Live Self Sufficient » Living off the Grid

Save that rain water

Kevin Quinlan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:11:45 +0000

A great way to become more self sufficient is to save rain water. Just about anyone can do this simple chore and it will help you save extra money in your budget. If you rely on water from a public water supply, this is even truer!

There are several different ways you can collect rainwater. All you really need to get started is a large barrel that you can attach to the bottom of a downspout on your home. When the rain starts to fall, your home’s gutter system will automatically route the water into your barrel.

Now if you don’t want to build a rain collection system that attaches to your homes downspout, you have an alternative. Place your rain barrel in an unobstructed area in your yard where rain is free to fall directly into. In order to capture the most possible water during a rain shower, you will want to create a large funnel that can be placed in the top of your barrel. While the funnel certainly won’t have the ability to capture as much water as your home’s gutter system, you’ll be impressed by how quickly your barrel does fill up!

Rain water is very useful once it has been collected. If you have a lot of house plants that need to be watered, you can rely on the rain water to take care of this. Collected rain water is also useful in your garden. Store it up during the off season and use it during the dry months!

Learn to be self sufficient – How to get out of debt fast

Kevin Quinlan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:00:36 +0000

If you are surrounded by debt, chances are you are paying finance charges every month. Paying these finance charges is annoying and it’s costing you a small fortune.

Eliminating the debt in your life will alleviate stress and provide you with the financial freedom you need to save money for your retirement or for a rainy day. Getting out of debt fast is possible if you are willing to put forth a bit of effort.

The first thing you need to do is spend some time getting to know your debt. Sit down with a pen and paper and determine how much debt you have really accumulated. Separate the debt into different categories, such as credit cards, automobiles, and student loans. Also make a note of the finance charges that are applicable to each one.

Determine if it is possible to consolidate your debt. This will make it easier to see how much money you owe at any given time. Most people will find it is easier to focus on paying down debt from a few different sources rather than paying off several debts at the same time.

Now that you have organized your debt, you will be able to prioritize it. Focus on paying off the debts that have the highest finance charges first. This will allow you to pay off your debt fast.

Cut up your credit cards. This is not an easy task but it will help you eliminate the urge to spend when you really need to save. Focus on paying for your extras with cash. Create yourself a tight budget and only allow enough cash to provide you with the minimal luxuries. Use the money you are saving to pay down your debt levels. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it!

It is a good idea to create reasonable goals. If you have two years left on the loan for your car, try to pay it off in a single year. If you have been paying off $200 a month on your credit card debt, double it to $400 a month.

Find some creative ways to earn some extra money. Sell some old things lying around the house on eBay or have a garage sale. Consider getting a second job or working a few hours of overtime each week to get some extra money. While it may be tempting to use this money to buy new things, it is important to use any extra money you earn to pay down your debt!

How to save money for a rainy day

Kevin Quinlan — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:57:37 +0000

Saving money for a rainy day is easier than you might think. The trick to saving this type of money and not spending it is keeping it out of sight or separated from your other savings.

Many people find that creating a second savings account is a great way to save some extra money on the side. Consider changing your direct deposit settings so that a percentage or specified dollar amount is deposited into your rainy day savings account every month. You will be surprised by how quickly the money accumulates!

Investigate the savings plans offered by your bank. Several banks will take a specified amount of money every time you use your debit card and deposit it into a savings account. These accounts generally are eligible for interest which will allow you to quickly save money for a rain day. After you sign up for a program like this, make sure to use your debt card as much as you can to take advantage of the rewards!

Another great way to save money for a rainy day is to start a change jar. Pick a jar or container and place it next to where you keep your wallet. When you return home each day, deposit any change you may have accumulated into the change jar. If you have a few extra dollar bills in your wallet, throw them into your change jar too. Chances are you will never miss those dollars and they will allow you to save money quicker.

The trick to the change jar is to roll the accumulated coins in wrappers on your own. While machines like CoinStar are fine alternatives, you will spend a good portion of your rainy day savings on service charges. That’s just not fun!

No debt, no employer, no headaches: The wonder of simple living

Kevin Quinlan — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:52:54 +0000

If you have found yourself up to your neck in debt and you hate your job, you are probably looking for a way to escape this stressful lifestyle in favour of something simpler. By living a simple life, you can eliminate your headaches and relax.

In order to live a simple life, it is important to free yourself of debt. This is no easy task and may take you a while to accomplish. Set yourself reasonable goals that will allow you to pay down your debts quickly. Once you have paid off your debts, start saving a bit of a nest egg to make your simple life easier.

If you hate your job, start thinking about alternatives that will allow you to earn a reasonable income. Think about different businesses you can start so that you no longer have to report to an employer that is driving you nuts on a daily basis. You can start formulating your business plan while you are in the process of paying off your debts. By the time you are ready to put your plan into action, you will feel confident about your well researched business.

The trick to eliminating your headaches is to focus on a simple lifestyle. While the thought of starting your own business may sound stressful, the object is to pick an option that you will enjoy. The goal is not to make a fortune, it is earn an income that will allow you to relax and enjoy your life. This may mean that you need to move into a simpler home in order to live on the income you earn.

How you can make money online with pay per click ads

Kevin Quinlan — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:50:27 +0000

Earning some extra money on the side is a great way to reduce your debts quickly and save more money for retirement. While some people may earn their extra money by getting a second job or working overtime, others will turn to the web.

With the help of pay per click ads, you can easily earn the extra money you need. The trick to making this method work for you is to stay focused on your goals and keep at it. You may not earn a lot of money initially, but over time you should start to see your pay per click ads start producing a reasonable amount of money.

To get started, you will need to think of a topic that you can focus a blog on. Try to think of a new trend or something off the beaten track that has not already been exploited. If you are a subject matter expert on something, focus your blog on this.

Once you have your idea, purchase a catchy domain name. You will need to find a blog template that focuses on pay per click ads. These templates will allow you to locate these ads in select locations. Users should also be able modify the template easily to accept ad codes.

Now all you have to do is start blogging. As you start to gather an audience over time, you will notice that the money you earn from pay per click ads will increase. Plan to post multiple times a week for at least a year in order to establish your blog!

How to pay bills on time by doing it online

Kevin Quinlan — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:48:08 +0000

Paying bills is boring and takes up more time than it should. If you still pay your bills via the mail, consider paying them online instead. This will allow you to save money and time!

Each time you write out a bill and seal it securely in its return envelope, you have to pay the cost of a postage stamp to send it. With the price of postage continuously rising, now is a great time to start paying your bills online. By paying your bills on line, you eliminate the need for postage.

You can also rest assured that your bills are paid on time when you pay them online. When you pay your bills through the regular postage system, there is always a possibility that it may get lost or delayed somewhere along the way. By paying your bills online, you can feel confident that you will never receive a penalty for a late payment.

When you pay your bills online, you will be given a confirmation number for each transaction. It is a good idea to make a note of your payment confirmation number on the corresponding bill that you are paying. This will provide you with proof of payment in case an issue ever arises.

Another nice thing about paying your bills online is scheduled payments. If you are worried you will forget to pay a bill, sign up to have the bill automatically paid for you each month. Most companies will allow you to select a particular day to draft the funds needed from your banking account!

Living off the grid helps anyone live cheap

Kevin Quinlan — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:45:12 +0000

Living off the grid may seem like a radical idea to some, but it is actually a great way to live cheap. In order to remove yourself from the grid, you may need to save up a bit of money as several of the things you may need along the way can be expensive.

If you really want to live off the grid, you need to invest in some land. Find yourself a nice little parcel of land where you can build a self sufficient home off the grid.

There are a few things you need to take into consideration when building your home off the grid. You want to produce a home that does not require outside utilities, including water and electricity.

There are several options that you can include in your home that will allow you to produce your own electricity. Solar panels are starting to become very popular and much more affordable than they once were. Putting a windmill in your yard is also a great way to create electricity off the grid.

What about water? There aren’t public sewer lines off the grid so you will be left to manage this on your own. Many people dig a well for their off grid home and rely on septic systems.

Depending on the climate where your off the grid home is located, heating will likely be an issue for you. Consider adding wood stoves to your home if you have plenty of access to firewood.

Live Self sufficient requires a good budget plan

Kevin Quinlan — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:17:23 +0000

In order to live self sufficient, you will need to create a good budget plan in order to achieve the best results. While living self sufficient can reduce your expenses in the long run, many will find that it does cost a small amount of money to setup this type of lifestyle.

Consider creating a savings account that you add a specified amount of money to each pay period. As this money accumulates, you can easily use it to pay for items that will allow you to live a self sufficient lifestyle.

Gardening is one of the easiest ways that anyone can take advantage of to become more self sufficient. To create your self sufficient garden, consider the supplies that you will need. This includes everything from soil to seeds for your plants. Over the years, you can use the seeds from the fruits and plants you harvest to grow these same plants during the next season. However, we all have to start somewhere and that means buying seeds at the store in the beginning.

If you want to live self sufficient, create a list of all the things you want to do to establish this type of lifestyle. Perhaps you want to install solar panels on your roof or a windmill in the backyard to generate electricity.

Once you have your list, start determining how much each of the things will cost you. You also want to create a goal for when each of these things is put into place. This will allow you to save and spend your money appropriately in order to get your self sufficient lifestyle started efficiently.

Live Self Sufficient and cut back on your cost of living

Kevin Quinlan — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:41:56 +0000

By living self sufficient, you can drastically reduce your cost of living. A self sufficient lifestyle means that you are less dependent on others. This can include everything from growing your own food to eliminating the need for an automobile.

The next time you head to the grocery store, take a look at the price of produce. You might be surprised to realize how much you are actually spending on things such as carrots, bell peppers, onions, potatoes, and even tomatoes. Luckily, each of these items can easily be grown in your home garden.

By planting your own vegetables from seed, you can drastically cut down on your cost of living. This type of self sufficient lifestyle can be thought of as a hobby. See how much of your own food you can grow. Each season try to add a few new things to your garden!

Your cost of living can also drastically be reduced by implementing a number of other self sufficient measures. Consult with a solar technician about adding some panels to your roof. Think of how much money you could save in the long run if you could eliminate your electricity bill. Adding solar panels to your roof may be a costly investment, but overtime it should pay for itself!

Another great way to reduce your cost of living is to get rid of your automobile. How close do you live to work? Can you ride your bike? Not only is this a great form of exercise, it is also fairly inexpensive. No need to worry about paying for expensive gas or making those monthly insurance payments.

What does it mean to have a homestead

Kevin Quinlan — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:14:05 +0000

The term homestead is thrown around for a multitude of different reasons. This word can mean a variety of different things and it is a good idea to become familiar with this definition.

A homestead can refer simply to a person’s residence. The residence can be owned outright, or it could also be a property that is rented from another person. The term homestead when it is used in this sense is often for tax purposes.

The word homestead is frequently used to identify a certain tax exemption status. Homestead exemptions can be filed on a home for several different reasons. When a spouse passes away, a homestead exemption can protect the surviving spouse from creditors. This type of exemption also prevents a forced sale of a home. A homestead exemption typically protects the spouse up to a specified sum of money. Most states have specific homestead exemptions that offer residents varying levels of protection.

A homestead is also commonly used to identify a ranch or farm that has several dwellings located on the property. These dwellings are typically grouped together in a logical fashion. Several historic homesteads have been preserved, including the Kunderang Homestead located in the South of Wales.

Homestead can also refer to a borough in Pennsylvania. Located just outside of Pittsburgh, Homestead has a population of approximately 3,500 people. For those who love amusement parks, the famed Kennywood Park is located just a few short miles away from Homestead.