On Living cheaply

                                                   

I want to start out by saying that the identity theft epidemic in this country is getting out of hand. As noted in my last post, my Suburban broke down and left me stranded. In an of itself, not that big of a deal. But in conjunction with that, some low life scumbag identity thief was stealing money out of my bank account. The two issues put me in a world of hurt. Because my now X bank locked down my account, preventing access to my own money, bills went unpaid. No, I don't want no cheese with that whine, just telling like it is.

So I went through a month of hell. So take this as a heads up. I can happen to you and likely will. I normally keep plenty of COH (cash on hand), but the confluence of the Suburban breaking down cleaned me out and the identity theft put me in a world of hurt. Just saying.

Personally I think identity theft should carry the death penaltiy. Bring back public hangings, I'd be more then happy to come out of retirement and pull the lever.

Now I can live pretty cheap here and do. The guberment says inflation is low, but people who live in the real world know better. The price at the pump and the fleecing at the grocery store IS hurting most Americans. While those Aholes in DC fiddle about. How do you like that change now ? But I ain't here to talk on that, when prices skyrocket, you got to make do. I saw the inflation coming and my response was to grow me a garden and raise me come chickens. Anything to save money. I see Austerity on the horizon and it seems to be getting closer.

I finally got me my garden fence built and got me some tomatoes and peppers growing on my window sill. Started some eggplant seed inside too. My peas, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower is planted. Even planted some Yukon Gold spuds. This is my solution to the outrageous price of grocery store food. Can't grow it all, still need coffee, sugar (in my case Splenda), cooking oils and the like. But the garden will give me some relief. I pop a baby aspirin before I hit the checkout counter...

I will be mailing my bills now, saving gas money. That might not sound like it saves much, but every dollar adds up (dimes are just about worthless these days unless they are the old silver ones). The less gasoline that goes in the gas tank the better, a stamp is still cheaper than gasoline. I haven't eaten at a fast food place in a long long time. Haven't gone to a movie in an even longer time. Don't miss either to be honest about it. It's both economic as well as political, certain actors have made my SL (shit list). Some I used to like and respect, but that's another post I will never write. If you get my drift.

There are many ways to save money and live cheaply. A lot of my money went to what I call the setup phase, getting things I needed to live more self reliant here. It's just the way it is. You need all kinds of things to grow food and raise livestock (as meager as mine are). It takes money. But in the long run it will pay me back considerably. Both in terms of cost and health. At some point you get what you need to become less dependent on the crumbling system. Yes I said the system is crumbling, if you haven't noticed, you ain't paying attention. Look behind the pretty facade and see the ugly truth. Just saying.

As I see it the illusion that things are peachy keen can't last forever. Reality comes a calling at some point in time. I got such a visit myself last month myself. I do appreciate irony by the way. So I am working on being less dependent on a system that might not last much longer. It's all I can do and I'd rather not wait till the store shelves go empty of that over priced food. Even if that never occurs, I will be eating cheaper food and living a healthier lifestyle. I call it WIN WIN. Either way I benefit, as in puts and calls...

Besides home grown veggies taste better than that genetically modified crap they sell in the grocery stores.

Till I buy another cup of coffee...