Lady Henevere: Year in review

[ORChick]

Personally, I don't see it as an all or nothing situation. My DH and I lived in Silicon Valley for 25 years - he with an excellent, well paying job in the computer industry, and I with a lesser paying, but still very satisfying job at a medical clinic. DH grew up in post war Germany, but he grew up in a large city, in an apartment; the concept of house and land was a foreign one to him (his parents never owned their own home, which is not unusual over there), though we did own a small house with a large-ish lot during most of our time in the Valley. I have always been of the *stock up* mentality, and I like to garden (and we have no children), so over the years I made a veggie garden, I found room in our small house for pantry shelves, I learned to water bath can; I already was a proficient seamstress, and adequate knitter. But DH, while enjoying the fresh veggies, didn't really see the point in any of this - we (that is, he) earned well, and the supermarket was just a few blocks away. But I did what I could with what I had because I enjoyed it!. I didn't do more than my time allowed, and we were never anywhere near Self Sufficiency during that time (still have quite a way to go ), but we were a lot closer than many/most of our neighbours. And eventually our hard work and frugality, paid off, and we retired to the country at a relatively young age.
So, I guess I'm saying that you should do what you are comfortable doing (it sounds like you are already ), but I would suggest fitting in a few SS things - that you enjoy, and that you have time for, and not feel guilty that that you can't Do It All. Maybe learn a new skill, as time allows; or stockpile a bit more in the pantry (bought on sale, not self canned from the garden). (Though, considering where you live, savingdogs may have been right about not saddling yourself with too much *stuff*)
We all get to where we are going by different routes, and we all have different goals. We, here, may all be on the way to *SS*, but your definition and mine and sunsaver's are most likely all different - but none of them are *wrong*.

 

[FarmerJamie]

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[sunsaver]

And also, what about when something happens? What about sudden, unexpected medical costs? What about an injury or illness that keeps you from gardening or mending a solar panel or whatever? I worry about that stuff on the true self-sufficiency path. It's part of what keeps me chained to a desk!

The last time i got sick was about five years ago. I somehow got amebic dysentery. I almost died, again. I went to a local family clinic and paid about $70 for the visit. The medicine to kill the parasites was about $40. So, $110 over a five year period, verses $300 per month for health insurance. Which is the better financial decision?

 

[FarmerJamie]

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[abifae]

Times are unsettling, there is not going to be a one-size-fits-all approach to how we need to live. I feel the struggle in Lady H's comments, I can appreciate it. If I didn't have a wife and family to protect and care for, maybe I would be a little less tied to the corporate world, too.

Definitely! I only have myself and my two cats. It gives me different options than someone with family ties. Heck, it's a big part of why I don't WANT kids clinging to me and taking me down.

The last time i got sick was about five years ago. I somehow got amebic dysentery. I almost died, again. I went to a local family clinic and paid about $70 for the visit. The medicine to kill the parasites was about $40. So, $110 over a five year period, verses $300 per month for health insurance. Which is the better financial decision?

For you, definitely the no insurance.

In CO, you aren't going to get to a local clinic. You can scam out the hospital as indigent, but CO clinics require membership which have over a year waiting list to join, or call between noon and two on Wednesdays, etc. And if you have kids, you get all their nasties and broken bones and etc. In CO Springs, I had pneumonia and my roommate made me go to a clinic. They made a special exception to let me in ONCE and I wasn't allowed in for a follow up because I wasn't a member. So the pneumonia lingered for months. Only one set of antibiotics (no refills without a follow up). Between the clinic, meds, and missed work, I was out about $300 and this helped lead to my having to move out of state because we couldn't afford rent.

This in no way encourages me to have insurance for the same math that you showed. Insurance would cost me that 300 every month, thus leaving me permanently homeless.

But I can understand wanting insurance if you have kids or any health issues.

 

[savingdogs]

My husband has been in very good health all his life, no medical problems whatsoever except if you count his TMJ problem or a stiff spot in his back from an old car accident. You never know when an illness will strike you

Out of the blue one day, he has a seizure on me while we are grocery shopping. Grand Mal, didn't know who he was, I had no idea what was happening, etc., called 911, ambulance ride to hospital, tests, etc......turns out he now has epilepsy. It ended up being a 30,000 dollar day. Thank God we had insurance, although our portion is real high. JUST the one day! and he went home within 24 hours against doctor orders because the bill was mounting.

My own personal health requires daily medications or I am much worse. Without insurance, these medications would cost over 90 dollars a month, IF I could get a doctor to prescribe them. In summer, I take another medication which would cost 90 dollars a month without a prescription. I don't really have the option of being without insurance and neither does Hubby.

 

[sunsaver]

And also, what about when something happens? What about sudden, unexpected medical costs? What about an injury or illness that keeps you from gardening or mending a solar panel or whatever? I worry about that stuff on the true self-sufficiency path. It's part of what keeps me chained to a desk!

The last time i got sick was about five years ago. I somehow got amebic dysentery. I almost died, again. I went to a local family clinic and paid about $70 for the visit. The medicine to kill the parasites was about $40. So, $110 over a five year period, verses $300 per month for health insurance. Which is the better financial decision?

Insurance is about accepting risk. The way is works, if it's done right, half would have been better off with insurance, half without. You played the odds and came out on the positive side. That doesn't necessarily prove your point.

I didn't play the odds, i calculated them. You would be better off putting $300 per month in a health savings account than throwing it away on the insurance scam. The insurance industry is the only reason why medical costs are so high, like $400 for a pillow, $50 for a plastic syringe. The insurance industry is also responsible for pushing through the highly unpopular Obamacare, that requires healthy young people who do not need any health insurance, to BUY health insurance. What a gifthorse for the insurance industry con artists! Did you know that most insurance companies have a policy of never paying out more than 50% of the insured value? They will spend millions in court costs and legal fees to deny you that last $50,000 that you need to replace your home, just to make an example out of you, and put the fear into would be lawsuits. Did you know that BP has spent nearly one billion dollars on TV advertising about how sweet and caring they are, but have spent almost nothing on the victims of the Gulf oil spill. These evil corporations do not have your best interests in mind. They are willing to destroy this entire nation if it will profit them and their Swiss bank accounts. Why does a poor person like me pay 30% income tax, but these billionaires pay only 5% income tax?

 

[FarmerJamie]

ETA: Lady Henevere, I sincerely apologize for the direction this discussion took. Bottom line, its your life, and you are the one in the best position to decide what is best for you and your family. God Bless.

 

[colowyo0809]

Just thought I'd stop by and say Hi! Love the name btw!

I think it is great that you are doing what you can to help yourself and your family without killing yourself in the process. And, to a point I agree about the whole living in LA thing, but at the same time, if people don't try to work to make things better they won't ever get better

Here we plan on buying bulk beans and rice at least once a month if not out of each paycheck. Thankfully my SO works at a natural grocer (and not whole foods or sunflower or any other big name most people would recognize outside of colorado ) so we can get 20 or 30lb bags at great prices. Now, we just need to store it properly so we have it for future use as well as immediate use (we tend to make alot of rice and bean bowls for taking to work. just add an animal protein source and some sour cream cheese and salsa and its good to go! ) I know we aren't anywhere near where I want us to be for self sufficiency but we are trying and we are slowly (painfully) getting there. Like your title says, it's expensive when you are first starting it! especially when you are starting with next to nothing!

Chocolate cream pie to you! (i'd have said kudos, but i never did like kudos )

 

[Wifezilla]

The insurance industry is the only reason why medical costs are so high

BINGO!!!!!!

Here is a real life example. A friend of mine and I had the same medical issue at the same time. She had insurance, I did not. We sat down and did the math afterward. It was THOUSANDS total for her plus she had a $700 copay. I told the doctor when I went in I had no insurance and I would be paying out of pocket. My cost in total? $700. So the actual REAL VALUE of that service was $700. Yet the insurance company managed to bill several thousand dollars and involve lots of middlemen.

If you really want to see medical costs go down, start shoving money in savings and/or dedicate a low interested credit card just for medical and cancel your insurance. The more people that do that, the more prices will drop because then they can only charge what the market will bare.