Living on Less

Theres this article to read on the website below that a man has listed 75 ways to live on less.Some I do,,some I am going to do,,some are just a few things I wont do,,(such as move in with some one to be their caretaker in exchange for living cost)That might work well for others,,just not us.
What caught my attention was,,get ready for this.....he ,his wife,,and a daughter lived on 4,300.00 FOR THE YEAR.

Can you believe that.Without a mortgage payment,,and growing your food I can see how..really has me thinking on our way of life when we buy land in the future. idea

http://www.motherearthnews.com/modern-Homesteading/2007-10-01/Live-on-Less.aspx

Good article. I didn't know timers used so much energy. Dh and I are looking to buy a new washer/dryer. We want a front load washer. We were told that the new washers have a silver bar in them that will disenfect and clean allergens out of the material using cold water. We haven't decided on the brand we want to buy.

We have a barter club in our area. It's interesting the way it works. A lot of businesses use it.

Interesting site....many of the things I knew but did not really practice, so will work on some of them....unplugging many energy guzzling items certainly can be done...I already do dumpster scavenging because I live in an area with lots of apartments but I was reminded about living near a college..if you do, it is amazing what college students will throw away when they are ready to move....
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Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~ Mother Teresa

we barter all the time here Frank recently did a survery for man who works on cars .. he does work on the cars and trucks for us he
we work out the terms our butcher takes 6 cows he brings us 5 he keeps one actually he sold 4 of them i have one out in the freezer .. we cut hay for the people for the hay .. our dentist does work for firewood for his parents we do alot for them he works on the kids teeth . Bartering is a way of life here
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

I've read this before Donna but thanks for the reminder by posting the link. Many of these we already implement.

Regarding #26 (electrical appliances), there was an article on a nightly home t.v. show here last night about a new gadget on the market which is a meter to read every electrical appliance in your home. It tells you how much power each item is using, they surveyed one viewers home and her old air-con cost her $150 for 3 months and her computer equipment cost her $95 annually just sitting in stand-by mode Shocked

The meter device cost approx. $50, the first on the market here so they may get cheaper, a great idea though, easy to carry out your own home audit.
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~ LESS IS MORE ~

I enjoyed reading this article and have bookmarked some sites listed on it to check out further
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Vicki

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When I told Todd about the Caretaker Gazzette, he was all for it!
We would like to pay off our debts, build a little nest egg, and travel all over the place taking care of people's homes all over the country and be here in our house for the summers to catch up with family.

There was one place on the Caretaker Gazzette in Alaska. He mentioned how much he'd like to stay in Alaska for a couple of months out of the year to "work" at a campsite. We loved Alaska when we went on our honeymoon.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2020

That would be neat...but hard to do with a family..

I agree Kim . but I understand M and Todd , when we were first married we shut the house and I followed Frank to Florida for three months while he did a survey and the boys and I went to Va when he was there for 6 months , now it impossible
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Yes, Todd and I were saying that it would be difficult even with a piggy. But if there's a will, there's a way! :-)
We have some time to pay off our debts and then think about it seriously. We talked more about it today while he had a "free day" from work. The poor guy has done nothing but plow the driveway and the front porch most of the day! But our conversation today helped me realize that he's on board with me to pay off our debts! That is a really good feeling.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

M, I think it's so great that you both support each other in your frugality and goals.
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~ LESS IS MORE ~

I think some places might let you take family,,but I do agree with Kim as far as it being harder with kids though.I think kids need a stable home base rather than traveling,,but with the way times are,,you have to do what is necessary.For M and Todd,,no kids but the piggy,,it just might be what they are looking for.Ya never know till you try I guess.