Saturday, August 22, 2020

101 Money Saving Ideas: Numbers 84-101: Finally the Finale

Reminder: Totes bogarting from Centsible Living with Money Mom.

I considered stretching this out but who am I kidding.  This isn't monetized and I only add "content" as the kids say, when I feel like it.  Why stretch it out?  Who cares?  NOT ME.  And that's the only relevant bit.

These are still in whatever order I think of them.  Not giant key tip that will change your life as 101.  Can't. Be. Bothered.

84  Give people a shot.   As long as you are giving Peace a Chance...

perhaps give people a chance.   Now that I'm the local farmers market mustard mogul (more anon), I'm meeting lots of people who are very very different from me and lots that I do not want to spend much time with.  But...

remember Pee-Wee Herman's dictum:  There's always a big but:



Meaning that there is always the temptation to say "but" and talk yourself out of doing something.
I would normally not talk to these people BUT (this time it's a good big but) I talk to them to try to get them to drop 4$ on mustard (or lots more $$ on mustard).  We already have something in common.  We're at a farmers market.  I have a table between me and them which helps with my personal space bubble.

I've met people who want to learn from me, who want to trade stuff, and who have skills I want to learn from them.  It's been interesting.   

Yesterday I got to talk to a woman just now learning about off-grid laundry.  I have tried it all and though she is a very different person, I gave her a shot and she's a good PR person for my product, which she doesn't like, and is good at sharing her information about where to get things and what she wants to learn or teach. 

Another dude and I will need to minimize our contact and we still managed to do a swap.  

Moral:  Give people a shot.  You don't have to be BFFs forever and you don't have to 100% avoid them.  The struggle for me is finding ways to NOT discuss politics.  Once I get that down I'll be better at this tip.

85 Trial and Error Works.   Especially if you keep track of the errors and the successes.  I'm toying with the idea of buying 1/2 as many of compressed sawdust logs I like to use.  Subbing out free wood (heh heh) others are offering and making more of an effort with the paper brick maker.  This can save me 140$ plus gas money and a trip to a hardware store.  OR  I could get cold and have to hand haul logs/wood up the hill.  It's a debate.  If it's a mild winter, easier.  Rough winter, tougher.  I think I'll try it.  I have more tools now and more skills and more people living a similar lifestyle who can share and help if it doesn't work.  So, might as well run the trial.  I've kept a record of how many sawdust logs I burn per winter.  I know my current stock.  And I have a month to change my mind.  So, we will try...I think. 

I'm also trying different ways to grind mustard, different things to ferment.  Etc etc etc.  Keeping notes means that I don't have to run the same trial over and over. 

86  Try New Things.  I thought I'd already done this one because it's super obvious.  But I don't see it in the list. 
Try a "new" brand or type of food.  Especially if it's cheaper or otherwise fits better in your lifestyle.  I tried dehydrated coconut milk powder. It's not "cheaper" per serving.  It IS shelf stable.  So it doesn't go off and I can make only what I am going to use at one time.  This has eliminated waste. 

Right now I'm trying a month without going to a grocery store.  So far, for food and eating enough, it's been easy.  The farmers markets are open.  I have a garden and laying hens and canned duck meat.  The only challenge is I'm out of mustard seed and the online order hasn't arrived and might not arrive in time to restock for the next farmers market.  My local sources are grocery stores.  Damn!  Not really a big deal.  Skipping grocery stores has really cut the food budget and I'm going to cut back on the trips in general.  Fewer trips is less gas, less impulse purchasing.  Saves $$.  It's also been easier to eat what I have on hand when that's the option.  Today I wanted chocolate.  I had some in the pantry stock.  It had bloomed in the hot weather and was gritty, but I ate it anyway and it was good.  No trip to the store.  I could have melted it and made it better but I couldn't be bothered.

I'm still eating out now and then at restaurants and still saving $$ on the overall food budget. I think  I could do just 1 grocery store trip in Sept because the garden and farmers markets will still be going strong.  Then, maybe 1 or 2 trips per month.

Other new things...selling stuff.  Worked out so far.
Try new foods, different clothing brands, different stores, different friends, etc etc etc.  If you hate it, then don't do it again.

87 Learn to Say No.  How is this not like the first thing?   Jeez. 
OK.  Say "no" and save time, money, effort and agony. 
Sometimes you can say it indirectly or nicely.  Often just be blunt and stop talking right after the word "no."
Today, I got a lovely invite to coffee with friends.  I was already loading the truck with wood (heh heh) and headed home to unload.  Joining would be fun.  This week I've had zero alone time.  THis month I'm not buying coffee out and didn't have any on me and no other beverages.  Today I have a bucket ton of chores to get done.  So, once I got home with the wood, I texted back that it didn't work today but thanks.  An indirect and polite "no." No one was offended. 

Often I have people ask me to do things I would loathe and would cost money.  My favorite example is an invitation to a "lady's night" at a lawn-garden-lumber type store.  I'm offended by the idea that "ladies" need a special night at the lumberyard.  I go there when I need to go there.  I don't need a special time.  This cost money to get in.  There was wine...for a price (I don't like wine).  There were foot massages...for a price...WTF?  At the lumber store?
Anyway, I said, "Why would I pay a stranger to touch my feet at the hardware store?"  To which came the reply, "You aren't paying a stranger to touch your feet."   "So the foot massage is free or is a friend doing it?"  "no"  "So you want me to pay a stranger to touch my feet."   I should have just said "No" and walked away.  The price for the night was going to be over 50$.  To do sh*t I hate with people who confuse me.  NO. 

I'm better at "no" now.  We should teach kids that.

88 Say Yes sometimes.  This works great if you might learn something or get to try something.  Like selling for a friend at a farmers market.  I said I'd give it a shot.  That's my way of saying 'yes.'  Turns out it's fine and I can sell stuff.   I'm not great at it, but I can do it.  I don't like the crowds and will like my alone time Friday nights when the  market is done for the year.  For now, I said yes and I'm trying it.

I said yes when a friend asked if I wanted chickens.  And to learning to butcher.  And to going to pick huckleberries.

Since I struggle with being around people too much, I try to make sure I have an out for any "yes" that puts me with too many people for long periods. 

89 Wear the clothes that work for you.
I am usually dressed like crap.  According to other people.  I don't care.  Today, carhartt pants with duck blood stains, a bit short.  Untied ankle boots, no socks.  Messy braid.  Sweat stained cap.  Dollar store glasses (OMG!!! I should totally start doing an outfit of the day series!).  Cotton tank top.  Ratty bra.  2nd string underpants.  Why?  Because it's chores day.  The tank top is a workday worthy one but I'm out of non-workday worthy tops so what the hell.  It's hot out.   These are the clothes that work for me.  Since I don't care, I have no idea if anyone was judging me or staring.  Not caring is awesome.

To work, I always wear long cotton pants, usually jeans.  I never know when I will be in the field.  There is no point in wearing delicate clothes.  Usually I wear, or have at hand, a decent button down shirt.  This can look reasonable professional.
Almost always wear boots.  Never wear open toe shoes or any sandals.  These don't work for me or my job.  I do not live a flip flop lifestyle.

90 Don't Care What Others Think of You
Once I stopped giving even half a crap about what others' thought about me, life got much easier.
I'm wearing clothes today that look like I fished them out of the trash.  They are sturdy and they work.  So I am wearing them.

I don't care whether people think my living off grid is cool or stupid or if it doesn't cross their mind either way.  I don't care.  I'm doing what I want. 

Not caring helps with selling stuff.  I don't care if people don't like mustard.  Great.  Move on to the next farmers market booth and make way for those willing to spend too much money on mustard.  I don't care.   I also don't care if you want me to make adjustments like the woman who actually complained that the mustard didn't stick to her sausage.  First, I managed NOT to make a filthy joke about it.  Second, I said, "Push harder." (which was again hard not to make a filthy joke about).  She offered several suggestions for "improving" my product so it would stick to her sausage.  I didn't care so I just nodded and moved on.  Though clearly, not entirely because I'm still mocking her.

Way back in grad school I stopped caring about people's comments on my hair styles.  I stopped getting it trimmed.  A professor told me I'd never get a job if I didn't cut my hair into a style and wear some make up.  I stared at her until she stopped talking and walked away.  Still got a job.
The best interview I did for professoring was when my baggage got lost on the way.  I had what I wore on the plane and the undies I'd wisely stuffed in my carry on.  I was comfortable and had a reason for not caring about my clothes.  Sadly, my baggage caught up with me and I had to dress up the 2nd day.  Oh well. 

I also don't care what you think of my lunch as I crack open a jar of meat and dig a wad of wrapped bread out of my bag, or slice up an entire zucchini and eat it raw.  Doesn't matter to me.  In grade school I cared.  Easier not to.

Turns out, the less one cares about how others perceive them, the more positive that perception seems to be.  One woman keeps calling me a "rock star" because I don't care.

One frustrating bit right now with the not caring, is when people TELL me to care.  The planning dept people in my county keep telling me that the house I made them permit, "won't sell" and that I will be "stuck with it" or that "buyers will want more bathrooms."  To which I say, "I don't care."  They want me to care.  This makes me angry so I must care about people still trying to put their values and ideas on me. 

91 Know yourself.
There has been chatter of late about what my sexual orientation may or may not be.  This could offend me, but it makes me laugh.  See above "Don't Care."  Also, I know I look different than most women, dress differently, and live differently than the norm.  Part of not caring and dressing how I want, eating how I want, living frugally, is knowing myself.  I know what I like, what my goals are, what I want vs what I need, what my priorities are.  I also  know how I look or sound to other people.

It's not a surprise to me when questions come up.  It's not a surprise to me that I confuse people.  Knowing myself helps with the not caring and with making my own choices, doing what I want.

Once in a while someone surprises me with an insight about me that I haven't been aware of, but I take it on board and think about it for a bit, and then move on. 

92 Take a step back every day.
Take moment to see what you are doing, or thinking or saying.  Or just to look at the stars.  The current culture is all about distraction.  Take a step back.  Not some big deal 3 hour meditation.  That will end up being another distraction if it's not what you want to do.  Just a step back.  Maybe look at the person in the car stuck in traffic next to you.  Look up at a cloud.   Turn off the tv/computer/whatever.  Or if you are obsessively cleaning the toilet, take a step back and remember that someone is just going to take a dump in there anyway.  It doesn't have to be clean enough to eat off of.  It can be if you want it to be, but it doesn't have to be.

Any step.  My chickens are good at making me take a step back.  So were the bees.  Going to check the bees and seeing that they decided to bugger off...that's a step back.  OK.  I tried.  You moved on.  Right.  No point in getting my knickers in a twist.  Can't chase down 30,000 bees and make them move back in to the hive.

Last night it was an amazing night sky.  Got home late and tired and over stimulated.  Stepped out of the car and noticed it was very dark and I could see so many stars and planets.  Even a satellite moving across the Milky Way.  15 seconds of a step back, 

93 Dare to Change Your Mind.
Right now I'm living off grid, let's not debate what that means for the moment, working full time in the "real world" on grid, and etc.  If I started hating any element of my life, I will change my mind.  It's fine.  So what?  This goes with the trial and error and trying new things and much more.  Right now I'm fine with not having indoor plumbing and hanging out with the cool kids/oddballs.  I can change my mind.

Right now I'm frugal and thrifty and tracking my money.  I might change my mind on that. I might now.

It's fine.  I used to never buy used shoes.  Then I changed my mind.
I used to use shampoo.  Then I changed my mind.
I usually change my mind in ways that save $$.  Sometimes now.

I also like to change my mind about little things.  Like the 25cent suede blazer I bought at thrift.  I thought I would wear it.  I haven't.  It's time to change my mind on that one (see tip 94)

94 Raw Materials.
Sometimes the value in an item, is in its raw materials.  I got a 25cent suede blazer.  Turns out I don't wear it.  I've had it for months.   Now I'm looking at it as raw material...tanned leather.   I could use a knife sheath and I want to learn to use the awl I have.  That leather hanging unworn among the too many coats is probably the place to start.  It's 25 cents.  Enough leather to make a lot of mistakes.

I also need some hinges...leather makes a decent hinge.  Hmmm....25cents well spent! If I change my mind (see tip 93) about the blazer being a blazer and decide it is raw material.

95 Be Clear.
I was not clear yesterday.  A friend was with me at the farmers market.  I wanted to make sliders with the pretzel buns from the fabulous baker who sells bread there.  Pulled pork is for sale across the street.  I asked the friend about it a few dozen times and offered the cash to go get the goddamn pork. She didn't.  After the market closed she ran over. And the BBQ place was closed too.  YEAH!  I KNOW.  Then I realized I hadn't been clear.  I wanted sliders DURING the  market to eat when it was slow.  She assumes that we are doing the market and eat AFTER the market.  I don't know why I was hinting around.  Could have just said, "I want sliders now"and it would have worked.

I have been looking for canning jars lately and let people know what size and what price.  NOW I have enough and need to be clear that I am not buying any more for a few months.  If I'm not, I'll have people asking me to pay them for jars I don't need. 

Being clear saves $$ and aggravation.  We ended up with a decent dinner last night, but also it cost more.  Oops!  Should have been clear.

96 Ask
Not just for stuff, but about stuff.  And stuff.
I have a friend finishing a business degree.  So I asked about easy money tracking for the mustard selling.  She had good tips.  I am not doing everything...like not marketing to restaurants because I don't want to. 

People asked me about off grid laundry.  I know about that.  It was good of them to ask. 

I wanted to have chickens so I asked if people knew where I could get some.  Now I have all the chickens I can handle. 

A friend wants to start fermenting stuff.  I like to ferment.  So he asked me how. I told him.  Just ask.

97 Answer
When you have an answer, share it.  But don't get too attached to the idea that people will do what you said or hear what you actually said.  People screw up.  It's what sets us apart from the animals.  Or not.  We do what we want.  All of us.  So, share the info if asked and then let it go.
If you don't know, then that's the answer (see tip 98)

98 Admit Knowledge Gaps
I can butcher a chicken, but I'm not great.  People asked me how.  So my answer was, "talk to that lady" while pointing to the lady who teaches butchering.

One of the WORST workshops I went to was a permaculture workshop where the instructor would NOT admit his knowledge gaps.  It sucked.  He kept saying that he had a Ph.D. so he know more than us.  Well I have one too.  AND I poop in a bucket so I know more about humanure.  The Ph.D. had nothing to do with anything.  The idiot instructor also told a farmer with 40 years making a living at farming that the Ph.D. meant the instructor knew more about farming than the farmer.  The class participants turned to the farmer with our questions.

When questions turned to gardening and farming, I pointed to the farmer. 
The instructor got pissed.  Also fun to watch.

99  Own Your Expertise.  It's strange, but I do know my composting including toilet composting.  I own it.
 At one point, the instructor asked what the class wanted to do with 20 minutes when he didn't have anything ready to present.  I snorked (laughed and put beverage up my nose) when a woman said, "I want to hear more from Jill and Dave about composting toilets."  Dave was another class member using a bucket toilet full time.  The class, as a group, turned their backs on the instructor and grilled Dave and I about turlets.  It was awesome.
When they started asking me about the nitrogen vs carbon percents etc, I admitted my knowledge gap  (see tip 98) and said, "if it starts to smell like an outhouse, take it out to the compost pile and add more sawdust or peat."  "how much" "enough to cover it.  If it still stinks, add more."   Number 1 tip...don't pee in the bucket."  I didn't start spouting percents and chemical formulas or principles.  I know how to make it work and rough ratios.

100 Don't Play the Lottery
It's stupid and you are not going to win.

101 Pay Attention.
Just that.  Pay attention to your money.  To your purchasing.  Your goals.  Your life. The world around you.  Other people.  Opportunities.  How you spend your time.  How you and your life are changing.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

R.I.P. T-Bone

T-Bone, the beginning hen of this year's misfit flock, is dead.  Looks like a raccoon got her during the day earlier this week.  I noticed that I was short one of my novogens but couldn't quite pin down who was gone.  The hens tend to run all over.

Finally got a good look at the Saturday when I was home in the afternoon rather than just sun up and sun down as happens during the week.  It was T-Bone who was gone.  She's been a loner so I hoped she was just not with the bunch, but she didn't come in that night.  Found her on the far side of the ravine under the hawthorn.  Beheaded, gutted and skinned.  Wasps have taken up residence in her corpse so I can't pick her up and bury her either.

That's 2 down

So, here is the current population:

Bonnie
Clyde
Fabio
Suzanne
Porky
Pearl
Pru
Flossy
Flo

And they've stopped laying eggs.  I think they are molting.  Once they are re-feathered I hope they start again but some of the ladies are SO OLD that one cannot count on that.  The banties are so small I'd need a paring knife to butcher them out.  Not sure it would be worth it.  What then?

Anyway, the roosters.

Clyde, easter egger who arrived with Bonnie, is filling out!   He got his cheek poofs which look like sideburns out of an early film version of a Dickens novel.  He got a bit bigger.  Still smaller than Fabio but they both have lovely blond manes now. 
Clyde also learned to crow or finally got his voice.  It's high pitched than Fabio's and doesn't carry as far.  Fabio has more success with the ladies.  Clyde's approach is epicly clumsy.  Rather than flirt with the lady BY him.  He spots someone in the distance and takes off running with his head down.  Generally the lady hears/sees him coming and averts the advance.  Porky, the giant barred rock, kicks the bejesus out of him.   She's taken on Fabio to.  Gramma always said that old hens turn into roosters.  I'll have to check her for spurs (Porky, not Gramma).

I did see Fabio treating the ladies.  He shared an apple core with them.  That's good cock behavior. 
One point for Fabio.

Ball is in Clyde's court now. 

Once the roosters start fighting I'll have to pick one and eat the other.  The contest has commenced!

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Building Contract and New Budget Cuts

So, I have a contract for the frame and roof on the future imaginary home.  It's more than I want to pay and less than the builder wants to get.

One contract term was left open and I'm not super happy with it. It has to do with some deferred payments.

Pretty sure I can avoid the term entirely if I pay without the deferred bit.  Hence the new budget cuts.

It's summer.  The garden is going.  The community garden is going.  The farmers market is going with some folks selling veg for 1$/lb and less which is below the grocery store prices by 30-500% for the same veggies.

AND it's berry season. AND Mom (Hi mom) and my sister (HI!) sent some dehydrated mushrooms and stuff. 

It seem sensible to cut the food budget.
No coffee out.  I do that some months anyway.  This month again.
Limited dining out to the meals I'd committed to with friends BEFORE this month started.
No grocery store trip in August.  Grocery shopping is a habit for me.  I check for deals at a rotating cast of stores.  That's fine.  It also seems to involve 1 treat per trip at 1$.  That isn't a huge amount, but it's a habit I can break. 
Instead of the grocery trips this month, I'm eating what I have including the veg and eggs.  The neighbor lady is bringing me potatoes about once a week.  I have potatoes in the garden so I can dig those if I feel like it.  I've picked service berries and have 3 quarts set by.  A friend has strawberries on.  I got a quart of huckleberries the other day.  My blueberries are a bust.  Oh well.  The apples will be ready on the trees next month but fruit this month will be tomatoes (farmers market and friends) and berries mostly.  I hear there is a "you pick" blueberry place near me so perhaps check that out and can them with a friend which will leave me with more fruit for the winter.

I've got cracked wheat and rice in the pantry stash so I'm not lacking on starch.  I got a loaf of bread at the farmers market and will cut down to a few rolls next week.  Also got bagels from a new marketer.  I try to support folks who join up.  Next week, nope.  The cookie kids weren't at the market so I didn't have to drop that 50cents.   Next week I will also skip one of the 2 markets.  I buy very little at the Thursday market and will cut back to every other week I think.  A friend's kids sell really nice honey based lemonade and I like to support them.  A friend sells scones but she sells whether I buy or not so I can cut those out easily.

Since I don't do milk products, skipping the store isn't that hard.
For protein I have jarred up pekin duck meat and my fresh eggs from the hens, and some sunflower seeds.  Also peas and beans in the garden.  Basically high end stuff which I will eat.  I have enough eggs to share back with the neighbor.

I still have greens going and hope to plant some kale or lettuce today to help get through more of the fall with greens.  Have sprouting seeds if all else fails.  The beets are coming on as well.  Garlic will be picked shortly.  And more horseradish. 

No problem with fiber or iron or vitamin C or anything else I can think of so, no grocery trip needed.
It is a habit to break though!  Yesterday I did laundry and almost automatically started the grocery store rounds.  One stop includes food for donation.  Instead of that, I will donate $$ online to a local food bank or something.


The other area I can cut, I think, is fuel.  Driving slower gets the mileage up about 10% which should mean a 10% savings.  And making do rather than running to town should help.  I usually do that, but will double down now.
The subaru shows me my miles per gallon average and I'm trying to keep that at 27 or higher.  Probably should trade out the air filter.  I'll see what they cost. I know it's clogged up. 
Also need to swap out a headlamp. Dang it. I have it...15$!!!! GEEZ.  Anyway, doing it myself as usual and expected to use some of my bandaid stock pile as a result.

Other than that, sticking with just what I need.
I have a garden spending debate.  Some tiny black beetle in the raised bed that ate the leaves of radishes and the arugula.  Dang things! I hope the seeds on those still come on.  That's what I was going for at the moment.  As of yesterday the bugs hated the kale.  I think the best solution is diatomaceous earth so I need to price that.

I also need to get some peat in to get the composting toilet through winter.  Dang.

No clothing purchases this month.  Use what I have.

I brought the laundry home to dry and saved 4 or 5 bucks.  Next week I'll do the delicates and lightweight stuff at home.  I've cut laundry to every 2 weeks at the laundromat, but with more diligent home laundry I might be able to push that to every 3 weeks.

I'll keep looking at other cuts to make.

Friday, August 7, 2020

101 Money Saving Ideas: Numbers 74-83

 To Review:  Idea stolen, with permission, from Centsible Living with Money Mom on youtube.

FYI:  I loathe the new blogger interface.  Sucks. The 3 things I used to do with a single click are not several step processes.

Anyway.  Digging deeper for the tips now that we're approaching 101.

[I had to "revert to legacy blogger" option.  Too hard to find the 3 things I use all the freaking time.  GEEZ google.  WTF?  Did you look at blogs and think "how can we get these Luddites to just use facebook?  I know, let's make it hard to type, hard to post, hard to save, hard to see what labels you've used, hard to put in a link, and hard to find your own blog.]


74  Track What You Don't Spend.  If you want something and don't spend money on it, just do with out, track that like you track your spending.  I do this when I need extra motivation.  I make a note.  This week I noted the times I wanted a coffee out or forgot part of my lunch and didn't run to the store and fill in the gap.  I mean, I am in ZERO risk of starving in the 4 hours between lunch and heading home. 

75 Eat Enough, Not Too Much.  In a NOT NEWS FLASH: Many of us eat more per day than we need, hence we get fat or spend $$/time/effort (check all that apply) burning the calories we didn't need.  I do exercise and burn 200 or so calories a day.  I go ahead and eat enough healthy, or unhealthy, quality food to cover that and the basic being alive thing.  What I'm trying to do during the current budget tightening to pay for the house-build, is NOT just over eat and end up having to cut back on food the next day or exercise more.  That's silliness.  There was a time when I overate quite a bit and much of America and the world intakes nearly twice the food needed to live and work and to enjoy living by getting out and about and doing active stuff.  If we stopped that, we'd save money on food, save on stress on the land by not having to produce as much food, and have (as we already do) enough food to feed the planet.  We'd still have the distribution problem and wouldn't feed the world with the food we have plenty of, but we'd still have the option to sort that out.

76  Know Needs vs Wants.  This is a good place to start actually.  It involves some hard looks at life.  Sure, I "need" clothes because sometimes it's cold and sometimes I burn the bejeebus out of my upper back by not wearing enough clothes for the amount of sunlight (recent issue...oops!  Stupid strappy tank tops).  But do I need NEW clothes.  Nope.  Almost never.  The minute you get the clothes home and wear them or wash them or just have them, they are used clothes.  You usually need to wash new clothes before you wear them.  Same with used clothes.  Thrift, consignment, yard sales, clothing exchanges etc.  Do I need 20 coats.  Nope.  I have maybe 10.  Also don't need 10 coats so I'll work on that. I regularly wear about 8 of them.  It's not that you don't get to buy anything that's a "want" but know that it is a "want" not a need.  Know that one life choice between want/need has repercussions in other want/need areas.  I need a place to live.  I WANT to live on acres in a house of my own design.  So I'm spending money to do that.  The repercussions include a more reliable car than I would have if I lived closer to town.  If I had stayed in town, 3 blocks from work, I could have gotten by with no car.  I wouldn't have but I could have.  Where I am, I COULD get by without a car, but it would mean riding a bike or walking or finding a ride to town sometimes.   So, each choice influences other want/need choices. 

77  Make Conscious Choices.  When you decide to do something, do it on purpose.  Can't pay all the bills this month?  Think through which one to pay.  Which thing has immediate consequences and how serious are they?  Which has long term consequences?  How serious are they?  What are your options.  Once upon a time I couldn't pay all the bills.  This was due to choices I'd made to be in grad school and stop taking student loans.  Hence, temporary poverty.  I couldn't pay all the bills.  I had nothing to liquidate that would sell in time and bring in enough money to cover things.  I chose to pay rent rather than electric.  I asked a friend to help me cover electric and paid her back out of the next check.  Hated doing it but there you go.  I made a choice.  Not paying rent resulted in a big fee.  Not paying the electric bill resulted in a small fee.  The friend helped me stay far enough ahead that I didn't have to pay that fee twice.   Recently I forgot to pay the cell phone and had a 5$ late fee.  DAMMIT!  I hate that.  That was not a conscious choice.  It was a mistake.  So, back to having an automated alarm in my phone reminding me to pay for phone service. 

78  Sustain Effort.  It's like getting or staying healthy, getting through school, raising kids, saving the world.  You have to do it for a long time.   Keep trying even if you screw up.  See above...screwed up the phone bill so trying again. 

79  Reboot. Sometimes try new things or let go of things that don't work for you.  Some people need to have a cash envelope system.  It hasn't been my thing but if I need a reboot, I will try it.  I didn't used to track my budget on paper.  I used to get 200$ cash when I got a paycheck and make that last, or intend to, until the next paycheck.  Groceries and gas came out of it.  This broke down off and on and with my longer commute and the sometimes high gas prices, fuel costs eclipsed food and the rest and so it didn't work well.  I also found that gas was no longer cheaper when I paid cash at most places so the going in and talking to people and maybe buying a pop was no longer something I wanted to do.  You can go back to something you used to do.   I used to keep a paper budget.  Then let it go for a while when the debt was paid off and the savings seemed to be building up fine.  I'd track 1 or 2 months a year and let it go the rest of the time.  When I wanted to up the savings for a new goal, I went back to full time paper budget/spending tracking.

80  Think in Systems.  As above in #76, one thing leads to another.  The housing choice connects to the transportation options. The job choices connect to the income level.  My personality type makes me prone to systems thinking.  I see a whole pattern and the weak points.  This helps with budgeting or being frugal.  It's obvious to me how choices between wants/needs in one area affect others.  Not just in money areas, in all areas I think in systems but those areas aren't relevant here.  Apparently the whole system isn't obvious to lots of people.  I'm forever staring at someone thinking "How did you choose to buy a truck that gets 3 miles to the gallon and NOT realize your fuel costs would go up?"  I would think those two things are clearly linked.  Nope.  I live in the boonies and am constantly amazed that folks buy a place an hour from town on a dirt road, and think they can drive a Prius.  You can OWN one, but it won't drive to/from your new place 6 months of the year due to depth of snow and mud.  I have often failed to care for my health (see above sunburn), but I'm not surprised when that results in healthcare costs or other costs (this time just aloe vera gel).  I see how it happens.  Re that sunburn...sometimes I'm not focused so don't see the systemic issues like wearing a tank top and being in the blazing sun too long.  When I'm focused or thinking through a choice, being conscious, I do see the system.  I'm not pleading perfection here, I'm pleading aspiration.

81  Commitment.  Make a commitment to something. Or a few things.  If committing to frugality for its own sake doesn't appeal, perhaps debt elimination does.  Or avoiding taxes (live on less than the minimum taxable income and you don't have to pay them!  As long as you don't earn more than that or donate to your favorite charities to the point you get your net income below that line).  Whatever.  commit to it and you might end up saving $$ or the planet or whatever it is you want to do.

82  Half-Assery.  If you don't want to commit to something that hard, half-ass it.  This also comes from Jeff Yeager, author of "The Cheapskate Next Door."  If you remember to track your budget half the time, you'll figure out some of the leaks in it or some of the ways you spend money that bring you no life-benefit.  Remember to contribute to savings half the months of the year and you'll save more than if you never do it. 

83  Talk to the Duffers.  Old people have been through some crap in their time.  Talk to them.  Perhaps more importantly, listen to them.  Ask some questions.  I asked my gramma what her family garden looked like growing up and she eventually mailed me a letter with a list of what she remembered her folks growing.  It's pretty interesting.  I took some tips from that like grow what you eat or grow the high dollar items.  I asked her how many clothes people used to have.  LOTS less than most of us do now.  She said most families had 1 or 2 outfits for each kid to wear.  Maybe 3 if they had a "sunday best" option in addition to school and chores/play.  She said her family had lots compared to others partly due to frugality, partly due to income, partly due to her parents being more indulgent and a lot to do with spinster aunts who could sew and got clothes donated from other people that they reworked into clothes for Gram and her siblings. Good to know.  Made me rethink my wardrobe. 

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

No 'Poo in the Time of Corona

Yes, that's right.  I made a bad reference to "Love in the Time of  Cholera."
I'm also covering showering off grid in the summer here.

The 'rona has forced me to buck up my ideas about a shower option at the wee shed.
I'd become gym dependent.   Now the gym is gross.

So, I tried many options, got a new camp-shower bag deal for 15$ because they won't be on sale until fall at the earliest and camp stuff was selling out willy-nilly.  The old camp shower served me for a few years, but had given up the ghost and leaked faster than I could shower.  Certainlky faster than it could heat water.  Black painted jars and other options didn't work out as well.   I ended up buying a new one.

Now I have 5 gallons of HOT water each evening after work and a few gallons of warm water in the alternate options I tried to used.
I found an insulated beverage dispenser at a thrift store, like the "igloo" ones you see on construction sites but smaller.   I fill that with HOT water when I get home.  It holds a gallon or a gallon and a half.  That goes on a step on the folding extension ladder I got at a yard sale a few years back, and an old bedspread is tied around the ladder toward the top to make a 3 sided semi-private (more so after the sun goes down since the highway is east of me...) open to the west, away from the road.  I put a rubber tub in there to stand in so I'm not stepping on thorns or wasps while I try to clean up.

The beverage dispenser holds the water hot enough for a shower until a bit after sundown so that's easier.  I live in a bit of a ravine.  By "sundown" I mean when the sun goes behind the hill, not actual sundown time.  

I can get a decent wash up using this system and a spray bottle which I fill from the warm water.  You don't stand there and meditate in the shower, but you know, you can get clean enough.  

I don't do hair in there because there isn't enough water.  I do sometimes use the water from the camp solar shower thingy.   On the weekend I pick a day and if I'm doing dishes on the rocket stove (more anon) I use the last couple gallons of hot water for the hair washing.   

A big bowl (thrift) is both the dish pan and the hair washing basin.  I rinse it out with the hose before switching to hair so I don't get cabbage bits and grease on my head.  

Fill it with warm or hot water, get the hair wet in there by sticking my head in it, and using a cup to move water over the parts I can't submerge.  Then, scrub the scalp with the baking soda slurry like usual.  Rinse.  Rinse with more warm water.  Rinse with the hose which is right by the shower AND the dishes station.  The hose water is cold but it's been hot weather and I finish with a cold rinse anyway so not a problem.   Then I do the vinegar rinse like always.  Rinse again.  Cold hose rinse.  Done.  It gets cleaner or better rinsed than when I try to do this in a regular house or gym shower stall. 

Takes 20minutes.  Wrap up in a towel and go.  Not really up for doing this first thing in the morning so I've had to let go of the idea of starting the day with totally clean hair.

I'm washing once every week or two since I keep the hair in a braid at all times and actually, 2 or 3 braids during the 'rona times.   It keeps the hair out of my face and keeps it from fighting with the mask.  

This was a boring post but there you go.

Saturday, August 1, 2020

101 Money Saving Ideas: Numbers 60-73

Remember, I'm taking this idea from Centsible Living with Money Mom on the youtubes.   Check out her channel.

Starting to have to get more creative and think more so this is getting a bit more fun.

60  Stay home!  And not just to shop on line.  When I stay home I eat what I have, don't spend on gas, don't spend on anything (usually, unless I have forgotten to pay a bill and get online to avoid a late fee).  Staying home days are also about the only times I don't acquire plastic.  I don't have home mail delivery so no stupid plastic envelope windows acquired at home.  Sometimes people drop stuff off and almost always in a plastic bag...it's like we've forgotten how to live without goddamn plastic bags.  Even me.  Anyway.  More anon.   Stay home.  I like home days.  I get stuff done.  Today is hopefully a home day.  I picked a quart of berries before breakfast because I noticed them while I was letting the chickens out and feeding them.  I grabbed the berry bucket and had at the service berries because they are read...see above "free fruit".  Had some in a pancake...made from what I have on hand.   I hope to stay home tomorrow too!  I took some time off work to run errands, like picking up more fuel for the wee butane stove so I don't have any "musts" in town that can't be done on the phone.

61  Use the phone.  You can still call ahead to the hardwares, groceries, and other businesses to find out if they have what you are looking for what the prices are.  This saves me stops when I am in town.  Sometimes I do want to do a run through on hardware/lumber place to check clearance or the free scraps bins for lumber or chain bits (one store had free chain bits, handy for many things), but it's better for me not to stop at all because they might have something else I want to buy but don't need.  Right now I'm checking jar prices for the mustard business and jar stock.  Everyone seems to be using more jars, or buying more jars.  I don't know if we're all using them.  More of us went back to calling with the corona "stay home" and curbside service available.  It also keeps the number of people down in the stores and this helps with the 'rona distancing and etc that we're trying to do (well, some of us are trying to do).  I've called this year for fence post prices and stock and it saved me a few stops at places that either didn't have the posts I wanted, or were too expensive.  Then of course I found posts at the recycling center but I go through posts and they won't be cheaper next year so I did not return what I had bought.   I have about 10 fence posts for when I'm ready to beef up the garden fence or build the chicken jail.  Good to have on hand rather than need to run to town.,

62  Keep your eyes on the side of the road!  I almost stopped for a bag of cookies yesterday that someone had lost along the road.  It looked like it was closed.  I was on my way somewhere and in a hurry and decided the odds the cookies were NOT breached upon impact was low, and I did not need a bag of cookies when I'm trying to cut down on sugar.  I DO stop for pallets, giant hubcaps off dump trucks (hello new fire ring!...and since a trip to the free metal bin at the recycling center it's also a new BBQ grill because there was a grill grate that fit).  I also have picked up lumber, firewood, and hope to pick up wood chips once my pickup truck unloader gets here.  Free chicken bedding, compost and garden bed base!

63  Buy tools that will help you save money.  Think it through.  Maybe borrow them first or test them.  Read reviews, perhaps watch a few youtubes including those from folks who hated or didn't find the tool useful so you get more than just "this is awesome" vids because those are often paid for or in exchange for a free item.  Recently, and it's not here yet so we'll see if it is worth it, I bought a truck bed unloader.  I'll put a picture up if I like it.  Tools I've already invested in that have saved me money are...dewalt 20v cordless reciprocating saw, drill/driver, and weed whacker.  The saw came in a set that included a circular saw.  I haven't used that one yet.  If it goes a year without use, I might sell it or trade it.  I use the others all the time.  They save me time and make me more likely to DIY things with my scrap lumber and pallets than to go in town and buy something to fill the want/need.  The drill/drive is used pretty much every week to fix something or jerry rig something.  Decent hand tools are useful too!  I haven't had to buy these but others might.  Basic hammer, saw, drill, screw drivers.  Have them.  Also, a good multi-tool with pliers, screw drivers and a blade.  Keep it with you.  You'll end up fixing things or doing things rather than putting them off.

63 Reuse those damn plastic bags.  I haven't bought trash bags...other than contractor bags for house construction trash that needed hauled to a place that requires bags...for myself for YEARS. Reuse those stupid plastic grocery/store bags that you constantly get from stores and from people.  I almost always remember to bring my own bag or ask for paper when I'm in a store, or even just juggle the purchases until I get to the car, but now and then a clerk will have extra-bagged something (like those nails were going to leak into the candy bars?) when I wasn't looking or I'm tired or someone gives me food or something else in a plastic damn bag.  Or my SISTER...you know who you are...uses these as stuffing when she ships a package to me.   So I reuse them.  Hence never purchasing household garbage bags.  I rarely run out and when I do, there's always produce bags for trash...or...get this...paper bags.  OR get THIS...putting trash in a trash can WITHOUT A BAG!!!!!  Epic.  Ground breaking.  NORMAL.  Rinse the can out if it's stinky but since I compost and have chickens there is rarely anything in the trash that will stink.  The compost transport container will reek but not the trash.  I tried braiding the grocery sacks for rugs etc, but they are so flimsy they shred and make micro plastic trash which I find more offensive than macro plastic trash.

64  Shop at product specific stores.  Skip the big box stores.  This save by avoiding distractions like going for tampons and seeing tires on sale.  Or trying acres of free samples and coming home with bags (plastic bags) of pot stickers you didn't plan on buying.  Also saves the "club" fee that some of the big box stores have.  If you need groceries, go to the grocery store.  Preferably a locally owned or smaller chain type.  Or the discount grocery if you have one around.  When I need hardware I go to the hardware store.  I don't leave with eggs.  Of course I check thrift and free first, but when those let me down, real hardware or real groceries.  Or real clothing stores (like discount off brand clothing stores when I need undies and socks, the rest is thrift and hand me downs for the most part).   I haven't been in a walmart since the giant flood in iowa.  Well, maybe I was IN one with a friend who shops there, but I haven't purchased from them for YEARS.   Probably over a decade.  If you skip that one event when the other stores were flooded, it's been multiple decades.  I haven't been in a costco in over a decade.  I do NOT need a pallet of toilet paper.  Or 3lbs of cheesy poofs.  Gross.  By shopping at local/specific product stores I support the community, most pay better than the big box conglomerates (not all, but I do ask), and I know my prices.  Crap isn't always cheaper at the big boxes.  I limit my distractions by not seeing hardware at the grocery store etc.  I also end up with staff who know me and don't mind when I ask annoying bougie questions like "how much will it cost to special order 5lbs of brown mustard seed?" (actual question).  They also know I like the free/cheap/discount hardware and lumber so when I buy 2 2x4s and drive out of the lumber yard with a pickup full of scrap and bent fence posts that were in the free bin, they don't have to take the extra time to double check the load. They know me, they know I didn't hide 3 more bits of good lumber under the crappy scrap (or do they...  they do). 

65  Wait before you buy.  This is in addition to the thinking noted in #26.   I wanted that pick up unloader for a while.  A friend (Hi Cindy) mentioned that it existed.  I thought about it.  Looked it up.  Thought some more.  That was the "thinking" portion.  THEN, with enough thinking, I'd picked a brand and store to get it from (a product specific store that shall remain nameless because a lot of their stuff is so cheap its crap and not the good kind for the garden).  THEN, it wasn't in stock yet so I kept hand-unloading the truck and thought through buying the more expensive brand.  But I kept checking the website and the brick-n-mortar store location when I was close to it and suddenly this last week the item could be ordered again.  So I jumped on that and it's hopefully on the way.  I didn't spend the Bday money while waiting. I didn't crack and buy the more expensive one.  This also works for electronics.  This computer I'm typing on is old and breaks sometimes.  My car and truck are older with high miles.  But I'm waiting before replacing.   Electronics get cheaper with time and more used items show up.  Cars sometime get cheaper, sometimes not.  With waiting I can save up, think things through, and perhaps decide I didn't need it in the first place.  Perhaps I borrowed the tool and it was a one time use or I didn't like it.  Or I rented an option and didn't like it.  Or, rented and loved it and solidified the choice to purchase.  Whatever.  The waiting almost always saves money.  Now and then you spend more, but in the big picture, it saves.

66  Freeware/Shareware is your friend!  At home, on this old grindy laptop, I use "libreoffice" because it works.  It's free to download and is close enough to the big expensive brand
word processing etc software that things translate back and forth well enough.  Not perfect, but good enough. I donate a little back if a freeware/shareware looks like it is particularly well done.  I check with the IT savvy sibling on that.  It also helps delineate the work/home line.  The work from home time during 'rona sucked, but that's OK.  I don't want to make it easy to work at home. I had to pay for therapy for workaholism so let's not support the cross over.  Make work pay for that if they really need me to work at home again.  I used paper and pencils (think of it!  paper and pencils) and got as much done as my coworkers with full spendy home working set ups.  I did crack and get the wifi but next time work will have to pay for that too.  I don't buy egames, emovies, etc.  If it's free, MAYBE but not always.  I have the free version of the anti-virus as well.  Right now it's irritating because I have to tell it to buzz off about 3 times a day, even when I'm not online it tries to tell me I'm being tracked.  But, it's free.   The freeware wordprocessing works for me partly because I'm a fast typist (compared to other modern folks, not 1950s secretaries) and decent editor so when I lose formatting in translating between programs, it doesn't take me long to fix it.  The "per hour" savings is still good.

68 Support local crafts people.  This isn't always cheaper in the moment.  It is a long range community frugal/money saving deal.  It ensures there are local crafts people. E.g. I'm selling at the farmers market in a town by me.  Partly my stuff and partly someone else's stuff.  So, I buy from the other vendors. I've mentioned this before.  Yesterday and last week, I bought a couple of things I didn't specifically NEED but they support a young person who is learning some crafts.  He made tops so is learning wood working/turning.   I bought one. It's pretty and may become a gift (or a plumb bob) but it doesn't spin. It was 3$ so not a big loss.  It supports him as he starts college.  Yesterday I bought a small knife from him.  I don't specifically NEED a knife that size. It was 5$ and he was doing his last trip to the market this year before he starts college.  I want to support his craft.  The knife is made from carbon steel and takes and edge nicely, is a good small size for a gutting knife, and is cute.  I also know it's from recycled materials that he locally sourced. I want to support him and his practices so I got the wee knife.  I've already used it.  I also buy cookies from his little brother.  The kid sells them cheap and is learning to cook and run a business.   It's a buck and it's delicious.  Same with the local bread guy.  I don't technically NEED bread, I could make it or eat something else.  But he's a crafts man with the sourdough so I buy a bit each week to support him and the business.  For my house build, I'm going with a more craftsman type builder who trains up younger staff.  It's not the cheapest but it's more flexible in the style he will do and I meet crafts people who will be around for decades when I need a repair.  They will also mostly stay in the community and we'll have actual builders around.

69  Share your skills.  This saves you and others money.  When I've shared my skills by teaching, people give back and become part of the frugal network around here.  I've taught small batch fermenting, jam making and canning, and vermicomposting.  I'm in touch with students from all these and the local extension agent knows they can call on me for these skills and teaching.  I've also passed on ferments to those who wanted to try them.  I generally get the jar back with something in it or a favor.  I don't do it specifically for that, it's just how humans usually work.  The network is another long range savings even if I spend a few bucks up front.  Right now I'm activating the network to find jars for my mustards.  People have offered jars and creative options when those aren't available.  I also enjoy running in to the kids at schools where I've helped set up vermicomposting.  Someday those kids will grow up to compost or garden. Not all of them, but maybe a few.  That helps the community and in general saves cash for them.

70  Know your limits.  How does that save money?  Well, I KNOW I can't fix the broken dash display on the pick up.  If I try, I will break it more.  Then I will have to get it fixed by paying someone.  I ran into a guy with the same issue and even doing his own work and getting the bits at a scrap yard, he was out 250$.  I'm working around the issue entirely.   I also didn't try to pour my own slab or build my own post and beam structure.  Chicken coop construction...yes.  Human house construction...no.  I DID learn something about plumbing, largely that it is one of my limits, but still saved a bit on that by DIYing with lots of help.  I don't change my oil.  I COULD but I COULD also cross thread the screw every damn time which is a trip to town, spilled oil to clean up, and reliance on 2 running vehicles (so I have one to run to town in while I get the thingy to retap the hole and a bigger plug screw thingy and crap to clean up the oil spill).   Change a headlamp...yes.  Oil...usually NO.   

Other ways to do that.  If you can't cook much, don't think "I'm making pad thai."  Instead think "I have rice, I'm making rice."  Baby steps.  For every day cooking, fixing, making, know your limits.  When you acquire a new skill, incorporate it but maybe don't make a plan based on skills you hope to acquire anymore than you make a budget based on a lottery you intend to win.  I don't buy broken down "project" cars because I can't fix them.  I don't adopt abused dogs for the same reason.  I can't fix that.   Same with my men.  Anyway.  Know your limits.

71  Meal plan.  Meal plan around what you have.  Then make the list for shopping if you MUST.  Then be flexible.  Don't write "oranges" write "fruit."   Last time I ran by a grocery store, cantaloupe was on sale for 18cents/lb while oranges were $1.39/lb.  I have cantaloupes.  Now I have service berries for free so even better.  I have duck and eggs for protein so I do not plan a steak dinner.   I plan and egg or duck dinner.   If you can meal plan entirely by what you have, even better.  This weekend, that's what I'm doing.  Partly because I'm home and partly because it's fun. 

72  Creative opportunities are everywhere.   I don't really get paying to go paint ceramics while drinking wine (oops...first wrote "whine" which is what I'm doing).  I don't like wine.  (I do like whining though.)  I don't need any painted ceramic anything.  I like to do crafts and crafting, but the costs should be minimal or zeroed out.   I also look at creative options elsewhere.  I'd rather try cooking something new or learning more wild plants by walking around with my plant identification books, or picking berries or making boxes for my mustard samples, than paying to paint a mug that will end up at a thrift store in a few weeks (I see them there...along with HUNDREDS of items from "the pampered chef" parties).  Meal planning is an excellent creative outlet.  If you have 3 eggs, 2 cups of raw rice and a salsa packet from that drive-thru frugal mistake, I'm sure you can make something.  Be creative.  If you need a tool, think more about the task that made you think you "need" the tool and figure out if there is a different option based on what you have.  E.g. I needed to move well over a ton of wet straw off the slab for my future home.  I didn't have help or power equipment.  I hauled straw by hand on a pitch fork for a while.  Walking it all the way to the erosion problem I was putting it on (rather than buying erosion fabric or getting straw sprayed on it...creative solution is to use what I have).   That was heavy and time consuming and killing my shoulders.  I have a utility sled and used that for a bit.  It's small and had the strength to haul more once the load was off my shoulders.  Then I remembered tarp technology.  I shoved the straw off the slab onto a scrap of torn tarp about 15' square.  Pulled it with my arms and that was better.  Then I had the real epiphany.  Tie 2 corners of the tarp together to make a loop like the rope on the sled.   I load the tarp up with it pretty well spread out but those corners tied.  Then I step into the loop, pull the knot up to my hip bones, keeping the hauling load on my legs and butt rather than my back.  Grab some of the wadded tarp bit.  Then I walk over the to erosion area, dragging the heavy load with my powerful hind quarters.   Once I have it a bit past where I want it, I walk back over the loaded tarp and continue on in that direction.  The tarp rolls over itself, dumping the load of heavy wet straw while I walk horizontally, not lifting anything.   The chickens head over to check for bugs and scratch it up, throwing it around in a fairly even layer.  Someday I might rake it around but for now the chickens are doing that work and are happy with the job.  It took a while but it was creative, got something done that needed doing, and ended up entertaining my chickens and getting some extra bug protein in their diets.

There is a section in the Tightwad Gazette (a great book for the frugal to have or to get from the library) about being creative.  It is pretty much like what I wrote but with pictures and sketches and briefer.

73  Keep a frugal reference library on hand.  Yes, real books.  They work when the electricity is out. The wifi is out.  The internet is down.  The car is broken.  Your leg is broken.  When whatever keeps you from getting to the library or the internet or calling people for help.  Books are with you.  I have a reference library for gardening, wild plant and mushroom identification, basic home repair, cooking, frugality, beekeeping, a dictionary, home construction, solar power, and DIY projects.  Part of the library is in rotation based on what I find in the free book bin.  Many cookbooks come and go from there.  Basic cookbooks like "More with Less" and a classic Better Homes and Gardens, are permanent.  I find local and church cookbooks amusing so those come and go.  If there is an interesting recipe I tear it out or copy it down and move on.  For home repair those rotate too.  When I find the one I like best, I will keep it.  I get them from the library and the free book bin.  I keep a dictionary because I like language(s) and because I like learning new words.  For 25cents I found a 1906 vest pocket dictionary at a thrift store.  It includes how to give a toast, how to write a thank you letter, how to write a complaint/compliment letter to a business and some other handy outdated tips that I still use.  I'm trying to get a home built hence those books.  They might move on if I find ones I like better.  Same with gardening books. Those were mostly from the free bin and when I find ones I like better, they move on.