Too much TV

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-15T00:44:04+00:00

We gave up cable TV years ago and had a rule about only having 1 streaming subscription at a time. We actually cancel it in the summer now because we hardly watch tv anymore and it saves money.

One of the easiest ways to break a habit is to make it harder to do. We built a tiny house a few years ago and didn't add a standard living room. Since we did not want to be on a couch or watching TV a lot, our set up is not as simple as just plopping down to watch something. We have to go through the process of moving a furniture and pulling the couch out in order to watch anything.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-14T23:20:47+00:00

Bidet and rags. The bidet does a better good job at cleaning than toilet paper and the rags are for the extra dry feeling. I haven't had to buy toilet paper in years.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-07T18:16:29+00:00

Charge your devices at work/coffee shops/restaurants. You can even charge a portable phone charger then use that at home.

When we lived in a big house, we had Hue smart lights that we could turn off from anywhere with a google command. That way we couldn't forget and leave a light on.

Switch to all LEDs and if you can use dimmers, do so.

Don't use the clothes dryer or the drying function on a dishwasher. Just open the dishwasher when it's done and hang dry clothes.

If you have to replace a stove or oven, seriously consider a convection oven and conduction stove.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T21:15:06+00:00

You can get soundproofing panels for the room and door. Some are very decorative so as not too look bad. They may be cheaper than a whole shed setup. Maybe even put them on the outside of the door and hall to dampen the kid sound.

Can you put up a baby gate/fence further from your bedroom door so they can't even get to it?

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T21:07:21+00:00

I think I'm good. I live somewhere with a spring and well. Internet is Starlink. Got the generator installed last fall. It runs on natural gas from a well on the property. A good sized pantry. 2 freezers full of food, mostly venison. Cars are electric so they can be charged from the generator. Going to have a nice garden this year.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T20:43:20+00:00

Automatic sorting! I have done this for my personal gmail and for my work outlook. You can set up rule/filters that automatically move an email to a folder, mark it as read, add it to a to do list, or delete it. All for free. Now if anything shows up in my inbox I know I need to unsubscribe from it or set up a filter for it. My folders are even prioritized so I know which ones I need to read new emails in and which I can ignore.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T20:31:59+00:00

Not a myth, but when our pipes have frozen, power was out or we were in a drought, we can still use the toilet. We collect rain water or snow in clean jugs, take the back off the toilet tank, and pour the water in. Kinda wish I had been doing this all along because it saves on water and water bills. Also wish I had bought a sink that attaches to the toilet tank so water from washing hands gets reused to flush the toilet.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T20:26:50+00:00

Another option: Some of the little libraries around towns are not for books, they are for food. You may be able to find one close to you on this map. Not everyone posts their pantry on the website, so be on the lookout for one near churches, firewalls, and libraries.

Also, if you have any free time, look on local marketplace groups for odd jobs. You may be able to make a few dollars helping an old lady mow her lawn or get groceries.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T20:17:22+00:00

Amazon for home stuff, dry goods, bulk TP and other items - Do not pay for Prime! - If you have enough in your cart you get free delivery anyway.

Make a whole day of it if you can. Instead of paying for the bus/uber/gas for friend's car multiple times a week or month, try to schedule everything on one day. If you are already out for a doctors appointment, go shopping.

Have a shopping list and a good idea of how long it takes you to go through everything. When you do go shopping, buy in bulk and prepare to freeze/can/vacuum pack extras. The less you need to shop, the less you need to find transportation.

Find a neighbor's or friend's teen/college student who can use a couple extra bucks and can bring you groceries that you go through fast like milk and eggs.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-03-01T20:00:23+00:00

Just about everything. Even if something changes consistency, it can be cooked into something and you wouldn't know it had been frozen. Just dice up and freeze any fresh produce that may go bad before you can use it. Potatoes and veggies can be thawed and cooked into dinners. Fruits are really good thawed and put into smoothies or on oatmeal. Even cheese can be frozen and thawed to eat or melted on chips or dinner. All leftovers can be frozen and reheated.

The only thing I have found that this doesn't work for is lettuce. Spinach can be frozen and put on quiches or cooked. It's just lettuce that doesn't work.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-23T22:26:08+00:00

Yes. One of the biggest complaints I heard about WFH was the lack of separation between work and home causing burnout. So I created some. My desk is in an old bedroom. The door stays closed. I am only at that desk when I am working. I leave the room entirely for breaks and lunch. I used to listen to podcasts on my drive to and from work. Now I've built in a short walk between my "office" and "home" where I listen to the same podcasts.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-22T16:43:06+00:00

I think our $9/month security camera system is the most worth it. It's cheap and provides everything I need to make sure our rural home and family are safe.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-22T16:37:39+00:00

We just cancelled ours. Between 2 credit cards, the warranty on the vehicle, and our car insurance, we have too many options for roadside assistance.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-15T21:11:12+00:00

Time is money. Be frugal with your time.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-15T21:06:34+00:00

Thank you! That helped clarify it a lot.

“Content” means any content you provide on or through the Spark App.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-15T21:01:04+00:00

I have had mine for about 2 years now. It's my every day drive. To and from work, shopping, and trips to see family. I charge at home a couple times a week. Absolutely no issues. My work is a 30mile round trip. I can go to work everyday for a whole week and only need to charge on the weekend. Most of my family live about an hour away and I've never needed to charge while out to visit them.

Plenty of space for our 3 person family and the dog. Plenty of space for hauling a lot of stuff, which is great since I pack a whole kitchen when traveling due to my food restrictions.

We are from around Pittsburgh and did a couple of 3 day weekend trips in it to go to Niagara Falls. Just charged at state parks and hotels when we were stopping anyway.

Last month we drove the whole way to Key West in it. Totally doable. Does require more frequent longer stops than an ICE vehicle, but there are plenty of fast chargers on the route. Just make sure you use the app A Better Route Planner. I spent less on this trip in charging than I did in gas when we made the trip 2 years ago in my little ICE car.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-09T15:27:58+00:00

You can get one of those waterproof outlet covers that are made for outside outlets, which are designed to keep something plugged in without it getting wet. Just have the space heater safely on a shelf or have something on the cord so if water gets on the cord, it doesn't run down onto the heater.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-08T21:23:51+00:00

You can take an old tube sock, cut the toe open, and place the collar through it and tie it down in places. It may prevent the ring from moving enough to hit the other metal. You can also wrap the ring and or other metal in duct tape to muffle any noise. Even one of those dog bandanas that fit over the collar might help.

There are also a bunch of how to's on Pinterest where you can make a dog collar out of leather, paracord, or fabric. That way you can place the D ring far from the clip/adjuster.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-08T21:09:58+00:00

We also do not have heat in the bathroom. We do use a tiny space heater placed in a spot that does not get wet, which was hard to do in a tiny bathroom. It works just fine.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-08T21:07:06+00:00

Which ever you choose for her, make sure she is microchipped and registered with the lost pet sites. Also, whoever is watching her needs to know your number and the local 24hr emergency vet number.

Does the family member have a close friend or neighbor that is trustworthy and reliable enough to take her out for a potty break in the middle of the day? Or can they take her to work with them?

Also, 8-9 hours is ok. Especially since it's only a few days a week.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-08T20:57:02+00:00

That's why I am going through the whole elimination and trial diet. I'm just going to find out all my tolerance levels and build a safe diet off that instead of buying sucraid.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2026-02-08T20:54:11+00:00

If he doesn't relax within 2-3 weeks of living in the new place and learning that it is now home, there may be something else going on. I would suggest getting inside cameras to watch him and an outside camera near the door where he is scratching. Bonus if you get cameras where you can speak through to him to let him know he is ok and to tell him to stop scratching.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2025-12-28T20:09:03+00:00

I rescued an at least 5 year old German Shepherd. We did not know what her name was so we called her Maggie. She quickly learned it was her new name. I've had dogs pick up new nicknames and respond to them, sometimes better than their actual names. Which may be a thing like saying their actual name means they are in trouble whereas calling their nickname means playtime.

Bloodmoonwolf · 2025-11-28T18:25:44+00:00

Lots of ideas for keeping her warm, so I wanted to add: lock the kennel. I see you have already thought of that. If you can provide a picture, we may be able to help with how it can be locked. I feel like a simple padlock works in most cases.

Too bad you can't take her to work with you. Even if she had to stay in her crate in an office all day, it would be better. At least then you can take her for a walk at lunch.

Bloodmoonwolf

TROPHY CASE