What would you do to achive your dreams?

What I did was plan early (for you young people on here). I got an education, a great job, saved and invested well and then bought my farm. I will retire in 3 years with a full pension at the age of 57, will be debt free, and we already produce almost everything we consume and could sell the extra if we had time. We have a milk cow that is sustained off grass only except for a hand full of grain at milking. We feed the extra milk to chickens and pigs. We have a garden, fruit trees and plants and have all the equipment we need and a well for water. We also have geese and turkeys and some horses for fun. We did make major sacrifices along the way but it has more than paid off and besides, it was a fantastic journey. Not like we were miserable along the way. Instead of getting divorced, it actualy strengthened our marriage and we are still happily together and are very close to our only son who shares our love of the farm and animals. Lots of people thought we were crazy along the way but we just didn't listen to them. You do what you feel you need to do and stop listening to the nay sayers!

If there is a foolish or negligent or crazy thing to do with your money we have already done it and had a lot of fun doing it but when the shtf you either change or go down. The most difficult thing about living debt free is not getting debt free but staying debt free. For that you need to change your way of thinking and being in this world. The sentence "We can always get more stuff" and the fact that you were contemplating selling your bed makes me shudder for you. Buying more stuff means spending more money. To downsize keep only the basics - beds, dressers, table and chairs, couch,TV etc. Don't sell it just to have to buy more later on. That also is not living lightly.

And make a detailed - honest - budget. That is one thing that will absolutely keep you debt free. I have often recommended the finance site that got us debt free because it is great and easy and all the information is free. gailvazoxlade.com

This is precisely where my wife and I hope to be in about 10 years (when I'll be 57). We just bought our 'homestead' and will start building it up this year.

Glad to see you succeeding.

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"I love a good debate but detest an argument, and get frustrated at those who can't tell the difference."

Not "WOULD", but "could" cost... Like most things, it all depends... A small SUPER INSULATED one room cabin would actually require very little heating or cooling. You can heat it very economically with a 5000btu electric heater and cool it equally economically with a 5000btu electric air conditioner. Neither have to run very much at all. If they dont have to run very much at all then you dont have to provide the infrastructure to allow for them running long periods of time that your scenerio requires. Smaller battery bank, less solar panels to charge that battery bank, etc, etc, etc...

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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy

"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman

Things are just things. Keep the tools that you need to be happy. Look for objects with beauty and function. Simple is easier to keep clean. How many pairs of shoes do you really need? I have 3 pair. I say GOOD for you.

I also plan to be debt free and sustainable in 5 years @ 62. I will not need to sell anything to do so. You need to make sure that you really need what you buy.