No Pictures Today, Just Some Experienced Wisdom

No posts have gone up for a while because I couldn't think of anything of substance to post.  I have been busy cooking and checking out the dollar store, but I didn't feel like posting about those things.  Even the accomplishments seemed too hollow to post.  This morning I was watching Boss of the Swamp yoo toob video about money and I was inspired to post.

He was talking about the dreams we have coming before the mainstream thought about first dreaming about making loads of money, then going after the dreams - thinking money was the tool to bring on the dreams.  I agree with this philosophy.  What is difficult to go along with is a person has to live an off grid lifestyle in the middle of the woods with only our physical strength to provide for our needs.  It is, however, the ideal solution  people yearn for.  JC was only addressing comments from people who thought they needed money before a dream could be had.

In my experience the simple life is a state of mind.  I currently live in a condo because I'm at a stage in life that I no longer have a desire to do outside maintenance.  My fees pay for that task as paying for a number of other ones.  I have lived rural most of my adult life and loved it.  I have carried over my thought process to my current living condition. 

I do indeed have a power bill.  But, I use my power as efficiently as possible.  To the point that I unplug small appliances when they aren't in use.  I know the lay of my living space and use a night light to maneuver the space in the dark.  I do things that reduce the cost of being on the grid while embracing the fact that I don't need to cut wood to stay warm.

What if the grid goes down?  I have made accommodations using a rocket stove to heat and cook with.  Light at night?  I have four solar lights to guide the way.  No lap top access?  I have books with large print to entertain my mind. 

What about cash usage?  I still have the frugal outlook on money being a tool to obtain my needs and a couple of wants.  I need little and want even less.  There was no need to change this because I moved to a largely populated area.

I still have the same mind set, I only had to adapt to the current living condition.  Can you see what I'm getting at?  Ninety nine percent of life is what we think it is.  We can begin our journey where our feet are currently planted.  I say go for it!  Make a decision to be content with life rather than what mainstream society is telling us we want. 

SMALL WAYS TO BEGIN

1Use rags instead of paper towel for most clean up jobs. (annual savings, 30.00)
2Unplug small appliances when not in use. ( 120.00 for me)
3Grab a couple of solar lights when they are on sale to navigate in the dark. (Cost of lamps 28.00, annual savings 120.00)
4Use the grocery ads to shop sales on food.. annual savings 120.00 for me)
5Think about the amounts of a food your family uses, then streamline purchases to the need.  This avoids spoiled foods that have to be trashed.
6Define the difference of what is a need  and what is a want.  Food, clothing, shelter, transportation are basic needs.  Everyone has a 'habit' that brings them comfort.  I would include this as a need, then a want.  Like soda?  Does it bring you comfort when stressed?  Include it in the need category, but try to reduce the use.
7Get a good night's sleep.  This is important to maintain the ability to make informed and level decisions.  I think (In this country) we have forgotten how important this is.
8Reuse items when you are able.  The more you reuse, the more money stays in your pocket.  I save tissue that comes in a gift.  It can be ironed (I don't iron it) and used again.  The gift bags I have stay here after a family member opens their gift.  I use the same bag for the next gift giving time.  The bag may cost only a dollar, but with eight people to buy for in my immediate area, that adds up.  When I send gifts to NY, I use wrapping paper that is purchased at the dollar store. ( 32.00 annual savings)
9 Use two small squirts of dish soap and/ or run the dishwasher with a full load.  Just to let you know I wash dishes by hand unless I have people over for dinner.  I use dawn so one squirt of soap works well.
10When I used detergent in the wash I made my own with borax, washing soda, and bar soap.  Now I use wash balls unless I'm washing the pup's things.
11Be as organized as you are able.  This is basic, but it saves money when you can find the tape or ruler instead of having to buy a second one.  No one knows the difficulty  in this area more than I do.  I'm still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.
12Using home made cleaning products such as the orange cleaner, window cleaner, and stove top cleaner reduces a large amount from leaving my pocket.  I saw a video where the woman was saying she went through three bottles of window cleaner a month.  I don't even know how much these items cost any more but if I bought just these three items once a month at a cost of 2.50 I would save 90.00 annually.

On just these few items I save 482.00 a year.  What a good state to bringing down my costs.

What I'm saying is relax.  Start where you are.  Don't be pressured to be what other people think you should be.  As far as I can see, there is still peer pressure out there, the package has a completely new wrapping.  If you are looking for ways to live simply, I hope this helps.  If not, maybe you've just been entertained.