Social Security - USA - ONLY FISCAL SOURCE

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks for the "thumb's up "<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp;TxGypsy......I have slowly been reducing/duplicating a food budget that &nbsp;I can "live" with. It also has helped me to lose alot of excess weight that i have needed to...healthier/happier!!</span>

 

[OregonEllen]

My daughter and I lived in a converted bus many years ago and it gets into your blood. &nbsp;I've wanted to do it again for years and years now and so has she. &nbsp;Welcome to the party, livinfree! &nbsp;Maybe we can share frugality tips along the way as we both keep to our little tiny budgets.<br><br>I have a cousin who has a master's degree in computer science who said the wirie thing looks really good and that he's going to get the same thing.<br><br>

 

[offroad]

1)&nbsp; No web site yet for SSONR yet.&nbsp; Just hoping to gather interest first.&nbsp; Glad people are still talking about living large on a small budget.<br><br>2)&nbsp; would love to read more about minimalistic food budgets and rations for your lifestyle.&nbsp; Can stand to loose a few pounds myself, and would like to find a minimal beans and rice diet to live on during the week, as experiment in nutritional needs.<br><br>3) livingfreed1964 - you are a hero.&nbsp; be brave and try to make it work.&nbsp; not sure how anyone can earn a living while mobile.&nbsp; Read stories in the backpacking forums about people stopping at towns, and working dishwasher jobs for a month or two to get enough to move on. Read about small authors getting paid a little for writing. &nbsp;

 

[TxGypsy]

I didn't know if folks would be receptive to basic non-meat recipes. &nbsp;It appears that this group is! &nbsp;Here where I live, I have folks turn down invitations to lunch or dinner because they know I don't eat meat. &nbsp;If I can ever just get them to try a taste they are almost always pleasantly surprised and brag on how good it is. &nbsp;I quit eating meat about 3 years ago for my cholesterol. &nbsp;I brought it down from 435 to 123&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp; The savings on the grocery bill has been a wonderful bonus. &nbsp;I'll start posting some recipes in the cooking section.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

<span id="post_message_1278152368"> livingfreed1964 - start now. Write down every thing you spend. Travel and medical is the most expensive for most people. You can spend less than $ 200 per month on food. Places have mountains for the summer and desert for the winter that is less than 200 miles apart. Your yearly overall expenses will be less than $ 5000 per year. <br><br>I have heard that the RTR in Jan is planed when there are people in the big tent hiring camp host. You may have to take a free one for 3 months to get a paying one, maybe not.<br><br>James AKA Lynx<br></span>

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Hey Off-road,<br><br></span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">You have a good point about working while mobile. I have been &nbsp;working out all the kinks in my "master plan" of sorts and have been filling out on-line apps with forest services, and camp grounds this past year and have gotten back 6 replys/offers so far. I replied back to explain to them that I woldn't be available until 2014 season. So hopefully it sounds like there are seasonal/part-time work in those areas. &nbsp;I currently have no debt, no other responsibilities at this point in my life, so don't require alot of income.As far as the "health care act(tax) that is coming, i'm not going to worry about that right now as they can only charge me the min. amount of penalty(tax) based on my wages,which won't be alot. Considering what I have had to make for wages to just break even , this lifestyle change actually pound for pound will be more profitable(less expenses) and gain things that money cant' buy / replace (for myself).I have worked my A** off my whole life so far without any time/freedom for myself.Every time I seem to make more money, I just can't keep up with inflation/taxes/ ect...So I have decided to go the other way and live minimally as I can possible. It won't be to hard for myself as I am pretty frugal anyways, pretty "down to earth" person. I am pretty handy,self sufficient as i &nbsp;am pretty mechanically-minded. I have been in commercial building maintenance industry for 20+ years, and can repair most automotive issues that may arise. With all that said, there's still "unknown things/elements" that i'm sure I won't be prepared for, so that is the adventure part of my "journey". &nbsp;I not too worried about "health issues" as I have come to realize that for myself, even if I could afford basic(stripped) health insurance that we're been forced to buy, i couldn't afford even the deductibles for anything serious like cancer and the such. I have been working &nbsp;all this time in what I call the"working poverty class" bracket and I don't see it getting any better for people like myself. So I have decided that if something catastrophic happens (health) to me &nbsp;I am going to take it in &nbsp;stride and accept whatever happens to be as my "fate". I am not interested in prolonging my existance here at the ridiculous cost/financial burden that it would take give a few more years(NO GUARANTEE). I refuse to go back into debt for anything just for the sake of "breathing"!!! Speaking for myself, I am reaping what little free/cheap livin' I can enjoy for a change! Sorry for any "soap box" speaches/ranting that I have done and I certainly don't speak for others i'm sure. Thanks and take care to all!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp;</span>

 

[TxGypsy]

<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp; Yes! &nbsp;You get it! &nbsp;There are so many people that will never be able to get off of the gerbil wheel that life has become. &nbsp;There are so very few that it occurs to them that getting off of that wheel might be desirable. &nbsp;I think you have the right outlook to succeed, and I think you will love it when you get comfortable in it.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br><br>One of these days I will get really brave and give up the dependence on a vehicle altogether. &nbsp;I think a string of mules would be awesome! &nbsp;As far as I know, there is no need to register a mule, pay gasoline taxes to feed a mule, nor do you have to insure a mule. &nbsp;Ah dreams!

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks TxGypsy,<br><br></span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just wish that I had gotten a clue twenty years ago!!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/mad.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">........OH WELL.....just move forward and never look back.....WOW...that sounds so profound...Whatever, i not that deep of a thinker....but i'm workin' on it, just slow to get there<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">.........I really like your deeper goal of independence of fossil fueled transportation and i too have chewed &nbsp;on that leash that holds us back. I have tried to brainstorm how to do without wheels but I keep going back to the economics of which is worse/more evil and I personally think that it's still cheaper to support and dispose of a vehicle than an horse,mule (hay burner) at this time for my wallet anyways. I can repair my wheels fairly cheap, but I am not a very good animal mechanic&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">......and what they charge for a tune-up and/or final trip to the "bone-yard" really expensive......about as much as a people doctor charges...OMG......I really love animal companionship(cats/dogs/ect..)but I am hard pressed to even take on the care of one when I head out. I don't want to put any animal in harms way due to my limited ability to provide for them properly!!......Sounds like we share alot of the same views ......................................THANKS for the reply&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br></span>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Randy</span>

 

[TxGypsy]

In my younger days I used to train horses. &nbsp;I can even do my own hoof trimming and simple shoeing. &nbsp;Does that qualify me as a horse mechanic?&nbsp;

 

[Possum]

<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yep...sure does.....<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">..........no need for a emissions test either!!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"></span>

 

[offroad]

TXGYPSY - definitely add to the cooking discussion.&nbsp; I need to start reading those threads more closely, and would love to experiment with cheap - nutritious food alternatives.<br><br>All others - have a thread about GOT YA for transportation repairs and what blasts you (costs you money) is that you need skills and tools as a mechanic.&nbsp; many are saying they can do everything with a Chiltons manual, except the most difficult.&nbsp; Well consider SHOCKS, TUNE UP, MUFFLER, BEARINGS, all to be basic, yet you can break a bolt easy on any of those rusted components, and you are back with the mechanic. &nbsp; Thinking many a shade tree mechanic simplifies away the worst case of breaking a bolt (has happened rarely - but enough times).<br><br>As for medical GOT YA having a tooth ache at the moment and will need to have it checked tuesday.&nbsp; The only crown I have is hurting me.&nbsp; soaking with listerine for now (or whiskey for emergency pain) until getting to dentist.&nbsp; Can expect this to cost $1000 or more out of my pocket to fix. This is what happens folks. &nbsp; <br> &nbsp;

 

[TxGypsy]

Offroad if you are within any kind of reasonable driving distance of Mexico, I'd go there to get your tooth looked at. &nbsp;A lot of times folks will save so much money by going there to have work done that even with the trip expenses it ends up being half price or better.

 

[Morgan7600]

Hi Guys,&nbsp; This is an interesting string and one on a subject I spend a lot of time thinking about.<br>I'll chime in here on the pension income string.<br>I worked as a Land Survey Crew Chief for many years off &amp; on in the Local 12 Union out of San<br>Diego here.&nbsp; With no more work in CA in any of my several professions, I took early retirement at<br>63 for both the Union Pension and Social Security for a combined pension income figure.<br><br>My combined pension income is a tad under $1,500.00 a month.&nbsp; I'm beginning to think that this is<br>a pretty good chunk shall we say for full timing.&nbsp; That is at least compared to what I'm hearing <br>from others.&nbsp; I'd love to get some opinions on that figure.&nbsp; Pretty good?&nbsp; Real good?&nbsp; About<br>average???<br>If I do this, there will be no payments of any kind and since my truck is paid off, I'll need to<br>swing a fiver with the money I can save on the way out the door which should be about <br>somewhere between 4 to 6K or so with a little luck!<br><br>The way it is (not) working for me right now is that the pensions are sucked up for <br>the mortgage in 2 seconds when they hit my bank account&nbsp; and I'm not having any "retirement" <br>fun at all!<br>Aren't we supposed to use that money to "finally get to do the things we love to do?"<br><br>And then the rest of the month I'm a payment behind on the utilities and stressed out <br>about it.&nbsp; So this is my dilemma and hence the full timers attraction.<br><br>I checked out a lot of YouTube vids this morning on the subject of CA economy <br>and the "mass exodus" from the gOldEn stAte! Many are full timing on much less than that. In one<br>vid, the dude just stood there giving a speech on how - if you are "one of the lucky ones who can<br>afford an RV" and was going off about how so many victims of the foreclosure nightmare were<br>in their cars!&nbsp; But I digress!<br><br>

 

[TxGypsy]

If you can get out from under the mortgage and any other debt, you can very easily live on $1,500 a month.....but probably not in California.&nbsp; You can live really well in Mexico on that amount.&nbsp; If you are reasonably frugal in your daily expenses you can live well on that in many parts of the US.&nbsp; As always, I'd advise putting away a bit of that every month for a rainy day fund if you don't already have one.&nbsp; If you or a spouse like to shop....you probably won't make it on that much.<br><br> If I were organized enough I'd keep track of my expenses, but that's probably not going to happen.&nbsp; Here is a guess-timate for this month.&nbsp; I'm staying at an RV park this month $420.&nbsp; Gas to get here(normally I don't spend this much a month on gas...1,200+ miles) and local driving $400.&nbsp; Eating out $150.&nbsp; Going to swim at the local YMCA $50.&nbsp; Groceries $125 (I'm a vegan or this figure would be higher).&nbsp; So that comes to about $1,145. &nbsp;<br><br>I could have easily camped on BLM land and not had the RV park expense, though I'd have had to add about $50 on what I spent on gas.&nbsp; I'm actually shopping for a honda generator for this very reason, and I'd prefer not to be in an RV park.&nbsp; If I step outside there is someone wanting to tell me their life story....but I digress.&nbsp; I certainly could have saved money on eating out and just added another $20 to the grocery expenses.&nbsp; There is a free local pool I could have used instead of the YMCA, but I like using indoor pools.&nbsp; So if I had gone the really frugal route I'd have spent about $600 this month.&nbsp; Remember that most months you won't be driving over 1,200 miles to get to your destination, so it would be much less.

 

[Morgan7600]

Tx,&nbsp; I don't figure on driving much to begin with.&nbsp; Just stealth parking and perhaps in the cooler months, head over and check out Slab City.

 

[wagoneer]

After medicare my ss is going to be about 1225.My mortgage is 1500. I really can't stop. But wait I can sell the house. Told my family if you don,t start kicken in I'm out. Git their lazy butts in gear. Sure I'm scared been providing sole for 25 plus years<strong>.</strong>

 

[Morgan7600]

Wagoneer,&nbsp; Somehow I thought you were already full timing.&nbsp; Or did I misunderstand you?&nbsp; Forgot about that Medicare.&nbsp; Do we have to do that?&nbsp; Isn't that just the pharmaceutical part?<br>I have PAP's for most of my meds so I don't think I'll need it.&nbsp; Just don't want any payments on anything...&nbsp; M

 

[wagoneer]

yah I get you not full time yet stix -n-brix but not working 80% of the time and finishing my ride. Getting my 21 year old and my 18 year old to understand my sitch. They are getting hip to my program. got talked into part "b" Do not use any meds as of yet. We Will See, and hope to see you on the road Quartsite 2013. love ME

 

[Morgan7600]

That's great man!&nbsp; I don't have any kids so you got to enjoy that even though they piss you off sometimes.&nbsp; Yeah we def gotta' hook up my friend...&nbsp; I look forward to it!

 

[blueberry]

wagoneer, my understanding is that Medicare is not optional but I've been wrong before. <br><br>I'm still in a sticks &amp; bricks apartment, but plan to be out of here in a few months. I get about $1600 after Medicare and Part D is taken out, which I think is a very good amount for vandwelling. It sure isn't for my situation now, but I live in an expensive city (San Diego). Once I'm outa here, I plan to travel and live on $600-800/mo, saving the rest for a nice nest egg in just a few months. That will be security I've never had before.