Quote:
Originally Posted by Serious Conversation
Really? Can these suggestions be less practical?
1) You save "$100/month by moving?" How much were the initial costsof said move? A "family/friends" move from Indiana to Tennessee cost me about $1,000 with free help on both ends, and few costs beyond the box truck and its gas. I can find other bills to cut for $100/month and avoid the hassles of a major move.
2) "Making my own dog food?" If I really need to cut the bills, the DOG goes! Cute suggestions - impractical or not economical for most.
3) I'd rather the food bank food go to a person than any animal.
4) Not always possible. Lots of people get laid off as they age or have to retire for medical reasons, then take SS as emergency stopgap income. Delay if possible and if it makes sense for your predicted lifespan. You're forecasting an ideal, not what's practical.
5) Not always possible. Many neighborhoods, cities, or HOAs prohibit something like this on well thought through grounds. This invites tons of trouble.
6) Big startup costs. Impractical for many retirees due to initial costs and impractical in many climates.
7) How many clotheslines do you see in new housing developments? That should show how valuable that suggestion is 
8) Uh, okay? Firewood is labor intensive, not exactly the forte of most seniors, especially women. Get some gas logs and call it a day.
9) Again, not possible in many cases.
10) Yeah, like this is going to helpful in the Deep South.
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1. Correction. I rounded it down but we actually save $125 month by moving.
Our new move is 1 hr away from where I sit right now. we are in the process of doing it. Saving $125 a month is alot to us! We are slowly bringing our stuff to the house using our own pickup.
2. Many people, especially poor folks, consider pets aka dogs as part of the family.
I just paid $3 for 20 pig legs at a Mexican Market.
Added to the organic beef bone broth I got for .25 cents (10 ounces) cartons at a thrift store
Chicken.... which looks pretty bad was discounted to 75 cents a pound at the store.
Add free sweet potatoes from food bank, carrots, canned green beans, rice and you have your dog food!
We don't qualify for the food bank
I don't think BUT it's an idea
If you volunteer, you are allowed to have many of the EXPIRED items not legally allowed to be given to humans.
GREAT for dog food.
3. Never said any of these things "were always possible".
Hence why they are just ideas to delay SS IF POSSIBLE. And not all cases, e
specially if you are on the line to qualify for medical assistance, mean delaying SS is the best option. Something hardly mentioned on this board. Either be far enough above in income it to pay part B+supplement or stay below it to get assistance to pay (medicaid, medicare savings programs)
4. Again, this list is clearly not possible for all. I read these boards alot and appreciate many different ideas being presented. We chose the town we live in out in the boondocks because we have no HOA's, nor COUNTY Codes which apply as no one comes up from the county to check. Ever. It's a high crime area, the road is dangerous. It's cheaper to build our home here than it is to buy a home here in California ( under 85K in the end or close to 100K if my husband doesn't do much of it himself) Not bad at all!
6. Yes it is a large start up cost for a whole house fan. Luckily not everything here will apply to everyone.
7. I wouldn't know how many clothes-lines are in new housing developments. We are far from middle class but not dirt poor either. I've never lived in a new housing tract, sounds nice.
8. Firewood isn't always labor intensive. My suggestion to move may provide lots of fallen dead trees.
On the days you feel like going for a walk, grab a few pieces of firewood. Sure, you may only be able to provide yourself a few nights a weeks worth, but it cuts down on power costs.
9. Most of these ideas are not going to be possible for most people.
10. Not everyone lives in the Deep South. Not all suggestions apply only to the OP as there are a ton of poorer people, such as us, who love reading these threads to get ideas to save. Yes we have some in a retirement acct & some in the HSA but ideally, we'd never use it.
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