CRISIS For those of you about to lose your UI...

summerthyme

Administrator
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One thing about gleaning (what Yarrow suggested): ASK FIRST!! At least TRY to find the owner or a manager and request permission to glean. Assure them you don't expect perfection, and that you hate lawyers and lawsuits.

It isn't so much that they're greedy, as they're gunshy- a lawsuit because someone breaks an ankle in an irrigation ditch, or "got sick" from some gleaned potatoes or tomatoes can cost them a good part of their profits... even if they win.

Maybe offer to donate a certain percentage of what you glean- 10%- IN THE FARM's NAME- to the local soup kitchen or food pantry.

Somehow, you have to find a way to distance yourself from the pure users and takers, in the mind of the folks who can help you out if they will.

Summerthyme
 

biere

Veteran Member
Start reading on the net about solar power and start living like you only have solar power and a tiny battery bank. Leaving lights on or having the hot water heater keeping water hot all day may be something you change. Depends on your setup and what you are doing.

I don't have a landline and where I now live there is only one provider for landline service and they are extremely expensive. My cell phone does my internet and phone needs but it is not really cheap until you add up the options out here.

Doing some cleaning or decluttering for some people can get you stuff you can use or sell in a yard sale or give to others who will use it or whatever. I always tell folks about new ideas and they often mention when they have this or that item that might be useful to me. For the most part I get stuff free since I help folks out if they need help or I repair something for them or whatever.

While I have a job and what not I am trying to live like my pay got cut, after reading about cali my new idea is to see if I could live on minimum wage or not and just bank the rest for preps and what not.

I have some luxuries that would get cut if I lost my job and I am slowly cutting them out because right now luxuries are just something I would rather unload in some instances and that money can go to more useful places.

As mentioned the talking to bill and loan people is a good thing but now and then it backfires. Sometimes the bank will ask where your items are kept for the loan so they know where to send the repo man, this only happens if you are already behind I think.

I got an offer for a cheap interest rate to redo one loan I have and I plan to go into my bank and talk to them about it. I would love to have the bank come close to what this place offered since I prefer to deal with my bank but they need to compete with what else is out there as well.

While I am on a well I am conserving water big time in case I have to move to a place with city water. It is amazing how trying new ideas and trying to conserve things will teach you new stuff.

Biggest thing I try to do is help others with ideas on how to save money and what not and if you don't let people know you are having problems it is hard for them to help you. I don't need to know why someone is having problems to try to offer some ideas, just need to know someone is having trouble and living paycheck to paycheck or something.

I greatly enjoy helping others and now and then I have relied on others helping me when I had a rough time. That is just how life goes in my opinion and it really helps to know you have people out there who would help you if you needed it.
 

KerryAnn

Inactive
Break out the phone book and look for the salvage grocery stores and ethnic markets in your area. Both have prices farrrrrrrr below the grocery stores. In fact, I can often find organics at the salvage house without any trouble for less than I'd pay for an on-sale conventional of the same type of item. Our ethnic markets beat the local mega-mart on prices for dry beans and sometimes for rice.
 

Samson

Inactive
I am currently employed but I decided to make cuts now to prepare for an uncertain future.

  • Cable TV bundle contract expired. Got rid of Cable and Land Line.
  • Got Magic Jack for phone to save minutes on cell phone. $20 a year for unlimited calling on Land Line phone.
  • Shop at Aldi for grocerys. Big savings.
  • Roll my own change-do not use those machines that take 15%.
  • I roll my own smokes. Yes I am evil, I smoke. Big savings.
  • $42 a month for broadband internet only. Gotta have it. I watch TV on it also.
  • Got over air Digital box and Antenna from radio shack. 17 channels crystal clear including all local channels. $60 for both one time free forever.
  • PBR for $12 a case. Gotta have it :)
 
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