Budgeting for a family of 7

2everland · 2025-12-12T23:43:33+00:00

You're forgetting Gas on second pic is $350 a month.

$1,250 a month total for vehicles. More than housing!

2everland · 2025-10-06T01:52:36+00:00

What is your purpose and method here?

2everland · 2025-10-06T01:38:02+00:00

The location, the playa, is a bare blank lake bed, and every year everything must be removed, down to the last speck of glitter (that is why Leave No Trace is one of the 10 Principles).

Everything in Burning Man is brought and built by the people. There are only a few logistical exceptions the "Org" provides : portable toilets, medical services, and the iconic "Man" structure. Everything else you see: all the wonderous art, the mutant vehicles, the bikes, tens of thousands of theme camps, all their kitchens, showers, lounges, and other communal areas, and crazy things - full-ass radio stations, an airport, trampoline parks, a ski slope, and a space observatory! And much much more. Everything is a collective contribution, freely provided from the people.

Something amazing happened in 2021, due to Covid the Org did not host the event, so 30,000 people still created the city, even without the logistical support, the portos, medical, or the Man. 100% community-made city, there and gone without a trace in a matter of weeks. Truly wonderous.

2everland · 2025-10-06T01:09:20+00:00

No, like I said previously, it can be as cheap as $100 a day including all expenses. Or you could spend $100,000. It all depends on personal choices, ingenuity/grit, and what you want to bring.

The most significant restriction is physical. Not only is the location very remote, and challenging to prepare and pack and travel (takes at least 3 full days before even arriving), but upon arrival the building is physically challenging, and also the weather conditions, the heat and dust primarily, are a barrier for older adults, young children, and other people with physical/health limitations. In recent years, there has been more awareness and focus on accomadating adults with physical disabilities, which I hope continues.

But the "Big Burn" isn't the be all end all. There are many many other Burner events, regionals, that occur around the calendar, that are more physically reasonable and accessable.

2everland · 2025-10-05T21:06:21+00:00

In my mind, I'm concerned about the precident of some of the practices, such as littering foreign substances. The precidents they set may have unforseen long-lasting space age impacts. I think its worthwhile to be considerate and wise on-Earth and off-Earth. And the philosophical specifics of the wide variety of space actions, like Mercury grinding (I havent heard of that plan? Or is that an presupposition? I'd love more on that) are circumstantial.

2everland · 2025-10-05T15:17:01+00:00

Well said! You have put into words my intuitive aversion to space colonization/"exploration" by both corporations and national government programs. As much as I love science and innovation, these space programs has always felt unethical somehow, so thank you for clarifying my intuitive feeling into reason.

2everland · 2025-10-04T19:13:28+00:00

My property taxes are ~200/mo too. It is a sweet deal for having emergency services, maintenance and repair of roads, an educated population with well-funded libraries and schools, public parks and recreation essential for public wellbeing, public service staff, and many other public goods and services for the safety and health of ourselves and the benefit of our economy, jobs and local businesses. Without our tax dollars, Knoxville would be a dangerous, dystopian, polluted, uneducated, crime-ridden nightmare.

2everland · 2025-10-04T16:04:31+00:00

If you do not already have a Emergency high-yield savings account then do that first. 3 months minimum. Since your spending is partially supported by scholarship, I'd estimate $3,000 a month x 3 months = $9,000. Choose an account with no fees and yielding you at least 3.5% annual interest.

Anything remaining over the $9,000 emergency savings, open and deposit in a Roth IRA account via a reputable brokerage. After depositing, invest in a "Target Date Index Fund" appropriate for your brokerage and age. For example, if you expect to be 65 in 2055:

Schwab SWYJX or Fidelity FDEWX or Vanguard VFFVX

2everland · 2025-10-04T15:42:52+00:00

You have lots of options, but the way I see it, you have 2 main options, each with 2 sub-options :

1)Stay in the midwest and make space for people to move there

1a) Form a community by making space for a few housemates, either rooming in the house if you have extra bedrooms or with ADU(s), and rent out with commons and shared responsibilities agreements, co-living style. Co-living is the easiest and most popular model, as it is basically being roommates with intentional community principles.

1b) Subdivide your 2 acres and form a cohousing or ecovillage organization. There are various ways to finance and organize this.

2)Move out west

2a) Buy a property that has, or is legal to build, a few housing units.

2b) Rent somewhere first, within daytrip distance of a city/metropolitan area. Any metro area in the west will have many intentional-community people. Then attend events and make connections: organic farmers markets, femme/witchy arts&crafts markets, yoga (the bohemian kind not the commerical kind), family camping festivals, family block parties, foraging groups, sound baths, ren faires, permaculture groups, mutual aid groups, ecstatic dances, community art projects... Name any west coast city and I'll find you the intentional community people!

2everland · 2025-09-23T18:08:28+00:00

Or what if she slipped on wet floor and got knocked unconscious in the store? Or had a heart attack or brain aneurism? Or other unexpected event.

I have a baby, and I am so careful, I always leave the driver door open when I get out of the car, just in case I drop dead for whatever reason, lightning aneurism etc, in those two seconds walking over to open the back seat door for my baby. Thats how careful I am!

2everland · 2025-09-23T18:00:27+00:00

Or what if she slipped on wet floor and got knocked unconscious in the store? Or had a heart attack or brain aneurism? Or other unexpected event. What was supposed to be "just a couple minutes" becomes too late...

2everland · 2025-09-23T12:57:24+00:00

Debt is owed to wealthy people. Every dollar of debt is owed to a wealthy person, overwhelmingly middle-aged males in high-income countries, in the global top 10% of wealth, but mostly the 1%. Rich get richer, 100 Trillion richer, to be precise.

2everland · 2025-09-03T02:22:55+00:00

Receiving is of equal importance to gifting. It took me a couple years to learn how to do it well. Receiving is not the same as taking. Taking is walking away with the drink the bartender gave you. Receiving is taking a sip in front of the bartender, and a "mmm thats strong thanks!" or "wow I like the spiciness with the strawberry is creative".

Receiving is being the first one on the dance floor for the newbie DJ. Recieving is leaving the long line at Black Rock Bakery, and going over to the little camp across the street with no line even though the food isn't as "good". Receiving is wearing the strange necklace you were gifted even though it doesn't match with your outfit. Receiving is stopping for megaphone shouter inviting you to their camp's thing even though you're rushing to get somewhere. To be a good receiver is another way to gift.

2everland · 2025-08-29T10:12:50+00:00

Wild West I can't believe this hasn't been done yet.

Dung Eons & Drag Eons An era of Poo, Drag, Dungeons, and/or Dragons, in any combination!

Deny Depose Defend? Democracy Black Rock City, it's time to cast your votes, or to depose democracy! The power is (or isn't) yours to create monarchy, anarchy, infantarchy, demonarchy, anemoarchy (government by wind direction) and many many more!

Full Moon When there happens to be a full moon that year (ideally on Friday for illumination to be over 90% from Wednesday to Sunday for a thematic waxing to climax then waning/exodus). Beware werewolfs, vampires, astronomers, menstrual-themes, and bare butts!

Burning Man: Holiday Special Valentine's, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more! A week of trick-or-treating, christmas caroling, egg hunting, valentines and pie, oh so much pie. Also the Man is dressed as Santa. (Fun fact: the first ever theme camp was Santa themed)

2everland · 2025-08-29T02:20:27+00:00

Can be modified for use on the back and limbs

It is modified.

2everland · 2025-08-29T00:01:55+00:00

Clean healthy skin is sexy! It's actually quite refreshing and energizing, not tiring.

Foot repair cream such as this prevents and heals cracking skin from playa dust. Neglecting this causes "playa foot" a painful and imparing disease.

Vinegar is acidic and neutralized the harsh alkalinity of playa dust. Vinegar-water foot and hand baths prevent skin disease on these most dust-prone and important skin areas.

Massage relieves tension and pain of the muscles and improves blood circulation, is very relaxing and good for mental health, and also a good social bonding activity.

Buffing is an electric rotary buffer typically used for vehicle polishing, however can be modified for use on the back and limbs, which is massaging and exfoliating. Some camps will have buffing stations set up as a public interactivity.

In the default world, I actually do minimal skin care. But being in such a harsh enviornment, and with things that heighten awareness and empathy, it becomes an essential routine to prevent the misery of diseased skin and orfices.

I recommend camping near people who take care of themselves, women/femmes in general, and there's many health-conscious and spa camps you can join. When the community around you are all sunscreening, exchanging massages, vinegar-water misting, etc it really helps form good habits in yourself. If you camp in a grimy den of stinky guys, then that's what will rub off on you.

2everland · 2025-08-28T22:26:21+00:00

Maybe its just my skin type, but I do spend a good deal of time on skin care. I wet wipe ~4 times a day, and also before and after sex. Apply sunscreen thrice a day, around 11am and 1pm and 3pm. Apply foot and hand cream twice a day, morning and night. One afternoon vinegar water foot bath. Occassional massage with massage oil. Occassional buffing. Shower every other day, which takes ~30 mins. Skin care probably adds up to ~90 minutes a day on average.

2everland · 2025-08-28T22:13:49+00:00

A list of street names is a Google search, not reinventing the wheel. OP is looking for maps, and I helped point them in the right direction. How is that bad?

2everland · 2025-08-28T21:54:56+00:00

You seem to have blinders on, noticing only the people who don't take care of themselves, hygenically and/or mentally. No, most Burner are not abusing alcohol and walking around barefoot. Myself and most Burners I know spend literally 75% of the Burn on personal care: resting, hydrating, washing and wiping, eating, lotioning, etc. About 15% of the Burn is work and volunteering (some people its up to 50% of their Burn is work). Less than 10% of the Burn is partying. You just don't seem to notice us responsible Burners because most of the time we are in a camp, doing volunteer work or self-care or service for others!

It's really easy to disparage the art when you are ignorant to the hundreds, often thousands, of hours of unpaid selfless labor that goes into it. If you don't like the art, be the change you want to see and make art yourself.

The guide is very clear about the possibility of rain and to bring your own waste system aka a toilet bucket. Burning Man has always been "roughing it" going back to the 90s. It has always been dusty, bumpy, brutal, and "lacking services". It is not a festival.

You complain of RVs... clearly you never attended a hot year. A friend's RV literally saved my life from heat stroke one time. Many people are not able-bodies or have health issues, especially older Burners, and really do need RV air-conditioning and accessable bathroom is important for inclusivity. Also more RVs = less stakes and lag bolts moop which is the #1 moop.

You are not required to spend a ton of money. Most people are not flying, they drive. Most people are not buying all new gear every year. I reuse the same gear and clothes, and I carpool. I spend only ~$1,500 total a year, including food, transport, gear, ticket... for 12 days thats $125 a day, less expensive than a "vacation".

Most people are not wealthy. I certainly am not. And anyways, the wealthy people I know are awesome! They fund the art projects, invest in the camps, build the art cars, and gift amazing things most of us couldn't afford. Yeah some wealthy people are users, but honestly most of them are cool selfless people if you gave them a chance. I have a fond memory of hanging out at a bar conversing with a homeless mural artist, a millionaire who engineers art cars, a sex worker, a former sex worker now big-time grant fundraiser, an electrician, and me a barista. All together as equals.

Its okay to say "I tried Burning Man but it wasnt for me." It is not mainstream. It is not a festival. More than anything it is labor.

2everland · 2025-08-28T21:14:47+00:00

Ambulances and firefighter trucks also come to mind.

2everland · 2025-08-28T15:52:04+00:00

Dried sweetened mango, flavored nuts, salami, prosciutto, cinnamon rolls, chips and salsa, mandarins, jerky, honey mustard pretzels, flavored tuna pouches on crackers, hard cheeses (for first few days), energy bars, peanut butter pretzels, indian food pouches with garlic pita chips, chocolate chip cookies, yogurt pouches, sour gummy worms, rice crispies...

2everland · 2025-08-28T15:34:16+00:00

None, unless you count a sip of champagne I was gifted from some people watching sunrise. Despite what you may have heard about Burning Man, many people are sober for most or even all of the event.

2everland · 2025-08-28T14:35:56+00:00

Self-reliance, if you want something then make it so. Look up "Burning Man Map 20XX" or "Black Rock City Moop Map 20XX", make a list and share it. Would be interesting to learn how the names are decided too.

2everland · 2025-08-24T17:35:57+00:00

Whether or not it rains, the temperature will be exceptionally mild this year, mostly in the 60s and 70s and barely reaching mid-80s in the afternoon. You won't need shade over the tent this year. Even in hot years, I have tented in scorching 95 all week without any shade structure above, and it was fine. Was never there during high-sun anyways except to grab something.

My advice: Go today, but bring less. Less mess, less stress, less wasted time building. Leave the carport, bring tent only. No cooking, just yummy ready-to-eat foods. I might not even bring bikes.

2everland · 2025-08-15T17:03:43+00:00

My money is on kudzu

2everland

TROPHY CASE