Manage Debt to Minimize Emergencies

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I received a link about figuring the right amount of debt to take on for a mortgage. I thought it valuable to pass on, but no generalized advice can supplant really understanding your own situation. Banks use certain general calculations about how much to preauthorize for a loan. One builder we worked with said, “The bank won’t loan you more money than you can afford.” But that wasn’t true. We knew our expenses and how close to the edge we felt comfortable committing our reasonable resources and expectations for the future, and the bank’s pre-qualifications were above that we knew was wise for us. In the last housing bubble all kinds of ill-qualified middle-men jumped into the mortgage market and sold a lot of people on buying a home they couldn’t really afford. Not too many years later they were desperate for bail-outs, just as foolish corporations and those with ulterior plans and motives were.

Nevertheless, for what it’s worth, here’s a link to the article:

How Much Should I Spend on a House? 5 Tips to Help You Make a Decision

Firing Up The Grill

     For President's Day I wanted to cook bacon and a steak on the charcoal grill.  I had two forms of fuel I wanted to try:  canned fuel, and old chestnuts & packing materials I had kept and thought to burn.  If you note the date, I used the grill on Saturday, because Monday was forecast to be very rainy.

I put the canned fuel in the charcoal grill so it would be at a height a person in a wheelchair (myself) could reach, also so that it could be in a controlled situation for safety.  I tried some old matchbook matches and some little strike-on-the-box matches I'd been given.  I got them to work, but I think an easier means to light the can would be the long matches I have.  Yet I'm too frugal to just toss out the old matches.  

It all worked alright for cooking the bacon, though I found you can't just leave it to cook . . . it would burn the middle and not cook the rest:  I had the bacon laid out on a piece of foil (for easy dish duty/disposal).  It just takes keeping an eye on it and moving the bacon around to cook more evenly.  When you're done cooking you put the lid back on the can to use the rest of the fuel another day.  Be careful taking the hot bacon grease off the grill.  I adjusted the shape of the foil to remove it more safely.

Of course I could have cooked the steak over the canned heat, but I thought it not the best method . . . I didn't want to just burn a hole through the middle of my steak.  And, I had these old inedible chestnuts I'd been given, as well as packing material I'd saved for fire building.  I had old charcoals leftover in the grill, so I put them in the cardboard packing along with the chestnuts.

I crumpled up packing paper I'd saved, and ended up pouring the bacon grease from the canned heat experiment to be absorbed by the cardboard.  The grill helps a bit with controlling the paper ashes from flying all over.

A little smokey, but the steak came out very well. I was a little impatient to wait for the coals to really heat optimally. I had covered the grill with the lid to maximize the heat, and set the air intake and outlets fully open.

When my food was finished, I covered the grill with its lid and closed all the venting so the fire would die from lack of oxygen, thinking to preserve whatever might be left of the charcoals for another time.

Thus, taking the time to experiment with various options helps prepare for when we might have to adjust to what's available.  It's the practice with problem solving that is most useful.

Don’t Panic, but Prepare . . .

Food, Fuel, Finances . . . warnings of Stagflation, prices predicted to rise this winter for energy, everyday necessities, et al can cause some emotional and mental stress. It’s a good time to think about what we can do to mitigate possible difficulties.

Food

Fall is typically the time you can can/bottle/preserve/pickle . . . squirrel away supplies for the winter. What they do instinctively we can do intentionally: invite your kids to take a class in food preservation with you and have a family activity to practice the skills. You can make it fun, involve all in whatever is appropriate to skill level, have teams and a friendly competition, or as a family service project to elderly family, friends, neighbors. Consider using what you produce as Christmas/Holiday gifts.

Around the Holidays grocery stores have typically had sales on canned goods and cooking/baking supplies. It might be a good time to consider how to cleverly gather and store more–at least a 2 week supply at home, a 72 hour grab ‘n go kit (including food and water for pets) . . .

Fall is also a great time to prepare your place for gardening . . . soil enhancements that can improve over the winter, consider what to plant where and how . . . Read some fun kids books or helpful gardening books over the winter.

Fuel

For most of our urban society, storing vehicle fuel isn’t possible. But some time considering how to make the most of each trip you have to make makes sense. If you are planning to purchase a vehicle or appliances, it’s nice to give thought to energy efficiency.

In case you have to conserve household heat (or if friends, neighbors, elderly folk you know are in that situation), consider snugglies for gift giving . . . quilts, blankets, sweaters, warm wear . . . maybe moreso than usual at this time of year. You may need to give these gifts before the usual holidays. Beside improving insulation around doors and windows, you can get insulating drapes. If you need to keep just one room warm, which would be easiest to do so?

In case of energy emergencies, I think it best not to put all the eggs in one basket: have more than one kind of fuel or heat (and summer cooling), if possible. Don’t forget safety issues. Research a little online–RV or emergency solar panels and batteries, propane generators . . . all have pros and cons to be carefully weighed with your situation in mind. Probably any type of fuel will be hard to get when the time comes. Don’t wait to buy a snow shovel and ice melter until the blizzard.

Finances

Of course a budget is always essential. But this year it may more than ever need to have room for potential difficulties. Don’t count on the rest of the year to pay off holiday gift giving. A greater gift to the family is sound finances and saving for rainy/snowy/stormy days ahead. If it turns out it’s not needed after all, what a bonus! It’s a good time to discuss these things as a family and help to prepare the growing generation for grown-up responsibilities.

Skills

We are losing the generation that lived through The Great Depression, but I hope your family has some stories about how the survived the financial hardships they faced. I think it’s worth learning something about the way they solved problems or accomplished things without so many “power” tools (I mean in a wider sense). How did they make the most of limited resources–food, fuel, finances . . . ? It’s a great time to encourage creativity, engineering, problem solving . . .

If you missed the Date, it’s not too Late!

If you missed this year’s ShakeOut, you can still practice on your own, with family, and co-workers or at school–pretend practice anywhere, by looking around and imagining what would happen in an earthquake: wherever you are at (the store, the doctor’s office, on the street . . .), and how you could best respond. Even taking the time to think about it will help you have something to draw on in an emergency. Some valuable info I received and am passing on:

ShakeOut.org/resources for more information.

– Schools
– Colleges
– Businesses
– Non Profits and Other Organizations
– Government Agencies and Facilities 
– Options for Government Agency Participation and Outreach
– Healthcare

From the Earthquake Country Alliance:

Click to access ECA_Seven_Steps_Earthquake_Safety-EN.pdf

Here’s a helpful series of videos, including for those with various disabilities:

YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ShakeOutOrg2008

Get Ready for a Shake Down!

Here’s a great live person video about what to do in an earthquake…

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4496616840398145&id=123602574448465

Collaboration and Cooperation

Teamwork!

• 

• 

I thought the above little card (front and back) was so valuable for emergencies, as well as everyday success. I couldn’t say it better, summarize, or paraphrase. No intent to plagarize, so thought photos would show where I got the ideas.

Get Schooled for Emergencies

We’re in challenging times! Could anything more happen? If prepared, we need not live in fear.  Competence breeds confidence.  Things can still be challenging, but manageable.

Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com

Many students are distance learning, and don’t have school earthquake and other drills.  It’s even more important to start thinking about how to prepare the family for the annual Great Washington ShakeOut.  The organizers have given thought to COVID concerns.  See https://www.shakeout.org/washington/

Washington state has a plan, a policy, a program for preparing for emergencies.  Check into all the information, including short videos and a webinar, at https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division

1 min video https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division#gallery-1

Excellent 2 min video specifically for Washington hazards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d4QnqrMysc&feature=emb_rel_end

45 second video about COVID https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jCRqJd4j9A and a humorous two and a half min interview with the General https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUyo-DUxCIw

A 3.5 min video to share with kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNQc6aeOKTQ&feature=emb_rel_end

Webinar about being prepared during a pandemic https://mil.wa.gov/news/webinar-disaster-preparedness-during-a-pandemic

Is you family game for fun?  Utility Treasure Hunt

-What do you do when the lights go out, you spring a leak, or after an earthquake you smell gas?

–Practice finding where to shut off your utilities, by making it a treasure hunt.  Pretend it’s dark, electricity went out.  First you have to find a light.  Next, find the fuse box.  Have a treasure, a challenge, and a clue taped to the fuse box.  Put the treasure in your treasure bag, do the challenge (find the fuse for the kitchen, for the living room, etc), and follow the clue to the next treasure:   You’ve just sprung a leak!  Find the water cut-off valve (you may also include turn off valves for the toilets and sinks).  Have a treasure, a challenge, and a clue taped to the water turn off valve.  Put the treasure in your treasure bag, do the challenge (turn off the water), and follow the clue to the next treasure: Shake it up, baby! (everybody shakes all over)  You just had an earthquake and you can hear a hissing sound, and smell the nasty odor of gas!  Find an applicable wrench, take it to the gas cut off, and pretend to turn it off (never turn it off except in an emergency and you smell gas.  Only the gas company can turn it back on).  Put your treasure in your treasure bag, and meet in the family room or kitchen.  Enjoy your treasures.

–treat:  gold coins, candy necklace and rings, if you like, or, golden fruit slices or raisins, popcorn or cereal Os necklaces, apple rings . . . get creative!  What would the members of your family treasure?

 

 

 

 

Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com

Before All Else Fails, Follow the Directions!

Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile on Pexels.com

Great Courses has a couple lecture series on preparing for Disasters, you can watch a trailer and look at the contents:

• When Everything Fails:  Surviving Any Disaster, by Stephen Owen PhD, 14 half-hour lectures:  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/when-everything-fails-surviving-any-disaster
•  Survival Mentality:  The Psychology of Staying Alive by Nancy Zarse PsyD, 12 half-hour lectures, the last two titles I think look especially important at present . . .      #11 Resilience in the Aftermath of Trauma, and #12 We Survive Together: The Power of Community.  https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/survival-mentality-the-psychology-of-staying-alive

Since emergencies don’t always happen at the most convenient times, an under-the-bed stash of a few things is recommended (like something to protect your feet etc if things have crashed on the floor).  Here’s a game for a fun family activity:

-Introduce the idea that if an emergency happens, you may not be able to think as quickly and clearly as you would like or need.  Having things ready and easily accessible, as well as practicing, will make the experience less traumatic for all.  Emergencies don’t always happen in daylight hours, so it is recommended having a few things under the bed . . .

-Play “Ready Relay”:  For each bedroom in the house, have an under-the-bed bin with:  sturdy shoes and work gloves (in case of broken glass, etc.), hard hat/helmet to protect against things falling, flashlight/light sticks, We’re OK/Need Help signs, tape or band-aids to put the signs in the front window.  Occupants of each bedroom are a team.  Set the bins at one end of the room or house.  At the blow of a whistle, one person from each team puts on the shoes, gloves, and hat.; Takes the light, sign, and tape/bandaids, runs to put the sign in the front window, and returns to teammate(s).  Teammate takes over shoes, gloves, hat, and light, runs to retrieve the sign from the window, and puts all back in the bin.  At the end of the game, put the bins under the beds in the bedrooms.

-options to add to under bed emergency bins:  binder/folder/manila envelope with important docs; water bottle, snack or meal replacement bar or can; small 1st aid kit, sewing kit, TP, hand sanitizer, whistle, small notebook & pen; pair of sox, undies, sweatshirt and pants; bag or backpack to carry all and a couple plastic shopping bags for garbage or whatever.

–treat:  your family favorite lite delights, or, find something fun at http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/beverages/kool-aid-recipes

Just relaying the ideas, hope they are helpful–ST

Rowing Stormy Seas

The Gulf Stream by Winslow Homer

My mother was born in the “Great Depression”.  It wasn’t so great.  But people learned how to survive.  It has seemed to me that there’s a real difference in attitudes and behaviors between those who lived through the Depression Era, and those who didn’t.

We weren’t well-off when I grew up, and my mother knew how to be frugal.  But those were the days when people were teased and disrespected for being “cheap”.  In those days it was embarrassing to only get water with your meal–My, how things have changed!

Along came the days of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Suddenly all my mother stood for was in vogue!  Only it was not to conserve your own resources, but the resources of the planet.  It was still better to spend more on products, under the guise of saving our planet.

Now there is real concern about the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Can we save the economy of the country?  of the people?  of the earth’s resources?  All at the same time?  These are real questions, and I’m not an expert on a global or national scale.  But I think I have learned something about personal and family economics.  These may be the stormy seas we find ourselves struggling to navigate, even to survive, at the oars.

1. Take care of what you have so you don’t have to replace it.  Teach kids to use their toys and the family’s assets in respectful, responsible ways.  That should carry over into schools, public places, and with things that belong to others.  When governments don’t have to spend their resources on fixing what careless and thoughtless (even destructive) people do in parks and public places, that will also help our wider economy, and that money could be spent for adding value instead of replacements and clean-up.
2. Learn some skills for repairing things around the house.  You can find how to fix a multitude of things on the internet nowadays.    Family budgets could be less stretched and stressed.  Maybe there could be a little less reliance on society’s resources.  Landfills could be less full if people really did Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.  That might curtail government spending on garbage a little.
3. Learn to say “No” to yourself and kids.  Gradually cut back on your lifestyle before it has to be amputated or guillotined.  How much house, vehicle, entertainment, and recreation is really reasonable?  At what price?  How many electronic gadgets and games, toys and trinkets?  These also tend to end up in landfills.  As a society we have built our economy into a house of (credit) cards . . . the least little wind tends to topple it.  Debt is the monster of so frightful mien–that we now embrace, to our detriment.  Live within your means, stick to a budget.  That means you spend less than your income.  When you think about what share of our national budget (that means taxes) goes merely to interest payments, not to actually help people (and that’s where the richest get richer: off our national debt), it makes you feel sick in the stomach.
4. Learn some skills to produce and provide for your basic needs.  Take it as a challenge to learn to prepare and preserve your own frozen meals, fast foods, prepared food, seasoning and baking mixes.  Eat more natural, of your own creation.  Learn a little gardening (remember the Victory Gardens of WWII, but don’t expect to become an expert overnight), how to fish, pick berries, learn a little sewing or construction . . . it will make you a better consumer as well.  If you don’t like buying things from cheap foreign markets/manufacturers, see what you can do to make your own.  If you want to curb obesity and the high cost of health care and health insurance, eat and live a more healthy life.  Encourage all you know to make healthy choices in all aspects of their lives.  If we suddenly had no unhealthy habits as a society, think how many resources could go to more productive uses:  healthcare, law enforcement, land use . . . money and land use that could improve our lives instead of giving us fixes!
5. Save a little every month, even if it’s just in a change jar.  It adds up, and every little helps.  Teach your kids to do so, as well as to live on a budget.  You’ll be doing them a much greater favor than to fulfill their every whim.  Save for the proverbial rainy day, save for fun things you want to do or get, save for future needs.
6. Learn how to shop.  When you save up, you can take advantage of sales, and needs that you know are going to come up.  You know the car is going to need an oil change.  When chicken is on sale, buy extra, repackage and freeze.  Cook it in several different ways, such as Tex/Mex, Italian, Greek, Asian, Mediterranean, African, Southern . . . grilled, baked, in soup, on pizza, in casseroles . . . so it doesn’t seem like you are eating the same thing all the time.  When clothes are on seasonal sales, consider buying some in sizes the kids can wear several months from now (consider their tastes, and what basics don’t change much in style, like summer shorts and T-shirts).  Do the same for yourself.  Buy easy care items.  Buy items that will last.  Spend a little more for a product that will do a better job, last longer, has a better warranty.  When consumers won’t buy junk, it won’t be sold.
7. Be a hard worker, give your kids chores, expect them to give effort to their jobs (including school).  Help them develop their talents and hobbies.  Those can be another source of income, or may be the next career they pursue.  Be creative in recreation, rather than just throwing money at it.  Leisure is not supposed to be the main ingredient of life.  It’s the salt.  Recreation is valuable, as well as work, but it shouldn’t replace it.  Kids need to learn that before they get out on their own.
8. Give a little every month to those less fortunate.  Better still, apply the old adage, “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish, and he can feed himself the rest of his life.”  That’s maybe a bit of an oversimplification, but the principle is to help people learn how to provide for themselves.  There will always be those whose health or other situations prevent them from doing so, but as much as possible, people feel much more empowered, more self-esteem and confidence, more independent, when they are able to make their own living.  Remember that for yourself, help your kids learn it.  Give opportunity to others to live it.

Following are a few links I found.  You might not want to try every idea, but you might find some useful.

1 min video by Northwestern Mutual “Setting Financial Goals”  https://www.facebook.com/cheddar/videos/288352899025070

1.5 min video by Wells Fargo bank, “What is Emergency Savings” (How can I save for the unexplected?)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_WdEDO3-r4

Here’s an article from the New York Times, “Living With Less. A Lot Less.”  https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/opinion/sunday/living-with-less-a-lot-less.html

Here are 7 ways to sample living with less–just to give it a try:  https://www.becomingminimalist.com/minimalist-living/

“Living on Less:  75 Money-Saving Tips” https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/75-money-saving-tips-zmaz07onzgoe

“21 Benefits of Living With Less”            https://www.minimalismmadesimple.com/home/living-with-less

“50 Awesome Ways to Live Better on Less Money”  https://smartmoneysimplelife.com/live-better-less-money/

 

Masking Volcano Ash

Think Mt St Helens is done?  “The next Mt St Helens will be Mt St Helens.”

On this the 40th Anniversary of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the issue of mask wearing is eerily reminiscent!

Here is a superb article about US volcanoes, and Mt. St. Helens 1980 eruption in particular, including a great video:

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/may/20/volcanoes-in-the-pacific-northwest-a-lasting-impre/

Here’s a site about NW volcanoes, including a great 5 min video by OPB, and links to understand volcanoes, fun volcano activities, and ideas to help you be prepared:

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/programs-and-services/geology/geologic-hazards/volcanoes-and-lahars

“Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!”