Fixed Income living this winter, could be big problems

Yep--our winter wood is cut and stacked, for less than $100. Lucky we live right by a sawmill--very little gas expended, no need for a chain saw, etc.

I am amazed that some roaringly healthy neighbors run the ac to death, use the dryer in the hot desert summer rather than hang dry laundry, etc when they know they could not afford enough heat last winter. Come on, a penny saved today is a penny you can spend this winter.

Also, using scrap wood (not pressure treated) in the bbq grill saves cooking expenses AND doesn't heat up the house.

I remember a pbs show a few years back--think it was 1940's house about Brits during ww2. Showed their determined effort to save energy. We should do the same--and should realize it is just as important a war effort.

Friend of mine, my closest friend probably, is disabled. He lives on around 500 bucks a month. If propane gets much higher I don't know how he'll be able to afford it. Last time I talked to him he still owes 700 or 800 bucks on the propane in his tank right now. He's about as self sufficient as his disability allows but with gas, food and everything else going up I don't know how he is going to make it. I know for a fact that he let his medigap insurance go because he couldn't pay for it. It was like 100 bucks a month.

I help him out as much as I can with chores and and getting him as self sufficient as possible but he just doesn't have much cash to work with every month.

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Respect The Cactus!

We have just started this to help out the seniors of our communities.....may give you some ideas.
http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/art...dopt-pensioner

an update...http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/art...nsioner-update

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Shazza the Vegemite Kid
Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk
http://www.rosnasharnfarm.com
Etsy Store.. RosnasharnFarm

because i have known and lived within a few miles of most of them for over fifty yrs., when you live near a few small towns, everyone knows everyone else. especially the people that worked for the state or IBM for over 40 yrs. there isn't much you don't know about anyone if you listen instead of talk at the VFW and FD. personally, i'm a prepper and have always prepared for the next yr as though it was going to be 1932.
i retired with pension and life time med for my wife and I, as did many of the people that i was writing about. while we're carring food in the back door, our poor well taken care of neighbors are carring it out the front door.
I'm also a Vet that could go to the VA if I had to but don't plan on getting much from them if you have any kind of insurance. although i did get a free pr of glasses after i paid them fifty dollars for the exam which would have been free if i had went through my ins.

Fantastic idea!!

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So those of us in these overpopulated parts of the country should say "Oh well" and let them starve since we haven't known them since we were knee-high to a grasshopper?

I have posted on freecycle and on craigslist a couple times when I have gotten food for free with coupons and tried to drop it off to the people who could use it. But a lot of elderly people on fixed incomes don't go online, and I really don't leave the house very often. Tried asking at church a couple times, but all I am told is that they have a basket in the foyer for donations of food. And I do put stuff in the basket, but I would like to know that someone in need is getting help.

Kayleigh

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http://kayleighjeanne.blogspot.com

I think you can tell who needs help just as you can tell who needs the disabled parking spot. Just watch and pay attention to what they do when shopping or what they are driving. I have parked several spaces away fro the disabled spots and follow someone into the store that was parked in the disabled spot and the limp and hobble into the store and when then get inside a miracle happens. They are cured and take off on a shopping spree at breakneck speed. And yes they have a tag hanging on the mirror. And when you are at the food bank and, although we haven't had to go that route yet, if you watch the people you can almost pick out the ones really in need. Some will drive up in a nice shinny new full size touring car like a Caddy or Ford LTD and be dressed like they just came from a wedding and then you have those that are either walking or driving an old needing washed car that looks like it is on its last trip and dressed in tattered clothes. Which ones would you think would need help. Now I am not saying that the people driving the new cars don't deserve help but again should the ones who can't afford the big gas drinking new cars be without so others can live their high class life style? we heat with wood and coal and I can see the price of gas making our heat bill be higher the coming winter as the saw mill is 7 miles away and the coal mine is 17 miles away and the chainsaw uses gas. We are starting to get our wood and coal now as we just got the truck fixed. Had to put a new fuel tank on the old girl so the liquid gold wouldn't leak out. Cheaper to pay $109.00 for the tank than lose gas. Yep if things keep going the way they are we that are on fixed income will be going hungry or stay cold come winter. And yes when it is cold our bedrooms upstairs get closed and we move to the living room downstairs so we can keep the heater going. Hope everyone stays warm and has a full tummy in the future. Sam

I already have my winter wood split and stacked and have now begun downing trees for "emergency" use and will have those split and stacked before winter.

I heat totally with wood. My electric bill for 2500 sq. feet of house is about 125 per month, I know I can do better but that is for all electric except heat. I don't have a/c. So I use a plethora of fans, and open windows.

My son and I help my mom with her wood and go weekly to haul it into the house for her in case she can't get to the woodshed.

I don't know how those up north will get by especially if they don't have family close by to help out.

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Be yourself - no one can tell you that you're doing it wrong!

Well as a senior and being disabled, I can tell you we've already downsized and live about as frugal as one can. But there is no way I will move in or be a burden to my children, and there's no way I'm moving to town.

Independence is essential to older folks. It's when you loose that independence that you get "old". After all, the older or more disabled you get, your world starts getting smaller and smaller. It's a loss that's hard to accept. Being able to still live independently and take care of yourself is...well, it enables you to still have "life".

It's something you just can't possibly understand until you get older. Kind of like trying to explain parenthood to people who don't have kids, but just seem know what they would do if they were you.

What I don't understand is how, without knowing someone, you can possibly know their financial situation. This "I can tell by looking at them" things is downright ignorant. You have no idea where, how, or why they acquired what they did.

Many seniors drive nice cars and have nice clothes. That's because they bought those cars, clothes, etc. just before they quit work knowing it would most likely be the last car, last decent clothes, etc. they would have in their lifetime. They got them so they would have them and not have to spend the money they didn't have in the future. They get bigger cars knowing that, physically, they will be able to get in and out later when they become more frail.

It never fails to amaze me that people almost "wish" others to live as low lifes before they extend the hand of compassion. It isn't our job to determine whether someone needs it or not. We do unto others because it's what we are suppose to do. We're not judge and jury.

It seems it would make them happier if someone drove an old junky car wearing torn overalls; instead of in a nice new car dressed up well. Of course, they have no idea that the guy in the old junk car is still making payments on that car because his credit is bad and he's upside down on value/loan of the car. They have no idea that the guy in new car has his car paid for so he won't have to make car payments and his car will last him until he can no longer drive. And, oh yeah, those nice clothes...they were on their way to a funeral, or doctor's appointment -- or maybe even just thought that accepting handouts hurt enough rather than to have to go and get them dressed like bums. Gesh, people are so judgmental!

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"Challenges are what make life interesting -- overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

I won't judge those people too quickly myself.

I have RA and when I get up from a sitting or lying position, my joints lock up. It takes a couple minutes of moving around to loosen them up.

This happens to me also getting out of a car. I limp and hobble into the grocery store, but by the time I get in there I'm ok again. I just can't walk around too long without pain, but for a half hour or so I can walk around at breakneck speed. Then the pain sets in, I have to sit, and the cycle starts over.

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this also happend to me, after i walk a couple hundred feet, i can almost run, but i don't have a handy cap sticker

karen (and ladykat)

Sounds like you live where folks DON'T really know each other. I figure if someone can go hiking with me long distances, can climb mountains, can hunt elk and pack out quarters, they can dang well make it to the clothes line with a load of clothes or don't need public help with utilities. I guess allergies are not a problem if you are out doing all those recreational activities. That isn't being judgmental, it is being realistic.

Karen--I AM a retired senior citizen. I KNOW how important it is to stay independent. BUT, there is nothing at all independent about refusing to move in with others (or let them move in with you) or refusing to move into town IF it requires assistance from the gubmint to heat and cool your place or keep gasoline at a price you can afford.

Some folks can afford to continue life as usual. As long as they understand they are aiding and abetting our nation's enemies, cool. They should NOT be complaining about the cost of living.

Some folks cannot afford to continue life as usual. They better get used to the idea the rest of us may not be ABLE to carry them. They better prepare for major lifestyle changes.

I have to wonder what our nation of whiners would have done in WWII? Or do they not get it that every barrel of foreign oil makes us one more barrel vulnerable? And that many, if not most, of those barrels are coming from people who's biggest aim in life is our downfall? Can't you just see us buying oil from Hitler, or importing rice from Japan during WWII?

Personally, I don't see the senior citizens whinning. Most have very legitimate complaints such the cost of health care, perscriptions, sky rocketing utilities, cost of food, etc. -- all when they get a whole $600 a month.

Point being, why should a senior have to leave their home in America if they can still get around and be independant? You'll never convince me that high prices aren't simply because of corporate greed.

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"Challenges are what make life interesting -- overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

But then again, whether you are convinced or not is not the point.

Survival is the point.

Maybe it is corporate greed. Maybe it isn't. Either way, you still have to cope.

And that $600 thing--that is very misleading. Some don't get much because they never earned much. They qualify for senior housing most places, after 65 can get medicare, and do have a raft of help with medical costs, etc.

They do NOT have to leave their home in America IF they have chosen a home they can afford. Why should being a certain age mean we get to keep our lifestyle if we cannot afford it?

OK not to start an argument BUT when you see the folks I am talking about buying all the top name brand stuff in the grocery stores and clothing stores and then going to the food bank and taking what others could and do need but can't get then it burn my a**. I am disabled and on a fixed income and can not do much but get dressed and care for myself. I have a newer car that was bought in 2005 and has a total of 21,000 miles on it, so that shows we stay home a lot. There is more mileage put on the car going to Dr appointments and getting meds as I can only get 30 days at a time so once a month it gets 60 miles for meds and usually anything else needed in town. And no I do not go to the food bank yet but if things keep going then we will most likely have to. And yes I have a 36 ft motor home that was bought in 1998 used and now is imposible to sale plus it is a great back up if power is off and we need to cook in it or an extra bedroom is needed. I love to watch people and can usually pick out fakes real quick. Just like the guy who gets a check for being disabled but works 8 hrs a day for pay under the table. And yes I have turned some in for doing that just as I would turn in a bank robber. I am not saying to sit and do nothing but if you can do a regular job you aren't disabled. I am amazed at how many people live in a big bubble and have no idea what goes on around them. Again I am just stating what I have observed. Same with following someone into a store or mall that has a disabled tag hanging on the mirror and limps all the way inside then they are off to the races to get their shopping done with a limp or anything. Open your eyes and start looking at what is going on. Sam

That was meant to read WITHOUT a limp. SDam

What's the worry? The government will take care of us. After the "stimulus" checks, they can just write some "energy" checks. Free money.

We have Social "Security" because it became the government's responsibility to care for us because we are too stupid to save. We are supposed to spend all we have and then beg for help when the hard times come.

I too limp and gimp from getting out of the car but by the time I am inside my knees are getting much better and I usually can walk pretty dern normal not always but most of the time. So some people should not be judging What they see at all till they know just what is what~!!
I am sure my rent will be going up, I just don't know yet how much but I am starting next month going to Raise my rent check myself and see what happens. The landlord pays to have the Propane Tank filled I have auxiliary heating with electric wall heaters and electric room heater. So that I pay for as I pay my own electricity.
But if it gets too far out of hand as I only take in $1,050 in SS before Medicare is taken out so I can't get too high in rent before I make some other living arrangements. Maybe even "rent" a spare bedroom from a friend and move in with them, which would help them out and help me out at the same time. and then I could still keep my dog m miniature horse and still raise a steer for food every 2 years~
And I have already mentioned that to them and they would be all for it~! Oh ya and they just installed a nice huge Wood Burning stove, big enough to heat the whole house and they have lots and lots of downed trees and woods on their property keeping warm living with them would be no problem at all.
And they have DSL and Satellite service so no big deal I would fit right in.
OH BTW I have stayed with these people for a year when we both moved to AZ. together some 20 years ago~!

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Oh my, dishes yet to wash and dry

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http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/0903/arabianknight/

Beeman,
There is an elderly man here that goes around and gets free wood, tree limbs, and saws them up and gives two widow ladies each a load of cut wood He is 83 I guess now. Him and his wife see they get to doctor and such. Just help. I did give him wood all he wanted at the time. He cuts in pieces to get in his pickup and them saws it up at home with electric chain saw. He does have a gas one to. As far as I know this is what he is really doing.

Here the county has free food once a month for low income seniors (and disabled I think too). Beans, rice, butter , cheese and gov surplus. They have to sign up for it. One guy wrote nasty letter I would call it to the paper complaining they did not give what they needed like meat. Cheese did not set with him. Most I do believe are happy to get it.

Food bank here is for local people in the area and I heard they can get it 6 times in any one year. I presume they check to see if out of work or so on. People donate to the food bank. Not just seniors but people in need.

Utility company and so on here has help for those in need of help on utitiles. State I think has a rent/heat credit deal.

Lot of us seniors do not quality for any of that help. Some of us have planned for retirement and are still managing to pay our bills. Yes, I have and to cut down on driving and few things.

Some suggested tips to go along with Explorers.

Keep thermo turned way down. Always were a hat or scarf. This helps keep the body temperature in. Use a heating pad under your feet when setting in a chair. If your feet and head are warm, your whole body feels warmer. Wear extra clothing.

When growing up my mom always wore a sweater and a scarf, dad always had a hat on. She positioned her chair where she could have her feet laying on a heating pad.

The old timers knew how to survive without heat pumps and furnaces. We can too if we just use our brains.