Posted on 11/09/2009 1:56:12 PM PST by Chickensoup
So, are you doing anything different economically?
Are you cutting back?
Will Christmas and Thanksgiving be any different?
Are you spending, saving, paying down?
Yes, I’ve been repairing and reusing more and more.
Thanksgiving is coming from our the garden and a bird taken in the spring. And Christmas is baked goods and homemade gifts.
Starving the beast every way possible.
Gone Galt too. Did the hardest part in 2008.
Thanksgiving....we’ll do turkey, sweet potato, etc. Everybody coming...bring something to add and BYOB.
Christmas, lots of homemade gifts this year. No gift cards, cash, etc. for anyone. Good friends are getting Rumtopfs from the garden.
Shrugging would be an understatement. I’m in full Galt mode now.
Went semi-Galt years ago.
Expected to be full-Galt by now, but familial duties have interfered.
No debt since 1991.
Spending LOTS of money, but pretty much only for setting up my little ‘gulch’ as a self sufficient refuge, horribly expensive medication to maintain an invalid parent’s comfort, food and utilities.
Exactly! Last year's November issue of Men's Health magazine had Obambi on the cover. When I saw it, I called and cancelled my subscription immediately. I told them exactly why.
Whenever I see a magazine with Obama's face on the cover at the store, I either turn it over or cover it with another magazine. I also make sure to state something about not wanting to have that communist staring at me when I'm shopping. I don't care who hears me - the more, the merrier.
Not a bad idea. Closing shop.
Glad you are enjoying it. I have cut back my work, paying off my mortgages...hope to have all gone in three years... and am buying essentials.
Wish I had a work-group to banter around information and ideas about self-sufficiency.
I am working hard on that front.
Great to hear. I have had my best year ever, I am pulling back though. I do not want to support Magog. I hope with in five years to need only 1/5 of current income.
I would love to hear about your full Galt mode.
I would love to hear about full Galt and how youare doing it. Always looking for ideas.
Re: “How many of us had parents that came through the Great Depression (the first one, not the Obama one), World War II and the Cold War and lived lives of self reliance, frugality, sensible consumption and freedom from debt as a natural way of life?”
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Yes, I’m one of those ‘kids’ of Great Depression parents — our motto here was “use it up, make it do,”yada yada yada — I can’t remember the rest of it.
But yes, though I have spent freely over time, I come back to my fiscally conservative roots at times and this is certainly the time.
Funny story: While wandering local mall yesterday I spied a desk at Restoration Hardware — on it was a silver stapler for sale for about $30. It was the flimsy knock-off of an ancient stapler my father had from the fifties. It’s still here, with me, at my house!
The Obamabots I know are always spending every dime; then crying poor. Sickening — they are not broke but love to whine about their situation after they have spent $200K redoing their house, or another one has spent thousands on travel and high end meals and souvenirs. Please...
These people don’t understand why I don’t spend more but I say I’ve spent on what I NEED (without telling them what I spend ON, of course, like a giant safe and ammo...)
RE: “Smaller Christmas/Hanukkah this year but for different reasons than most: my husband just got a huge, massive promotion, we’re moving and buying a new house in December, so all money will be dumped into a down payment since we’re taking a hit on our current house. I feel guilty - so many I know are losing their jobs, having their hours cut, etc., and here we are doing incredibly well. Sigh”
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Don’t feel guilty; making big down payment is excellent and congrats on doing well. SOMEONE has to be doing well! Just don’t spend with the ‘wrong’ people now! I am doing all I can to make sure I deal with like-minded people when doing any spending.
RE: “Went semi-Galt years ago.
Expected to be full-Galt by now, but familial duties have interfered.
No debt since 1991.
Spending LOTS of money, but pretty much only for setting up my little ‘gulch’ as a self sufficient refuge, horribly expensive medication to maintain an invalid parent’s comfort, food and utilities.”
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I hear you! There are just some things that come up and money must be spent — i.e., buy new curtains? Nah — wash the old ones - again — but my dog has a health condition requiring expensive food and pills and since I ‘rescued’ her I feel an obligation — I consider her an addition to overall home security so that helps, but yes, there are some things that crop up that we must spend on. I would not go out and get three more pets, though.
I could easily spend a small fortune renovating my house inside and out but I just won’t do it. Maybe I’ll get a few poinsettia plants for the porch at Christmas and be done with it.
"Wish I had a work-group to banter around information and ideas about self-sufficiency."
Know what you mean. Forums are okay but there is a lot to be said for face-to-face sharing of ideas and skills.
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