Prepping Financially

[Ninn]

OK, due to stubborness on the part of certain household members who shall remain nameless, it is now necessary for me to prep cash for the coming winter. I have good reason to believe that DH will be unemployed in October or November for the winter season and will not have enough weeks in to qualify for unemployment benefits. Our utilities are included in our rent, so I know how much to budget for that. Our grocery bill is getting lower all the time, and I am back to stocking things up while they are on sale. Aside from cat food and cleaning supplies (going green there too cuz it's cheaper) what other expenses should I factor in? We will have paid our car insurance for 6 months, so that won't be an issue, and the trash removal bill is paid quarterly, so that will be covered too. What am I missing?

[Freeholder]

An emergency fund? You should have some money set aside for unexpected car repairs, illnesses, and so on.

Kathleen

[Terri]

Will you have car payments?

It is better to have cash than to pay off your car early, but, if you can do both it would be ideal.

Also, will your land lord allow a garden? Seeds at the dollar store and some other stores are VERY cheap, and fresh veggies will lower this summers food bill. That gives more money to be set aside.

[Ninn]

The car is completely paid off and with luck, all repairs will be completed before that.

I've got a veggie garden started. Well, sort of started. It's dug and seeds are started indoors. I'm hoping to put my peas and carrots in the ground this weekend if it stays nice. I can can and bake. If we can find a decent freezer, we're planning to purchase 1/2 a cow, a pig and 50 chickens from the meat packing plant.

My landlord has even encouraged me to come over to his property and keep goats and chickens if I want to! It's a 2 mile trip to feed them every day, but it might be worth it.

I had not given thought to an emergency fund, either. I'm hoping we will have enough income to put away enough for basic expenses. An emergency fund may have to come from selling our second car.

This is where it gets hard. DH is usually working full time hours by now. This year, he is still collecting partial UE and only working part-time hours. I'm looking at our budget very closely to see where we can trim it. I already know that cable and internet will be turned off over the winter. We'll get books and movies out of the library and spend our time doing household projects like painting and sewing, etc. We both crochet, so laying in extra yarn is considered a necessity for the winter months.

Anything else I've missed?

[okiemom]

Always have a "Murphy fund" on top of your emergency fund.

6 mos living expenses. More if you can.

[stanb999]

Hi, NiN

As we talked last year, things are gonna get more interesting. The pace will quicken.

#1 don't plant a darn thing outside till may 25th... Nothing. It's too wet and too cold. This isn't a suggestion... Don't waste your seeds. That valley won't see no sun till then anyway. LOL

Things to do to save...
Buy meat and veggies at the auction down Nicholson. Eggs are 50 cents a dozen right now. When the veggies come in they will be about free. A hog or lamb for slaughter is always cheap there too. If the hubby wishes to I'll take a trip down to show him the place. Just PM me. I love going anyway.

Take a several trips up to the maines and the aldi's. We just got boneless/skinless chicken breast for 1.69 / Ground beef was 1.89 and cans of veggies are 29 to 49 cents at the aldi's. I filled the car trunk with cans for less than 100 bucks.. I mean filled. Talk about a "Low rider".

There are also a bunch of farmers up my way more than willing to sell some livestock and produce... Ask around.


Make a stock pile of food... Then you just watch the snow pile up and pray for more, it's what we do.

[Ninn]

Hiya Stan! I would love to check out that auction sometime. DH doesn't shop, but I enjoy it. We're doing well at Aldi's and Maine's, even on our limited budget. I also found a source of shelf stable milk at really good prices-over at Discount Foods, where the green grocer used to be on Upper Court St. in Binghamton.

I'm seriously considering the idea of raising some meat, but cannot for the life of me figure out where the feed money would come from. I'm probably better off buying it ready to go to freezer camp.........lol.

PM me. We live in the same neck of the woods and you seem to have a pretty good handle on things. I really need to get back into the swing of things.

BTW-you'll be saddened to hear that my plum tree is coming down. The trunk is cracked halfway through. Gonna hafta plant some new ones.

[Blu3duk]

What are your contingency plans for the freezer should the power go out for a few days or weeks? Do you have a genset? how about canning supplies and a camp stove/turkey cooker to do your canning on? Do ya have a pressure canner to can your meats should ya need to?

And then after canning your frozen goods will ya have heat to keep the jars from freezing should the power be off?

A genset can be run a couple to 4 hours per day to keep a freezer cold enough not to thaw out in many cases during the winter, but that requires fuel and oil to keep the genset going. storing fuel requires that you use a stabilizer too, and can figure the amount needed in case everyone else has similar ideas and you have no way to get fuel in town for awhile at the pumps.... logistics is a problem area for most folks as they tend to over look the larger picture and play the "what if" all the way out for more than just themself [not saying anyone here is like that, and this thread is asking for overlooked problem areas].
Then there is the contingency plans for the contingencies..... yep, time on ones hands can get to the point of over thinking, and wanting to shore up all the areas that seem to be weak.....

William
Idaho

[Ninn]

Originally Posted by Blu3duk

What are your contingency plans for the freezer should the power go out for a few days or weeks? I'll put the freezer in the basement, which is unbelieveably cold, to keep stuff safe while I can or dehydrate it.

Do you have a genset? Nope. What's that?

how about canning supplies and a camp stove/turkey cooker to do your canning on? I have supplies for my water bath canner. A pressure canner is on my list to purchase over the summer. We do have a camp stove, and I am storing fuel in small canisters in the basement. I'm taking a section and locking it up for my preps.

Do ya have a pressure canner to can your meats should ya need to?Not yet, but working on it. Also looking for a decent dehydrator. I can make soups with dehydrated veggies and meats, right? I love soup and fresh bread.

And then after canning your frozen goods will ya have heat to keep the jars from freezing should the power be off?We have our heat included in our rent, but I worry because it also provides our hot water. I am investing in a ventless propane heater for our apt. in case of power outages. I have 1 20lb tank put up and am purchasing 2 more, just in case. Also going into cold storage downstairs.



A genset can be run a couple to 4 hours per day to keep a freezer cold enough not to thaw out in many cases during the winter, but that requires fuel and oil to keep the genset going. storing fuel requires that you use a stabilizer too, and can figure the amount needed in case everyone else has similar ideas and you have no way to get fuel in town for awhile at the pumps.... logistics is a problem area for most folks as they tend to over look the larger picture and play the "what if" all the way out for more than just themself [not saying anyone here is like that, and this thread is asking for overlooked problem areas].
Then there is the contingency plans for the contingencies..... yep, time on ones hands can get to the point of over thinking, and wanting to shore up all the areas that seem to be weak.....

William
Idaho

Wow, William. You covered alot of things I had forgotten about. Any suggestions for storing water? It will freeze in the basement and there is just no room to do so upstairs. I have about 5 gallons stored so far.

[cider]

How about you getting a job Ninn? I don't know your circumstances but most times it is the best option when funds are low.

[Ninn]

I am medically prohibited from working, or I would be doing so. I hate having to sit around home and just take care of the house. I've even been looking for some under the table stuff, just to help with a cushion. However, since I am no longer able to lift more than 25 pounds, most of what is available in my area is out of the question.

I'm open to babysitting, and have a poster up, but am not holding my breath. It's a pretty depressed area.

[cider]

Well be careful lifting the kiddos if you go the babysitting route! Some of them can get quite chunky. lol

Otherwise it sounds like you have gotten good advice. I will second the advice on emergency funds and a freezer. Our freezer saves us so much money when I find good deals and also when the garden is going great guns.

An emergency fund will keep you from falling over the cliff.

[DW]

plan xmas for no money, savings b/c stuff happens, cash on hand, too. Is a wood stove possible?

[Ninn]

DW-we cannot have a woodstove because we rent. However, we are getting a ventless propane heater. Christmas is already planned for no money. Everyone is getting afghans made by Ninn and Boppy. Savings is the next thing to work on. I'm also looking for some decent oil lamps and maybe some wall brackets with reflectors for room lighting. We've got candles, but those don't do much for lighting a room to read by.

I get the feeling that I'm on the right track. Thank you!

[wogglebug]

The emergency "over-the-top" second fund is a good idea. Things are likely to keep increasing in price, and that includes particularly the utilities that are included in your rent. You probably should allow for inflation, and particularly it all turns to skat and fewmets if your landlord is forced to increase your rent substantially to cover his costs.

[Ninn]

If i can pick up some part time work, and get doctor's permission to do so, I can use my pay for our secondary emergency fund. I have a place to lock that cash up so that I can't get at it without proving it's an emergency.........mom's house!

[mamakatinmd]

nin
If you leave room in your water storage bottle (I re-use 2 liter soda bottles) even if it freezes it should be ok. You can bring up a few to the apartment to thaw as needed.
Kat

[Pearl B]

Originally Posted by Ninn

I am medically prohibited from working, or I would be doing so. I hate having to sit around home and just take care of the house. I've even been looking for some under the table stuff, just to help with a cushion. However, since I am no longer able to lift more than 25 pounds, most of what is available in my area is out of the question.

I'm open to babysitting, and have a poster up, but am not holding my breath. It's a pretty depressed area.

Can you do light housework? Ive done that between jobs.
Some seniors would gladly pay for you to come once a week to dust,vac, sweep up & just generally clean up the place. If you could find 2-4 customers, that could help.
Ive heard some people do pretty well running once a week store errands as well.
Unless garbage pick-up is included in the rent, I would compost all left-overs, throw up a burn barrel for paper/cardboard products ( if permisable in your situation) & use all the plastic milk or pop bottles to store extra water in

I hope this helps

[Ninn]

WIHH~ yes, I can make that type of thing. My usual custom orders have been for infant and toddler clothes, wool soakers for the cloth diapering community and some afghans. I'm currently branching out into reusable market bags, adult wearables, etc. I can read a pattern and can make just about anything there is a pattern for, with the exception of amigurumi crochet. That's just too small.....lol.

I've got several things we no longer need up for sale locally. It's time to pare things down.

I'm seriously considering letting those infernal cats go, too. They drive me insane! I love them, but they create a ton of extra work and expense.

The ONLY people getting Christmas gifts are the grandkids. Half of them are done already, so I can't quit now and only do some of the kids. The adults all know that there is just no cash. And I collect and return empty cans and bottles along the roads in my area to fund my yarn addiction. That way I am not taking money out of the household funds.

I'd never considered offering crochet lessons. I bet if I offered them all summer, I could make some decent money for winter expenses. There is always someone asking me if I can show them how to do what I do. Thanks for the great idea!

[Chuck-prime]

Originally Posted by Ninn

OK, due to stubborness on the part of certain household members who shall remain nameless, it is now necessary for me to prep cash for the coming winter. I have good reason to believe that DH will be unemployed in October or November for the winter season and will not have enough weeks in to qualify for unemployment benefits. Our utilities are included in our rent, so I know how much to budget for that. Our grocery bill is getting lower all the time, and I am back to stocking things up while they are on sale. Aside from cat food and cleaning supplies (going green there too cuz it's cheaper) what other expenses should I factor in? We will have paid our car insurance for 6 months, so that won't be an issue, and the trash removal bill is paid quarterly, so that will be covered too. What am I missing?

Layoff's are coming to my company too. I've been praying that, if it would be His will, that the Lord would keep me put!


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