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I was amazed at how fast it came and how painless that ended up being. And with whatever has been going on in my account, it couldn't have come at a better time. There is nothing like a minor pot of gold burning a hole in the pocket though. I have talked about doing so many things this last year. Oh, I looked, window shopping to my hearts content. Everything from a 20v cordless tool set to space heaters to, well, you name it. Nope, not a penny is being spent, for the moment. At least not on goods.
I have decided to put 3/8ths of it against debt, the rest of it into a savings account I will be creating hopefully tomorrow. I will be paying off 3 bills completely and about half on a final one. That will give me a lot more money to throw at my remaining debts. I haven't worked it out yet, though other than my home and auto, I should be out of debt in, perhaps, a year. At which time I begin working on the car payment. Finally, I might have enough to throw double payments at my home payment. And, should I need, I might also be able to renege on that for a month or two for special occasions. I really need to make a plan but I honestly don't know how. And, I do want some of that money going into savings. I like having a minor nest egg, for eventualities, work on my home, and troubles. While I still would like to get some of those other things I mentioned. Plus, how could I not be thinking about solar power? Ugh. But there is only so much a nickel will buy and I only have a nickel to spend!
I may even, for a few months after paying this round of bills off, stay my hand and send the extra into savings. I simply have despised living, gaspingly, from one month to another. I have also reduced costs in various ways. I am tightening down the hatches. The one group of purchases I may consider working harder toward, out of my income money now though, is food stuffs. Long term. I doubt, still, if I can buy it all in one month, or even two. But with this sense of security, perhaps in three months, starting in January, I might be able to stock enough for one and a half people for a year. That seriously needs to happen. I will speak with the missionaries about having someone help me arrange things. An adviser would be quite welcome, a hands-on, in the flesh, sort of helper. And I do believe, with a little help and training, and that the LDS Church food pantry is happy to lend out a canning device that would allow me to get most of the food in #10 cans. I do have the materials to put some of it in five gallon buckets. Some buckets and various sorts of lids, desiccants, oxygen absorbers, and the mylar bags. I wouldn't mind having a few five gallon buckets o' food. But mostly I want it in cans. Easier to trade, move, handle, and eat before it goes bad.
After the bills are paid, money begins to come in, and I see what is going out and how, I can then change up my savings and spending. It is so very different to have enough in an account that, even if all my tires needed changed, I wouldn't have to figure it out over two or three months. My available portion of my income will still be small, but not like it has been. I have no idea, yet, what it will all look like, but I have some plans flexible enough to deal with the rough edges.
This year will be different. Working out, saving, storing food, eating right, all the things I need to do will begin in earnest. Perhaps by spring I will be beyond some things and into even newer things. After food, solid tools need to be purchased, hand tools. Just one or two a month. A grain mill, of course, and I think D.C. is right on the choice. Hopefully, if I can get in shape enough, perhaps I can begin practicing with those tools. No, D.C., I don't think you are crazy. One of the men at the Christmas party has purchased tools and trained his horses for field work and buggies. And he practices with them. I know he gets a lot of razz for it, even here. I definitely flashed my hand just a bit, and let him know I too believe there is trouble coming, that his works were wise. I did it in a way that it went right over the heads of many, but he caught it at once. There is an understanding among some. It is just that it has been difficult to do anything, swamped one way or another so often, as I have been. Perhaps this is my time to begin on that hard path you discuss.
Never mind. I tried to go online to pay some of those bills. Snake eyes. I then tried to call. Elevens. No, I will have to go in to pay. Tomorrow, after Mass. And I best stop and see my friend. He sounds a little green around the gills. I did call my brother. I think it is very lonely for him. He may be better off now being 100% and retired along with his wife working, but money is little comfort. He has three women in his home against just one guy, and he is not able to get around as much as he might like. No, male companionship, especially that of a brother, even if long distance, is good for him. I need to call him more. But his cellphone reception (Sprint) is crap, or he needs a new phone, or both. I tried to convince him on Verizon. For all it's problems (usually minor to my mind), I have zero problems talking to people, I don't lose calls, I don't have large periods where I can't hear or speak. Ugh. Why do people stay with crap carriers? I did call my lady friend too, but she is indisposed, at work, or over spending Christmas with friends. I left a message.
I have some things to attend. Good night.
when you get out of debt, you will enjoy a psychological freedom like no other. Continue to pray for guidance in this area. I really like what you wrote on the comments on the christmas posts - your relationship with CHrist -recognizing who and what you are. Im sorry I dont get here more often to read - i will have to come more often in 2012
ReplyDeleteNest egg is very good. That allows you to avoid credit for minor emergencies. On a fixed income, credit is a trap of the devil anyway. Just resolve to never use it. If you're eyeing any part of that as a long-term savings, I'd consider converting that portion to silver.
ReplyDeleteAs for a plan, I can tell you what I am doing. I tallied my monthly obligations and divided their payment between my two paychecks per month. With what is left over, I subtracted what I need for food, gasoline and other periodic and miscellaneous expenses. Of the remainder from that, I have a portion going via automatic deposit into a savings account, and the remainder of the remainder of the remainder is what I spend on my ongoing projects. The savings is earmarked for a couple of purposes--long-term emergency fund and student loan payoff fund, and short term major purchase fund. I am completing the full scale upgrade of solar panels for my system with that fund in a couple months.
I have been *told* that electricity is the easiest thing to learn to live without post-
SHTF. So my project may be vanity. There are other things that are doubtless more important than a tad of backup electricity if you're making a priority list.
I would make a point of getting to know those few you know are preppers better. Ask yourself over sometime to see his hand farming setup, maybe swap ideas.
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ReplyDelete"this year will be different"
ReplyDeleteHo-boy, will it!
I like that youse found folks who make preparations--I wish't we wuz doin' thangs along the same lines.
A young woman that comes to help me wif' mah work now an' then is a college grad, works as an artist, is in local tea party --she reports that "millions" of 30 somethings are not buying the swill, are thinkin' a 1776 style event is Plan B --we could be in fer a hard ride.
Git outa debt ASAP is fine thinkin'--I hope youse mendin' from yore fall.
Keep the faith, Doom. Keep the faith, ya' know?
Have a blessed Christmas season--we'uns doan take Christmas down til the 12th day--that is, Epiphany.
Chickory,
ReplyDeleteThat debt monster is something else, isn't it? And they offer it so freely. They know what they are doing. The one thing I can't help but think is this, with as worthless as savings is, most people have to consider debt as a means of... beating the system. It is a gamble. If the economy falls, nearly completely, how could they collect from all of us, even their own employees? If law remains, and ledgers are somehow held, then yeah. Most people, even the ones who don't consciously think about it, in the back of their minds, know this. How much blood can be squeezed from a stone? And what would a bank do with a bunch of electro-gadgets, aging computers, beat up cars, more homes, and used clothing? There is a trick in there, and I think I see it, a self-destructive form of trickery.
For my part, yes, out of debt is the only way. Learning how to live within my means? That is the true trick. It is also the reason no one truly wants to vote for a real conservative. If the state begins living within it's means, why... it might expect them to do so! Another quiet form of trickery. Just... thinking.
D.C.,
ReplyDeleteYour point is, you are using your efficiency oriented mind to work it all to your purposes. It takes some serious willpower to do that. While I am mostly conscious, I have that. It is when I fall into the shadows of pseudo consciousness where I may lose my grip. I do have plans, somewhat along those lines if not quite as complicated (seeming, I think, mostly ;p). The simple aspect is to keep a nest egg, grow it a bit, up my payments on other debts, but continue living as slightly as possible while still prepping. My Lord, even that is not simple! I will looking for a free spreadsheet software and work up my income, costs, and savings plans. I can't just do it in my head, my thoughts and feelings on such matters betray me.
Yes, if I can, I would like to work more with the locals. I can only imagine how much a plow costs, an old horse-drawn plow. Perhaps a discer and small thresher or other harvester too. And of course you need the tack and such for the horse(s), and the horses have to be trained. My guess is there are a small number of locals who are doing similar things in various ways. Yes, I am keeping an eye out for them. I will do what I can to participate, learn, and become a party with them. Hopefully starting with helping in the garden this spring. It is extremely difficult to shift to the old ways, and expensive, more so with the modern ways right here. It can't be fully done unless the world as we know it falls.
The thing about electricity, for most people, is they use it for daily living only. Your profession, and my ability to even stay awake at times, are dependent upon some levels of electricity. I think for us, electricity is a bit less of a luxury. I have considered this while thinking about solar power. As well, I consider that, a small amount of electricity I could consider various rechargeable power tools. I can't imagine how valuable those would be when all else fails, to ease into the new paradigm at least. No electricity would be very hard on me. Much of the rest I personally might not notice as much.
Aunty Belle,
ReplyDeleteIt is nearly impossible to just start in, cold turkey, on the old ways. Expense and... reason to a degree, will keep all from it. At least in a whole hog, cold turkey way. I and many others are simply leaning into it, as we may. I wonder if you drink coffee? If so, I will offer you a single thought. What this device does is twofold. First, it prepares you for not having electricity to grind your beans. Secondly, it teaches patience. We are used to a "just having it done, now!" mentality. And, yes, I have one, and use it. If you don't use whole coffee beans, perhaps there is some other device that might bring the past to life for you? Find some little electrical device that you commonly use, shop around for a quality mechanical replacement. Learn to deal with the time and frustrations of such a thing. Then center your mind around it. It takes time. It will slow your life down. It will be a paradigm shift. Just understand, with all your doings, you probably can't go all the way yet. (hopefully never, but that might be a stretch of a hope) If nothing else, it might bring a new focus to your minds. Just a thought.
I won't say it is a fear that the 30somethings have, as much as it is a high probability (at least in their and my mind). Socialism and crony capitalism have sucked the wealth down impossible rabbit holes. Money that should have been spent on infrastructure, job creation, innovation, efficiency (real efficiency), has been given to people who don't feel the need to work, to house them, feed them, cloth them, educate them, to buy their votes for more free stuff. The social decay caused by making self-selected bottom feeders the weak link in the chain, thus what all other things become measured by to keep the chain together, is upon us. Enough of that, but the younglings known this now, they see it... they feel it. We might all fall, worldwide, and have no means of fixing what has fallen. Fair enough, look around in even the poorest homes. We live far beyond our means, in a luxury that is absolutely unsustainable. For what we have today we will have to pay. But worthless money will not do.
Keep the faith? Absolutely. Odd, even when I have been terribly angry about various conditions or events? I... never could be angry at God. I can't blame Him. Not even a smidgen. If someone has a reason to be angry at God, I would be in the top 100. And yet I cannot tell you why I have not raged against my Lord, other than I just didn't see it as a 'right fit'. I guess I simply do believe.