Frugal living = recession proof

I went from a paycheck away from homeless to upper middle class in less than a decade by living within my means. two properties, one is paid for (by me, not family money, there is no money in my family), several vehicles and a large chunk of cash saved. since I have no consumer debt I'm a biscuit from being rich. I use a cc but its paid at the end of the billing cycle. carrying a cc balance is slow death.

Hmmm... interesting article there OP!
It makes me realize how far out of the 'normal' loop I am! lol

We're just about set up to go Possum here... the step beyond frugal. Check out the link for one story
[link to www.f4.ca]

I've lived this way before and the quality of life can be positively 'gracious' when done right.

I disagree with article below. Spending $2.25 a day on coffee is not frugal at all. Only ate out 37 days ago -- BFD!! $80 on a gym? She could buy a nice workout machine and also exercise outside. Used to pay $197 interest a month? That's nothing. She hasn't cashed in her 401K yet? Kiss it all goodbye. $11,930 ain't much and is soon to be worth nothing. So what does she own besides a mattress? Will she be able to carry it and keep it dry when she becomes homeless?

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I disagree also!......she is screwed...she will lose her job soon like you will..(not many will have jobs soon)..Her 401k is worthless like your is..if you have one...and she can forget about the PHD..it wouldn't do her any good even if she stayed in school...She better find a way to be much more frugal...

Well, if anyone did not know (although it may not be every telephone company unless it is a former Ma Bell) you do not need long distance service. How often do you use it? If I want to use long distance, there is always a long distance carrier you can use and just pay for the long distance call like 10-10-220 and then the long distance number. How many toll-free 800 type numbers are there to make the call free to some company or something - or even now - email? No, that is not frugal because the only thing frugal reminds me of is the frugal gourmet and God knows how I hate that food, because it all seems bad for you.

With that I pay for my slow connection Internet also, well, most of it, and a faster Internet would be nice sometimes, but then, somebody stated lately that the govmit wants now everyone to have fast service free or something like that.

I'll see, but the rest is just living without thinking that I am so important that there is not a ton of ways to live cheaper. I gave up trying to keep up with the Jones a long time ago, and still most of them can not even program a computer. It has become dumb and then you bought into it.

Hype, and that all it was!

Well, I do spend money on other things also, but then, I don't have to either. I still see people complain about everything, but where was there any thought processes going on with some of these people? Out of mind and out of money perhaps!

Do you have anymore garden tips?

I disagree with article below. Spending $2.25 a day on coffee is not frugal at all. Only ate out 37 days ago -- BFD!! $80 on a gym? She could buy a nice workout machine and also exercise outside. Used to pay $197 interest a month? That's nothing. She hasn't cashed in her 401K yet? Kiss it all goodbye. $11,930 ain't much and is soon to be worth nothing. So what does she own besides a mattress? Will she be able to carry it and keep it dry when she becomes homeless?

I disagree with article below. Spending $2.25 a day on coffee is not frugal at all. Only ate out 37 days ago -- BFD!! $80 on a gym? She could buy a nice workout machine and also exercise outside. Used to pay $197 interest a month? That's nothing. She hasn't cashed in her 401K yet? Kiss it all goodbye. $11,930 ain't much and is soon to be worth nothing. So what does she own besides a mattress? Will she be able to carry it and keep it dry when she becomes homeless?

-----------------------------------


I disagree also!......she is screwed...she will lose her job soon like you will..(not many will have jobs soon)..Her 401k is worthless like your is..if you have one...and she can forget about the PHD..it wouldn't do her any good even if she stayed in school...She better find a way to be much more frugal...


Exactly, WTF? I buy a can of Folgers for $6.00, it lasts a month. Could buy generic for 4.00, but I live with coffee snobs. Jogging, crunches, pullups, situps, all free. Who needs a gym? I haven't paid interest to anyone, for anything for 10 years.

It's like I tell my son, "If you don't spend it, you don't have to earn it."

It's like I tell my son, "If you don't spend it, you don't have to earn it."




When I was a child my first "piggy bank" was actually a
cardboard house bank [given as a token at an oil show.]
On the side of the house bank it said:

" A penny saved is a penny earned. "


~

True

It's like I tell my son, "If you don't spend it, you don't have to earn it."




When I was a child my first "piggy bank" was actually a
cardboard house bank [given as a token at an oil show.]
On the side of the house bank it said:

" A penny saved is a penny earned. "


~

True

NOT TRUE anymore!! Every time the printing presses crank out USDs, the ones in your pocket lose value.

I think frugal will become the new cool.




I remember one guy on a frugal living forum say
that his favorite entertainment was to see how
cheap... er.. frugal... he could live.

I am beginning to understand what he meant...
as I now make special efforts to get bargains
[like using coupons for grocery items already
on sale, etc.] and find it quite fun.


~

yep bisciuts gravy fried potates .pinto beans ham seasononing withh onion green beans cornbread and fried potatoes ..yum macroonnie amd tomatoers with a few tableapoons of bacon grease for seasoning salt pepper..
.

Exactly, WTF? I buy a can of Folgers for $6.00, it lasts a month. Could buy generic for 4.00, but I live with coffee snobs. Jogging, crunches, pullups, situps, all free. Who needs a gym? I haven't paid interest to anyone, for anything for 10 years.

As far as fertilizer there are all sorts of choices out there to convince everyone and get fear into them for a chemical. No chemical ever assisted anyone like a fish head or a seaweed liquid. Fish heads might attract cats and dogs so we find that unruly. Seaweed has a bit of price tag at first but that goes far enough if diluted with compost tea. Sometime purchasing seaweed liquid gets not possible "just not affordable this month" for on a budget. That's fine since your garden needs & craves either ruminant manure or a compost. Turn those things into a tea by soaking a burlap bag or pillow case. Soak big as your garden appears to need: a cup full for each veggie. Soak either for for 24 hrs.