I have
never been one to just sit by and wait to see what happens - the what-ifs,
maybes, most likely to happen, probable events.
To be quite honest I’ve been on guard ever since this president was
re-elected because I’ve never trusted him.
Everything I said would happen, has.
My BFF told me it was uncanny just how accurate my predictions were, but
more specifically the order in which things unfolded and how quickly. I knew he would make a big mess of things,
but what I didn’t expect was that congress would be so agreeable to let him.
Once
Iran was bombed and the strait filled up with oil tankers I knew gas prices
would shoot up and in one week they did here by 60¢ a gallon, now it is over a
dollar higher. Gas prices affect everything, especially the cost of goods
and services because everything needs
to be transported. Our already high
prices will begin to rise further based on oil prices, including heating our
homes, trash removal, etc. Our bottom
line will be affected. To survive this
next round of craziness conservation will be crucial.
A
couple weeks ago I parked the Subaru
and started taking the bus to work again and I’m actually happy about it. I need the fresh air and exercise and I know
it is really good for me. Admittedly, I
was getting a little bit lazy so it feels good to be my former active self once
again. My plan is to only drive to work
when I do the senior activities that run outside of the regular bus schedule
which doesn’t happen very often.
I’m
picking up my groceries en route as well so I don’t need the car as much for
that. I am able to walk from work to a Winco
supermarket and also Trader Joes. I have
an Albertsons along the bus route to my home so I can stop and get off, do my
shopping and then catch the next bus home.
I can walk a little further up to the airport and catch a different bus
that will take me to Fred Meyer or Home Depot.
I am also within walking distance to my bank. I can take the bus to my doctor too.
I’ve
aired up the tires on both of my bikes and charged up the battery on my
E-bike. I fixed the flat tire on the
cargo trailer so it is ready to go if I need to do a bigger bulkier shop. I can ride my bike to the bank, many stores,
including two different feed stores and even Home Depot if I need to.
On the
days I do need to drive to work my plan is to make it really count by running an
errand either on the way to work or on the way home. Once a month I plan to be doing a Costco run
and will pop into Wal-Mart or Grocery Outlet and the feed store while I’m at it
(only if I need to) as they are located nearby.
Other than that, the plan is to acquire what I need by other means. Because my fuel will not be used as much I’ve
added fuel stabilizer to my tanks to help keep it from going foul. I should only need to do this about twice a
year. I’ll be interested to see just how
long a tank of gasoline lasts me now.
Along
with the transportation changes I’ve made I also plan to make sure that nothing
I currently own goes to waste, especially when it comes to consumables. If I feel I need or want something I first
must make sure that I truly do need to
have it and then determine if something I already own will fit the bill and can I make do. Is it something I could make? If so, I will get to work and make
something. With food, I want to make
sure I don’t waste anything and make more budget stretching meals, like soup, so my groceries last longer. The same goes for toiletries and household
items. Just use what I need to get the
job done and no more.
Like I
said, I am never one to sit idly by and become complacent. By making changes now I am preparing myself
to better handle what will most likely happen in the not too distant future. Conserving my resources, making do, adjusting
habits and making wiser choices about spending and consuming will help me along
the way. What is something you can do to
help yourself?
You are VERY fortunate you can ride your city bus safely. Our Metro bus service is not safe and very crime ridden. Often we have to have our Sheriff's patrol the bus. A lot of our crime comes from the big city to the South of us...Carrie
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that.
DeleteI wouldn’t say I have any “other wordly” abilities to predict the future. I simply remember his first administration, and, to be fair, the world situation and economy of recent administrations of that party, (though I lived through those without this abject shame and horror.)
ReplyDeleteI have always been frugal, but my kids were my “triggers.” As college students I am now having difficult conversations about what my $ will and will not be in their support. I have also become almost a broken record in talking about energy costs as they relate to the household, sounding like my parents before me, ie: “5 minute shower, please. Hey, if you’re not in that room, turn off the light.” “ No, don’t turn that washing machine on yet, let me grab my dirty laundry too.” And the ever popular “If you’re cold, put on a sweater but DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT THERMOSTAT!”
-Meg B
*Daughter sent a video from her campus apartment of her turning up the temperature on their thermostat saying “look what I can do!” It was comic relief.
LOL! I've said a lot of those things too. I think we are in for a bumpy ride. My goals is to make it as smooth as possible.
DeleteI’m also fortunate to have a grocery store within a short walking distance. Sometimes I take the free local bus to the gourmet grocery store (which has an excellent discount section) and walk home. My husband is also close enough to his office to bike or take the free bus. We moved to this location on purpose, for health benefits, but it also helps financially.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I'm finding I really enjoy walking and riding the bus. I had a nice chat with a lovely lady the other day on my way home. It was fun.
DeleteCurrently Dh & I can ride to work together. My work hours are flexible. That is saving gas/fuel in our vehicles. Warmer temps have us turning off the furnace. I refuse to turn on the AC until I absolutly have to do so. We lost our big shade tree on the west side of the house, so I am thinking about putting up foil on those facing windows once my plants go out to the screen porch. We already eat healthy (carnivore) and that leaves little to go bad. I put many leftovers in the freezer for future meals. And as always, I shop sales and clearance aisles and the thrift stores. I use higher end, clean products; so I buy those quality items on sale. And finally, I've started using my standing drying rack for non-farming clothing. I will dry towels and wash clothes in the dryer for sanitation. Farming/work clothes will be going out on the clothes line now that spring is here again. Hubs received a nice raise at his factory job and I took a new job with higher pay in Dec.; so we are putting away as much extra as we can. We keep cash here for emergencies also.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a solid plan. Like you, I hold off on the A/C as long as I can as well. Every little bit helps and I was happy to see my latest electric bill was nearly half what it is typically. Keep up the great work!
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