In August shit did hit the fan for our little farm. Out of nowhere the Army gave Big J a 40 day report notice in July for NY on indefinite assignment. Try as he might he couldn’t get them to see they were out of their gourds and not only was there no way we could relocate financially…I am sorry have you seen the housing market lately? We have a junior in high school. The kid has already moved 8 times in his academic career. We have a lot of livestock, how do you even begin to destock in 40 days in this market?
So now for exactly 3 months, we have been financially responsible for two households. At his rank he isn’t permitted to live in the barracks and has to live on the economy. That’s right folks, his rent in NY for a 2 bedroom tiny hole is almost the same as our mortgage for 7 acres. Two sets of power, two sets of internet/phone bills, two sets of grocery bills…..We weren’t sure how we would survive.
Luckily, we have been living off the farm for quite some time literally. I had gotten our grocery budget (including all toiletries, cleaning products etc) down to $300 a month for a family of 4 about two years ago. For two years I have been able to produce about 80 % of our own meat/produce/eggs and milk. By selling soap and produce the farm pretty much pays for the livestock feed and vet bills, so that part was a wash.
Starting in August my grocery bill for the kids and I went to zero. Every penny went to the NY budget and is covering food and utilities there. By hustling my butt off I have managed to ramp up more soap sales and took the soap sales and proceeds from the CSA from the summer and put it all in savings to pay for the household necessities of anything I can’t produce myself. To date, we are still not behind, and are not going without a single thing. To date we still have no credit cards. To date we have paid for Big J to fly back for early Thanksgiving and have a ticket already purchased for Christmas.
Alot of things go into this success, not the least of which is because I have been an avid canner for years and we have so much canned goods, meat and dry goods stored the kids and I could eat out of there pretty much indefinitely by carefully restocking with every penny I make from the farm. Second, I am not a shopper, I never really have been, so I don't feel "without" by not hitting the store for retail therapy. Third, we practice Big picture thinking here, together. This is important for couples and individuals alike. We know that long term this is the right decision, its a hardship we will grow from, and in the end, we are where we are meant to be.
Lessons Learned at 3 months (I think I'll update quarterly)
Be prepared: store atleast a year’s worth of food: we’ve needed it
Be resilient: right now I have moments of quiet desperation where I want to just lay down and cry from running the farm by myself as Big J sits in NY, but each and every day I am back up at 4 am, to do it all over again.
Be neighborly: I have great friends and family, and because of them my life is rich without spending a penny. I always have food and they always have cheer and my house is still filled with laughter even in our discontent.
Be grateful: Every time I get down, I just remind myself how much I have here in my little hobbit hole, and throw my muck boots back on, and head back outside.
Be challenged: Preshtf you CAN set goals for yourself. You have that luxury. Post shtf, you MUST set goals for yourself and stretch your limits. Stretching your limits will allow you to live far better on far less than you could possibly imagine.
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