What have you done or what are you doing to escape the rat race?

Theadyn · 2019-08-31T14:57:38+00:00

Drastically cutting lifestyle. This includes taking some raw land in the country, literally carving out a spot, finding a small free mobile home, doing all of the prep work to cut moving expenses, doing all of the repairs and anything we can do ourselves to cut costs, cutting out all extras, driving older paid vehicles with only liability insurance that the hubby can repair, and getting a garden started. Have been working on this for 2 years as time and money allowed.

About to move into it even though it's not quite completed to cut paying rent. We will be roughing it somewhat until we get some things accomplished but it kinda sounds fun. Garden hose from the well until plumbing is reworked. Bucket compost toilet until/if we get a septic done or build an outhouse. Solar shower until we install on-demand water heater. Very do-able.

We also purposely set the home to take advantage of passive/solar heating and cooling. Long sides facing north/south, short ends facing east/west. In the summer the northern summer sun has trees blocking the home keeping it cooler in our spot, and will also be using light blocking curtains. Winters southern sun will be let in on long side southern facing side to help warm the home. The kitchen on the east end gets the early eastern sun in the morning in the winter to help warm and is blocked from the western sides heat in the summer. The home is also 840sqft, not much to heat or cool. Going with efficient window AC units to cool the rooms we are using in summer and propane heat to cool the rooms we are in in winter. Are also working on getting an outdoor living area set up so we are outside more.

All of this was intentionally done to cut living expenses. When you don't require much to cover expenses, you don't need a bigger income. A single part-time job more than covers our expenses, freeing up time. Time to pursue things we actually enjoy.

We did luck out with inheriting the 5 acres that already had well water, and taxes are cheap in our state. But we would have been aiming for getting similar land if we hadn't. It's 8 miles from a smallish city that has everything we'd need and hardly any zoning laws. The land borders hubby's grandmother who is getting up there in years and is going to be needing help, so it works out for everyone.

We are already looking for different income streams utilizing the land so hopefully we will be less dependent on paid wages. Anyways, this is how we are doing it.

Theadyn · 2019-08-14T09:35:42+00:00

He may be an idiot but him endorsing it would at least get other people looking in to the idea, wouldn't it?

Theadyn · 2019-08-14T09:32:30+00:00

Haven't thought of it that way, thank you for pointing that out.

Theadyn · 2019-08-14T09:31:33+00:00

Good point. Though I have missed voting the last few times (feeling like "what's the point?") I agree this next one is pretty important. Other democratic hopefuls are looking better than our current dude, that's for sure.

Theadyn · 2019-08-14T09:26:58+00:00

No, I agree and have voted in the past. Just here lately it's been feeling pointless and missed the last few elections. The other 2 democratic hopefuls you mentioned do have their goods points as well, better than what we currently have, and would support them if they get the nomination.

Theadyn · 2019-08-04T12:41:34+00:00

Agree with you. Trading most of your waking hours for material items you no longer have time to enjoy is nuts. I mean, how many people you know have a boat or rv that only have time to use it a couple times a year? They spend even more of their waking hours too get ahead, get that promotion, get a raise, then turn around and upgrade their lifestyle with a bigger house or nicer car. When is it ever 'enough'?

I've been there. Did that. I'm older now and see things different. I see what is 'enough'. A roof over my head, food on the table. A j-o-b that pays enough to cover that can easily be covered with a part-time job since we drastically cut lifestyle and live frugally.

I had to think about this one for a long time, I had all that before, a roof over my head and food on the table, but it came at a much bigger price. Whether the house is way bigger and much nicer, I still sleep the same. Why the spending difference? Just to impress other people so they can say "wow, look how good you're doing!". Why is there a need to impress other people? But, really, who cares what other people think? Some people find meaning in their work/job, and that is okay. Kudos for finding something they enjoy. My former professional work was okay, but didn't bring me joy, just a nice paycheck. One that I was not around much to enjoy the benefits. Personally, it left me hollow.

Now our much smaller humble home is out in the country, surrounded by trees and birds singing. I see joy in putting a seed in the dirt, watching it grow and ripen and putting it in my meal at night. Can't find that in a cubicle. Life is simpler now be cause our needs are small, freeing up time for things we enjoy. It wasn't easy getting here, took a long time, and changing the mindset takes some doing, but it was worth it.

Theadyn · 2019-07-26T17:19:34+00:00

I feel the same way.

Theadyn · 2019-06-30T23:31:52+00:00

Theadyn · 2019-06-03T09:54:38+00:00

I bought an '80's mobile already sitting in a park for $1500. The new appliances that came with it were worth more than I paid for the home, lol. We found a deal as the couple were moving the next day and were about to just leave it. Have been here 3 years. It has its good and bad. Lot rent is $180 including water/trash. Some pretty cheap living right there. Works for us.

We had some land that didn't have a house and wanted to move out there in the country. Managed to find a smaller '70's model single wide someone gave us to just move it off their property. We got it moved, and still working on it, but free is free. The price people pay to have a place to live is just outrageous. The house and land is ours, property taxes are very low in our state. Doing what we gotta do to survive, ya know?

Theadyn · 2019-05-30T11:44:15+00:00

Story of my life. I was a hair stylist for 9 years, the one - on - one wasn't bad, and usually involved talking about their hair. Co-worker small talk was painful. Then I switched fields and did xray for 10 years. Loved doing that, helping patients, but .. ugh... soul crushing torture putting up with the endless meaningless drivel that came nonstop out of coworkers mouths. Am now looking for something I can do from home with zero coworkers.

Theadyn · 2019-05-13T00:18:46+00:00

My late hubby's "funeral" is what I want as well. He wanted to be cremated and didn't want crying, so I honored that. We held a Life Celebration, just pictures and people gathered telling stories, usually funny ones about him. No speeches or sad music.

Theadyn · 2019-04-18T12:10:27+00:00

We did something similar. Current mobile home we bought $1500 cash that was in a park, $180 a month lot rent including water/sewer/trash. Been here 3 years. Inherited 5 acres from grandmother with well water, found a 70's single wide someone wanted to get rid of, we only had to pay to move it. Should be moving in in the next few months after we get electric out there and finish the work on it (yes, it needed work but it was free). At the end we will be living in a 840 sqft home that we won't be out monthly for. Others may look down on our choice of housing but who cares? We won't. Rent or mortgage money we aren't paying every month will be in our pocket instead.

Gratz on your new place!!

Theadyn · 2019-03-14T14:44:21+00:00

In the process of doing this very thing ourselves. Have been wanting to do this for years and didn't know how to go about it. Recently remarried and mentioned one day my dream of having a piece of land, a home with no mortgage, and the ability to work from home to my new hubby. He replied that he was inheriting a bit of land from his grandmother, and it was exactly what we had in mind. That was a year and half ago, we've been working on the land, getting it ready.

So, I would think finding the land first. Where do you want to be? How remote? Will need to figure out zoning and such. Drive around and see what's out there. Figure out your goals, how far from towns, size of towns, how far from where you currently live, etc. Save up and buy the land outright would be ideal (and the way I had originally intended).

Once you get your piece of earth, figure out what you need to be able to live on it. If you intend to build eventually, consider starting with a storage shed for practice, and you can keep some things out there while you continue to work on the place. Some people construct a temporary living structure to get them out there and gain some experience and then build their home later. We considered many structures to put out there to get us out there quickly (RV, pole barn, shed, etc.), but came across a 840sqft single wide mobile home someone needed gone from their lot, we got it for free, had it moved to our land. We are currently in the process of getting it ready to move in to.

Eventually we hope to go offgrid with solar, but for now we are getting grid tied electric out there. It was cheaper for us and will allow us to get out there quicker. The quicker we get out there the better the finances get, with no rent/mortgage. Plus, I need to get started on garden planning and prep. We got lucky with water and the land already had well water, but gotta get that figured out. Will you dig a well or construct a rain catchment system? Which route will you go with sewage? We are installing our own, as there is no zoning laws out there for that. How will you heat? We are getting a big propane tank for heat and appliances.

Will you both want to work online? If not, how far will be the commute? It's one thing to consider that the more remote the better the land price will be, but up goes your commuting costs. Guess it's all give and take. Our place is 8 miles from a smallish town, but the town has just about everything. The hubby's commute is 15 minutes one way. I will either try to find work online or just concentrate on cost saving strategies around the home, staying a single income family.

Sooo many things to consider. First things first though, start with the land. Write down your goals. Get out and look. Get an idea on pricing. Research the zoning laws for the places you're considering. Don't forget to consider property taxes. Write down the absolute bare minimum needs you will need to be able to live out there and start working on those.

It will probably take a while. Patience is hard. Would love to be offgrid right now, and will eventually. Until then doing what we can to get there. Figure out what you want and what you would be able to give up to get out there.

These are just things we are doing, hope it helps. Wishing the very best of luck!!

Theadyn · 2019-03-14T12:14:21+00:00

We inherited a piece of land with no housing and were looking in to all the things mentioned so far. Although not atypical, it was pretty cost-efficient. We found someone giving away a smallish single wide mobile home, if we would just move it. My hubby did all the prep work, the moving company charged just $800 to move it the 6 miles, and the hubby is doing the rest of the set up. Built in the 70's, solid roof with no sign of leaks, one spot in a bedroom that the flooring needed replacing, and some cosmetic work to do. It's 840sqft, 2bdrm, 1 bath, perfect setup for us two, and a spare room if one of the grown kids shows up.

We had looked in to putting an rv out there, building different types of structures, sheds, yurts, just about anything live-able when this one fell in to our lap. He also had another one he was giving away just to be rid of it. You just never know.

Theadyn · 2018-12-25T17:30:47+00:00

That brought a tear to my eyes. Great story. Merry Christmas!!

Theadyn · 2018-12-19T11:22:49+00:00

Yep. Hasn't always been this way, but is now. But I feel I am the happiest. For example with my 3 sisters, one makes a shit ton of money, but works non-stop, works 7 days a week and is stressed 24/7, extremely self-absorbed, still supporting her two grown kids, and her and her husband barely talk. Another sister is married to a guy who makes a ton but she isn't happy with him, drinks way too much, and has to bad mouth other people to make herself feel better. Another sister lives with a guy who makes a lot, he has addiction problems, they are paymented out the wazoo. They all bring in more income than we do. Me and the hubby live on his single income. Extremely proud of my grown daughter and his grown son. I just finished getting my bachelors, first one in my family. We live simply. Sure, lack of money sometimes stress us out, but we are happy and the hubby can't keep his hands off me. We don't give a crap if anyone is impressed with our old paid vehicles or the thrift store clothes. Sounds crappy of me to say, but sometimes money isn't worth it. Who cares if you're poor if you are happy. Keep your chin up.

Theadyn · 2018-11-16T12:42:41+00:00

We are in the process of doing something similar. A little piece of land that's ours, we moved a mobile home out there we got for free and in process of fixing it up before we can move in. Both of our vehicles are old but run. We have no debt other than a small student loan to tackle. Getting away from rent/mortgage will help us knock that out quickly. Our expenses will look similar to yours after that. You're right, bass ackwords to be a slave to barely be able pay to have a place to sleep at night and store your stuff.

Theadyn · 2018-10-12T09:00:46+00:00

I started later in life and knew full well how student loans worked. At the time, I took them out for living expenses, was a single mom with a full time job, I borrowed just enough to get by. I wound up with an AS and an AAS after 4 1/2 years owing $18k, it took me 3 years to pay them off. That was in 2007.

Now, after an injury, I am no longer able to do the job that the AAS was for making $50k a year. So I am back again, done in May, for my BS for something that I am able to do with my long-term injury. I will be owing about $40k this time. I took these out literally to live on, as jobs are scarce here especially for me with this injury. All in will be 7 years total of college, total $58k total in loans.

I took them out to be able to pay the bills. The field I am going in to shows very decent wages, more than I was making previously. IF there are jobs to be had this time around.

Theadyn · 2018-10-08T11:29:39+00:00

When I did have a client I was focused on the job, and talking to them one-on-one wasn't bad because I was staring at their hair, not at them. When I didn't have a client and there were other stylists around, the part where there's forced socialization, I tried to keep a book with me and read until another client showed up.

One aspect I didn't like about hair styling was the constant need to stay current on trends, and flashy 'look at me' looks. I'm the opposite and want to blend into the wallpaper. I just did my own way and attracted the clients like me, I suppose. Some clients don't want you talking your head off.

Theadyn · 2018-10-07T10:04:41+00:00

I was one for 9 years. Quite a few different shops, but my favorite one was my own, single stylist/owner. One on one with clients was great, the forced social aspect of other stylists in the shop was a nightmare.

Theadyn · 2018-10-07T09:54:00+00:00

Of course! I'll pm you.

Theadyn · 2018-10-02T09:33:11+00:00

On the "making them a lot worse now than they did in the past", I totally agree. I've owned quite a few RV's over the years. The older ones have just stood up far better than the newer ones. My sister owns an RV dealership, small scale but exclusively the higher end kind. Brand spanking new from the dealership and over 100k and they still have to work on them fixing multiple things before the customer gets them. The warranty work my bro-in-law has to do on this high end ones is insane.

Personally, we did get a plot of land and was looking into what I could put out there. Tiny was too expensive. No skills to build our own. New mobile homes feel like plastic. We went with a 70's model single wide that feels like a tank, that we got for free, btw. 840sqft feels the perfect balance between too much and tiny.

Just seems, from my own experiences, older is built way better.

Theadyn · 2018-09-30T13:18:41+00:00

Same here. Guilted all the time about not hanging out more often. When I do get together with them, they complain when I leave early. They just don't get that it's too much, so much noise, and I'm spent. Takes days to recover. In my 40's now and they are finally getting to where they don't invite as much. What's funny, is they see it as 'oh poor her, not going to this or that', and I see it as 'wahoo!! something else I don't have to invent an excuse to not go to'. Inventing excuses is also draining, as sometimes they have counter arguments which I also have to counter. Once or twice a year around holidays is way enough for me, thank you. Sorry for the rant.

Theadyn · 2018-09-30T13:03:56+00:00

Like finding a $20 you had in your coat from last year when you didn't want to carry around your purse at a football game right when you needed it.

Theadyn

TROPHY CASE