Posted on 07/24/2009 3:37:21 AM PDT by 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
Thank you for all the prayers, for all who need them, for you are indeed a powerful Prayer Warrior.
If that graft takes, I will probably take advantage of the other two and try making a three variety tree out of it - you know I have to try pushing the experiments to the limit- LOL.<<<
I think a three variety tree would be great, go for it ....
And of course you should push life to the limit, it would get boring if you didn’t.
US Food Inflation Spiraling Out of Control
by Eric deCarbonnel<<<
Raise the price a few cents each month and many will never guess how much they have gone up.
With each price hike, remove a few ounces of weight and then the cost will not show.
I am tired of their games, I like to see the truth.
I’m sorry! Yes, they went well — THANK GOD! And, we are doubling up on some extra potassium rich foods also. Her chiropractor on Friday recommended just having her replace the water she drinks with 50/50 water and Gatorade just to keep the necessary electrolytes and such in her body for whenever it “needs” it. She was feeling pretty tired when she had her first test taken, so we know how she reacts now when she is “low”... Hopefully that will alert us if there are any problems. She will have to repeat the draw in a couple weeks, and every month as long as she’s on her anti-fungal meds.
Other than that though she’s doing VERY well. The chiropractor is helping with pain in her back as well as mine (we’ve been going together, lol). So, Praise God we are all doing well all things considered...
Continuing prayers for our fellow FReepers in need, and will definitely keep Diana in my prayers.
I know what you mean about so many needing prayers. I guess it may be just a sign of the times perhaps...
REUSABLE CANNING LIDS are still being made!<<<
That would be a blessing indeed.
Reminds me of the miners at the KOFA mine, we were there and I wasn’t able to use the rope to go down in the mine, LOL, I would have gotten down ok, not sure that I could have gotten out, so I stayed at the cabin, with the cook.
He had decided that the jars we buy food in, with the lids that seal, via that little bit of plastic in them, could be reused and had canned all their beans and other foods, by cooking the foods, filling the jars and turning them upside down to seal.
I tried to tell him it was not safe, but he would not listen.
I never heard the rest of that story, but saw his efforts with my own eyes.
Thanks for the link.
I can testify to the prices going up really easily... We have shopped at ALDI for a great number of “staples” for several years now. Kevin has gone shopping the last couple months, and I went shopping last Friday... EVERY single item in that store (except maybe produce and meat which I don’t usually buy there) has gone up in price by at least 20 cents. For instance, Saltine Crackers that were 59 cents, are now 89 cents per box.
If I subtracted some of the things I “splurged on” a box of Ice Cream Sandwiches, a few frozen items and such — my “regular” list of items has probably increased in price about $30-$40 dollars! What used to cost me just around $100 - is easily now $130.00 if not more like $150.00.
I had heard that regular disposable canning jar lids have a shelf life of only a couple years.<<<
I have had the same thought, for I have several old boxes of the lids.
They will be ok for dry foods, but I won’t use them for canned foods.
They should be fine in the freezer too, I freeze in glass jars when I am able to do so, as I still do not trust plastic and think it gets in our food.
LOL, yes, I do use plastic, but not if I have glass available.
Delawhere is more up to date than I on canning.
Thanks for your humbling and kind words.
Perhaps God does listen because He knows how desperately needy I am . . .
but mostly because of His Great Mercy and Love
. . . particularly of all who are of broken and contrite heart . . .
May God continue to move in the lives and needs of all who’ve been mentioned on these threads.
And in your life & body, Dear Granny.
Other than that though she’s doing VERY well. The chiropractor is helping with pain in her back as well as mine (we’ve been going together, lol). So, Praise God we are all doing well all things considered...<<<
That is good news, I am so very glad for you.
Keep going to the Chiropractor, for it takes time to un-do what you have already done to your body.
Oh dear... I really hope I am never that hungry... I suppose I could bring myself to do it for my kids, but man oh man, there would be a lot of praying for God’s help to give me strength to do it! [I never should have had pet mice after my science fair in 7th grade...]
What used to cost me just around $100 - is easily now $130.00 if not more like $150.00.<<<
And the packages are smaller.
It is all an evil game, brainwash us on the radio and tv and then raise the prices and shrink the packages and if the background music for the ad is nice, we will not stop buying their crap, but will be willing to pay even more to get it.
Like the housing market, it has to change and fast, for their are hungry folks in this country, who cannot afford food now and without an address, it is difficult for homeless people to get food stamps and help.
On the police scanners, 3 years ago, people who shop lifted in the mini marts, took beer.
Now they steal food.
Of course some still steal beer, but there are more calls for stolen foods.
Thank you, my friend.
I suppose I could bring myself to do it for my kids,<<<
You would and could, for they come first.
Many mothers have made do with water for dinner, with the food going to the kids.
My parents were down to eating field gourds in Texas and using cow patties to cook them, for there was no wood available in the panhandle....
They managed to survive with 5 of the 10 kids born to my mother, some of the other 5 kids did not die during the dustbowl, but later and I always suspected it was the years of not enough food for my mother that made her produce babies that did not make it.
This chiropractor is definitely a life-saver. I’ve been off pain meds for over a week now — only had one bad night of pain... last night after I sneezed and felt something in my neck pinch and gave my whole body a shock. Then pain throughout my whole body for a while (I think the nerve was pinched or something, and although I didn’t REALLY hurt all over, I think that’s the message my brain was getting). It was very strange, and frankly rather scary. I think it’s what caused the migraine I got shortly after that as well.
I’m doing better today although things still feel swollen — have an appointment for a “re-evaluation” in the morning, so I’m actually glad it happened before tomorrow’s appointment, and not after.
Anyway, I’m glad I found him, and that I’ve had the strength and motivation to wean myself off the painkillers. Praise God it hasn’t been too bad.
We actually found out via a new X-Ray (it had been 2 years) that my neck was actually starting to curve backwards right above my shoulders (c-4, c-5 & c-6), and my vertebrae were actually starting to deposit calcium to try and fuse them together! The chiropractor thinks we can at least slow down this process — I hope we are successful.
Had I merely continued going to the pain doctor after my other doc got sick at the back clinic, I doubt we would have known how bad it was starting to get. I met another lady at the chiropractor at my last visit who got treated the same as I when our doctor left — I was happy to know it wasn’t just me that was feeling like we were being shoved out the door...
Well, sorry to complain so much! LOL As you said, it’ll take time — especially to lose the weight and strengthen my muscles again, but I don’t feel like it’s pointless and impossible anymore... Can’t wait to tell my “pain specialist” that I don’t need him anymore though!
You remain in my thoughts and prayers as well, Granny! Love you! :)
Yes, I know you’re right. At our worst point years back, I often didn’t eat, instead just fed the kids, too. Praise God that last year there were resources we could avail ourselves of in our community. I know even the food pantries are low on supplies now though. And the demand is even greater now...
I still buy too many packaged foods (easier to prepare, but definitely less healthy, and more expensive). Hopefully with my back feeling better (as well as my mental state being more positive) this is one of the things that will definitely change.
I have to say thanks for all your work on this thread. I’ve been reading through it between posts, and there are a lot of ideas that I can use even now... And, especially things to teach my kids how to make.
Well, sorry to complain so much! LOL As you said, it’ll take time — especially to lose the weight and strengthen my muscles again, but I don’t feel like it’s pointless and impossible anymore... Can’t wait to tell my “pain specialist” that I don’t need him anymore though!<<<
I thank you for all your prayers, they must be working, for I am still here.
Don’t be in a big hurry to get rid of the Chiropractor, for they should be seen several times a year.
It was my aunts who convinced me to start going to them, they went each month, before time for their periods and got an adjustment and they never had cramps.
It would help many teen aged girls to go.
For myself, when I started going, I had a hip that would come out of the socket, and I would fall, caused by a car accident.
It took several weeks and it is still in place, and works fine, for the last 40 years.
I never had a good one up here, but in Yuma we had a crazy one and yes he was good.
I forget to tell folks to use the vacuum cleaner for their headaches.
The first time Dr. Comer used it on me, I was sure he had flipped and was too sick to get dressed and leave, all I could do was lay there and think “that really is the vacuum cleaner he is using on my back”......
Use it without any nozzles, on your back and on the head, do not leave it in one place long enough to pull the skin and break or cause blood blisters, but instead, slowly move it over the skin and the suction will bring blood to the area and also cause the nerve endings to wake up and do their job.
All I can say is it works.
I met a Barber here that had used his on a customers arm, after a stroke, every day the man came in and Bob used it on the arm and shoulder, until the arm was fully working again.
A no harm done method that pays off.
I have to say thanks for all your work on this thread. I’ve been reading through it between posts, and there are a lot of ideas that I can use even now... And, especially things to teach my kids how to make.<<<
That is what I was attempting to do, teach you kids the old ways and many of you are willing to learn.
Once you get in the swing of it, good cooking does not take any longer than the boxes of chemicals that we consider easy.
Do take a look at the thread, most are simple, some even cheap to make.
Then you can start on threads one and two, for this is three.
My love to all of you.
Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 Vol. 12 April 23
4-23-2010 | Red_Devil 232
Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 5:02:25 AM by Red_Devil 232
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2498880/posts?page=2
>>>I had heard that regular disposable canning jar lids have a shelf life of only a couple years.
Is that really the case? <<<
I have heard the same thing for years... But, I consider your quality control visual check much more important than their sales boosting shelf life rumors...
Come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing any ‘Best by’ or ‘Use Before’ date on any of them.
I do know that I found a box of them behind a couple of jars of an experimental recipe of mulberry jam that we didn’t really like, that were 9 years old according to the date on the jars. I assume the lids were the same age, and they worked perfectly...
I think you are right on track though, try to rotate, visually inspect before use...
>>>I think a three variety tree would be great, go for it ....<<<
I was thinking of cutting scions from an early, a mid season and a late apple to graft on it. That way one tree would give a full season of apples...
Thinking of visiting my old college roommate (the pomology major - who I always introduced as my ‘fruity roommate’ which never went over too well with him.) now it is his grandchildren who mostly run their several hundred acres of orchards, and get some cuttings from varieties I don’t already have - maybe some of his experimental trees.
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