Browsed by
Month: January 2015

Nine Things You Need To Live A DIY/MYO Life

Nine Things You Need To Live A DIY/MYO Life

A lot of people go into the the preparedness/self-sufficiency/homesteading lifestyle thinking they can buy whatever they need and they will be fine. However, that is far from the truth. Very far from the truth.Much of this lifestyle comes from the fact that most people want the simple life. They want to save money and provide for themselves. That is great! It is exactly why I wanted the simple life. But the “simple life” involves more than saving money and providing…

Read More Read More

Want to Save Money? Turn Down The Thermostat!

Want to Save Money? Turn Down The Thermostat!

We all like to be warm in the winter. Some people like a cooler house and some people like a warmer house. I like a warmer house, but my budget does not like a warmer house. So I try to keep the thermostat set to 66-68 degrees.  Two weeks ago, however, I caved. It was so cold! My house was freezing so I turned it up to 70 degrees. Being that high took the edge off of the chilly. This…

Read More Read More

Pay Attention To Your Bills!

Pay Attention To Your Bills!

Something interesting happened to me yesterday. I got my utility bill for last month. The fun thing is that it went down!Please let me back up and explain a few things. My whole house is electric. My bill will never be under $200 unless I put in solar panels or not live there for a month. For the last four years, I have been on budget billing which was working out for me.Until October. The utility company decided to raise…

Read More Read More

Preparedness on the Cheap: Learning Your Evacuation Routes

Preparedness on the Cheap: Learning Your Evacuation Routes

No one wants to think about evacuating their home. I know I would not leave mine until I absolutely had to or was forced to leave. However, in being prepared, we have to think about all possibilities whether we want to or not.I live in a rural area. I know my evacuation routes by heart. I have them marked on a map that is always in my vehicle. I carry maps of Minnesota and Iowa because those are the two…

Read More Read More

Need to Make Money? Sell Something You Don’t Need!

Need to Make Money? Sell Something You Don’t Need!

I have been a purging fool the last couple of weeks. And it feels good! However, I have trouble with some of this stuff just going to the thrift shop or Goodwill. The stuff we are getting rid of is really nice stuff.This week’s mission is to sell something you don’t need anymore. We all have books, clothes, crystal dishware, drinking glasses, etc. that are just collecting dust on the shelf or in a closet somewhere. Find one thing you…

Read More Read More

Making a Budget: No One Wants To, But We Need To!

Making a Budget: No One Wants To, But We Need To!

In the 13 Ways To Save Money In The New Year post, point #13 was to find someone to be an accountability partner for spending and budget making ideas.Before you can look for an accountability partner, you need to do something first. You need to make a budget.I know, I know. Making a budget is really, really, really hard. I know because I struggle with it too. However, I am determined to make a budget this year, adjust it when necessary,…

Read More Read More