I love it when real, actual news makes its way onto news programs, instead of the typical, mindless fluff we normally see.
This weekend, both the Early Show and the Today Show ran stories on the reports from the Ag Department that we're going to see food prices go through the roof in the very near future. Some parts of the articles I found insulting, like the idea that staying home to eat is a hardship, but all in all, I think they did a good job presenting a scary topic, front and center, to an audience who may not have realized there was a problem .
But WE knew there was a problem, didn't we?
Last year, we knew there was a problem.
And the year before that.
When the media spoke of record flooding in one breath and record harvests in the next breath, we knew there was a problem.
When Russia stopped exporting wheat...
When fungi and disease destroyed crops...
When drought destroyed crops...we knew THEN what was coming.
Unfortunately smoke-and-mirrors and prestidigitation are incredibly efftective methods to keep us distracted from what is really going on in the world. They keep our eyes diverted with nonsense while the world unravels behind the velvet curtains.
But now it's all coming out and it's on the front page.
I don't want to sound alarmist, but it's time to really dig down deep and get stocked up on essentials. Wheat, flour, corn, cornmeal, cooking oil and all your favorite products that are made from these basics. Consider putting in a garden if you haven't already. Learn how to can and preserve food if you don't know how. Find some local sources of fruits, veg, dairy and meat, sources that won't be impacted quite as readily as the major suppliers. A little planning now may save you a lot of money in the long run.
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label depression. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Put Up or Shut Up
So, y'all noticing food prices?
In our area, milk is up $.40/gallon.
Bread is up $.50/loaf.
Don't get me started on beef prices. {{{{shudders}}}}
Reports are that Walmart raised their prices across the board last month, an average of about 6%, and I can see it. And it's not just Walmart. With few exceptions, gas being the major one, we're seeing prices rise everywhere. Combined with the prices of heating oil and goods like clothing, it's one of those scary 'perfect storm' scenarios.
::~::Inflation, enter stage right::~::
The way I see it, you have 2 choices: put up or shut up.
If you haven't already, you can start putting up food. Homegrown, local, whatever. Can it. Freeze it. Dry it. Store it. Root-cellar it. Ferment it. Do something! Anything!
Right now, gardens, farm stands and orchards are somewhere near the height of their glory. Tomato patches are brimming with ripe fruit. Record corn crops. Ohio apple orchards are reporting early harvests due to the July/August heat and rain. Now is the time to take action.
Make some tomato juice.
Can beets.
Freeze corn.
Dry apples.
Can pears.
Just do something.
Of course, you have one other option: do nothing. Just relax and sit back and watch as food prices continue to tick upwards. And if you choose to be the grasshopper instead of the ant, that's fine. But do me a favor; don't complain about it this winter if prices have gone through the roof and you have to choose between food and paying the electric bill.
Those are your choices: put up or shut up.
Myself, I choose to put up.
What's your choice?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Watcha Gonna Tell The Kids?
It's been a while since I've posted on emergency preparedness; not because I've given up prepping, but because my spiritual compass has changed a good deal in recent months. So while I've been tossing around ideas for posts, I read a comment on a friend's blog that lead me to think about the current financial/moral/social/governmental state of the world in slightly different terms. Simply put: If the worst happens and this downturn becomes an all-out collapse, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no food in the cupboards because you never bothered to put away some canned vegetables or dried beans, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no clothes to be worn because you never learned how to sew or mend, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no drinking water because the power is out and you didn't think water storage was important, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no fresh meat to eat because the thought of hunting Bambi upsets your modern sensibilities, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When the LocalMart shelves are bare of necessities because the 'just in time' delivery system failed miserably, watcha gonna tell the kids?
Some of those questions sound harsh, but really, what would you say? What possible answer could you offer that would both ease your conscience AND make them forget their grumbly bellies or cold feet? When they look at you hungry, thirsty, cold, will you simply point to the big screen TV or the swanky new SUV parked in the driveway and tell them you had other priorities? When the coverage of the Greek meltdown came on the news, did you watch and think about it, or simply turn the channel? We're no different than the Greeks, and the uprising, riots, martial law they're experiencing could just as easily be our future. Next week, it may be us that you're watching on that 72 inch flat screen.
I hope this post isn't putting you on the defensive, but the offensive. Things are weird out there, friends and no matter how the media spins the news, no matter how the various czars sugar-coat their reports, joblessness is joblessness. Hunger is hunger. Homelessness is homelessness. And if you have children, *especially* if you have children, it's your responsibility to see them through these strange days. Hoping for an upturn accomplishes nothing, but growing food, storing water and learning practical skills can make all the difference. Ask a neighbor who lived through the 1st Depression. Ask a Katrina survivor. Ask a Gulf Coast resident. Ask a survivor from any of a number of genocides. Planning makes all the difference, sometimes between life and death.
This (Choose one-recession, slump, downturn) is hardly over and may very likely get worse before it gets better, so what are you waiting for? The bottom to drop out? Do what Ma Ingalls would do: prep that pantry, load up that larder and get ready. It takes a little time, a little money and a little effort, but you'll find great comfort in knowing watcha gonna tell the kids if the worst comes to pass.
When there's no food in the cupboards because you never bothered to put away some canned vegetables or dried beans, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no clothes to be worn because you never learned how to sew or mend, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no drinking water because the power is out and you didn't think water storage was important, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When there's no fresh meat to eat because the thought of hunting Bambi upsets your modern sensibilities, watcha gonna tell the kids?
When the LocalMart shelves are bare of necessities because the 'just in time' delivery system failed miserably, watcha gonna tell the kids?
Some of those questions sound harsh, but really, what would you say? What possible answer could you offer that would both ease your conscience AND make them forget their grumbly bellies or cold feet? When they look at you hungry, thirsty, cold, will you simply point to the big screen TV or the swanky new SUV parked in the driveway and tell them you had other priorities? When the coverage of the Greek meltdown came on the news, did you watch and think about it, or simply turn the channel? We're no different than the Greeks, and the uprising, riots, martial law they're experiencing could just as easily be our future. Next week, it may be us that you're watching on that 72 inch flat screen.
I hope this post isn't putting you on the defensive, but the offensive. Things are weird out there, friends and no matter how the media spins the news, no matter how the various czars sugar-coat their reports, joblessness is joblessness. Hunger is hunger. Homelessness is homelessness. And if you have children, *especially* if you have children, it's your responsibility to see them through these strange days. Hoping for an upturn accomplishes nothing, but growing food, storing water and learning practical skills can make all the difference. Ask a neighbor who lived through the 1st Depression. Ask a Katrina survivor. Ask a Gulf Coast resident. Ask a survivor from any of a number of genocides. Planning makes all the difference, sometimes between life and death.
This (Choose one-recession, slump, downturn) is hardly over and may very likely get worse before it gets better, so what are you waiting for? The bottom to drop out? Do what Ma Ingalls would do: prep that pantry, load up that larder and get ready. It takes a little time, a little money and a little effort, but you'll find great comfort in knowing watcha gonna tell the kids if the worst comes to pass.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Praising and Prepping!
Have I told you lately how much I love the church my family attends? I love it. I never thought I'd enjoy a mega-church (if this one qualifies as a mega-church), but now that I've figured out the ins and outs of First Christian, I love it. This has been an important year for me, spiritually. I came home to God after a long hiatus and am seeing things in a whole new light. Scriptures make more sense to me, and thanks to a funny pastor, the sermons are enjoyable and enlightening. That's not something I could say about the small congregation I used to attend.
Anyway, Craig preached a moving sermon today on moments that sort of freeze time; moments that are history-making, whether you realize it or not. And the birth of Jesus was the biggest of those moments. He really challenged us to use our imaginations and think about what it must have been like that night, when an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing God was born into a helpless, shivering baby on the floor of a stable.
Imagine the God that parted the seas, calmed the storms, brought the plagues wrapped in a scratchy blanket and laying in a feed trough.
Imagine that for an instant the doors between Heaven and Earth were torn open and God stepped through them, surrounded by the Heavenly Host.
Imagine the Angels crowding through those doors to see the miracle happen and then unable to contain themselves, singing to humble shepherds in the fields.
Imagine the thoughts going through the minds of the shepherds! "After waiting for thousands of years, He has arrived!"
I can't even begin to say it as eloquently as Craig did.
I was too busy crying to hear him LOL.
Now onto the prepping! I read a frightening article this afternoon about projected food shortages in 2010. Yes, we've all heard about the record-breaking crop harvests. But riddle me this Batman, how can it be a record-breaking year when half of the 'Bread Basket' states have been declared disaster areas? It's only a record-breaking harvest if you can get the harvest out of the field right? For instance, soy bean harvests. The first pic shows the major soy-producing counties, based on 2008 figures. The second pic shows counties declared a disaster area in 2009.
Notice anything? There's been an awful lot of disasters declared in America's soy producing areas. But everyone is still screaming 'record crops!' Even locally, we're hearing it. The farmer took a record corn harvest from the fields behind our house, but what they're not mentioning is that the corn is molding from the record cold and rainfall.
I don't know what it all means. I'm pretty certain someone is telling half-truths though. Either way, we're hedging our bet here at the Run. We'll be stocking up on essential items like wheat, corn, sugar, rice and dairy, just in case there IS a shortage and prices skyrocket. Having a full pantry is such a good defense against inflation...stock up while it's cheap, and use it when the prices go through the roof. So, we put together a decent-sized order through Emergency Essentials for grains and dairy, and I think I'm going to try PrepareCo. for dry corn and possibly a few other items. If PrepareCo. turns out to be a pleasant shopping experience, I'll be sure to post on it. It's always good to know who you can trust and who you should avoid, yes?
If you haven't started to stock up, why wait? Just one extra bag of rice, beans, pasta or sugar and you're already started! Buy what you use, store what you buy, eat what you store. How easy is that?
Next up: Seed orders for 2010!
Best wishes from the Run.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
You Just Never Know
Mara and I take stock-up trips once or twice a month, usually to Walmart, but sometimes to Aldi's or even Krogers if there is a good sale. This morning, on our bimonthly trip, our cart looked decidedly strange: lots of beans, rice, pasta, pickling salt and drink mixes. Not your typical, day-before-a-holiday shopping cart. We were piling in bags of beans when an older couple stopped and commented that it looked like I was making Soup-mix Jars for holiday presents.
"Um, no", says I. "I think the dollar is going to collapse and I have a habit of enjoying meals everyday."
After a second or two of awkward silence, they started in on how scary things are and what they're doing to prepare for the worst. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was looking into the eyes of 70-year-old closet preppers! She told me how they canned and dried their garden produce, including 170 qts of beans this year and they were planning on growing more green, leafy veggies next year, for a better variety of preserved food. She asked what my plan was for heating and cooking. I told her the good places to find 5 gallon buckets on the cheap. She told me how she and her husband raised 5 kids on a farm, and how they survived WWII rationing.
We ended up enjoying a pleasant 20 minute conversation in the Walmart bean aisle, all because of an off-handed comment. You just never know what will come up when you talk to a stranger. As we were leaving, Mara asked if she was my 'grandmutter', and the old woman answered that she started out a stranger but was leaving a friend. Sigh. There is hope for the world!
"Um, no", says I. "I think the dollar is going to collapse and I have a habit of enjoying meals everyday."
After a second or two of awkward silence, they started in on how scary things are and what they're doing to prepare for the worst. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was looking into the eyes of 70-year-old closet preppers! She told me how they canned and dried their garden produce, including 170 qts of beans this year and they were planning on growing more green, leafy veggies next year, for a better variety of preserved food. She asked what my plan was for heating and cooking. I told her the good places to find 5 gallon buckets on the cheap. She told me how she and her husband raised 5 kids on a farm, and how they survived WWII rationing.
We ended up enjoying a pleasant 20 minute conversation in the Walmart bean aisle, all because of an off-handed comment. You just never know what will come up when you talk to a stranger. As we were leaving, Mara asked if she was my 'grandmutter', and the old woman answered that she started out a stranger but was leaving a friend. Sigh. There is hope for the world!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Preparing For The Worst
"Are you preparing?"
That's the question I've been asking all my friends lately and in general, one of two things happen: they either appreciate my genuine concern and give it thought, or they run away and choose to ignore the writing on the wall.
We're in a scary spot right now: my generation is seeing and experiencing times that are unimaginable to anyone who didn't live through the Depression. And friends, everything that I'm reading indicates that this is going to be one rough winter. There are so many shoes about to drop, and if they do, it's going to be a rough ride.
What am I reading? News reports, financial reports, stock speculation, crop reports, blogs.
What are they saying? They're saying we're in a heap of trouble:
Expect hyper-inflation this winter. Translation-"Buy milk now while you can afford it because it may become a luxury."
Expect food shortages. There are nasty blights/fungi ruining crops around the world, so there's a distinct possibility that cocoa, tomatoes and wheat will be in short supply.
Expect a pandemic. It's saying something when the WHO rewords their definition of pandemic, doesn't it? And while it's just me, I won't be lining my kids up for experimental swine flu vaccines. We'll do what we can to boost our immunity, wash hands and stock up on tissues.
Expect skyrocketing energy prices. We've been lulled into a false sense of security with cheaper gas, but don't depend on it. Oil barons have to eat too, so count on higher gas, oil, electric, fuel oil costs.
I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but it just seems to me like we have a number of scary issues sort of looming right over top our heads and the Average Joe doesn't know it. If it were ONLY fuel prices or ONLY wheat shortages, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Can you imagine what will happen if all these things come to pass, fall into place? I can picture hunger, cold, civil unrest. And it scares the crap out of me.
So what's a girl to do? Prepare. Expect the worst, hope for the best and be prepared for either. Buy that extra bag of flour, a couple pounds of pasta or can some extra beans. If you store what you use normally, it's a good purchase and it won't go to waste. Get used to the idea of a cooler house in winter, take some vitamins and get your immune system in shape. Get ready, because it looks like this winter is going to be a doozy.
That's the question I've been asking all my friends lately and in general, one of two things happen: they either appreciate my genuine concern and give it thought, or they run away and choose to ignore the writing on the wall.
We're in a scary spot right now: my generation is seeing and experiencing times that are unimaginable to anyone who didn't live through the Depression. And friends, everything that I'm reading indicates that this is going to be one rough winter. There are so many shoes about to drop, and if they do, it's going to be a rough ride.
What am I reading? News reports, financial reports, stock speculation, crop reports, blogs.
What are they saying? They're saying we're in a heap of trouble:
Expect hyper-inflation this winter. Translation-"Buy milk now while you can afford it because it may become a luxury."
Expect food shortages. There are nasty blights/fungi ruining crops around the world, so there's a distinct possibility that cocoa, tomatoes and wheat will be in short supply.
Expect a pandemic. It's saying something when the WHO rewords their definition of pandemic, doesn't it? And while it's just me, I won't be lining my kids up for experimental swine flu vaccines. We'll do what we can to boost our immunity, wash hands and stock up on tissues.
Expect skyrocketing energy prices. We've been lulled into a false sense of security with cheaper gas, but don't depend on it. Oil barons have to eat too, so count on higher gas, oil, electric, fuel oil costs.
I don't want to sound like an alarmist, but it just seems to me like we have a number of scary issues sort of looming right over top our heads and the Average Joe doesn't know it. If it were ONLY fuel prices or ONLY wheat shortages, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Can you imagine what will happen if all these things come to pass, fall into place? I can picture hunger, cold, civil unrest. And it scares the crap out of me.
So what's a girl to do? Prepare. Expect the worst, hope for the best and be prepared for either. Buy that extra bag of flour, a couple pounds of pasta or can some extra beans. If you store what you use normally, it's a good purchase and it won't go to waste. Get used to the idea of a cooler house in winter, take some vitamins and get your immune system in shape. Get ready, because it looks like this winter is going to be a doozy.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
End Of The World
Does anyone else think the end of the world is nigh??? Seriously. I don't know if it's a Biblical end of the world, or just the end of the world as America knows it, but there are some things I'm seeing that make me very nervous. It seems like one thing after another, some of them plague related, some of them economic, some of them political, some of them moral. Right now, as I see it:
-North Korea is going nuclear
-there's a pending swine flu epidemic
-earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc.
-the world economy is collapsing
-the whole Miss USA/gay marriage thing
Seriously, is anyone else considering a bunker? A really cozy, really comfortable well-stocked bunker. In the back yard, but I'm not telling you where exactly.
I told Jeff this weekend that I have a real gnawing desire to get my family into a church. That it's of dire importance to get back to faith. There's one not too far from here, a larger church with an excellent program for kids and families that I think I'm really interested in. My best friend in high school grew up in said church and I think that most of her family still attend. They're non-denominational, but they practice most of the same beliefs that I was raised on as a Baptist. I even picked up a couple of skirts this weekend in anticipation of attending. Plus, I like new clothes : ) Jeff seemed receptive to the idea and I know the kids would enjoy it...they need more involvement and I think this church would be a great place for them. So who knows? Maybe next week I'll have a post for you about our first family church outing!!!
-North Korea is going nuclear
-there's a pending swine flu epidemic
-earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc.
-the world economy is collapsing
-the whole Miss USA/gay marriage thing
Seriously, is anyone else considering a bunker? A really cozy, really comfortable well-stocked bunker. In the back yard, but I'm not telling you where exactly.
I told Jeff this weekend that I have a real gnawing desire to get my family into a church. That it's of dire importance to get back to faith. There's one not too far from here, a larger church with an excellent program for kids and families that I think I'm really interested in. My best friend in high school grew up in said church and I think that most of her family still attend. They're non-denominational, but they practice most of the same beliefs that I was raised on as a Baptist. I even picked up a couple of skirts this weekend in anticipation of attending. Plus, I like new clothes : ) Jeff seemed receptive to the idea and I know the kids would enjoy it...they need more involvement and I think this church would be a great place for them. So who knows? Maybe next week I'll have a post for you about our first family church outing!!!
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Things We've Handed Down
This morning, whilst in the garden, tilling and planting, I had 2 people on my mind...Isaac and Bernie Madoff. I know. Weird combination. It's usually Isaac and George Clooney...(and before you say anything, Jeff is completely aware of my obsession.) But on this particular morning, as I watched Isaac carefully planting his corn seeds, I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking and learning. I explained to him the seeds should be "this far apart", using his hand as a template. He'd bend down, use his hand with outstretched fingers as a guide and gently plant the corn seeds. Right now, he's learning to feed himself, his children and hopefully his children's children. The knowledge he's gaining right now will hopefully be handed down like an heirloom...something cherished passed from generation to generation. Lovingly appreciated with fond memories attached.
So where does Bernie Madoff come into the picture? While watching Isaac and pondering our current fiscal state of emergency, I had to wonder what those responsible for it where taught. Was Little Bernie ever lead into a garden and taught to sow seed? Did his daddy show him how to plant onion sets, pointy side up, so they grow tall and green? Did his mommy say "Okay Little Bernie, you eat those oats all gone so that you can grow up big and strong"? Did she tell him to go to school and listen to everything his teacher said? Did she teach him to treat smaller children kindly, to not waste food, to tell the truth? Or was his home one of raw, selfish ambition? Was he taught to get in there, claw his way to the top and not take "NO" for an answer? Was he hugged, nurtured, supported? Somewhere something went very wrong, to say the least.
In my mind's eye, I can see Isaac being involved in either agriculture or construction. And either one would make me proud. I don't care if he grows up to be a lawyer, a doctor, a politician. In fact, I'd be more proud of him if he didn't. But no matter what happens, I hope he remembers the lessons we've taught him in his 4 short years. That being nice is important. That big kids should help kids that are smaller. That you should always hold hands when you go out into the world. And that nothing tastes better on a hot August night than sweet corn and a freshly sliced tomato, gently planted and tenderly nurtured by little hands. These are the legacies and heirlooms that are most important to me. Now the question is, what are you handing down to your children?
So where does Bernie Madoff come into the picture? While watching Isaac and pondering our current fiscal state of emergency, I had to wonder what those responsible for it where taught. Was Little Bernie ever lead into a garden and taught to sow seed? Did his daddy show him how to plant onion sets, pointy side up, so they grow tall and green? Did his mommy say "Okay Little Bernie, you eat those oats all gone so that you can grow up big and strong"? Did she tell him to go to school and listen to everything his teacher said? Did she teach him to treat smaller children kindly, to not waste food, to tell the truth? Or was his home one of raw, selfish ambition? Was he taught to get in there, claw his way to the top and not take "NO" for an answer? Was he hugged, nurtured, supported? Somewhere something went very wrong, to say the least.
In my mind's eye, I can see Isaac being involved in either agriculture or construction. And either one would make me proud. I don't care if he grows up to be a lawyer, a doctor, a politician. In fact, I'd be more proud of him if he didn't. But no matter what happens, I hope he remembers the lessons we've taught him in his 4 short years. That being nice is important. That big kids should help kids that are smaller. That you should always hold hands when you go out into the world. And that nothing tastes better on a hot August night than sweet corn and a freshly sliced tomato, gently planted and tenderly nurtured by little hands. These are the legacies and heirlooms that are most important to me. Now the question is, what are you handing down to your children?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Letter Of Intent
It's been more than a year since our little family began it's journey toward greater self-sufficiency, but that's such a vague phrase...'greater self-sufficiency'...that I thought I'd restate what it is we're trying to accomplish. And by we, I mean me.
My first and primary goal is to increase the production of homegrown veggies and fruit so that eventually, we may be able to cut out store bought produce altogether. Yes, it's a lofty goal, and as bananas aren't native to Ohio, it's going to take a lot of getting used to. My plan is to grow enough produce that I can trade for what I don't produce...such as apples, walnuts, etc.
My second goal is to learn to make as many cleaning and toiletry products as possible, thereby decreasing what we spend each year on soaps, cleaners, etc AND ridding our house of nasty chemicals. I'm thrilled with no-poo, so shampoo is pretty much a thing of the past. And I have an excellent resource for homemade soaps, but eventually, I'd like to learn soapmaking to make my own herbal soaps.
My third goal is to relearn some of the lost skills; candlemaking, knitting, seed-saving, herbalism, etc. Things that aren't *necessary*, but make life pleasant.
My fourth goal is to create a permanent food supply, through canning, freezing, drying, buying dry goods in bulk, etc. I'd like to get to the point that I have a 6-month supply of food rations in the storage area of the basement...at all times.
Lastly, eventually, I'd like to create a home-based job to contribute to our household budget; through selling soap, seedlings, eggs and extra produce. That one will be years down the road as my hands are full of youngsters right now, but eventually, that's my plan.
You may be rolling your eyes at this point, but having children, watching the economic situation unfold and being fearful for the future has lead me to believe that this is a necessary path for my family. I figure if all things work out and next year the economy is just fine...well that's great! If not, my family won't be going hungry. My deal with Jeff for the past year has been..."you keep the roof over our heads, I'll fill our bellies." And that holds true whether we're turning a corner of not. I feel like we've thrived over the past year and that in many ways, I've found my niche in life. Call me a recessionista, but I'm having a great life regardless of what is going on up there on Wall Street.
My first and primary goal is to increase the production of homegrown veggies and fruit so that eventually, we may be able to cut out store bought produce altogether. Yes, it's a lofty goal, and as bananas aren't native to Ohio, it's going to take a lot of getting used to. My plan is to grow enough produce that I can trade for what I don't produce...such as apples, walnuts, etc.
My second goal is to learn to make as many cleaning and toiletry products as possible, thereby decreasing what we spend each year on soaps, cleaners, etc AND ridding our house of nasty chemicals. I'm thrilled with no-poo, so shampoo is pretty much a thing of the past. And I have an excellent resource for homemade soaps, but eventually, I'd like to learn soapmaking to make my own herbal soaps.
My third goal is to relearn some of the lost skills; candlemaking, knitting, seed-saving, herbalism, etc. Things that aren't *necessary*, but make life pleasant.
My fourth goal is to create a permanent food supply, through canning, freezing, drying, buying dry goods in bulk, etc. I'd like to get to the point that I have a 6-month supply of food rations in the storage area of the basement...at all times.
Lastly, eventually, I'd like to create a home-based job to contribute to our household budget; through selling soap, seedlings, eggs and extra produce. That one will be years down the road as my hands are full of youngsters right now, but eventually, that's my plan.
You may be rolling your eyes at this point, but having children, watching the economic situation unfold and being fearful for the future has lead me to believe that this is a necessary path for my family. I figure if all things work out and next year the economy is just fine...well that's great! If not, my family won't be going hungry. My deal with Jeff for the past year has been..."you keep the roof over our heads, I'll fill our bellies." And that holds true whether we're turning a corner of not. I feel like we've thrived over the past year and that in many ways, I've found my niche in life. Call me a recessionista, but I'm having a great life regardless of what is going on up there on Wall Street.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lookin' Up
Things are starting to look up here at the Run. First, the best news, is Jeff's lay-off was postponed. They reduced the number of folks they laid off, so there's exactly *one* person between him and the Exit door. Little bit of breathing room, so that's nice. AND, there's rumors going around about a possible military deal. New products are always nice, but I don't expect it to happen. There won't be any new products at the Springfield plant til the workers agree to work for free, or better yet, pay the company for the honor. Little vent there. Gotta get away from this crappy company. But I digress.
Second, my (ahem) detox is going well. It's been about 5 days since my last dose and some of the weird withdrawal symptoms are starting to ease up. Emotionally, I feel much more stable, less weepy, but I'm still feeling the physical effects...nausea, vertigo, tremors, fever/chills, brain zaps, sleep disturbance, etc. Hopefully another couple of days of rest, some hot tea, hearty meals and exercise outside will help turn things around. You know what's crazy, my mom talked to a local pharmacist friend and she was *~stunned~* that I was on Effexor to begin with. She said it's the drug of choice when there are no other options. Crazy stuff.
Yesterday our berry starts arrived....strawberries, black raspberries and yellow raspberries! So the goal for today is to get them in the ground and make them a nice straw blanket til we get through tonight's cold snap. Spring is so close, I can just feel it!!!!
Second, my (ahem) detox is going well. It's been about 5 days since my last dose and some of the weird withdrawal symptoms are starting to ease up. Emotionally, I feel much more stable, less weepy, but I'm still feeling the physical effects...nausea, vertigo, tremors, fever/chills, brain zaps, sleep disturbance, etc. Hopefully another couple of days of rest, some hot tea, hearty meals and exercise outside will help turn things around. You know what's crazy, my mom talked to a local pharmacist friend and she was *~stunned~* that I was on Effexor to begin with. She said it's the drug of choice when there are no other options. Crazy stuff.
Yesterday our berry starts arrived....strawberries, black raspberries and yellow raspberries! So the goal for today is to get them in the ground and make them a nice straw blanket til we get through tonight's cold snap. Spring is so close, I can just feel it!!!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time on our Hands
:::big sigh:::
It would appear that come Monday, we're going to have a lot of free time on our hands. Jeff is getting laid off, with no definite time frame to be called back. He said he thinks it will be a short lay-off, as there are a number of retirements scheduled for May and that he was the very first person on the list. He's going to talk to the UAW local president today, as there's a chance he can avoid the layoff due to the language in the contract. As the EAP is a nominated position, if the company and union feel his presence is needed, they can opt to keep him on board whether his number is called up or not.
:::another big sigh:::
Normally we don't mind a short layoff....it gives us a chance to start/finish projects, catch up on seasonal work like getting the yard situated, getting the garden tended to; but with the economy the way it is and the fact there was no specified recall timeframe, it's just scary. The plan is to talk to Jason (pres.) today and see what can be done, if anything can be done. If not, well, we're going to be eatin' a lot of beans and rice. Thank Heavens for food stores.
It would appear that come Monday, we're going to have a lot of free time on our hands. Jeff is getting laid off, with no definite time frame to be called back. He said he thinks it will be a short lay-off, as there are a number of retirements scheduled for May and that he was the very first person on the list. He's going to talk to the UAW local president today, as there's a chance he can avoid the layoff due to the language in the contract. As the EAP is a nominated position, if the company and union feel his presence is needed, they can opt to keep him on board whether his number is called up or not.
:::another big sigh:::
Normally we don't mind a short layoff....it gives us a chance to start/finish projects, catch up on seasonal work like getting the yard situated, getting the garden tended to; but with the economy the way it is and the fact there was no specified recall timeframe, it's just scary. The plan is to talk to Jason (pres.) today and see what can be done, if anything can be done. If not, well, we're going to be eatin' a lot of beans and rice. Thank Heavens for food stores.
Monday, February 2, 2009
1 More Reason To Hate Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/01/frugal-americans-hurt-economic-recovery/
The media calls it a 'Paradox of Thrift'.
I think Bart Simpson said it best; 'You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't.'
All I can tell you is that I won't be buying a big screen TV or IPod or bluetooth/blue ray/blue chip anything in the near future. I'm in total 'make do or do without' mode and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm not suffering from an economic depression...I'm enjoying every minute of it!
The media calls it a 'Paradox of Thrift'.
I think Bart Simpson said it best; 'You're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't.'
All I can tell you is that I won't be buying a big screen TV or IPod or bluetooth/blue ray/blue chip anything in the near future. I'm in total 'make do or do without' mode and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I'm not suffering from an economic depression...I'm enjoying every minute of it!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Crappy New Year!
Sharon Astyk's post this morning on predictions for 2009 have me more eager than ever to boost our emergency stores. Read for yourself at:
http://sharonastyk.com/2008/12/15/2009-predictions-its-hour-come-round-at-last/
When I started on this path nearly a year ago, it was because of the recalls on food; beef, tomatoes, peppers, etc. The more I read on the subjects and the further I explored, I realized how desperate things could be for our nation in the next few years. While part of me thinks "No, this could never happen", part of me is all too believing that it could. It's happened before, right? It may be naivete on my part, but when you have children dependent on you for their every need, your perspective changes a bit. So though my journey has morphed, my destination is the same; self-sufficiency. Both for health purposes and, now, for social security. (Not that kind of social security!)
So I'm planning on it being a crappy new year in 2009 in many ways. Financial being the number one. If at all possible, I'm going to up our emergency stores funds to 15 or 20 dollars a week and I'm going to give more thought to what we should stock up on in addition to food. What would people need and want if there was a total social collapse? Liquor. Food. DIY provisions such as nails, screws, needles and thread. Time to get organized and prepared.
I know some of you think this is the height of foolishness, and I want to assure you that I'm not stocking up on Uzis, MREs and space bags. Nothing like that. Just making sure we have on hand anything we need should this financial situation become any worse. And as my dear friend Nikki states; "If things get bad, we'll just 4-wheel to your house for green beans and toilet paper." Come on over. I've got green beans. I've got toilet paper.
http://sharonastyk.com/2008/12/15/2009-predictions-its-hour-come-round-at-last/
When I started on this path nearly a year ago, it was because of the recalls on food; beef, tomatoes, peppers, etc. The more I read on the subjects and the further I explored, I realized how desperate things could be for our nation in the next few years. While part of me thinks "No, this could never happen", part of me is all too believing that it could. It's happened before, right? It may be naivete on my part, but when you have children dependent on you for their every need, your perspective changes a bit. So though my journey has morphed, my destination is the same; self-sufficiency. Both for health purposes and, now, for social security. (Not that kind of social security!)
So I'm planning on it being a crappy new year in 2009 in many ways. Financial being the number one. If at all possible, I'm going to up our emergency stores funds to 15 or 20 dollars a week and I'm going to give more thought to what we should stock up on in addition to food. What would people need and want if there was a total social collapse? Liquor. Food. DIY provisions such as nails, screws, needles and thread. Time to get organized and prepared.
I know some of you think this is the height of foolishness, and I want to assure you that I'm not stocking up on Uzis, MREs and space bags. Nothing like that. Just making sure we have on hand anything we need should this financial situation become any worse. And as my dear friend Nikki states; "If things get bad, we'll just 4-wheel to your house for green beans and toilet paper." Come on over. I've got green beans. I've got toilet paper.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Here We Go!
I think I have Jeff on board for creating a food storage in the basement. It just seems prudent to me that in iffy times you should have something to fall back on. If it's in the basement, we won't go hungry. So last night we did our weekly shopping at Aldi's and did some stock up in addition. Just a few things...oats, baking soda, flour, salt and evaporated milk. About 10 dollars worth and it's things we use anyway. So *CHECK* on starting food stores.
I also pushed forward and got my seeds ordered from Seed Savers Thursday night. Only half of them so the total wouldn't send Jeff into a coronary. I ordered the 'meat and taters' of our gardening diet...beans, carrots, beets, corn, peas, plus a couple extras like Sunberries and Rosemary. I figure I'll pick up the rest after Christmas. Hopefully this will go a long way to having a mini seed storehouse. And thankfully, I have a good friend in Ann who is willing/eager to swap seeds. I think my mom may even be on board to some extent. So *CHECK* on starting seed stores.
The last item on my 'The End Of The World As We Know It' stock up is clothes for Isaac. No go on that just yet. Maybe after Christmas. You can only do so much at a time, right??? Not a bad start though. We'll have food, seeds, and a naked little boy running around LOL.
I also pushed forward and got my seeds ordered from Seed Savers Thursday night. Only half of them so the total wouldn't send Jeff into a coronary. I ordered the 'meat and taters' of our gardening diet...beans, carrots, beets, corn, peas, plus a couple extras like Sunberries and Rosemary. I figure I'll pick up the rest after Christmas. Hopefully this will go a long way to having a mini seed storehouse. And thankfully, I have a good friend in Ann who is willing/eager to swap seeds. I think my mom may even be on board to some extent. So *CHECK* on starting seed stores.
The last item on my 'The End Of The World As We Know It' stock up is clothes for Isaac. No go on that just yet. Maybe after Christmas. You can only do so much at a time, right??? Not a bad start though. We'll have food, seeds, and a naked little boy running around LOL.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Seed Shortage?
http://sharonastyk.com/2008/12/11/are-we-seeing-the-early-signs-of-a-seed-availability-crisis/
I don't know if this will come to pass or not, but just in case, I've made my seed list, checked it twice and will be ordering a day or two after Christmas. I can see how there could be a shortage of seeds available, especially if more folks are beginning to wake up and realize that:
a) food is gettin' expensive
b) food is gettin' unsafe
c) food is gettin' scarce
I'm hearing a lot of scary predictions for 2010 and 2011...food shortages, riots, total social breakdown. I don't know if any of that will happen, I hope not. But just in case, I'll be ordering extra seeds this year, putting up extra fruit and veggies, and stockpiling anything I can get my hands on. And if someone doesn't get me a deer or some wild birds, I'm going to climb up on top of the garden shed and just wait for one to walk through the field.
I tried to talk to Jeff about this last night, and his response was 'Are you getting ready to divorce me?'. Um, no. If that were the case, I'd sell all your tools and guns and burn your clothes. I tried to explain my worries and I think he sort of has the same worries, but for the most part thinks it's probably nothing. That may be. But I'd rather have some extra beans and rice laying around and not need them, than go without.
That said, I have figured out my priorities in terms of shopping for the next few months...seeds, food, and extra clothing for Isaac. Mara has enough clothing for 4 people, plus hand me downs from Isaac. Jeff and I have a good bit and are done growing (except around the waistline), so Isaac will get the bulk of the clothing this year. Extra shoes, blue jeans, jammies and underclothes. That's my plan for early 2009. Before the crap hits the fan.
I don't know if this will come to pass or not, but just in case, I've made my seed list, checked it twice and will be ordering a day or two after Christmas. I can see how there could be a shortage of seeds available, especially if more folks are beginning to wake up and realize that:
a) food is gettin' expensive
b) food is gettin' unsafe
c) food is gettin' scarce
I'm hearing a lot of scary predictions for 2010 and 2011...food shortages, riots, total social breakdown. I don't know if any of that will happen, I hope not. But just in case, I'll be ordering extra seeds this year, putting up extra fruit and veggies, and stockpiling anything I can get my hands on. And if someone doesn't get me a deer or some wild birds, I'm going to climb up on top of the garden shed and just wait for one to walk through the field.
I tried to talk to Jeff about this last night, and his response was 'Are you getting ready to divorce me?'. Um, no. If that were the case, I'd sell all your tools and guns and burn your clothes. I tried to explain my worries and I think he sort of has the same worries, but for the most part thinks it's probably nothing. That may be. But I'd rather have some extra beans and rice laying around and not need them, than go without.
That said, I have figured out my priorities in terms of shopping for the next few months...seeds, food, and extra clothing for Isaac. Mara has enough clothing for 4 people, plus hand me downs from Isaac. Jeff and I have a good bit and are done growing (except around the waistline), so Isaac will get the bulk of the clothing this year. Extra shoes, blue jeans, jammies and underclothes. That's my plan for early 2009. Before the crap hits the fan.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Good Old Days Revisited
I remember hearing about the 'Good Old Days' from my grandmother in reference to her childhood when I was growing up. She told us how you could buy a bottle of Coke for a nickle and that boxes of Cracker Jacks had really great prizes inside. About wearing underclothes made from flour sacks, sharing a bed with her siblings and going up on the hilltop to cut down their Christmas tree. She always painted such a vivid picture that I felt in some ways I had lived it too.
I just wonder what sort of picture Isaac and Mara will see when they ask me about my version of the 'Good Old Days'...before Peak Oil and the collapse of the 'Big Three'. I'd tell them about cheap gasoline and being able to afford to drive a large vehicle. About shopping trips to Walmart and filling up the cart with produce from all over the world. About fast food chains and auto parts stores as far as the eye could see. Wow. When you put those thoughts into actual sentences, it doesn't sound so great does it?
Maybe instead, I can tell them about our life after the collapse of 2008. About buying used sweaters to make the warmest gloves imaginable with matching Jingle Bell hats. And watching the chickens peak in the backdoor waiting for snacks after dinner. And staying home for vacation because airfare was so expensive and going to the local beach instead of the ocean. And packing picnic lunches to eat on an old homemade denim blanket after a morning at the playground. Those are the memories I cherish from their childhood so far and what I would deem the 'Good Old Days'.
I've read reports that say we are at a point now where there is very little that can be done on a national level to change the course of our country. In some ways that scares me and in other ways, I find great peace in it. Why does it scare me? Because for the first time in my memory, the PTB have driven our country to the brink of collapse, to a point where citizens are losing their jobs, homes, families. The PTB have acknowledged wrong-doing but have no plan for changing the path America is following. And still in some ways, I do find peace in it...because for the first time in my memory, all the superfluous drivel is being pushed aside. We're coming to a point where it's not a matter of who is the most successful, who has the biggest car, the trendiest clothes and toys, the fanciest house, the largest credit line or the most expensive education. It's coming down to a matter of survival. Feeding your children, staying warm, teaching life skills to the next generation. Simple. Straightforward. Uncomplicated. The rat race is ending and I for one am glad to see it end.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Mother of all Things
“I am the Mother of all things and all things shall wear a sweater”
I ran across this quote and it sort of rang true for me. Mothers are at the heart of it all, the center of the home. We set the standards for our family, what is acceptable and what is not. We provide; life in utero, milk for our newborns, love, encouragement, warmth, knowledge. We hold little fingers and slow down our pace so little feet can keep up with us. We cool feverish brows, chase away the dark and the scary, we're the ultimate security objects. We feed, nurture, comfort, protect our children and those who belong to us.
But if we are to survive and thrive in the world that is coming, where do we stop? Is it enough to feed and provide for our own children when the children next door do without? When we say 'me and mine', where does that begin and end? Aren't we all extended families? Where do YOU draw the line on who will eat and who will go without?
I ran across this quote and it sort of rang true for me. Mothers are at the heart of it all, the center of the home. We set the standards for our family, what is acceptable and what is not. We provide; life in utero, milk for our newborns, love, encouragement, warmth, knowledge. We hold little fingers and slow down our pace so little feet can keep up with us. We cool feverish brows, chase away the dark and the scary, we're the ultimate security objects. We feed, nurture, comfort, protect our children and those who belong to us.
But if we are to survive and thrive in the world that is coming, where do we stop? Is it enough to feed and provide for our own children when the children next door do without? When we say 'me and mine', where does that begin and end? Aren't we all extended families? Where do YOU draw the line on who will eat and who will go without?
No. Just No.
Why does it have to come to this???
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Revolution-food-riots-in-America-by-2012-13062-3-1.html
Do we not have enough insight into what's going on to act now and stop things before they happen? We know it's a recession/depression. We know people are losing their jobs. We know people are losing their homes. We know the dollar isn't worth crap. We know there will be an enormous drawback in credit. Why are we waiting for the worst to hit before we act?
Sharon Astyk put it so beautifully. http://sharonastyk.com/2008/12/04/no-just-no/
No. Just No. My kids will not go hungry.
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Revolution-food-riots-in-America-by-2012-13062-3-1.html
Do we not have enough insight into what's going on to act now and stop things before they happen? We know it's a recession/depression. We know people are losing their jobs. We know people are losing their homes. We know the dollar isn't worth crap. We know there will be an enormous drawback in credit. Why are we waiting for the worst to hit before we act?
Sharon Astyk put it so beautifully. http://sharonastyk.com/2008/12/04/no-just-no/
No. Just No. My kids will not go hungry.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hey Y'all! It's a Recession!!!
The NY Times, CNN, and every other media source with more than 2 brain cells reported yesterday that (*gasp*) America is indeed in the midst a recession. Well duh. And it's reportedly been going on for more than a year. Double duh. And the worst is still to come according to those in the know. Cue dramatic background music here.
I'm not sure why this has come as such a surprise to the PTB (Powers That Be) when it's what Americans have been crying for more than a year. Our shopping dollar goes nowhere, until last month we were unable to afford gas, unemployment is up, wages are down. Why is it such a surprise that we Americans have stopped spending and are holing ourselves up in our homes; that's if we've managed to hold onto our homes. Per the New York Times:
"But many analysts said they saw no signs yet that the economy was nearing a bottom. American consumers, who for decades have been the country’s tireless source of growth when all else failed, have cut back on their spending more sharply than at any time since the early 1980s.
Consumer spending plunged in the third quarter of this year, and the evidence so far suggests they may pull back even more in the fourth quarter. Consumers account for about 71 percent of American economic activity, and their most recent retreat is occurring even though gasoline prices have dropped by almost half in the last month and left people with more money in their pockets. "
So what some overpaid executive is telling us is 1) Americans are broke, and 2) we're trying to save what little money we can scrounge together. Hmmm. That's rocket science, y'all. Let me pull out a 5 year degree and thinking cap to fully grasp these concepts. My hope of hopes in all this mess is that not having cash available will cause folks to be a little more resourceful, with their time and money, and with what God has made available to them. We as a nation are so much more capable of survival and creativity than we give ourselves credit for, but we've been so pampered and coddled for the last 50 years, we've forgotten that capacity for self-sufficiency. Slick marketing practices have so isolated us that we feel if we don't own the latest electronics, trendiest clothes, the smallest phones that in some way we're not successful, happy or worthy. If we don't drive a new car every 2 years or purchase new clothes every season, we should be looked down on. Exciting department store commercials show those happy, fulfilled folks with their straight off the catwalk fashions. "All you have to do is pay 79.99 for a cashmere sweater and you'll be as happy as I am!"
I remember that short-lived feeling of exhilaration, rushing around with a cart-full of pretties, bright colors with that lovely new starchy feel, or that crisp plastic electronics smell. I also remember the crush when the 'new' wore off and the bill came due, and the desire for more 'new'. It was a fix, comparable to any drug or alcohol, but legal, so it was easier to get; and like any drug, each subsequent high required a little more drug to achieve the same high. What we had was a consumer snowball effect. And the commercials kept prompting....'you deserve it; you need it; shop here for the good life; we'll save you money while you get what you really want!'
I must admit that sometimes I just want to go shop, mindlessly, shamelessly, extravagantly. Shoes, ladies and gentlemen, could be my downfall. But then I wake up and realize it's all for nought. We are a nation of idolaters. We find comfort, mercy, peace in the arms of merchandise. We've replaced our God with a gadget, wrapped in shiny cellophane, on the alter of mass consumerism and immediate gratification. Wall Street cats have grown fat on American's discontent but now is the time to reexamine that discontent. At some point, you must simply stop, back up and take a breath. Contentedness isn't something you can buy or sell, folks. It's something you *create and live*.
I'm not sure why this has come as such a surprise to the PTB (Powers That Be) when it's what Americans have been crying for more than a year. Our shopping dollar goes nowhere, until last month we were unable to afford gas, unemployment is up, wages are down. Why is it such a surprise that we Americans have stopped spending and are holing ourselves up in our homes; that's if we've managed to hold onto our homes. Per the New York Times:
"But many analysts said they saw no signs yet that the economy was nearing a bottom. American consumers, who for decades have been the country’s tireless source of growth when all else failed, have cut back on their spending more sharply than at any time since the early 1980s.
Consumer spending plunged in the third quarter of this year, and the evidence so far suggests they may pull back even more in the fourth quarter. Consumers account for about 71 percent of American economic activity, and their most recent retreat is occurring even though gasoline prices have dropped by almost half in the last month and left people with more money in their pockets. "
So what some overpaid executive is telling us is 1) Americans are broke, and 2) we're trying to save what little money we can scrounge together. Hmmm. That's rocket science, y'all. Let me pull out a 5 year degree and thinking cap to fully grasp these concepts. My hope of hopes in all this mess is that not having cash available will cause folks to be a little more resourceful, with their time and money, and with what God has made available to them. We as a nation are so much more capable of survival and creativity than we give ourselves credit for, but we've been so pampered and coddled for the last 50 years, we've forgotten that capacity for self-sufficiency. Slick marketing practices have so isolated us that we feel if we don't own the latest electronics, trendiest clothes, the smallest phones that in some way we're not successful, happy or worthy. If we don't drive a new car every 2 years or purchase new clothes every season, we should be looked down on. Exciting department store commercials show those happy, fulfilled folks with their straight off the catwalk fashions. "All you have to do is pay 79.99 for a cashmere sweater and you'll be as happy as I am!"
I remember that short-lived feeling of exhilaration, rushing around with a cart-full of pretties, bright colors with that lovely new starchy feel, or that crisp plastic electronics smell. I also remember the crush when the 'new' wore off and the bill came due, and the desire for more 'new'. It was a fix, comparable to any drug or alcohol, but legal, so it was easier to get; and like any drug, each subsequent high required a little more drug to achieve the same high. What we had was a consumer snowball effect. And the commercials kept prompting....'you deserve it; you need it; shop here for the good life; we'll save you money while you get what you really want!'
I must admit that sometimes I just want to go shop, mindlessly, shamelessly, extravagantly. Shoes, ladies and gentlemen, could be my downfall. But then I wake up and realize it's all for nought. We are a nation of idolaters. We find comfort, mercy, peace in the arms of merchandise. We've replaced our God with a gadget, wrapped in shiny cellophane, on the alter of mass consumerism and immediate gratification. Wall Street cats have grown fat on American's discontent but now is the time to reexamine that discontent. At some point, you must simply stop, back up and take a breath. Contentedness isn't something you can buy or sell, folks. It's something you *create and live*.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
"How To Save $8919.45 A Year"
That was an eye-catching title from an article by CNNMoney from October 22nd. Yes, I could certainly use an extra 9K laying around each year so I eagerly read this article....and was disgusted. But I'll let you be the judge.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/pf/0810/gallery.save_money/index.html
Here's the rundown for you. In these 6 easy steps you can save nearly 9 K dollars.
1. Plan out your shopping trip and use coupons
2. Skip coffee and a muffin at Starbucks each morning
3. Upgrade your appliances to lower your electric bill 150$/year
4. Buy generic/store brand groceries and toiletries
5. Pay an extra 1$ a day on credit card debt
6. Team up with neighbors to share a sitter
I keep telling myself that for the audience CNN is targeting, these 6 steps are epiphanies. But for the average Joe, this is a slap in the face with a little salt rubbed into the wound. Nowhere does it give real-life options for cutting back on finances....radical ideas like *gasp* cook from scratch, and *double gasp* stay home on date night. While paying an extra 30$ a month on debt is a great idea, there's many families out there that don't have an extra 30$ laying around at the end of the month. And honestly, for the working poor, buying generic groceries is a way of life, not a cute way to 'rough it' and save a little money.
Just another example of how out of touch Wall Street and the PTB (Powers That Be) really are.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/pf/0810/gallery.save_money/index.html
Here's the rundown for you. In these 6 easy steps you can save nearly 9 K dollars.
1. Plan out your shopping trip and use coupons
2. Skip coffee and a muffin at Starbucks each morning
3. Upgrade your appliances to lower your electric bill 150$/year
4. Buy generic/store brand groceries and toiletries
5. Pay an extra 1$ a day on credit card debt
6. Team up with neighbors to share a sitter
I keep telling myself that for the audience CNN is targeting, these 6 steps are epiphanies. But for the average Joe, this is a slap in the face with a little salt rubbed into the wound. Nowhere does it give real-life options for cutting back on finances....radical ideas like *gasp* cook from scratch, and *double gasp* stay home on date night. While paying an extra 30$ a month on debt is a great idea, there's many families out there that don't have an extra 30$ laying around at the end of the month. And honestly, for the working poor, buying generic groceries is a way of life, not a cute way to 'rough it' and save a little money.
Just another example of how out of touch Wall Street and the PTB (Powers That Be) really are.
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