coping with rising costs

[gizmotron]

You could discuss how to cope with not being able to drive as often or as far.

It's already here under topics about keeping a budget. People have long since adjusted how often they move and how far. It might determine if I can go down to Quartzite next December or not. I went in debt to build my van. It won't be paid off until January.

 

[user 22017]

It's already here under topics about keeping a budget. People have long since adjusted how often they move and how far. It might determine if I can go down to Quartzite next December or not. I went in debt to build my van. It won't be paid off until January.

That is a good point. For those of us just starting out, we need to be realistic about the cost of fuel. Fuel cost me $100 last week and I hoped to buy the topper AND travel to southern Illinois to spend a month with my daughter (until I get my next disability check). I used up the bulk of the fuel just driving to get the topper. It was an eye opener for me. Realized I can't afford to go very far yet. Not while I'm still building out my tiny topper, lol. I think my truck gets a measly 11 MPG.

Edit: why is plywood so expensive? I remember when a sheet was $8.00. This morning my daughter said when she got a new roof put on her house about 4 years ago it was $23.00 a sheet. Now it is $50.00 a sheet. I hoped to buy a couple sheets for my topper project.

 

[Morgana]

Building materials have been notorious during this inflation cycle. I can't remember if there's a housing-specific (or lumber-specific) explanation for this, but I know it's supposed to be pretty bad.

If anyone hasn't topped up their gas tank, and has the $$ to do it, this would be a good time. However bad it looks right now, it's probably gonna look worse tomorrow.

Uncharted territory! We're definitely going to need all our coping skills and probably some new ones. Good luck to us all.

 

[gizmotron]

Edit: why is plywood so expensive? I remember when a sheet was $8.00. This morning my daughter said when she got a new roof put on her house about 4 years ago it was $23.00 a sheet. Now it is $50.00 a sheet. I hoped to buy a couple sheets for my topper project.

It goes up and down based on availability. It also costs to truck it. I paid $54 a sheet for construction grade 5/8" CDX last summer. The availability was on the full decline because of the Covid 19 lockdowns. I just got one sheet of pristine AC plugged & sanded fir plywood 3/4" thick for $52 back in November. Every time there is a monster sized hurricane plywood becomes scarce. If you can't get it, what ever might be laying around will always cost more. Lumber doubled over night because of the pandemic.

 

[Sky]

That is a good point. For those of us just starting out, we need to be realistic about the cost of fuel. Fuel cost me $100 last week and I hoped to buy the topper AND travel to southern Illinois to spend a month with my daughter (until I get my next disability check). I used up the bulk of the fuel just driving to get the topper. It was an eye opener for me. Realized I can't afford to go very far yet. Not while I'm still building out my tiny topper, lol. I think my truck gets a measly 11 MPG.

Edit: why is plywood so expensive? I remember when a sheet was $8.00. This morning my daughter said when she got a new roof put on her house about 4 years ago it was $23.00 a sheet. Now it is $50.00 a sheet. I hoped to buy a couple sheets for my topper project.

This is the pit fall of asking 'why' something is? You will get many opinions based on a persons concept and values, but it boils down to one thing that is a cancer affecting many of us. Greed. There are all sorts of explanations from self proclaimed authorities and we have been conditioned to accept those excuses but really just plain, greed. The good news is that not long ago during 2020/21 ply sheets went even higher at $75 on up. I just make different plans because in my journey to be free it requires that I do so if I do not want to be held hostage to greed and trapped in conditions that render me unfree.. Yes it costs me $55.00 for 10 gallons yesterday. Luckily I get 25-33 mpg, but I travel less now. My plan is to get to the point where I am powered by the sun usurping being petro dependent except for propane use. The cost of wood has had me re-think how I can build out differently using different things I did not consider before. But it helps that I am near a local privately owned mill as well.

 

[user 22017]

The cost of wood has had me re-think how I can build out differently using different things I did not consider before.

I just remembered I have 5-6 plastic shelving units in my basement. From about 16"x16" to 2'x4' heavy duty ones. Gonna measure the height of each and try to use parts of those in my topper (until I can build something).

 

[frater secessus]

For those of us just starting out, we need to be realistic about the cost of fuel.

I budget for 1 tank of gas per month. I make this work by boondocking for 14d, then reprovisining/relocating as short a distance as regulations and weather allow. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Sky]

I just remembered I have 5-6 plastic shelving units in my basement. From about 16"x16" to 2'x4' heavy duty ones. Gonna measure the height of each and try to use parts of those in my topper (until I can build something).

Great - and you may consider looking at something less processed as plywood or just options. I find a lot on YT 'alternative living' videos. Depending where you located too. Like Bamboo is a good sub if you can find low costing/free sources. But there are so many options once ya look around the world outside of the regular familiar corporate sellers. But it takes a lot of research and looking which can be daunting. Anyways just getting pointed in a different direction can open up possibilities - best of luck pray we do not see what a lawyer turned activist predicted 20 yrs ago which was $10.00 p/g. He wrote a book called, "When The Oil Crash Comes".

 

[bullfrog]

The way I adapt is to come out of retirement and go back to work seasonally with an “old man” job. Pays $15 an hour, saves me $300 a month in rent with free utilities (includes propane refills) and a good discount on goods and services on property. In six months or so I’ll have saved enough to travel south and stay over the winter months.

 

[DougH71]

I just remembered I have 5-6 plastic shelving units in my basement. From about 16"x16" to 2'x4' heavy duty ones. Gonna measure the height of each and try to use parts of those in my topper (until I can build something).

Good improvisation. Keep your eyes open at garage sales and on craigslist. I found a stack of new 2x4s at a sale last summer for $2/pce. I started a garden shed build, which I’m siding in FREE cedar tongue and groove off FB marketplace. I have pulled partial sheets of plywood from the garbage, as well as useable furniture.

Hell, I’ve probably got enough crap in my garage to do a simple build in your truck.

 

[user 22017]

Good improvisation. Keep your eyes open at garage sales and on craigslist. I found a stack of new 2x4s at a sale last summer for $2/pce. I started a garden shed build, which I’m siding in FREE cedar tongue and groove off FB marketplace. I have pulled partial sheets of plywood from the garbage, as well as useable furniture.

Hell, I’ve probably got enough crap in my garage to do a simple build in your truck.

I just found a wooden box (with scrap wood in it) on the curb a couple blocks from my house for garbage pick up. I can use it to haul firewood for campfires. Or something, lol.

 

[DougH71]

I just found a wooden box (with scrap wood in it) on the curb a couple blocks from my house for garbage pick up. I can use it to haul firewood for campfires. Or something, lol.

does your community have a spring clean up day, where you can put large items out for pickup? That’s when I find the good stuff for free.

 

[JDub]

I save money (always have) by not eating out, not buying extraneous junk, I buy VERY little processed food and mostly cook from scratch, I do my own yardwork, I don't buy vehicles every couple years, do whatever wrenching I can do on the vehicles (most of it's really simple stuff - knucklebusting at times - but simple), I rarely buy new clothes and shoes because I buy high quality stuff the first time and take care of it. Stay out of debt, always consider any high dollar purchase for at least a month, "use it up, repair it, or do without"... Did I mention I'm "Fru ... Cheap..???

 

[user 22017]

does your community have a spring clean up day, where you can put large items out for pickup? That’s when I find the good stuff for free.

They do, but now they make everyone take it to the City maintenance garages. No idea why they switched it.

 

[John in Montreal]

I live in town and ride my e-bike whenever possible.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I just remembered I have 5-6 plastic shelving units in my basement. From about 16"x16" to 2'x4' heavy duty ones. Gonna measure the height of each and try to use parts of those in my topper (until I can build something).

You might look around locally for used and 'throw-away' wood pallets. You don't want the treated, reusable pallets, often called 'grocery' pallets, typically 40x48 inch and often painted or stamped with a blue or orange color or a brand name. Again, NOT those. You also do NOT want pallets that came from shipping bags of fertilizer. These will pick up the chemical smell and will be un-usable.

Look for the 'orphans'...odd sizes and shapes, busted, rough texture, thin wood, etc. And again, look for natural wood, NOT stained or coated or treated or discolored.

You can find these in heavy retail and industrial areas, or sometimes even pallet recycling facilities like Pro-Pak are in your neighborhood. They often put these 'throw away' pallets in a 'free pile' because they are not worth recycling. Another source might be the local power company. They often store power components like transformers outdoors and might have a few extras they will give away. Another source is 'powersports' dealerships. Motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles are all shipped to the dealership on wood pallets and shipping crates. Lots of usable wood there! Just drop by and ask. You never know!

When you ask the guy out back, or the person driving a forklift around, use the term 'throw away pallets' and they can often point at the pile of old wood pallets they need to get rid of anyway.

You can often find enough 'good wood' to use for a simple project like the legs of a bed, or a simple support frame for shelving, outdoor tables, etc. If you don't already have a pry bar/nail puller and a claw hammer those will come in handy when it comes to pulling the pallet apart.

Lastly, don't count on perfection, and you wont be disappointed!

 

[user 22017]

You might look around locally for used and 'throw-away' wood pallets.

My son-in-law told me there are stacks of pallets near my house that have a sign saying free. They are at a place where they recently built a large building. Thanks for reminding me!

I have several already, too. Planned on using them to stack stuff on, since I get water in a corner when it rains hard. Never used them, though.

I saw a YT vid where a guy did his whole topper build using pallets.

 

[user 423]

Head to the nearest college town at the end of spring semester.

The kids moving out leave all kinds of stuff at the curb and dumpsters as they head out into the Real World.

 

[user 22017]

Head to the nearest college town at the end of spring semester.

The kids moving out leave all kinds of stuff at the curb and dumpsters as they head out into the Real World.

Good idea. I live really close to a pretty large private university.

 

[user 22017]

You might look around locally for used and 'throw-away' wood pallets. You don't want the treated, reusable pallets, often called 'grocery' pallets, typically 40x48 inch and often painted or stamped with a blue or orange color or a brand name. Again, NOT those.

Look for the 'orphans'...odd sizes and shapes, busted, rough texture, thin wood, etc. And again, look for natural wood, NOT stained or coated or treated or discolored.

Just checked out the spot my son-in-law told me about. That's a lot of pallets!