liz stevens
Lovin' The Homestead
Ideas and products to move towards a more self-sufficient lifestyle
If you are thinking or planning on moving toward a simpler lifestyle, living self-sufficient doesnt mean you have to escape to the hills to homestead in a log cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing. Even city dwellers can move to a more back to basics self-sufficient life style. If you have a yard or even a small patch of acreage, beating the game of commercialized economics can actually be fun. Those that do move toward a self-sustaining lifestyle often keep professional skills to work from home of develop products or services they can still supplement an income on. Many form home based cottage businesses, or simply sell excess items they grow or produce from the homestead.
Work towards becoming debt free. Realize every ad is targeted at yourself satisfaction envy, and or to guilt you into buying something, therefore not buying the most expensive item when it is not truly needed or the latest gadget is the simplest way to work towards becoming debt free. Most advertising tries to make you feel buying on terms with no money down is really a good deal. There is plenty of information on reducing debt and credit card purchases, so I will not spend a great amount of time on how to become debt free. Just keep in mind before you make a large purchase on credit what would happen if you should lose your job or become disabled? Driving a 5- 10 year old low mileage car that is paid off and having the principal paid down on your mortgage, with no credit card debt may not look like high society, but it is a comfortable landing pad. Besides with this economy keeping a low profile is not bad either. All those fancy homes, expensive cars, and jewelry just says come on and rob me, I have money. Sure you may have to put a $1,000 repair in the old car, but that is just 3 car payments out of 60 you would have paid on a new car. Most cars today if taken care of, will last well over 100K miles, with little repairs needed.
Take care of your health; there is not a better investment towards retirement than keeping good health. You can save and prepare well for retirement but a major medical occurrence even with the best insurance over time can drain life savings, just through co-pays and out of pocket expenses. The lack of physical activity can severely hamper anyone who is trying to become self-sufficient. A spouse going into long term care can expect to pay $50,000 per year until the savings are depleted to around $2500, before they can qualify for Medicaid. Medicare will only pay up to 100 days, but with the focus on saving Medicare dollars most only stay 30 days in a rehab center before going home, or switching to private pay in long term care. Medicare is likely to be even less of a benefit in the coming years. Going in and out of hospitals can bring on new infections that are obtained from what are called the new Super Bugs. Running to the doctor for antibiotics every time you have a sore throat or sniffle only creates more resistant Super Bugs. Some of these bugs just dont go away even after multiple doses of antibiotics. There are commercialized spending traps in organics and other supplement businesses as well, but sometimes just the old time remedies work when nothing else will. Just study the benefits on organic apple cider vinegar. It is the only thing I have found to treat a chronic bladder infection. It is rather inexpensive compared to all the doctor visits and doses of antibiotics; it has many other health benefits as well. Going back to basics and living a more self-sufficient, self-sustaining lifestyle can actually force you to exercise, and that is really a good thing. The best part is you dont have to invest in an expensive health club membership.
Shop the thrift stores, yes they carry the trendy clothing as well, occasionally it will even still have the price tags on it. The best thrift stores to shop are in the upscale neighborhoods, where high society, most living beyond their means doesnt think anything of having to stock up the closet with new items, and donate the little worn items to a thrift store like Good Will. If you have growing kids, the thrift stores can save you a lot of money, just on the few months of clothing before they need the next size. If not a thrift store then look to the discount stores and closeout sales.
Shop wisely for groceries carry a small calculator and compare package and unit size. Bigger and bulk may not always be a good deal, but try and look for items on sale. There are a lot of smoke and mirrors in the grocery business. Bulk box stores may not always be the best savings. Planning menus ahead with a focused shopping list and coupons in hand can save you big dollars. Try to leave the kids out of the shopping trips, and dont let the spouse come if they like the impulse buying traps at the end of the isles. Invest in a freezer and think long range in your menu planning, look for sales on meat purchases. A large pork loin or large shoulder cut will be priced per pound lower than individual cuts, especially when it is on sale; generally the store will custom cut it into the sections you want for free. Look at purchasing bulk hamburger and having it packaged as you will use it. This will save you in wa
If you are thinking or planning on moving toward a simpler lifestyle, living self-sufficient doesnt mean you have to escape to the hills to homestead in a log cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing. Even city dwellers can move to a more back to basics self-sufficient life style. If you have a yard or even a small patch of acreage, beating the game of commercialized economics can actually be fun. Those that do move toward a self-sustaining lifestyle often keep professional skills to work from home of develop products or services they can still supplement an income on. Many form home based cottage businesses, or simply sell excess items they grow or produce from the homestead.
Work towards becoming debt free. Realize every ad is targeted at yourself satisfaction envy, and or to guilt you into buying something, therefore not buying the most expensive item when it is not truly needed or the latest gadget is the simplest way to work towards becoming debt free. Most advertising tries to make you feel buying on terms with no money down is really a good deal. There is plenty of information on reducing debt and credit card purchases, so I will not spend a great amount of time on how to become debt free. Just keep in mind before you make a large purchase on credit what would happen if you should lose your job or become disabled? Driving a 5- 10 year old low mileage car that is paid off and having the principal paid down on your mortgage, with no credit card debt may not look like high society, but it is a comfortable landing pad. Besides with this economy keeping a low profile is not bad either. All those fancy homes, expensive cars, and jewelry just says come on and rob me, I have money. Sure you may have to put a $1,000 repair in the old car, but that is just 3 car payments out of 60 you would have paid on a new car. Most cars today if taken care of, will last well over 100K miles, with little repairs needed.
Take care of your health; there is not a better investment towards retirement than keeping good health. You can save and prepare well for retirement but a major medical occurrence even with the best insurance over time can drain life savings, just through co-pays and out of pocket expenses. The lack of physical activity can severely hamper anyone who is trying to become self-sufficient. A spouse going into long term care can expect to pay $50,000 per year until the savings are depleted to around $2500, before they can qualify for Medicaid. Medicare will only pay up to 100 days, but with the focus on saving Medicare dollars most only stay 30 days in a rehab center before going home, or switching to private pay in long term care. Medicare is likely to be even less of a benefit in the coming years. Going in and out of hospitals can bring on new infections that are obtained from what are called the new Super Bugs. Running to the doctor for antibiotics every time you have a sore throat or sniffle only creates more resistant Super Bugs. Some of these bugs just dont go away even after multiple doses of antibiotics. There are commercialized spending traps in organics and other supplement businesses as well, but sometimes just the old time remedies work when nothing else will. Just study the benefits on organic apple cider vinegar. It is the only thing I have found to treat a chronic bladder infection. It is rather inexpensive compared to all the doctor visits and doses of antibiotics; it has many other health benefits as well. Going back to basics and living a more self-sufficient, self-sustaining lifestyle can actually force you to exercise, and that is really a good thing. The best part is you dont have to invest in an expensive health club membership.
Shop the thrift stores, yes they carry the trendy clothing as well, occasionally it will even still have the price tags on it. The best thrift stores to shop are in the upscale neighborhoods, where high society, most living beyond their means doesnt think anything of having to stock up the closet with new items, and donate the little worn items to a thrift store like Good Will. If you have growing kids, the thrift stores can save you a lot of money, just on the few months of clothing before they need the next size. If not a thrift store then look to the discount stores and closeout sales.
Shop wisely for groceries carry a small calculator and compare package and unit size. Bigger and bulk may not always be a good deal, but try and look for items on sale. There are a lot of smoke and mirrors in the grocery business. Bulk box stores may not always be the best savings. Planning menus ahead with a focused shopping list and coupons in hand can save you big dollars. Try to leave the kids out of the shopping trips, and dont let the spouse come if they like the impulse buying traps at the end of the isles. Invest in a freezer and think long range in your menu planning, look for sales on meat purchases. A large pork loin or large shoulder cut will be priced per pound lower than individual cuts, especially when it is on sale; generally the store will custom cut it into the sections you want for free. Look at purchasing bulk hamburger and having it packaged as you will use it. This will save you in wa
