Surviving these tough economic times

We all talk about SHTF times but what about changes we are making in our day to day lives as a result of the tough $$ times now.

What changes have you made and what tips and tricks can you share with the rest of us. Most of us are already tightening our belts but some of us are also making changes that will endure even when the economy improves.

I'm fortunate that I can live quite simply since I live alone so my footprint on the world is small.

 

I've started using the bike for small grocery lists, the bags will carry enough to make 40 mpg look pretty good next to 20 with the pickup. (Gone from two p/u fillups a week to one in about 10 days.) Eating out has become a treat rather than a requirement, even faced with limited kitchen skills. Next step is getting walking (and pack frame) muscles in better shape.

 

My income is limited by my clients ability to pay me. My receivables stretch out longer than they did in the past. Insurance and taxes take the biggest bite out of my income. For my clients out of my close locale, I've added a Transportation Charge equal to 1 hour of my time. That's pretty extreme but if it takes an hour commuting time and 50 miles and I'm only at the clients for 2 hrs it makes sense. I'm no longer willing to absorb it as a part of doing business. Living rural doesn't allow many options for errands but an auto.

My biggest energy drain is my freezer. I try to cook only on weekends and freeze for the week.

I keep my winter thermostat at 50 deg and wear extra clothing. I sleep much better in the cold anyway. I've always kept the temp in the house low so no change there.

SC - you should really invest some of your newly found freedom in that book I've been trying to get you to write. How many years have I been encouraging that. I'm always looking for a good read and I know your's would be it.

 

How many of you use coupons at the grocery store? I started about five years ago after some prodding from a friend. Now; I use it as a challenge to myself. How much can I save? It takes me about half an hour of my time (each shopping trip) and for that half hour, I "make" (on average) at least $50.00 (in savings). My best day? A $220.00 food bill cut to $75.00. That one felt good! Haven't broken it yet (but I'm still trying). On several occasions, if you catch the item just right, they actually pay you to take it home (I really love that! ).

You won't always find the best deal on coupon items - you still have to watch the price tags.

Watch the quantity/weight on the items you're buying now. Rather than raising prices on some items, they are packaging them smaller. Your 1/2 gallon of ice cream is now 1 1/2 quarts. Wrigley's 5-pack of gum is now coming from them in a four pack. Kellogg's is reducing the net weight on each cereal box by 6 to 9 ounces. Who remembers an actual 3# can of coffee?

Don't buy what you need when you need it. Buy it when it's on sale (ahead of time) and save yourself $$ (and frantic shopping time).

For those that might think that I'm a "professional" shopper, let me just say: Shopping is something I detest. I consider myself a Buyer - I know what I want; I go, I buy, I leave.

Best of luck!


BTW: Great thread, RH!!

 

Well I have not felt the pinch yet, things are fine here, Ride my bike alot but other than that, I will drive my F350 when the weather dictates it.
Putting quite a bit into Mikes savings, Melbo knows about this one we talk alot about it.

 

I don't think there are yet enough of us preppers to affect supply and demand for long term supplies significantly, we are not buying them time at all. It isn't clear if the general population has taken any of this pricing crisis to heart.

A bit off topic (we do that well around here --)
One of the more (to me) humorous aspects is the dot gov now actively recommending a 72 hour stash for things like hurricanes and other natural messes. Ask Katrina and Hugo survivors if that is enough. Then, if our native paranoia kicks in, we take up defensive positions to keep the ravening hordes away from the gates.

But your question is valid, what if the neighbor knocks on the door for a cuppa sugar? If you give it to him, pretty soon the whole neighborhood knows you have it. If you don't hand it over, pretty soon you feel guilty, OR several weeks later you are still fat and sassy as the neighbors get scrawny.

Our relatively close knit community of preppers have a pretty common trait. We are more than willing to share information and make suggestions here and there for folks wanting to do as we do. But in all the forum crawling I've done, not more than one have said what they actually have stored away in toto. (And should not.) Here and there, yes, some have mentioned a specific item in inventory, but none have listed the entire stock of supplies. One reason for that is the security gene kicking in, there is no clue for post mess "shoppers" to know where to look.

(Often been around Aussies, Brits and the occasional Kiwi, but "pear shaped" is a new one. Out of round?)

 

Being a typically thrifty New Englander (elsewhere known less benevolently as cheap), I've always opted for the less expensive alternatives in my day to day living.

A few drops of bleach in a spray bottle of water is a cheaper alternative to the expensive anti-bacterial kitchen counter cleaners.

Vinegar and baking soda for drain cleaning.

Vinegar, baking soda and water for general cleaning

Vinegar and water for glass cleaning or for cleaning stovetops, etc.

A Polident Tablet dropped in the toilet bowl every morning keeps the bowl clean.

Heat a lemon rind in a bowl of water in the microwave then wipe down the oven with the lemon water. The moisture loosens the debris making cleaning easy and the lemon cuts any greasy surface. I use a lot of lemon in cooking and seasoning so I usually have rinds around.

Take soap bars out of their wrapper when storing on the shelf. This dries them out and the soap lasts longer.

I buy all soaps, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc at a overstock store - we have both Job Lots and Ocean State Job Lots close by.

A little fine steel wool (00 or 000) with a drop of toothpaste works great as a scrubber.

When I worked in the corporate world, suits and silk blouses reined. I got into the habit of soaking my lingerie and expensive blouses in a basin with laundry detergent every night. I still do this. They soak overnight then I scrub them a little in the morning, rinse, and hang to dry. That leaves only the heavy stuff for the washing machine. This works if you live alone but not if you have kids.

I'm always amazed when people buy cans or bottles of iced tea. I put a few tea bags in a pitcher with boiling water in the morning. It brews and cools during the day and is perfect for my beverage of choice at night.

Just a few of my tips and tricks

 

Recognizing full well the difficulties of doing so, find a remote location to stay fat and sassy. Making the MZBs use glass to see how fat and sassy you are will help, but not prevent greed from trying to get into your stock. Once again, the need for cooperation among tribal members becomes important. The odds of a loner making it over the long haul are vanishingly small. But this is off topic, there are better places on the forum to chase this in detail. See also "Lights Out" by halffast.

Another thing one might do to extend a time without conveniences, take out one of the toilets (for those that have more than one bathroom) and install a bidet. If you have water, you have less need for TP.