How to begin without getting discouraged

Tea_mama · #1 07/15/14, 02:34 PM

My husband and I purchased just under 24 acres two years ago with the intention of being as self-sufficient as possible. We have a 3/2 house and a barn, as well as about 1/2 our acreage in irrigated pasture and 1/2 in woods with a year round creek. We live in a prime growing location for essentially everything you could think of - we don't get harsh winters and only the occasional freeze.

While this all sounds ideal (and it is!), because we live in CA, the price is much higher than we would like to be at. My question is mainly geared toward my fellow CA homesteaders/High cost of living folks....How do you do it? We both work full time. We have one single car payment and a tractor payment. We tried to find a tractor used, but didn't have the cash, and so buying new was the only way to make it work. We don't live extravagantly, and really want to focus on "the simple" things. We don't have TV, I make most of our food from scratch, however working full-time outside the home makes that more difficult. We are feeling exceptionally discouraged and wondering if this dream is ever going to happen? Short of picking up and moving across the country, what are our options? We can't leave, as we have two boys at a critical age (one starting high school and one starting the local JC) as well as a baby under 1 year old.

Maybe I'm just looking for some success stories. Without a large lump sum of money, I just can't figure out how to make this work. It feels so counter-intuitive that I need gobs of money in order to live the simple life we are craving. We must be doing something wrong.

crazyfarm · #2 07/15/14, 02:43 PM

I'm not in CA, I'm in WY. Cost of living difference is extreme. However both my DH and I work out of the home. We have 2 toddlers as well. We've been at our house for 6 years and if you saw how many of our 40 acres we actually use you'd shake your head. We've tried things. We've had a calf. I've tried horses. I try gardening every year but boy I suck at that. We've been successful at poultry. I just planted an orchard. So 6 years and we use 5 acres and of that 2 of them are the house and kid yard. lol

So I guess I'd say set a goal per year and save toward it. Right now we are saving to add an apiary this spring. I have to buy all the supplies and I'd like to attend training classes. Having 2 kids as young as ours and working full time is a challenge. I do a lot with them strapped to my back or walking beside me "helping". Most of it gets done when they are asleep. The list is endless too!

As for cooking I cook all our dinners and lunches while we are at work. I plan it so that I have left overs from dinners I can container for lunch for a few days. I've done it for years. If you'd like meal planning help I can help there. I also shop on an extreme budget, once a month (except for staples) and plan my meals a month in advance.

The trees were purchased by combining 2 of our "sink funds" which is Dave Ramsey financial planning. We only became debt free a few years ago and it's changed everything. Before we never had money, now I can buy $400 worth of trees without my DH having a heart attack. So do try to learn to make your money work for you. You can do it!

crazyfarm · #3 07/15/14, 02:47 PM

Oh, craigslist for free stuff. Do it! When I need wood to build something, pallets, free from craigslist. When I wanted rock to put on the bottom of my greenhouse, free from craigslist. We have free chicken coops from craigslist. Free water barrels. It can be pretty amazing!

Tea_mama · #4 07/15/14, 03:03 PM

Glad to see that I'm not the only one - or maybe sad that others are as discouraged as me. I was an avid meal planner up until the baby was born. I even prepped over 60 meals in the freezer that we have just recently finished up. However, I love looking at other meal planning ideas, I get tired of our food! Plus, I need to really work on keeping it to a tight budget. With two teenage boys, you can imagine that I can't cut it too much.

That's a great idea about the free stuff. I need to be better at that.

I guess a lot of my frustration stems from the concept that I have to kill myself at work then get home and do another full-time job of maintaining the property and yet an additional full time job taking care of the kids/meals/cleaning/etc. There simply aren't enough hours in the day I guess.

People do it with so much less than we have (property wise). We have had chickens and loved them, we have a small garden, I can/preserve food, our neighbor runs cattle in our pasture and in exchange we get a free beef out of it....I feel like we are doing the right things, I just can't figure out how to make it all work. Or maybe there is some sort of "plunge" we have to take. Just don't know how to do it.

Vickie44 · #5 07/15/14, 03:11 PM

Keep following the path you are on , you will get there .

Do what you love and you will continue to be inspired and thus motivated.

The goal is the trip , not the destination

--------------------------------------------------------

I've been doing this for many years, thing s are finally pulling together in that I finally feel more comfortable with my successes, failures and the things I have yet to try.It can be discouraging to not have all you want right away , but your goal is worth working towards

crazyfarm · #6 07/15/14, 03:20 PM

While I suppose you could say I work 2 full time jobs and care for kids I don't see the homestead as work. If you do you might want to find something you love doing so you won't dislike doing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tea_mama

Glad to see that I'm not the only one - or maybe sad that others are as discouraged as me. I was an avid meal planner up until the baby was born. I even prepped over 60 meals in the freezer that we have just recently finished up. However, I love looking at other meal planning ideas, I get tired of our food! Plus, I need to really work on keeping it to a tight budget. With two teenage boys, you can imagine that I can't cut it too much.

That's a great idea about the free stuff. I need to be better at that.

I guess a lot of my frustration stems from the concept that I have to kill myself at work then get home and do another full-time job of maintaining the property and yet an additional full time job taking care of the kids/meals/cleaning/etc. There simply aren't enough hours in the day I guess.

People do it with so much less than we have (property wise). We have had chickens and loved them, we have a small garden, I can/preserve food, our neighbor runs cattle in our pasture and in exchange we get a free beef out of it....I feel like we are doing the right things, I just can't figure out how to make it all work. Or maybe there is some sort of "plunge" we have to take. Just don't know how to do it.

FarmboyBill · #7 07/15/14, 03:39 PM

I Think, tho I don't know what all you intended to use a tractor for, BUT, myself, I would have taken out a loan to buy a GOOD used tractor before I paid the money for a new one. Would have been MUCH less, even with the interest on the loan. With 1/2 of the place in woods, your not going to do much farming anyway.
I farm 14 acres, of which 12 is under the plow. I use a 1948 H Farmall, H and a 1934 Case CC Of the 2 I use the H WAY more.

Patchouli · #8 07/15/14, 03:39 PM

The only way we made it work was to have one person here fulltime over the years. What that person saved us in costs by raising our food, not having to eat out, keeping up with all the stuff that takes run the place with as little financial input as possible. etc made it worth it. You might want to look at how much you spend in convenience items due to the fact you both work, not to mention childcare, work clothes and that sort of thing. It's possible if one of you has a smaller paycheck you could save more by being at home. A lot of people work just to cover the expenses of them working and are unaware of it.

Tea_mama · #9 07/15/14, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyfarm

While I suppose you could say I work 2 full time jobs and care for kids I don't see the homestead as work. If you do you might want to find something you love doing so you won't dislike doing it.

I suppose I should say that the time invested is equivalent to that of a full time job. The problem therein is that I WANT to be on the homestead and with the kids.

Tea_mama · #10 07/15/14, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchouli

The only way we made it work was to have one person here fulltime over the years. What that person saved us in costs by raising our food, not having to eat out, keeping up with all the stuff that takes run the place with as little financial input as possible. etc made it worth it. You might want to look at how much you spend in convenience items due to the fact you both work, not to mention childcare, work clothes and that sort of thing. It's possible if one of you has a smaller paycheck you could save more by being at home. A lot of people work just to cover the expenses of them working and are unaware of it.

This is exactly what we are working towards. I'm finishing up my last year for my credential and begin my student teaching in January. Right now, I make the smaller paycheck, however my "extra" time is devoted to finishing my education. Once I'm placed in a classroom, our goal has always been that DH stay home and run the farm and the land and his "contribution" would be growing our food, watching the kids, etc while I worked and had lots of time off to help as well. Hopefully by that time, my paycheck will be more similar to that of my husband's and his "contribution" could be similar to what my bring home is (be it an actual contribution or a savings by him being at home).

MO_cows · #11 07/15/14, 05:02 PM

The simple life ain't so simple, is it??

Teenagers, and a baby, and a job, and a homestead? No wonder you feel overwhelmed, you are! Just keep plugging along as best you can. I hope those teens are helping you too, they are old enough to take on responsibility and it is good for them to have it.

Just keep slashing your budget wherever you can to get out of debt. Once you get that monkey off your back, you will have a lot more options. You should have been able to get a used tractor financed, it's a shame you didn't find that out. Shame on the dealership who sold you a new one instead of a trade in!

JoePa · #12 07/15/14, 05:05 PM

One thing people need to consider when they pick a place to live is - the cost of living, home prices, taxes .etc - there are places that take too much of your money and you get nothing back - sure there are places with jobs that give you good salaries but then all of the costs take it right away from you and you would be better off if you lived in a place where things are cheaper and you can enjoy life - just because the kids are in school or whatever shouldn't deter you from moving - I had 5 kids that were in school and had to move a number of times - they got along fine -

Bubba1358 · #13 07/15/14, 05:22 PM

I did a debt consolidation for more than I owed that amounted to an unsecured loan. That allowed me to take a "plunge" - 2 cows, 4 pigs, rabbits, and a bunch of fencing, plus the auxiliary equipment necessary for it all (water buckets, rabbit cages, etc., etc.). The extra money we pay for the loan is more than offset by the milk products alone that we're getting from the cow - and she's a low producer at 2 gallons a day. Once the payments go away in a few years, we will be WAY ahead financially. I figured a milk cow that produces for 10 years makes you about $10k. Of course, if you count that against your hourly rate.......

http://homesteadcatholic.blogspot.co...-milk-cow.html

I was blessed with a stay-at-home remote job (I'm a technical writer by trade), which allowed me to do it. Prior to the plunge, I had gardened, raised chickens and sheep, and planted an orchard.

I guess I don't really have a point, per se, other than don't be afraid to consider unconventional ways to get a jump-start on it all.

After all, we homesteaders are unconventional by default, right?

TnAndy · #14 07/15/14, 08:28 PM

You've been at this 2 years ? Homesteading is like planting fruit trees.....it MANY years to see fruit.

People come here, to the 'land of unfinished projects' (

) and I point out I'm 32 years into a 50 year project.....and the NEXT guy won't have to do near as much !

The first 20-25 of those years, we both worked day jobs, and there were years we didn't even have time for a garden. There were times we barely had the money to make the land payment and keep up with other bills. That's simply the way life is for most people unless a money tree falls on you.

But you keep on trucking and working and improving things, and one day you'll look around and wonder "HOW did we get all this done ?"....and you'll realize the journey was as least as important as the destination.

FarmboyBill · #15 07/15/14, 08:57 PM

The only not to get discouraged at trying to farm is to star doing it rich lol

cfuhrer · #16 07/15/14, 11:09 PM

LIST-MANIA!!!!

Lists, lists and more lists.

We are stuck in town, in an area with no agriculture, working four jobs between us, starting a business, raising a baby, and paying down a mountain of debt. The only thing keeping me from throwing my hands up and walking away from the dream is my lists.

Lists of what animals we want, lists of what equipment we want, lists of what we need to learn about, lists of ideal property features, lists ordered by cost or infrastructure priority.

By the time we are in a financial position to buy a piece of property and start homesteading we should have a notebook that will step-by-step walk us through our building process.

Spamela · #17 07/16/14, 01:16 AM

I feel your pain

My husband and I both have good jobs. And we grow and produce almost all of our feed for our animals, buy very little, and don't really have a lot of luxuries either, yet there still never seems to be much of the paycheck left over.

Then I look at people around us. Brand new cars, remodeling their houses, new equipment. I know where they work... they can't make much more than we do. I guess they're just more comfortable at living in debt than I am. lol

One thing I always force myself to do is put a part of EVERY pay check into savings. Even if it's only $50 I always put SOMETHING in there.

I work part time night shift, so I probably could work more hours, but I have come to the realization that I would rather be poor and be at home with my kids and hubby, than be rich and always gone.

Tea_mama · #18 07/16/14, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePa

One thing people need to consider when they pick a place to live is - the cost of living, home prices, taxes .etc - there are places that take too much of your money and you get nothing back - sure there are places with jobs that give you good salaries but then all of the costs take it right away from you and you would be better off if you lived in a place where things are cheaper and you can enjoy life - just because the kids are in school or whatever shouldn't deter you from moving - I had 5 kids that were in school and had to move a number of times - they got along fine -

Agree for sure, however, the boys have moved multiple times (before I was around) and never have really gotten a chance to develop roots. We have looked at other locations, however we are still in a "cheaper" area of CA. At the end of the day, we have to be somewhere that I can make a living teaching. We have bounced back and forth the idea of moving out of state, but at the end of the day, our lives are here. Our family, our friends. Both DH and I have moved out of state before and found it to be exceptionally lonely. If we had to, we would. I know that's a conscious decision we have made - one that will make this process more difficult. We go round and round and round. But again, to us, family and being close to them is more important.

Tea_mama · #19 07/16/14, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

The simple life ain't so simple, is it??

Teenagers, and a baby, and a job, and a homestead? No wonder you feel overwhelmed, you are! Just keep plugging along as best you can. I hope those teens are helping you too, they are old enough to take on responsibility and it is good for them to have it.

Just keep slashing your budget wherever you can to get out of debt. Once you get that monkey off your back, you will have a lot more options. You should have been able to get a used tractor financed, it's a shame you didn't find that out. Shame on the dealership who sold you a new one instead of a trade in!

Oh the boys are wonderful. My hubby doesn't know what he'll do when they leave home.

As I type, I'm working on a brand new format for my budget. The old one just wasn't working. Needed a facelift. My friend sent me her template and I'm really liking it.

crazyfarm · #20 07/16/14, 10:20 AM

Ha I can so relate to you! I walk down the property line and think, this needs done and this and this and this and this. I've got parts of all of them started but not a one finished. Same with our house. Our master bath is missing the tub and half the carpet, the kitchen cabinets are 1/2 stripped and on and on. I think I might have project ADHD.

Actually it might be wine induced. I tell my DH ALL THE TIME. If I walk by with a bottle of wine and a crow bar STOP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnAndy

You've been at this 2 years ? Homesteading is like planting fruit trees.....it MANY years to see fruit.

People come here, to the 'land of unfinished projects' (

) and I point out I'm 32 years into a 50 year project.....and the NEXT guy won't have to do near as much !

The first 20-25 of those years, we both worked day jobs, and there were years we didn't even have time for a garden. There were times we barely had the money to make the land payment and keep up with other bills. That's simply the way life is for most people unless a money tree falls on you.

But you keep on trucking and working and improving things, and one day you'll look around and wonder "HOW did we get all this done ?"....and you'll realize the journey was as least as important as the destination.