Bits, Pieces and Other Folks Snatches

We all should be getting skinny this year, food costs more so we’re eating less and gas is so high we should be walking or riding our bicycles more. Since gas prices have hit the ceiling, media focus on the gloom is at an all time high. The ratio of gloom to “what can I do to survive” is so far out of proportion it’s almost comical. Instead of showing the failures due to folks lack of preparedness for a “crisis” such as this or the number of foreclosures on folks who bought way more house than they can afford, the news would finally do everyone some good by showing a few success stories of people successfully coping with 4.00 a gallon gasoline.

Until I lose my job, which is never out of my mind so I’m preparing now, I consider my family a recession success story. Here’s some of what we’re doing:

• Pulled the old Suzuki Intruder (motorcycle) out and pay about $10.00 a week for gasoline for my commute. That’s roughly 2/3rds less than driving a car. We’re considering putting our stimulus check toward a Burgman Scooter for the wife. If more people in our country did this, motorcycling would be so commonplace that there would be fewer accidents because people would be used to seeing them on the road. And, more motorcycles equals fewer cars. Besides, theres nothing cooler than to be able to give your fellow bikers the low “hi sign” with your left hand as you pass them on the highway.
• Cut my lawn mowing back to mow less of my 5 acres fewer times a month. Now guys, unless you’re a fanatic about your lawn who could complain about having to mow the lawn less?
• Fewer useless trips with an empty car. When I start the car, there’s at least 3 other folks riding along or its full of stuff that has to be moved. Of course better driving habits follow. Slow down, coast to stop lights, don’t pass other cars on the highway, no jackrabbit accelerating.
• Putting a few more after hours jobs on the schedule. I’ve dabbled with other little money making jobs all along for quite some time, building computers, mowing lawns and DJ’ing parties and weddings. This year I have added several gigs to fill in the money gaps.
• Not schedule a vacation trip. At least as one as elaborate as I was thinking about last year. Instead, we will probably make lots of smaller trips to the movies on bargain matinee day (Iron Man was Awesome), Putt-Putt Golf, a trip to see the Travelers play in Little Rock, a dip in the old swimming hole.
• Dust off the old DVD’s and Nintendo games. This seems to be something my kids have done on their own. Several times I’ve seen them playing games or movies that were shelved years ago. It’s also a good time to take up learning those games as they can fill several hours of time with your kids that might be spent otherwise at more expensive pursuits without them.
• Attempt my own repairs and improvements without the benefit of a paid professional, which leads us to…
• Taking advantage of 12 months no interest no payments on things from home improvement stores. Yeah that right, Borrow but be wise. Here you have to buy only once and not be tempted by the follow up offers that come pouring in. Also, don’t purchase more than what you need to get your household jobs done. Even though there is no payment required, pay 10% of the balance each month or better yet 1/12 of the balance.
• Adjust your monthly tax burden so you’re paying the government less. Take it home and save it yourself if you can or use it to cover the additional expenses. Take advantage of pre tax benefits. Yeah, you’re reducing the amount of take home pay but if you reduce all the waste of money around you, you wont need to take home more.
• Fill up the freezer with frozen meals and eat out less. Most Folks eat out because it’s easy and convenient. Go to Pizza Hut and pay up to $40.00 to feed a family of 4. Go buy a Red Barron or Digiorno and have a meal at your own dinner table for a whole lot less. The frozen pizza guys have crafted a mighty fine product at about %10 of the cost of eating out. And its easy and convenient and you get to spend a little time at home. Don’t waste the freezer space, if you find food that can be frozen on sale, stock up. Like driving an empty car, having an empty deep freeze doesn’t make sense either. Differing Opinion here: http://www.slate.com/id/2067036/
• Wait longer between oil changes. I actually saw this in the news. Most cars today can go about 7000 miles between oil changes. Remember the oil industry like to squeeze as much out of you as possible and marketing the idea that you need a 50.00 oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles which ever comes first was only natural for them. That’s Bull Shirt, read your owners manual. With as little driving as I’m doing that cuts me back to about 2 oil changes a year from the 4 I got in the past.
• Try Voting in November for a change. Our leadership is really helping this recession along.

Even with the price of everything so high now, I’ve still managed to put back a continuous flow of funds to retirement and savings accounts without reducing the amount I was putting in a year ago. No increase but still maintaining. We also were able to increase our mortgage payment an additional $150.00 a month. We had new gutters and a new roof put on the house all without financing (I couldn’t do that myself). With a 12 month’s no interest or payment offer, I was able to purchase new speakers for my DJ’ing gigs instead of having to borrow them.

I have to admit that I was already a tight ass before the recession so the events that come with troubled financial times are less of a shock for us. Most folks are cutting back to levels that I’ve subjected my family to for years. All these magical cures folks are forced to try now are and have been every day for us. Old habits are being broken but I still see the occasion hold out for the old ways. I visited with a lady here in my town the other day who drives the now extinct Ford Excursion. This monster has a 45 gallon diesel tank and gets about 9 miles to the gallon. Diesel sells locally for about 4.50 a gallon. That’s 202.50 a fill up if it goes that long. I see her buzzing around all the time so I know she has to be running 2 and a half tanks of gas out of that piece of crap a month. Habits like these are what create the demand for 4.50 a gallon diesel and will continue to push the price well past 5 a gallon.

At some point, you have received those ridiculous e mails purporting ways to stick it to the oil company’s by not buying gas on a certain day. They never worked and never will. Take last Memorial Day weekend.. That was the first time in 17 years that the number of cars on the road over the holiday weekend went down. Folks are driving less or more sensibly and that’s what creates less demand and more supply and less waste. Now we just need to wait for the oil company to respond and start lowering the price.

I know that the troubled times we are having and probably will have for another year now are hard on folks. However, there are success stories and Americans have been long over due for a few adjustments in their bad habits. We will get through this and do well for a while before we revert back to the habits that have got us to the point we are all enjoying right now.