Dear MOTHER: December 2016/January 2017

1 / 5
A slab of smoked bacon is sure to pack the people around your dinner or breakfast table.
A slab of smoked bacon is sure to pack the people around your dinner or breakfast table.
2 / 5
Morning view of the bay from the dock at Weslemkoon Lake in the Adirondacks.
Morning view of the bay from the dock at Weslemkoon Lake in the Adirondacks.
3 / 5
The Boone's built this greenhouse from Spike Carlson's plans (June/July 2016).
The Boone's built this greenhouse from Spike Carlson's plans (June/July 2016).
4 / 5
Post a picture of your favorite scenes, such as this squirrel, to Instagram and tag us @MotherEarthNewsMag.
Post a picture of your favorite scenes, such as this squirrel, to Instagram and tag us @MotherEarthNewsMag.
5 / 5
Learn more about the Monarch butterfly waystation program at www.MonarchWatch.com.
Learn more about the Monarch butterfly waystation program at www.MonarchWatch.com.

Cut Back on Bills for a Simpler Life

I got divorced at age 52, and by 62 I’d lost everything in the stock market crash. At rock bottom, I lost my job and my unpaid-for fancy home and car. I realized that everything I had worked and saved for my entire life was gone, but I simply didn’t want to re-enter the corporate world just to go into debt all over again. I was tired of the rat race, so I took early retirement and decided I could still “have it all” with some serious adjustments.

I poked back every possible penny I could. I rode the $1 city bus, I never ate out, I only bought groceries twice a month, and I learned all the different ways to cook rice and beans. No cable. No extras. Eventually I saved enough money to pay cash for an old car with peeling paint that runs great. I kept an eye on houses as they went up for auction, and found a home on an acre with excellent soil and no nearby neighbors. The house had fire damage and had been gutted to the studs and rafters, but the price was right, and the out-of-state owner was willing to carry the note.

Now, every penny I save goes toward insulation and other materials for the home, which I’ll have paid off in 2018. I have a nice garden going, and an animal trap furnishes me with free rabbits a few times per month. I forage for wild foods and dig up starts for flowers and wild fruit tree saplings. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been, and I’ve learned that you can “have it all” at any age. The only way to forgo money is to banish bills!

Vicki

  • Published on Dec 7, 2016
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368