Gma A. blogs countrified memoirs; is a nature lover; a caregiver for pets and people; writer and merch designer. Mental health musings, Money-saving, Homesteading, Recipes and (Pre) Retirement
Picture: LaPorte County – Circa 1997 My Dad teaching shroom hunting to my daughter, the ginger, and her BFF. – Now at 85, ‘Papa’ will soon be teaching his great-granddaughter as well.
$10k- Well/septic/block foundation/electric hook up/permits etc.
Autumn 2020
$12-18k- Used Single wide MH 3bd/2bth {actually bigger than what I have now!}
After extensive research: we nixed the notion of a Pre-fab cabin, yurt
or modular kit as a year-round residence. A tiny house under 400sf would suck long term. We lived 2 yrs on the truck… just ask me anything about teeeeny living... O.o
Prefab Kit builds over 600sf: Adding any electrical, plumbing, etc. is pricey. Though we’re still considering a tiny ‘something’ as a guest room or AirBnB, but not for a couple years.
Manufactured Homes: Why yes! I have spent weeks researching every tidbit. Craigslist. LandWatch. AutoTrader and RVTrader. Finally, we found one used MH dealer Homenation.com (by state). ALSO Factory Direct.
Land Loans {and/or rolled into a ‘Land/Home’ next year}: Most require 20% down payment. Pre-Approved is not the same as Pre-Qualified.
HOW WE SAVED THE MONEY:
Baseline figures: 20% x $33,000=$6,600.
Down payment:
[1 year: $132.00 x 50 weeks]
[2 years: $66.00 x 100 weeks]
OUR 2 year method: $50 weekly; [Feb. 2017-2019]
then added: bonuses, overtime, tax returns.
Top money saving tips:
Write out a budget. Say “no more stuff.” Repeat often.
Secondhand only, DIY or do without.
Plan less trips to the store. Plan meals around sales.
Get a side gig. Use your skills.
Upwork, Thumbtack or Taskrabbit
Or find free courses to learn new skills.
[I walk dogs and Mturk in between writing & merch]
OUR #1 prerequisite for all of this — It all must be paid for in 8 years. Hubby retires in 10. Thus why we’re doing this in increments, and saving additional money by holding over this winter [and budgeted for] a travel trailer.
Other considerations: Grid-tied for health reasons. Yet enough land to sustain a simple, back-to-basics lifestyle. Close to our jobs. Close to daughter’s family AND close to my Dad. Must have trees and a good stretch between neighbors. 😀
Frugal now; peace of mind later, Friends and Confidantes – Grandma Auburn
(… in the 70’s.) Subtitled: How I raised a more-or-less-well adjusted child in the 90’s 😉
Pondering the past few days on how US society has changed since the 50’s. (Watched a few documentaries.)
The Radio was my parents’ only entertainment and news. (Though Dad also bought Bel-Air brand new -when he was 20) They saw war and were without. Then came Black & White TV sitcoms & commercials. The wife whirling around in her new Whirlpool kitchen, making dinner pressing clothes, etc. (Redneck history lesson HA!)
I was born later in my parents lives; so I grew up in the 70’s/80’s. As a pre-teen, I was acutely aware of the 60’s kids vs. what was thought of as still ‘proper.’ Yet growing up in the country, it hardly mattered. As a child, I asked about ‘old timey’ things and my only ‘cultural experience’ was American Band Stand and Soul Train. Don’t laugh! I wanted to marry Grizzly Adams or Kwai Chang Caine {or Jodie Foster.}
Fast forward to the 90’s: Desert Storm started while I was pregnant. Oprah helped me with sage advice, every day at 4 o’ clock. She taught me that I could be a strong person. Raise a strong daughter, no matter how I was raised. Pick my battles. {Purple hair wasn’t one of ’em… curfew, low grades and partying was.} I was, and still am- one of those ‘explaining type moms’… but every once in a while, I’ll admit I’d slam a chair down for emphasis. Never hit her, though. Because from generation to generation, that needed changing.
I taught her to be curious and courteous. Be a friend. Harm none. Seek out other like-minded personalities. Listen in earnest. Don’t shun anyone. Know you can be on your own.
I let her be silly and serious and ‘talk it out.’ Go with friends to this church and to the dance with another. March for a cause. Pause between boyfriends. [the ‘sex talk’ was hilarious] Also- NOT drive like your father when he gets cut off’. And finally… Be weird on a budget!
That’s all I got tonight. If this post wasn’t what you thought it was going to be – ME neither! Sometimes it happens that way. It’s been a long day. My daughter is teaching me Instagram. I guess ya don’t just add water. HA! Night. Gma.
♦Life: So far, 2019 has not been gentle to my extended family. Illness. Loss and more loss.
{Even my Grand Pit Bulls have gone missing for over a month now.}
Early this year, my Dad buried his brother.
My husband lost his mom.
♦Life: Yet there’s been wonderful cousins and in-law reunions. Mourn in one room; Smile in another.
♦Grief: We’ve all had the family discussion/dilemma at one point (or several times) – Do we take off work to go see ________ while they’re still kinda OK? Do we wait and go to the funeral? Do we take the kids outta school and make two trips? Do we even have enough money left on this paycheck to make the journey? Does _______ need to step up and be a caregiver? Does the caregiver need help? … Here’s the way I look at it: If your heart calls you to it, go do it. Or; do the thing you only get to do- once.
♦Caregivers: ….And that’s how a dozen of us all swarmed in at my Sister-in-Law’s house {twice} recently. There was cooking, cleaning, crying and compassion; dovetailed with lots of laundry, laughter and memories. (A Pale Horse… Pt 2 here)
… And that’s what we have to hang onto, Friends and Confidantes. – Grandma Auburn
