For sure the stepson is put to work, along with also holding a full time job. Me thinks he's grateful to go to his air conditioned bank job 6 days a week cause his dad would have him doing something, haha.
But yeah, sure is lacking some life skills which hopefully he'll have some gained after this endeavor.
Okay, one of my fun past times is running numbers.
I dunno if it's cool or not to post actual numbers, so will post percentages instead.
Current monthly single income minus expenses leaves 37%.
Future same income minus expenses leaves 64%.
Closer to home minimum wage full time less-stressful job minus future expenses leaves 52%.
Extreme frugality combined with closer to home less stressful part time minimum wage job minus future expenses leaves 33%, or 84% if full time living extremely frugal. If same current job.. living extremely frugal.. leaves 89%, holy moly!!! haha.. man I love playing with those numbers!!
I like looking at different scenarios. Hubby's current job is okay, and he's got some great contacts there, but it is a further drive and he's management so the highschool drama crap that goes on every single day gets to him. Severely. So I looked at how we would be if he worked closer to home at a minimum wage 'leave it at the door' less stressful job to see how the numbers went. Also looked at same job, but part time, living really frugal would be in case he wanted to devote more time to side jobs that he could some day turn into his only 'job', to see if we could make it.
Lots of strategies in there to cut costs if needed. Truth be told, if we were to implement the extreme frugality we could quite literally get by on $200 a month. Not even kidding. How easy would it be to earn $200 a month if you had time and were creative? Heck, a part time minimum wage job around here earns about $615 a month after taxes in my state.
Expense reduction strategies: (some of these might be frowned upon, but there if needed, none the less)
Electricity-
-So many ways to cut down on electricity. We are rural electric so we pay a heavy fee for that and I'm always battling cutting down on this. Last summer in the hot point we did pay $350 a month for electricity. That's atrocious. So, first off, we are moving into a home that's 1/3 less in size, that helps right there. Then: there are tons of shade trees. No more power sucking over-sized central inefficient AC unit, will be using smaller efficient window units just in rooms we will occupy. Will be outside way more. Ceiling fans, box fans. Open windows at night and morning for coolness and closing windows and blackout curtains to sun during hot part of the day. Cool showers. Not using oven in summer, just crockpot, solar oven, microwave, or cooking outside. No more electric hot water heater, getting 2 small on demand water heaters. Wash in cold water only. Hang clothes to dry (already have the pole, got for free, woot!). Power strips to turn off vampire electric use. Not taking desktop computer, just more efficient laptop. Shading over window AC units. Building a trellis to add some climbing vines on the west end of house that gets evening sun. Propane heaters for winter. Closing off or hanging curtains to close off rooms or hallways in winter and heating room you're in. Keeping fridge and freezer full or adding gallon jugs of water to fill it up to run more efficiently. Sealing and caulking windows and doors to stop drafts.
Cellphone:
Already have a decently cheap cell plan, 2 lines with AT&T pay as you go, no data, for $45 a month. Could switch to cheaper plan like redpocket, mint, etc. Or if really frugal, use free apps on wifi or go through the pain of freedompop's free plan.
Internet:
Currently my rural wireless plan costs $66 a month. Once moved (and if they can get me service there) will move down to the lesser package of $45 a month. We don't do cable or satellite so our tv entertainment is streaming. But if really extreme, go without, go to library when needed to use or some places's free wifi. See if antennae picks up anything out there.
Car Insurance:
Currently have Geico and it's the cheapest liablility plan I've found for 2 old vehicles. If extreme, could just insure and use one vehicle.
Food:
It's currently a biggy! We do plan on gardening and hunting to help with this. I do all the money saving shopping strategies already, I'm good at it, but wow, prices sure have gone up. Plus feeding a 19 y/o, ouch. Anyway, if extreme can always hit the food bank to help, or even snap benefits to help supplement.
Gas:
We use quite a bit here, going back and forth to work on place. Hubby comes home every day for lunch, which adds up, but he won't be able to once we move, cutting down some of the gas. If he worked closer, that would also bring it down. Once we live further from town will start implementing batch trips for sure. Extreme is only driving vehicle with better mpg, or even selling current vehicles to get one that has better mpg.
Household items:
Make own cleaning supplies, cut down on paper goods or use alternatives, homemade alternatives or make own like toothpaste, doggy treats, etc, get creative. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
Health Insurance:
Hubby gets his through his job, I get mine paid through Obamacare, since we are low income. If he went to a lesser job or part time, he would be able to, as well.
Property taxes:
No way to cut costs on this. My state it's cheap though, I believe it's like $100 a year.
I know some of these are out there, but if ya had to, ya could. Ya know?
But yeah, I've been down alley's many a time looking for treasures. Shocking what people discard.
