Preparing for mobile life, options/suggestions?

[palebluedot78]

If your current cell provider is AT&T and you have decent reception, and a Galaxy III (which I have, also) you might check in to AirVoice wireless.  They bounce off AT&T towers, so you'd have basically the same service you have now, AND you can still use your phone, no need to buy another.  This was the route I was going to take.  I think I was looking in to the $30 a month or so plan.  I tried it out one month on an older phone (it was either a Galaxy or Galaxy II, can't remember) and it worked the same.  Just, after your contract expires, you have to have AT&T unlock your phone, so you can use the AirVoice sim card to activate it with them.   I had also looked into StraightTalk, but my area didn't have as good a coverage as the AT&T towers where I live.  I live in western Oklahoma, btw.

I ditched satellite/cable years ago and went with just watching Netflix, and still haven't watched it all. Got one of those Roku boxes, it has Netflix and a ton of other free watching channels, and some you pay for.  I do occasionally splurge on a $4.99 movie off of Vudu.  It was, in my mind, the same as wasting gas to go get a redbox movie, and then taking it back the next day.  All kinds of ways to cut costs.  

Is there any efficiency apartments closer to work??   Within walking distance would be great, sell car, get a small class B, class C, or van... still have wheels, can park it in your parking space (if the C is small enough lol),...   you could save money AND be able to escape the rat race on weekends.  Just an idea.   I lived in a tiny camper for a little while at an RV park.  There are a few here in my town, right now they go for $360 a month with electric, water, sewer, and free wifi.  And, if you decide to take off on weekends or such, your space is saved.  

So many ideas for saving money floating in my head.  Have been researching since 2005 when I decided I was sick of it all.  Paid off $56k in 18 months.  Some of the things I did were extreme, but I had a blast doing them.    I can recommend some books or websites if you're interested, just pm me.

I do understand where you are coming from.  A year ago I was trapped working Mon-Fri in a job I hated, chained to a desk, and reading everything about mobile living I could get my hands on, or alternative living.  It consumed me.  All I knew was, I was not happy.  There has GOT to be more than life than this.  There is no way I was just born to pay bills and die (I saw that somewhere and it stuck with me).  What was worse, I worked at my sister's RV dealership, every day I saw happy people taking off on there high dollar 5th wheels, going to find some adventures, and there I was, stuck.  I want to live NOW.   Tomorrow is not promised.  My hubby died at 40 years old, cancer, I was with him for 11 years.  All I can remember him doing is working all of the time, sometimes 7 days a week, with a few weeks off every year to do what he wanted to.  That still hurts me to think about it, him not being able to get out and live, just work.  And for what?!  So I decided I was not going to be normal, working until I was 65 (if I lived that long).  I may not have a big retirement fund.. meh.  My needs are small.  I'd rather be 65 and look back at things I DID do instead of staring at a dollar number from a life time of soul sucking work.

bah..  Sorry for the rambling.  You've got lots of good ideas.  Best of luck!!

Wonderful, thank you for the suggestion about cell phones, I will check them both out and weigh the options.
Western OK huh? That's cool, my grandma lives in Wister and I have family in Poteau. I spent a few of my early years of life in OK as well. Back in 2012 traveling back from Hot Springs into the Talimena scenic highway a deer hit my Accord. Scared the daylights out of me. It was at night and I was alone. :s
Anyway, beautiful out there in the fall.

I have a Roku as well! Awesome little devices. Getting rid of cable was an easy decision. I have Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime, so I am thinking of cutting out HP as I use it maybe once a week. Not worth the $8/month... and I still have to put up with ads?! grr

But yes, I work in a hip/yuppie part of town so there are no small apartments that are walkable. Actually, there are apartments RIGHT NEXT to our building but the floor plans are large and only a little from what I'm paying now. However, there is that one efficiency for $535. So yeah, if I could save enough to get a Class B and get out of the city on my time off/vacation time, that would save my sanity!

Thank you for sharing. Losing someone so young definitely will change your perspective on life and how precious it is. What does it for me is Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot speech. That photo of earth as a tiny spec just helps me realize this life on earth should not be about P&Ls and feeling like Bill Murray in Ground Hogs Day. You and I get it...We want MORE!

 

[RVTravel]

Palebluedot, if you go for the rv and don't want the efficiency, please pm me where it is..lol. Right now I pay about $620 for my efficiency.

 

[Bdog1]

Thinning out your possessions cost nothing, you might even make a buck or two.

Be nice to decide on a van camper or a trailer style RV before taking the next step.

 

[SoulRaven]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

I have a bit of an odd suggestion: is there any chance you could make your car suitable for spending a night or two in? The very basics would be, are the windows sufficiently tinted and would you be able to lay down (some cars can open the backseats to the trunk creating a flat surface, or the seats can fold flat for a similar effect)? That might be a good way to feel less stuck. My first ventures were in a 2-door '80 Corolla and while I wouldn't have done it if I had any other choice, I was surprised to find how doable it actually was. A van or a class B is a lot nicer, don't get me wrong, but if you want to get out there and see what you could do this could be one way to begin!

 

[mockturtle]

First, good show, being debt free! That's a biggie! I like the idea of buying a good used small travel trailer and moving it into an RV park where you will pay about half what you pay now for rent. Your cat will certainly need A/C. Later on, you can buy a truck or SUV to tow your trailer and have some adventures and maybe retire early. You will be used to living in a small space by then. I'll be rooting for you!