Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition [Survival Today - an On going Thread #3]

Frugal Dad .com ^ | July 23, 2009 | Frugal Dad

[nw_arizona_granny]

Weekly Roundup - Living On Nothing Edition Category: Roundups | Comments(15)

Did you hear about the guy that lives on nothing? No seriously, he lives on zero dollars a day. Meet Daniel Suelo, who lives in a cave outside Moab, Utah. Suelo has no mortgage, no car payment, no debt of any kind. He also has no home, no car, no television, and absolutely no “creature comforts.” But he does have a lot of creatures, as in the mice and bugs that scurry about the cave floor he’s called home for the last three years.

To us, Suelo probably sounds a little extreme. Actually, he probably sounds very extreme. After all, I suspect most of you reading this are doing so under the protection of some sort of man-made shelter, and with some amount of money on your person, and probably a few needs for money, too. And who doesn’t need money unless they have completely unplugged from the grid? Still, it’s an amusing story about a guy who rejects all forms of consumerism as we know it.

The Frugal Roundup

How to Brew Your Own Beer and Maybe Save Some Money. A fantastic introduction to home brewing, something I’ve never done myself, but always been interested in trying. (@Generation X Finance)

Contentment: A Great Financial Principle. If I had to name one required emotion for living a frugal lifestyle it would be contentment. Once you are content with your belongings and your lot in life you can ignore forces attempting to separate you from your money. (@Personal Finance by the Book)

Use Energy Star Appliances to Save On Utility Costs. I enjoyed this post because it included actual numbers, and actual total savings, from someone who upgraded to new, energy star appliances. (@The Digerati Life)

Over-Saving for Retirement? Is it possible to “over-save” for retirement? Yes, I think so. At some point I like the idea of putting some money aside in taxable investments outside of retirement funds, to be accessed prior to traditional retirement age. (@The Simple Dollar)

40 Things to Teach My Kids Before They Leave Home. A great list of both practical and philosophical lessons to teach your kids before they reach the age where they know everything. I think that now happens around 13 years-old. (@My Supercharged Life)

Index Fund Investing Overview. If you are looking for a place to invest with high diversification and relatively low fees (for broader index funds with low turnover), index funds are a great place to start. (@Money Smart Life)

5 Reasons To Line Dry Your Laundry. My wife and I may soon be installing a clothesline in our backyard. In many neighborhoods they are frowned upon - one of the reasons I don’t like living in a neighborhood. I digress. One of our neighbors recently put up a clothesline, and we might just follow his lead. (@Simple Mom)

A Few Others I Enjoyed

* 4 Quick Tips for Getting Out of a Rut * Young and Cash Rich * Embracing Simple Style * First Trading Experience With OptionsHouse * The Exponential Power of Delayed Consumption * How Much Emergency Fund is Enough? * 50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind * Save Money On Car Insurance

[betsyross60]

I just heard from Granny’s sister and Ruth (Granny) has been having trouble posting from her computer. She has managed to get a few things sent to her sister today so she is working through the problem. I told her we were concerned that we had not heard from her in a while. She said she would relay that message. So...Granny is alright! PTL

[betsyross60]

I just heard from Granny’s sister and Ruth (Granny) has been having trouble posting from her computer. She has managed to get a few things sent to her sister today so she is working through the problem. I told her we were concerned that we had not heard from her in a while. She said she would relay that message. So...Granny is alright! PTL

[betsyross60]

Sorry about the double post; I think I’m having computer trouble too.

[CottonBall]

Thanks for checking and for relaying the info, BR.

It’s also nice to let Granny know we miss her. Hopefully, we can tell her ‘in person’ soon.

[Marmolade]

Thanks for the update on Granny. I think we were all getting worried about her.

[no-to-illegals]

http://m.memri.org/14499/show/38ba1c7d4a5404b129477882143979d3&t=20320d97cb30b6845cb6422bedb5dfbe more information here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2667337/posts?q=1&;page=701;post=703 go to post 703, please, I may not have html correct.

[DelaWhere]

World food prices hit record high: UN agency
Feb 3 08:14 AM US/Eastern

World food prices reached their highest level ever recorded in January and are set to keep rising for months, the UN food agency said on Thursday, warning that the hardest-hit countries could face turmoil.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.0bcf7660807b5b8e782fa73f510af552.471&show_article=1

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Banana crops suffer ‘total devastation’

As we’ve just seen in the Tully area, sugar cane and bananas have been flattened by the cyclone and growers may take years to recover the losses.

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2011/s3129534.htm

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An era of cheap food may be drawing to a close
Reuters poll: Higher grain prices will persist, spurring more global unrest

U.S. grain prices should stay unrelentingly high this year, according to a Reuters poll, the latest sign that the era of cheap food has come to an end.

U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat prices — which surged by as much has 50 percent last year and hit their highest levels since mid-2008 — will dip by at most 5 percent by the end of 2011, according to the poll of 16 analysts.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41311106/ns/business-retail/

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Authoritarian governments start stockpiling food to fight public anger

Authoritarian governments across the world are aggressively stockpiling food as a buffer against soaring food costs which they fear may stoke popular discontent.
Commodities traders have warned they are seeing the first signs of panic buying from states concerned about the political implications of rising prices for staple crops.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/8288555/Authoritarian-governments-start-stockpiling-food-to-fight-public-anger.html

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Food-cost shocks ripple worldwide from Iowa

Shoppers who have seen hamburger prices increase as much as 10 percent in recent months will pay even more for burgers, steaks and other meat products as a result of a commodities boom that is putting money in Iowa farmers’ pockets while it rocks the rest of the world.
The higher prices are the result of decreased supply and increased demand. As U.S. cattle and hog herds have reached their smallest levels since 1958, export demand has risen by as much as 50 percent in recent months.

Another factor is an 85 percent increase since last summer in the price of corn, a commodity that is economically and emotionally symbolic to Iowa because it is the prime feedstock for cattle and hogs.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110130/BUSINESS/101300340/Food-cost-shocks-ripple-worldwide-from-Iowa

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Egypt and Tunisia usher in the new era of global food revolutions

The surge in global food prices since the summer – since Ben Bernanke signalled a fresh dollar blitz, as it happens – is not the underlying cause of Arab revolt, any more than bad harvests in 1788 were the cause of the French Revolution.

Yet they are the trigger, and have set off a vicious circle. Vulnerable governments are scrambling to lock up world supplies of grain while they can. Algeria bought 800,000 tonnes of wheat last week, and Indonesia has ordered 800,000 tonnes of rice, both greatly exceeding their normal pace of purchases. Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Bangladesh, are trying to secure extra grain supplies.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said its global food index has surpassed the all-time high of 2008, both in nominal and real terms. The cereals index has risen 39pc in the last year, the oil and fats index 55pc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/8291470/Egypt-and-Tunisia-usher-in-the-new-era-of-global-food-revolutions.html

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Pretty good year to have a food-stock and to raise a garden!
DW

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[no-to-illegals]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2667337/posts?q=1&;page=701;post=703 *pinging* for need of your contributions.

[jessky]

starting some seeds for transplants this week cabbage,brussel sprouts,broccoli
thinking about getting some honey bees anyone with any advice on that i do not know anything about bees have got
honey from a few trees years ago

[bert]

taking on bees is a responsibility for the welfare of the colony.

The best course is to find the local bee group and find a member to be your mentor.

Typically bees are ordered and shipped in April. You need all the stuff and have it in order by the time the bees arrive.....by mail

Any way, look for the group and ask for help. Bee keepers are like FReepers.....glad to help and give advice

[DelaWhere]

Bert’s advice is excellent!
Here is a site that not only shows clubs but also has lots of great information, including a FREE (the best kind) beekeeping course.

http://www.bees-on-the-net.com/beekeeping-clubs.html

I too have been seriously considering getting into bees this year. I haven’t had any hives for about 15-18 years - seems all the old companies I used to deal with are no longer... J.I. Root used to be the Sears Roebuck of beekeeping supplies, but seems they are no more...

[bert]

I have not had any bees in maybe 15 years but am a veteran of 25 years with bees.

These folks are just over the mountain and are an excellent vendor. They have no relation personal or business other than as a supplier in the past.

Their site is Here,

Editorial:

Most bee keepers, amateurs at least, keep bees to watch and study them. Bees are extremely interesting and provide hours and hours of real learning opportunity. (as opposed to a book) The honey and wax are not necessary to enjoy the coming and going of the colony. For me, bees were a continuous science project with the reward of honey and wax. (the wax is valuable for tons of uses)

Once you learn their ways and treat them decently there will be few if any stings. Once or twice after being in the midst of an angry swarm with hive parts disassembled,and general disarray, you will never fear a banker or lawyer who might be aggressively after your hide.

They can do quite well by themselves and all new bee keepers are far too attentive. That is good I guess because you get to know them and they get to know you. However the time spent is mostly up to you. Remember though, total neglect is harmful

Good luck.....go get some bees

[DelaWhere]

>>>starting some seeds for transplants this week cabbage,brussel sprouts,broccoli<<<

Every year, I promise myself to:
1. Not get spring fever and plant too early
2. Try moon-sign planting

So, I am trying really hard to wait a bit... no rootbound plants (I hope). In looking up and researching the moon-sign planting times, which always got really complicated, I finally found an easy guide that you customize to your zip-code.

http://www.Almanac.com/PlantingTable

Only problem is that if I follow the guide, I would have to plant a parallel batch planted at other times for comparison. Oh, well, I’ll just try it and see how things go.

I have all the seeds, starting soil ready to pasteurize, trays, etc. and am just waiting for the next week to pass till it is time to plant the first ones.

[jessky]

thinks everyone i’ll check into local info
never planted by moon always weaned and cut by moon
makes a lot of diff on animals

[DelaWhere]

One of many garden plans - This one is called the Broad Row Garden. Walkways are 16" and row widths accommodate many varied plants.

This garden would pretty adequately meet the needs of many who wanted to lower food costs, yet would not require much equipment. (Spade, Rake and hoe should suffice).

At 25' X 30', the size is such that most people could find that much space (preferring sunny spot) and with determination, could spade and rake it without too much trouble.

While it would not feed a family of 4 for a whole year, it would make a very sizable dent in their grocery bills. Particularly with the rapidly increasing prices.

[Wneighbor]

Howdy! I’ve used moon sign planting for a few years and find it works well for me. May sound silly but part of the usefulness for me is that I can organize my days and time better. But, I get good crops.

[Wneighbor]

Howdy! I’ve used moon sign planting for a few years and find it works well for me. May sound silly but part of the usefulness for me is that I can organize my days and time better. But, I get good crops.

[DelaWhere]

Hi there Wneighbor - How are y’all doing with all that ‘Global Warming’?

LOL, If moon sign gardening will help me get organized, and keeps me from doing everything all at once, it would benefit my garden... (I get started and don’t want to stop - plant it all, then replant what doesn’t ‘take’.)

[DelaWhere]

The Case for Stocking Up

When you hear that food stocks are at 1970 levels, do your eyes gloss over and your mind say that it's not really a crisis, we've been there before?

Consider this:
World Population 1970 - 3.7 billion

World Population 2011 - 6.9 billion

Almost twice as many people eating from that same amount of food... Drought in some parts of the world,Flooding in others, Cold record extremes add to the problem.
Now do you see crisis written on the wall?

“If there's a surplus, you can put it in storage and carry it forward,but if you have a shortfall, you can’t borrow against the future to bring it backward in time. It only works in one direction.” Arthur Small, founder of Venti Risk Management

NOW

is the time to grow and store all the food you can! - DW

[Free Vulcan]

That’s similar to how I do mine. 1 or 2’ beds of 2 to 3 rows, 2 ft. walkway in between.