op. I cook from scratch...all breads, soups, stews, etc. I can anything and everything I can get my hands on...meats, soups, jams, fruits, etc. We do have apple trees, yogi loves them, wild berries and greens, morel mushrooms. I make my own laundry soap, we use apple cider vinegar for hair rinse, Dr. Bronners soap bars are a great multi use soap...shampoo, washing, and shaving. We heat with wood only and i also use an antique wood cookstove. I do have a small vintage propane apartment size stove as well, we use the grill size tanks, we have 4, I fill them at the bait shop for 14.58, no way would a delivery truck make it here. We have phone thru Verizon cell only service we get here and a WiFi hot spot thru them also. Our phone is our biggest bill and we are getting ready to lower our data amount as we don't use much, this will save us 20.00 on phone bill. We have one vehicle, its 20 years old, and because I'm a veteran my insurance is only 28.72 per month. We are three miles down a dirt road, which really isn't a road at all, more like a bear, deer, wild turkey, etc trail. There are times road, haha, is not drivable. We have changed over several of our tools to battery operated, we can recharge thru solar, another reason we no longer need our generator and the expense of gas. Our only gas operated tools are the lawnmower and chainsaw. We read, watch a movie on the DVD player, play chess, hubby plays guitar and I sew. We have a very rich life. We have no trash service as it is costly, plus we would have to haul it 3 miles to the blacktop. We generate very little actual trash, we recycle, upcycle, compost, etc. The landfill, about 60 miles away has free trash disposal every second Tuesday or I can fill the back of my sidekick and pay by weight, usually no more than 4.50. But, we only need to use this service about 4 times a year. We have switched to family wipes for peeing, no different than using cloth diapers, which I did when kids were born. This has greatly reduced the amount of toilet paper, which is expensive. I guess it's more of what we don't but, use and/or need that works for us. We have no mortgage and taxes are extremely low, less than 300.00 per year. We have a kitchen, with running water, sink, stoves. We have a bathroom with a great old cast iron tub and its nice to soak in a bath ir a hot shower without worries about a water bill. We have raised 5 kids, helped raise son of our granddaughters, I spent 6 years in the army. Hubby has a back problem, good days and bad. I'm not afraid to run the chainsaw, use the axe, or the manual log splitter, all while not breaking a nail. Get good gloves. We have had animals in the past...goats, chickens, pigs, jersey cows, geese, etc. We now gave two cats and all the wildlife we could imagine. We were not raised in the country or on a farm, we are both from new York, hubby by WA of Havana. We are both college educated. Me in psychology and nursing, I was a nurse in the army, hubby computers and botany. I think people really need to look at their needs and not wants, find your comfort level. We've done the whole job thing...working like crazy to pay for the big house that you only go to to eat, shower and sleep. Our way of life is mot for everybody, you really have to be comfortable with yourself. You have to like your own company and you and your partner really need to like, not just love each other. I'm asked if I get lonely out here in the woods, hell no. I maybe alone but far from lonely. I've probably veered from your question, I apologize. But it is doable to live on a limited income, if you really want too. And live well and be happy. Even when there's a bear on your roof. Sorry I rambled |
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Post by Skandi on Sept 23, 2015 15:23:10 GMT
It's a bit hard to convert since I am not in the US, but we have about 1k a month "mortgage" comes to about 160 a month and bills we can't avoid (electric/water/taxes/hubbys medication) come to $300 ish. we do run a car and have good internet. We do not smoke, don't take holidays, only buy cloths once a year, There isn't much spare, but we can afford a couple of nights/meals out a month, and this month we're spending 2k on a new roof for the house (materials only all labour will be ours/friends) I guess it all depends what you want, we got flamed the other day for not having "mobilepay" like paypal but on your mobile, we don't have it as neither of us has a phone that has internet, and the person suggested we should get a scooter instead of the car so we could have "decent" phones... Yeah I'ld like to see me manage shopping and two dogs on a scooter. (google it.. plenty of people who do, but I bet the police here would have something to say!) I think it's generaly just down to priorites. Sorry I can't help much, I just do what I always did, Write down everything you have to pay, then see how much is left and go from there.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 15:38:35 GMT
Skandi....i agree, its all about what you want. We shop thrift stores and I sew, which helps. We don't drink or smoke, if we est out its a rare treat about 3 times a year. When we do go to town, we pack a thermos with coffee and pack a lunch. We don't take holidays ir vacations. We chose to live a life that we are happy with and don't need to vacation from. People sometimes put their wants as a need.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 15:54:29 GMT
I think oftentimes folks look at trying to save money on all the little things. And it's true: all the little things really do add up. But then there are the elephants in the room that too many of us would prefer to ignore that can be the big budget busters.
As another poster said, sometimes people confuse their needs and their wants. For example, maybe you really do need a truck for your homestead. But you probably don't need a truck with a $500/month payment associated with it.
I'd encourage you keep track of all your purchases for one month, and then list out each of them in the order of highest to smallest and concentrate on the highest expenses first to see what you can reduce or eliminate all together. It is a great way to discover any elephants in the room that have been hiding.
Quiet in the Land
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Post by Homesteader on Sept 23, 2015 16:06:00 GMT
Hi lindamarie - it's nice you found your way here! You STILL let that bear roam around that close. Shudder....... I remember that time when Yogi was close and it caused a stir while your granddaughters were there. She said "Grandma are you gonna' put him in a jar?" hee hee Anyway, it's a big country this US of A. Prices, taxes are so different one area to another. I recall your hubby gets disability, and then, you also have some type of lower medical thru the VA or something? Do you actually pay a premium for health insurance. That right there for us is a doozy. We have to purchase ours, no employer provided insurance). Come 2016, I have to go with a new health insurance company because the co-op that we went with starting in 2014 has gone belly up. They say they simply cannot make it without raising people's premiums too high. I can pretty much guarantee come Nov. 1st (first day I can look at plans for 2016), the sticker shock will kill me right then and there. Sure we get a subsidy, have to, but they raised the policy we did have by 36% from 2014 to 2015. I have already read that '16's policies are going to skyrocket. If that's the case, we may end up going without it. But I'll tell you, half of that 1,000 will be sent just for the premium (based on another probably increase). Let alone the deductible. So for us, no. We have a much reduced cost of living as we chose to live in a trailer (lower property taxes, but then, we have to pay a "certificate" on the trailer yearly too), no water bill, no sewage bill. We split the trash pickup bill with the neighbor. No mortgage. We dropped Direct Tv and now have Netflix and Hulu for our television viewing. Medical issues are the biggie for us, one of my meds costs me out of pocket 187.00 every 6 weeks. Then I have four others, and while they are nowhere near that, it is still a cost. (about 35.00 a month). Then, you have to have various tests done thru the years, or else the doctors won't keep writing the prescriptions. In my case, colonoscopy, endoscopy, ct scan every 6 years or so, and then, heart tests. Talk about money pouring out. I beg off on the tests for as long as I'm able, but at some point they say, no, I can't keep treating you without these tests. Some of them are thousands of dollars out of pocket. You can't do that on 1,000 month. We don't ever go out to dinner, or to a show now, or vacation. Old cars, paid for never a payment. We put up a years supply of all the veggies we grow, well, except I am yet to hit that goal with peas, but still. It costs more for us to buy meat chicken chicks, feed them the proper feed for 6 weeks and butcher than I can get chicken for on special. Sure the home grown chicken is divine, tastes way better, but last time I grew them out, (many years ago), each chicken cost me about $7 per bird. Same with pork, and we couldn't raise a beef here anyway. We don't use much beef now because of prices. I can store bought pork, beef and chicken. We can all our jams, pickles, and pepper type mixes. Tomato sauce, etc. We freeze the beans, carrots, some of the chard (I can some too as I love it that way), and dehydrate the peppers. We have a small flock of laying hens. Fruit trees are very iffy here, but we have had a few wonderful harvests now of peaches and apricots. Strawberries too. Asparagus, we only like it fresh. I used to be like you, in that I wanted to ditch the modern conveniences except for hot running water, but when health issues hit you, it's a whole different ballgame then. When the arthritis hits that becomes a factor in every single thing you do. Not to mention if you have multiple health issues (I do), that clothes washer is a blessing. That dryer us a blessing. There are many many mornings that it would take me literally about 6 hours to even finish getting a load of clothing onto a clothesline if I used one. So while I could reduce the electric bill, the wear and tear on me isn't worth it. Saving for retirement is another thing that is a factor. Sure I do believe there is a chance the stuff will hit the fan. There is also a chance that it won't. One needs to prepare for retirement and if there isn't a thin dime left at the end of the month I choose to make it so that there is. Planning for being elderly is another factor. We will not be able to garden like we do now at some point in the future. We won't be able to keep up with our homestead, that's life. We all age and just one thing, poof, you can't do squat anymore. I am glad we're near enough to medical help (we don't have access troubles like you all do) and family. If we were in the boonies, that would work fine until something goes wrong, and long-term wrong would be even harder. It was a struggle for us to just get me to physical therapy for weeks on end for a simple shoulder surgery. Luckily my Mom drove out here over a one hour drive, then took me to PT, then drove me home, then back to her house 2 x per week. Four hours of driving. Could you do that in the middle of winter where you live? Could you get and afford chemo or radiation therapy if you needed it? I love your life, and I am so so very glad you have had the life you wanted. Really I am, I was on my knees praying for your daughter and your situation back then. I think you'll probably find that no, most people cannot make it on 1,000 a month. Hand to mouth, no medical care, barely surviving, no retirement saving, yes. Live? No, I would strongly suspect most could not. Having never taken government help other than the subsidy for health insurance, like food stamps, etc., now that I don't know. Maybe if one had help that way, maybe. |
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Post by Skandi on Sept 23, 2015 16:45:48 GMT
I should add to mine. we do not need to pay for health insurance, so it is probably a little easier, even though food and fuel costs run about 4x as much from what I can see on this forum
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 16:47:18 GMT
Homesteader....hi, how are you? Yogi never made it to a jar. He did make it to the roof of my vehicle.
Our income is hubbys disability, I'm covered thru VA. We do put away for savings and retirement. Right now, health wise we are good and are able to live the way we do. If a catastrophic illness occurred we would definitely have to reevaluate our situation. We were snowed in for 6 weeks this past winter, if we had to we could gave gotten out, walking and snowshoes. We had plenty of supplies and didn't need to.
We no longer raise any animals, except our two cats. The chickens, no matter how well built the coop was, were still getting lost to predators. Plus, the grain costs were getting ridiculous. I can buy pork, chicken and beef at the grocery store and can it. With no garden this year, I have utilized the farmers market and a bulk buying produce place. Thanks to yogi, I have used a local orchard for peaches and apples.
We didn't put in a garden due to putting in new insulation, redoing floors and a vapor wrap around our home. The better insulation will help with having to burn less wood.
Hubby is covered thru Medicare and he has a prescription drug plan. So, yes, we do have that expense. I am not on any medicines. And since we have been using the same do to for years, I can go there if I need too. An office visit it 45.00.
Right now, I am able to still do laundry by hand, run a saw, change my oil and brakes. All with my long nails and a good pair of gloves.
By no means, are we just existing or getting by. We are truly living life, a full life. As long as we are able to be back here, we will. At 54, I can honestly say, that there is not much that I desire or feel that I absolutely cannot live without. Well, maybe coffee. Yes, ok, coffee. I think what it comes down to, is not how much you have or don't have, but rather the type of life you want to live. And being able to live that life while you can, for as long as you can.
After everything that we went thru with our daughter and the girls, well I don't ever want to go thru that again. Btw....she has her girls, a home, a job and has 18 months clean and sober. I would never want another parent to go thru that.
I don't think everyone should live like I do, nor do I think they would want to, but, for me, it works. I'm not sure if it's because I grew up in an affluent home or not. But, I do know, that for all the money, things, trips, etc that my parents had...my dad still died at 59 from cancer. None of his money or possessions saved him. And with all that my parents had, I was always much happier at my grandparents. At their home you knew their friends and family loved, liked and wanted to be around them because of who they were, not because of who was paying, where the next trip was going to be, the next party, etc.
Sometimes, I think money truly blinds people into thinking that they constantly need more and more, more money, more things.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 16:55:43 GMT
Homesteader, you bring up a lot of good points on what effect our variables have on how we spend our income. But, it's nice to read about someone who enjoys their home and situation. We are all trying to do the best we know how, and most of us are willing to either share or learn from one another. (:
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Post by Homesteader on Sept 23, 2015 17:31:58 GMT
stef I agree, I love when it works for someone or a family to the degree that linda and Ricky have made it work. I loved reading about their various activities and how she does it. She is a shining example. But I do really worry linda about you guys. Especially after reading what ann is going thru with her husband (back issues mainly). Medicare and all, and she is still looking at thousands and thousands of dollars that it doesn't pay for his care. If you have been saving back for such things (I think dear ann said the nursing home was 6 grand a month that wasn't covered by Medicare and sent out a helpful warning to all of us about how much M'care doesn't cover), plus retirement then as long as you are healthy you will get so many more years. I just wonder if you're actually ready for the possible day that you, meaning you linda, cannot in any imaginable way use a saw or hand wash clothing, can, garden, etc. Yes, you can both walk out on snowshoes. IF you can walk. What if he can't get up off the floor like ann's husband? I'm just saying that there are two sides to the coin. And having lived it, I will say that everything you're doing now can change in an instant. And if you as the healthier spouse are pretty much doing everything, who will do it if you get hurt/ill? If you rely on literally surviving thru wood being chopped, do you have friends that would come in and lay in a year supply of wood for you? (using as an example). Of course that can happen to anyone, anytime, any lifestyle. What I worry about for you, is if you're ready for that? And I worry cuz a. I really like you and b. these are things want-be-homesteaders need to think about. One way is to have a really large chunk of money (for medical stuff plus to pay someone to do wood, heavy work, etc.), and also to have a LOT of preps. Like years and years worth of preps. But yogi would get them all! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 18:31:07 GMT
Homesteader....here's my plan, just for fun......since yogi think this is home and eats all my apples and berries, I'm going to let him earn his keep. Um going to teach him the chainsaw, damn, where are the beavers when you need them, and um going to teach him to drive a 5-speed.
In all seriousness, I've given a lot of thought to everything you have brought up. I do not wear rose colored glasses, but, there's only one brass ring. Everyone wants that ring and will stop at nothing to try and get it. They don't see the brightly colored plastic bangles/rings. No one wants those, even though there are many of them. Everyone thinks doom and gloom, no one sees that, yes, things happen, we can't control them, we can only try to be happy and live and be the best we can. I'm an old hippie, I prefer the brightly colored bangles and to dance to led zeppelin while I can. But, even while dancing naked in the rain, I'm still planning. If all one does is plan and see negatives, the bangles and music has died before you've had the chance to dance
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Post by feather on Sept 23, 2015 18:39:47 GMT
I'm totally impressed that you can get by on such a small budget, but you do work hard for it. By hard, I mean washing everything by hand, no freezer, look at everything you do around the home and gardens! I'm about your age and it would keep me in better shape. I'm totally impressed and I wish both DH could do what you are doing, less the hand done laundry! Dance.....!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 18:53:03 GMT
You guys are so inspiring! :-)
One of the things that some of you mentioned is health insurance. Am I right in thinking that's something of a necessity over in the States? Here in New Zealand quite a number of people have it to help cover elective treatment, surgery at private hospitals etc, but it's not compulsory. Everyone is automatically covered by things like Accident Compensation for stuff like work, sport and vehicle accidents and subsequent treatment for most of the time. ACC is funded through levies from motor vehicle registration, employer deductions and so on, but if you have a serious medical emergency, then treatment is largely free or subsidised.
My DH and I used to have private insurance but found that when we went down to one income we couldn't afford to continue with it. I'm not sure we could live on $1000 per month, but what a goal to aim for... :-)
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Post by jangirl on Sept 23, 2015 20:05:38 GMT
LINDAMARIE!!! Welcome dear! SO glad you found us. I've wondered so often how you were, how the situation with the daughter and grands was going and so glad she is doing well. What a relief for you and your hubby. BTDT and know the strain it puts on you and your marriage. We live pretty simply too, although not as great as you do. I COULD, but not sure my hubby would be willing to make all the sacrifices unless it became absolutely necessary. We sure take a lot of flak from family for how we do live--'The Pioneer Way' as my one sister inlaw calls it. It is actually very freeing to get rid of a lot of the baggage from having to keep up with others, eating out, travel, etc. Join us whenever you can, and keep us up to date on how things are going!
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Sept 23, 2015 22:38:45 GMT
Abby and I live on less than $1K a month, thanks to being debt-free, including no mortgage. We still have areas we could improve on and save more money, but we do fine. We do have a washer, dryer, electricity from the grid, internet, and DISH. I drive older vehicles, so no car payments, but occasional repair bills. I just don't have a lot of needs. I can draw more or less from my retirement fund as needed, and as the fund performs. Right now, the market is down, so I won't take any money out. I can do fine on what we have on hand. I do stay home a lot, and when I do buy something, it's usually second hand. It helps when you really like to be at home. |
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Post by jangirl on Sept 23, 2015 23:51:10 GMT
Lindamarie, I have a question about recharging the tools with your solar system. We have a small solar also, and ended up getting battery operated hand tools just for that reason. DH was a little leary of using the inverter to charge them, so called DeWalt and was told they wouldn't be able to be charged on them, so we haven't tried it. Any tips? I hate to ruin a tool or battery trying it out, but couldn't see why it woulnd't work,either. The solar runs our freezer and fridge in the garage just fine, but will not run a dehydrator. IT will run the fan, just not the heat part. There has to be a way! That was my plan to have tools available if the stuff hit the fan.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 1:16:53 GMT
Lindamarie, I have a question about recharging the tools with your solar system. We have a small solar also, and ended up getting battery operated hand tools just for that reason. DH was a little leary of using the inverter to charge them, so called DeWalt and was told they wouldn't be able to be charged on them, so we haven't tried it. Any tips? I hate to ruin a tool or battery trying it out, but couldn't see why it woulnd't work,either. The solar runs our freezer and fridge in the garage just fine, but will not run a dehydrator. IT will run the fan, just not the heat part. There has to be a way! That was my plan to have tools available if the stuff hit the fan. Hi. We actually have black and Decker tools....drill, reciprocating saw, circular saw, a pole/tree trimmer with a chainsaw type end pole extends to 14 feet, and a weed trimmer. The batteries are 20 volt and hubs uses a 75 watt inverter to charge them. The inverter gets plugged in dc to the solar system. They actually make a battery powered chainsaw, we're looking into that for just de limbing and downing trees. The circular saw works great. Each tool came with their own battery and are interchangeable. When one dies, we hook it to charge and just grab another. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 1:24:14 GMT
Abby and I live on less than $1K a month, thanks to being debt-free, including no mortgage. We still have areas we could improve on and save more money, but we do fine. We do have a washer, dryer, electricity from the grid, internet, and DISH. I drive older vehicles, so no car payments, but occasional repair bills. I just don't have a lot of needs. I can draw more or less from my retirement fund as needed, and as the fund performs. Right now, the market is down, so I won't take any money out. I can do fine on what we have on hand. I do stay home a lot, and when I do buy something, it's usually second hand. It helps when you really like to be at home. MGM....not having a lit of needs is is the main thing. It would be very hard to live on a small income if one liked to dine out frequently, go to movies and shows, required the latest fashions, cars, gadgets etc. Our meals may not be 7 course and fancy, but they're made with pride. It doesn't matter if it's a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast or eggs, pancakes and for hubby bacon. Its the company that's sharing the meal. I've been to fancy restaurants, the food was not great and the company was worse. Now, I did tell Ricky that I could and would easily drop 200.00 if Robert Plant ever decided to have a show in Boston, new York or someplace else within a days drive. I'm sorry, but at the age of 68, the man still drips, oozes, sex. He's like sex on legs. And that voice. |
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Post by jangirl on Sept 24, 2015 1:52:35 GMT
You're so funny, Lindamarie! I might even drive across country to see him! Thanks for the tool charging info. I think we'll go ahead and try it. I'm sure it won't HURT them in any case, or ruin the battery charger. I was so disappointed when the company said it wouldn't work.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 2:07:14 GMT
How do you all get by on less then $1,000.00/month? We don't have a mortgage or car payment and we bring in $2,7000.00/month and a lot of months we are short, God forbid we have a problem arise. Have you done a budget? If you don't have a mortgage or car payment, where is the money going? A resource that we have found to be a lifesaver is Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover. VERY helpful! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2015 7:34:26 GMT
Here's a site that might be of help to you, Lindamarie. It's a New Zealand one, but there are lots of great hints on stretching the budget and living simply. www.oilyrag.co.nz/ I subscribe to their weekly email. :-) |
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Post by oldmania on Sept 24, 2015 10:50:52 GMT
We are debt free. We don't owe anybody but Jesus. $1,000 a month barely covers health insurance, car insurance and house insurance premiums. Throw in my husband's ice cream habit and all bets are off.
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