Every day, I experience the impact of escalating prices. It's evident that if I'm feeling the effects, so are you. So, the question arises: what steps can we take to address this situation? Lately, I've been pondering this issue extensively, especially since my pay hasn't kept up with inflation, making life even more challenging.
Moreover, maintaining a homestead isn't an inexpensive endeavor either. There always seems to be something demanding our attention, whether it's caring for the animals, purchasing feed, repairing equipment, or simply upkeeping our home and property. Each aspect of this lifestyle comes with its own costs. I am deeply passionate about achieving maximum self-sufficiency in life. Moreover, I firmly believe that excessive debt can lead to a form of modern-day slavery. We often find ourselves toiling away for most of our lives, trying to meet financial obligations and barely making ends meet. However, I am eager to share some practical ideas that could prove helpful to anyone, regardless of whether they reside on a farm or in an apartment. The goal is to make meaningful cutbacks without feeling like you're sacrificing your favorite pastimes. So, where do you begin? Let me present a few suggestions that may provide you with some much-needed breathing room. Cash it in! Many towns are home to consignment stores that gladly accept gently used items, with some even providing a cash buyout option. Although the cash offer may be less than what you'd earn through consignment, it's essential to bear in mind that selling at a yard sale often yields even lower returns. To make the most of your items, explore the consignment stores available in your local area that offer these valuable services. Start cashing in on your talents! What are your areas of expertise? Sewing, canning, baking? If you possess these skills, you have a wonderful opportunity to offer your services and goods for sale, allowing you to earn some extra cash. There is a significant demand for seamstress work, as well as fresh homemade baked goods. Additionally, homemade jams and jellies are a delightful treat, evoking fond memories of Grandma's recipes. It's astonishing how many individuals are seeking homemade and handmade items. You might want to explore platforms like Etsy to showcase your creations. The homestead treasure! If you live on a homestead, I highly encourage you to take a closer look at what you have. Are you raising chickens and producing farm-fresh eggs for potential sale? Have you considered keeping goats for their milk or even learned how to make soap from it? Also, don't forget to assess your gardens and explore opportunities to sell your produce at local Farmers Markets. Think about what you can do on your homestead to improve your financial situation. Even if you have a small flock of animals and not enough to sell, perhaps you could consider leveraging your beautiful scenic property by offering it as a backdrop for photographers. Embracing creative ideas like this can help you find new ways to earn more money beyond the traditional homesteading practices. So, let's start thinking outside the usual homesteading box and discover innovative ways to enhance your financial prospects. Let's discuss cost-cutting strategies, a task that might not always be simple but is undoubtedly rewarding. Have you ever stopped to think about where your hard-earned money is really going? Being fully aware of your expenses is the first step toward saving more. Consider those tempting drive-up coffees that look so appealing. They may seem harmless, but their price can add up quickly, ranging from $5 to $6 or even more. The same goes for those impromptu pizza dinners and other seemingly small expenses that tend to slip through the cracks. Utilities are another aspect worth considering. Are you optimizing your energy usage to minimize those bills? Stay tuned for part 2, where I'll share practical money-saving tips that I use daily to cut costs effectively. With these tips, you can achieve financial goals while still enjoying the things that matter most to you.
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Earlier in the week I did a blog post on how the prices on meat and vegetables are making it very difficult to stick to eating clean. (You can find that post under the Getting Fit and Eating Clean tab.) It really got me to thinking about the never ending price increases.
We've worked really hard to stick to our debt free lifestyle but even for us it's getting more difficult. This journey is about sacrificing now so we can have the life we've always dreamed of. That's not the easiest path at times. So what can you do to make sure you make it? There's nothing easy about saving for what you want and what you need. When your income is limited how do you go about saving? The average American has less than $400 saved for an emergency. I don't know any emergency at this point that wouldn't cost you at least $800 to $1,000. Most car repairs, washing machine goes out, or your hot water heater. The days of cheap money are knocking on all our doors insisting we pay up. Start with little tiny baby steps. Do you have a talent or craft that could earn you side money? If so start offering your goods or services. Take that money and create your emergency fund. Do you have items laying around that are of value to someone else but not to you anymore that can be sold on one of the market places? Start an Etsy Store. If you're an arts and craft person and can create great products, start simple. Look for part time online jobs. They are out there. Find one that will help you get some extra cash to stash away. Use the extra money for savings not what you need now. Stop living dollar to dollar and in the moment. This is where the sacrifice comes into play. Yes it's hard and yes it will get harder. I'm not gonna lie. It's tough. But you will make it through this if you work hard today to keep a a safety net. One place that I have picked up extra work when I feel like we need to add to our savings is UP Work. It's a great place to get short jobs if that is what you are looking for. It's a great place to get your talents out and to make money doing it. Keep up the good fight. This too shall pass! Sheri... Windy Flat Farm P.S. Notice the photo on the top right? Yes we recycle and we make money doing it. TTFN! I remember as a child being taught to save my change. Working hard will get you the things you want and need. Work is no stranger to Eugene and myself. But what we were taught in our younger years is not what the true plan was. Never before in time were we taught to buy now and pay later. Never were we meant to buy a home and use the equity in it to treat ourselves. Our parents and grandparents were taught to save money and stay within their pay. Don't spend more than you make.
So what is being taught today and has been the condition for the last 25 years if not longer? Own nothing and be happy. That's it. You are enslaved. You rent your phone, you lease a car you pay a mortgage or rent, you stream movies, you lease your clothes, you get a lift, you own nothing. That is where this agenda is taking us. The statistics will blow you away. Credit card debt is once again at all time high. People are using credit cards in order just pay monthly expenses. According to Bankrate data from January 2022, 56% of Americans would be unable to cover an unexpected $1,000 bill with savings. So what are they covering expenses with? Credit Cards, small loans, personal loans, borrowing from friends or family. That's the times we are living in. Now is the time to start working on becoming debt free. I have to say after everything I've been through, stop listening to the snowball effect and start saving first. What difference does it make if you pay off all your debt but don't have any money in savings, the first sign of trouble and you're right back in debt. Start paying yourself first. Make you a priority and start saving first then pay off your debt, starting with the smallest and working to the largest. It's not rocket science is basic math. You need a cushion or it will never end and you will own nothing and not be happy. Work a side job or hustle and keep that money. Save it, then pay off the debt, make your payments and pick one debt to pay off first. But know this, if you don't make you a priority you will fail. It will be a never ending vicious cycle. Now is the time to take back your life and live the life you deserve. I can agree with Dave Ramsey on one thing, "Live today like no one else and tomorrow you'll live like no one else." I've attached the link below to the bank rate data published on January 19,2022: https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/financial-security-january-2022/ Time is ticking. What will you do to live the life you deserve. There's a economic crisis looming. Don't wait take time to free yourself! Remember, every penny counts! Sheri... Windy Flat Farm September is national preparedness month. I've posted on preparedness before, but I really want to drive this home to anyone who will pay attention. It can be overwhelming to try and prepare if you have not been doing so for any length of time or are just getting started. Everyday natural disasters happen and if you don't live in tornado alley or hurricane country you might not really think much about being prepared. Today there is greater risk of disasters, shipping issues, inflation, and more that can happen anywhere. So if you are new to being prepared I'll give you a few tips that can help and keep you from feeling beside yourself in the process. Preparing doesn't mean you're a conspiracy fanatic or crazy, it means you understand that at any moment life happens. Do you want to be the type of person who when something does happen you are running to the store to hoard what you can get with anyone else who isn't prepared or do you want to have a sense of stability and peace when SHTF does happen? The choice is yours. I personally hate drama and panic so for me it's better to be ready for anything. I've put together a list of top things to prep in your home. No TP is not on it that is only common sense. You should never let yourself run that low anyways. So take a look and see what you already have on hand and maybe somethings to work on. But don't take just take it from me! The government has put together more information for you here at this link... https://www.ready.gov/plan I have also attached the following list for you in a pdf so you can print it off and compare what you have and might need. I hope you all get prepared or stay prepared as life happens. Staying ahead of the game will save you heartache and money. Because every penny counts! Sheri... Windy Flat Farm.
I've been thinking a lot lately about this subject. We all see what's happening. There isn't one person I've talked to that isn't being affected by the effects of the economy.
Inflation, fuel price increases, shortages that we have been living with and that will be coming. So the question is "are you prepared?" What should you be preparing for? Well, if nothing else keeping your life as normal as possible and out of debt. With prices continuing to rise most people don't really feel like they have a choice, especially if they are already living paycheck to paycheck. What can you do when money is tight or if you are living paycheck to paycheck? Let's start with trimming the fat. Here's a few ideas to start. 1.) Look at your subscriptions. Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, whatever it is you are streaming and make sure you actually are using them. Stop letting them go on auto pilot and charge you if you aren't really using them. Cut it back to maybe one or two. These add up fast. 2.) Check your bank statement, make sure you're not seeing any hidden charges or fees. This happens more often than you think. Then check with your bank and make necessary changes. 3.) Check those credit cards. If you've stacked them up, take the smallest balance and pay it off first then move to the next one. 4.) If you're not making enough on your primary job then, look for some sort of side hustle you can do to earn some extra cash. 5.) Sell, Sell, Sell- dump the stuff you don't need and things that are cluttering up your home. You have to start somewhere, so if you aren't preparing for the hikes and jumps in what is coming you're going to hurt more later. Just take it one step at a time. But take the steps. Shop sales, buy one or two extra things each shopping trip as far as food goes, you need a stock, so if money is tight start slow. Coupons and digital coupons, use them they add up! Check the classifieds for the things your really need, you'd be surprised, you might get what you need for free or at a super discounted price. The goal of our blog all along has been to help others get through the hard times, and to encourage you to do things you never thought possible. We live in an age where knowledge is at our finger tips and we can educate ourselves on just about anything we want to learn. So I give you a challenge, learn something new that will help your dilemma with what is coming. Think outside the box and start being independent and sustainable. If you'd like to learn more about home preparedness, you can sign up for my monthly news letter. I'll be creating a home prep list that can help you figure out what you need in case of an emergency, so you can be as prepared as possible. Sheri... Windy Flat Farm Once again the holiday is coming up fast. Are you ready for Christmas? Let's hope you are and that it hasn't broken the bank. Christmas time in the one major time of year that I splurge. So let's be honest, yes I use my credit card at Christmas time. Actually I use credit cards all the time, however, I pay them off monthly. I will not tell you that credit cards are bad, how you use them can be bad. They can also be very helpful. I did spend extra this year and I won't feel bad about it. It is the first time in 2 years all my boys have been home together, and our family is growing. Between girlfriends and new spouses we are growing.
What I did do, was give myself a budget and a a limit on time to pay that amount back. No matter what. I also have money in savings that I could use if need be, but choose to keep it in savings. I rarely pay any interest on credit cards and plan to keep it that way. Our goal at Windy Flat Farm has been to be debt free. We are paying cash to finish our house and that takes time. Soon I'll add an update on the build, where we are at on that and how it's going. If you are following along on our Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok then you have seen what we've done so far. I'm a bit behind on our blog, but trust me the end of the year is a great time to reflect, and re-evaluate things for the future. Some great things will be coming up and I'm hoping to ad some great products I think you will love. Speaking of products, there are so many great options out there that can act as a side hustle, so if you're struggling with making ends meat, start looking at side projects that can help get you where you want to be, because every penny counts! Sheri....Windy Flat Farm.
With today's technology there are so many ways to earn extra money. Every penny counts!
If you have an online store or website there are so many great resources out there for you to earn extra money and increase sales. I have partnered with ShareAsale in order to create additional revenue, and promote products I personally use and enjoy. I wanted to be able to bring my readers the ability to get great prices with products I trust and also to give you the opportunity to build your own wealth with a great program. Here's a great opportunity for you to be able to get started with. I encourage you to check out SHAREASALE. There are so many companies that you can partner with, explore, and earn extra income. With everything that has been changing in our financial world, now is the time to be proactive and do everything you can to become debt free, save money, and become financially independent. I hope you find this useful. Here's to making every penny count! Sheri....Windy Flat Farm
As you can see from the web banner we have teamed up with Golden State Mint. Why?
Today it doesn't take a mathematician to see what's happening in our economy. If you turn on your TV or scroll through YouTube, you can see and hear exactly what is happening with our money. The prices of homes, food, and necessities is on the rise while our dollar seems to be buying us less. We wanted a way to make sure that we have an investment that will retain it's value. Gold and Silver is being bought up by banks, governments, and investors to hedge against the dollar. We wanted to share this with everyone we know. This is important. You need something that has value. Whether you buy one ounce of gold or silver or 100 ounces, you'll be glad that you did. Take the time to research for yourself what is happening in the commodity market. We teamed up with Golden State Mint because we use them ourselves and they have great customer service. You can follow our link to order or learn more. If you have questions about their services and products, give them a call. They can really be helpful. Don't wait for the when I have extra money. We started by buying an ounce or two here and there. It all adds up. We are an affiliate so we do earn a small commission on large orders. I only want to encourage you to take action. Order 1 or order a 100. Just start preparing today with what you can afford. I encourage you to look locally from dealers, whether that is a gold and silver store, pawn brokers, or other places that you may find that carries bullion. If you aren't comfortable with ordering from our affiliate, there are other companies out there and very reputable at that. Invest in your future, do your homework, and stay ahead of the game. ​Sheri.........Windy Flat Farm I have been thinking about the holidays for quite some time and now that they are here it's hard to believe how fast they have sneaked up on me. I am ready for Christmas. Everything is ready to go and planned out for dinner. Gifts are wrapped and shopping is done.
Every year seems to get a bit more trying. This time of year there is so much stress to give gifts and make sure that everyone is happy. I have thought long on people who were struggling before the pandemic and those who struggled because of it. I count my blessings everyday that I have the ability to work from home and still make ends meat. That doesn't mean that times aren't hard for me and Eugene. We struggle but are also blessed. It gets harder and harder to save money. With the cost of living, taxes, and necessities on the rise it makes it tough for everyone. This year I decided it was especially important to give back. Give back to the community, to family who need help, to friends, and to strangers. What's important to you? Are you one of the ones who have been lucky and not lost a job, or your home? Take time to give. Even if it's just a toy for Toys for Tots or, from a giving or angel tree in your community. What you give you get. I am a firm believer in this. If you are not one of the fortunate ones to still have a job or have lost your home, don't be to proud to ask for help. There are lots of local organizations that can and will help. May you all be blessed. Have a happy and healthy merry Christmas where ever you are at in this journey we call life. Sheri - Windy Flat Farm.... |
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