Did everyone have a good weekend? I guess I did, I got lots of stuff done around the city house. Had to do my chores before leaving for the BOL this coming Friday. Work first, then play – that’s my motto… Stupid motto, usually leaves me feeling guilty for playing. I learned this motto prior to maturing enough to realize that the work is NEVER done!

   This leads me into what I want to discuss today. Debt Slavery or more appropriately how to avoid it from now on!

   I want to share a proposed budget with you and see if you can poke some holes in it. Just remember that this is to cover all the basics and have a little slush fund as well. I will give you all the numbers based on a monthly breakdown rather than annual, I find this easier to imagine!

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 Here goes:

   Property Taxes  -   $60.00     (10 acres/mobile)

   Home Insurance  -   $40.00     (mobile home)

   Auto Insurance  -   $120.00   (2 vehicles, liability)

   Medical Insurance  -   $300.00  (major medical, 2 people)

   Electric Bill  -   $150.00   (based on 12 month average)

   Cell phone  -   $75.00  (only phone)

   Internet Access  -   $75.00

   Gasoline/auto  -   $200.00 ( 2 vehicles)

   Groceries  -   $300.00  (costs offset with homestead production)

   Cable TV  -   $50.00

   10% +/-  Savings  -   $200.00              

                                  $1570.00 net income required for expenses

   Total Income before  tax      = $1850.00

   Income tax 15%                        - $277.50

   Total income after tax          = $1572.50  (enough to pay the expenses)

   I am going to make a couple of assumptions -

   #1 – Home paid off or mortgage free if that sounds better.

   #2 – Consumer debt eliminated, including car payments.

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  I see a minimum annual salary requirement of $22,200. Not chump change but much less than would normally be required in today’s society out here on the left coast!

   Alright, what do you think, did I cover everything? What am I missing? Yes, I do see that there are several optional items that could be done away with, such as the cell phone and cable TV. Just remember this isn’t a survival expense list but one to allow for an early retirement. I see this is more of a goal list, something to be aiming for. With this reduced amount as a “HAVE TO HAVE” each month, a person could be free to look for more enjoyable ways to make money. So many people are stuck in occupations that they really would rather leave behind but the  required monthly paycheck is controlling their life.

  Some one out there is already living on this amount of money or maybe even a lot less and trying to support a family, to boot. Everyone’s circumstances are different and each local area has its own costs of living. 

  It will also be of concern as to how to get a piece of land and home that are paid for free and clear of any debt. I am aware of these concerns as I am still on the path to getting all my bases covered in this regard too. I do know this doesn’t happen overnight. However, I also know that it is possible!

   I honestly believe that the system most of us are living under now is setup to keep us trapped into living lives of quiet desperation putting off what we really would like to be doing with our time, to a fantasy of the future.

   Stand up and shake off those chains around your neck, now and start living the life you really want to live! Do you really want that house that has 5 bedrooms and 3 living rooms now that your children are raised or better yet when you only have the one child to begin with? How about that lake view you thought you just had to have? Is it still worth the extra $150K, you happily paid when you bought the home? Only you can answer these questions! I propose to you that in large part you don’t even want the things that the boob tube told you that you had to have.

   Folks we are all being fooled by very slick sales people into playing along with the crowd. “Just do it”, we’re told by the commercial add departments of 1000’s of companies peddling us hyped up products. Mostly these products have  a value only built in by a society of envy. If we don’t have this particular product than we just don’t measure up, SCAM! – I call it like I see it.

   It’s even gotten so bad that, I see what they are doing and I still find myself either buying or wanting to buy their crap! Listen, I’m about to say something very controversial – I’ll be looking over my shoulder for the rest of the day after this! The gun manufactures are doing it to us too! WAIT! I know what your thinking, “This 8th AR15 I just bought has the newest lightweight barrel and has the NEWER aluminum free floating hand guard. It’s color coordinated with my battle harness and I’m the first one in my shooting group to have one…” Well, I have MORE than my fair share of guns that have been purchased for these exact type of reasons! I’m NOT preaching at you about which I do not know!!!

  Think about this for a minute… Is there a better way to control people than through there money or fear of losing everything for lack of money? I can’t say which but this is all going on either at the bequest of our well meaning government or certainly with their blessing. We are their customers and they are oh so happy to require us to continue using their product! In this case, the product is taxes. Oh and I say well meaning not only tongue in cheek but actually biting my tongue. I know this isn’t the proper forum to do my venting about the government and their antics! As long as we keep paying the taxes and don’t get off the wheel they have control over us, they have no need to come collect our guns. We’re all afraid to get out of line because we might have to take an unpaid day off from work to lynch the thieving bastards! Do you think that this is all going on without their being aware of the situation we find ourselves in financially. We miss a day of work and we pay for it by getting behind on the cable bill or insert your own distraction payment here.

   I know I’m ranting today but I’m passionate about my freedom and have spent to many days distracted by the shiny objects and the “I wants”. Lots of lost time, time that should have been spent more profitably with my family and friends! Enjoying the fruits of my labor, whether by actual fruits grown on my own land or just reaping the fruit of freedom that will only be achieved through sacrificing the consumer grade BS that is so tantalizing to many of us!

   In the coming days I want you to search your conscience and decide what your priorities are. Don’t confuse my words as demanding you must believe what I do or do the same things. You are your own person and you may be very happy with the life your leading! I’m truly happy if you have found the right lifestyle for you and your family, you’re way ahead of the majority of us!  I WILL continue to challenge you to do more and more to achieve the freedom we all claim to love and that I crave.

   This is achievable! This isn’t a race with only one or just a few winners. So many things in this life are available to all of us but if we don’t choose them we will never get to enjoy them. We’ll talk more about this soon!

Prepper