What do you do to support yourself?

[Turino]

I wish both of you success.

Bringing up eliminating bills is a good point. I bought a cellphone with unlimited internet that can plug in or go wireless to my computer. I now use as my only internet connection at home. I can make calls while I am online. It is just as fast as broadband. I watch all my tv online, too. So I cut out about $100 in home bills.

I use my bike in the neighborhood, walk and take public transportation...the car mostly just sits outside. I realize that is a NY luxury.

I eat at home....I allow only 25 per month for entertainment...believe it or not. I do a lot of free activities. The rest goes to my business and home expenses.

I used to spend tons of money per year...now, I spend very, very little over basic needs. I am proudly the king of thrifty. It is beyond a challenge..it is a necessity.

new york has retraining services through the workforce program. if anyone needs more info contact me.

[Apocalipstic]

Originally Posted by Turino

I wish both of you success.

Bringing up eliminating bills is a good point. I bought a cellphone with unlimited internet that can plug in or go wireless to my computer. I now use as my only internet connection at home. I can make calls while I am online. It is just as fast as broadband. I watch all my tv online, too. So I cut out about $100 in home bills.

I use my bike in the neighborhood, walk and take public transportation...the car mostly just sits outside. I realize that is a NY luxury.

I eat at home....I allow only 25 per month for entertainment...believe it or not. I do a lot of free activities. The rest goes to my business and home expenses.

I used to spend tons of money per year...now, I spend very, very little over basic needs. I am proudly the king of thrifty. It is beyond a challenge..it is a necessity.

new york has retraining services through the workforce program. if anyone needs more info contact me.

It is very scary for people who expected to retire from a job like General Motors to go back into the workforce and start over. It's great that they have retraining services!

Good for you for eliminating bills too, its amazing how much we spend just on junk.

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Turino

I use my bike in the neighborhood, walk and take public transportation...the car mostly just sits outside. I realize that is a NY luxury.

No, it's not! Or at least, not exclusively! One of the reasons I find Wichita so charming is that neither Gryph nor I have a car--not even a driver's license--and yet we can walk to everything necessary except Gryph's work, and he takes a city bus for that.

I can also take a city bus for shopping and the library.

Lately, we've had a little extra, and so instead of taking the bus, I pay a friend gas money for rides... she's been unemployed for well over a year and her husband has been unemployed for months, so I'm as generous as I can manage. But if she weren't around? I'd be on the bus, and although it isn't comfortable, exactly, it would be okay.

Originally Posted by Turino

I eat at home....

We do this too. One of the things that helps a lot is that Gryph is willing to take his lunch to work, and he likes casserole-y type things. I make a lot of rice-with-veggies-n-cheese, yanno?

When Arwen posted her recipe for Pulled Pork, I tried it, and since she mentioned it makes good broth I put in extra water at the beginning.

Oh.
My.
WORD.

That broth used in the rice? I am actually JEALOUS of Gryph's lunches this week! I had to save some out for me!

One can eat at home the work-intensive way, or the cheap-n-easy way. I find that in the long run, spending the time on cooking from scratch is actually cheaper. Having a week's worth of healthy meals in the fridge and freezer so that one need only reheat is priceless!

I've also discovered that one can up the ante with seasonings... part of that rice-n-veggies I made with the pork broth last week? It got re-seasoned with more garlic and some cumin and chili powder, served with refried beans, Greek yogurt (rather than sour cream) and an avocado as tostadas. Is the pun unbearable if I say we were in hog heaven? lol!

[Apocalipstic]

The library, yes!

We have switched from Barnes and Noble to the library to save money too.
They have books on tape and CD, books, magazines, music, movies.

[violaine]

[QUOTE=apocalipstic;15512]The library, yes!

We have switched from Barnes and Noble to the library to save money too.
They have books on tape and CD, books, magazines, music, movies.

oh yes, jen. i'm picking up a book today that was ordered for me. i always like to see from where they are sent- kind of like produce, when i cannot buy from local farmers. movies and music are checked out all of the time

ox

[Just_G]

What a great thread!

I am 4th generation in my family's oriental rug business. We sell hand knotted rugs made in India, Armenia, Pakistan, China, and Belgium. (no, there is no child labor involved like most people think.) Our product is more a luxury type thing, and not a necessity; therefore, our buisness has been scraping by the last year. I always thought I would some day inherit the business, but the way things are right now, we will be in to big of a hole to dig out of. I hope and pray that things start to turn around soon, but Pops is thinking about selling the business....which breaks my heart, but I understand. I think we are about the only family business left here in Kansas City...we are the oldest rug dealer in this town.

I also do a lot of remodel work on the side for cash. My favorite thing to do is build decks, but this time of year it is not a hot item..lol Laying tile and laminant flooring this last year has been the only thing that kept me afloat financially. However, it is my poor body that suffers...manual labor like this is a bitch, but it is all I really know. I have applied for a part time job at Lowe's, but they are not super busy this time of year.

I have cut out the gym membership (and oh boy can I tell!), and reduced a lot of things so that my bills are lower. I do keep my cable and internet because that seems to be what keeps me busy since my r/t social life has really taken a hit financially. Things are getting better slowly...which is better than not at all.

[morningstar55]

what do I do to support myself... well...........
i drive a truck..... yes .. am a girl and i drive a truck......

1st off im an artist...... i do sell my art from time to time.. even spent 6 yrs learning graphic design in college......
and somehow . ended up driving a truck... not sure how it happend but it did.
its not what i really like to do .. but it pays the bills.
wish i could get home more. but for now it pays the bills.
hoping soon i can find a local job..... but im not one to up and quit my job.. without a back up..
i drive long hours sometimes ,, sometimes i dont.
I dont look for hand outs or someone to pay my way... i work hard to get what little i have.
I do how ever enjoy meeting some of the awsome members of the BF community in my travels.
i am allowed to take passangers..... i have all the comforts in here of a micro wave, fridge, tv, a comfy full size bed and i love lots of pillows soo since i have to live in here on the road doing my job i have made it very comfy in here... soo thats what I do .. lol

[Laidbackgrly]

I do hair I enjoy it very much I do wish I made more money but me and my son get by I thank god everyday I have my job.

[Medusa]

Im a paid Tech Goddess by day and a super-duper Housewife at night