budgeting

Now that I'm on my own I have to think about certain things I haven't
thought about in 12.5 years. My rent is paid by Disability so housing
costs are not an issue, and the landlady is kind enough to let me use
her kitchenware and split the cost of common-use items. Sometimes she
finds a cheap item at the store, such as a pound of peanut butter for
$1.49, and she buys me some and I reimburse her. But, while my
disability money and eBay income used to be, as my mom called it,
"pocket money," it now has to cover food, personal household supplies,
transportation, ciggarettes, plus a thousand and one other piddly
things. The transportation is the big agony at $11.25 for five one-way
bus trips. I was incredibly stupid not to spend the $109 on a monthly
pass when I knew that I could barely take a shit without having to
ride a bus to the washroom and back. (I'm only somewhat exaggerating.)

And, put simply, I'm _doing_ shit managing my money. I got my direct
deposit on the 20th and am already down to my last $17. No, I haven't
gambled, although I had a close call Sunday night (I got on a bus at
1:00 a.m. to go make a Western Union poker deposit, and, while waiting
for a connecting bus, realized I was crazy and just took a return bus
back home, but had to bribe myself with two stale Krispy Kreme donuts
bought at a gas station for about $1 each). This time I'm NOT asking
anyone for a handout because I have to learn from this experience. I
think I have enough food until I get a sales tax rebate cheque from
the government around the 10th and hope to file my tax return for a
refund before the end of January, and maybe enough of my eBay stuff
will sell for me to make it. If I have to live on spiced water for a
few days maybe that's exactly what I need.

Miki

Sales tax refund. I like the sound of that.

When I had budget problems, I seemed to get ahead faster by cutting off
spending than by trying to sell my old stuff on eBay.

My secondary area for cutting was with food. Hard boiled eggs in rice is
dirt cheap where I live. (remove the shells [humor])




<gypsumbreath@mikikocic.com> wrote in message
news:53a7f89b-b0ce-412b-95a7-586754676acd@q77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Now that I'm on my own I have to think about certain things I haven't
> thought about in 12.5 years. My rent is paid by Disability so housing
> costs are not an issue, and the landlady is kind enough to let me use
> her kitchenware and split the cost of common-use items. Sometimes she
> finds a cheap item at the store, such as a pound of peanut butter for
> $1.49, and she buys me some and I reimburse her. But, while my
> disability money and eBay income used to be, as my mom called it,
> "pocket money," it now has to cover food, personal household supplies,
> transportation, ciggarettes, plus a thousand and one other piddly
> things. The transportation is the big agony at $11.25 for five one-way
> bus trips. I was incredibly stupid not to spend the $109 on a monthly
> pass when I knew that I could barely take a shit without having to
> ride a bus to the washroom and back. (I'm only somewhat exaggerating.)
>
> And, put simply, I'm _doing_ shit managing my money. I got my direct
> deposit on the 20th and am already down to my last $17. No, I haven't
> gambled, although I had a close call Sunday night (I got on a bus at
> 1:00 a.m. to go make a Western Union poker deposit, and, while waiting
> for a connecting bus, realized I was crazy and just took a return bus
> back home, but had to bribe myself with two stale Krispy Kreme donuts
> bought at a gas station for about $1 each). This time I'm NOT asking
> anyone for a handout because I have to learn from this experience. I
> think I have enough food until I get a sales tax rebate cheque from
> the government around the 10th and hope to file my tax return for a
> refund before the end of January, and maybe enough of my eBay stuff
> will sell for me to make it. If I have to live on spiced water for a
> few days maybe that's exactly what I need.
>
> Miki

On Jan 1, 1:53 am, gypsumbre...@mikikocic.com wrote:
> Now that I'm on my own I have to think about certain things I haven't
> thought about in 12.5 years. My rent is paid by Disability so housing
> costs are not an issue, and the landlady is kind enough to let me use
> her kitchenware and split the cost of common-use items. Sometimes she
> finds a cheap item at the store, such as a pound of peanut butter for
> $1.49, and she buys me some and I reimburse her. But, while my
> disability money and eBay income used to be, as my mom called it,
> "pocket money," it now has to cover food, personal household supplies,
> transportation, ciggarettes, plus a thousand and one other piddly
> things. The transportation is the big agony at $11.25 for five one-way
> bus trips. I was incredibly stupid not to spend the $109 on a monthly
> pass when I knew that I could barely take a shit without having to
> ride a bus to the washroom and back. (I'm only somewhat exaggerating.)
>
> And, put simply, I'm _doing_ shit managing my money. I got my direct
> deposit on the 20th and am already down to my last $17. No, I haven't
> gambled, although I had a close call Sunday night (I got on a bus at
> 1:00 a.m. to go make a Western Union poker deposit, and, while waiting
> for a connecting bus, realized I was crazy and just took a return bus
> back home, but had to bribe myself with two stale Krispy Kreme donuts
> bought at a gas station for about $1 each). This time I'm NOT asking
> anyone for a handout because I have to learn from this experience. I
> think I have enough food until I get a sales tax rebate cheque from
> the government around the 10th and hope to file my tax return for a
> refund before the end of January, and maybe enough of my eBay stuff
> will sell for me to make it. If I have to live on spiced water for a
> few days maybe that's exactly what I need.
>
> Miki


Miki I am sorry you are having these troubles. I will talk to you in
email about it.

On Jan 1, 11:40*am, "Quiet Neighbor" <priv...@spamless.net> wrote:
> Sales tax refund. *I like the sound of that.
>
> When I had budget problems, I seemed to get ahead faster by cutting off
> spending than by trying to sell my old stuff on eBay.
>
> My secondary area for cutting was with food. *Hard boiled eggs in rice is
> dirt cheap where I live. *(remove the shells [humor])
>
> <gypsumbre...@mikikocic.com> wrote in message
>
> news:53a7f89b-b0ce-412b-95a7-586754676acd@q77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Now that I'm on my own I have to think about certain things I haven't
> > thought about in 12.5 years. My rent is paid by Disability so housing
> > costs are not an issue, and the landlady is kind enough to let me use
> > her kitchenware and split the cost of common-use items. Sometimes she
> > finds a cheap item at the store, such as a pound of peanut butter for
> > $1.49, and she buys me some and I reimburse her. But, while my
> > disability money and eBay income used to be, as my mom called it,
> > "pocket money," it now has to cover food, personal household supplies,
> > transportation, ciggarettes, plus a thousand and one other piddly
> > things. The transportation is the big agony at $11.25 for five one-way
> > bus trips. I was incredibly stupid not to spend the $109 on a monthly
> > pass when I knew that I could barely take a shit without having to
> > ride a bus to the washroom and back. (I'm only somewhat exaggerating.)
>
> > And, put simply, I'm _doing_ shit managing my money. I got my direct
> > deposit on the 20th and am already down to my last $17. No, I haven't
> > gambled, although I had a close call Sunday night (I got on a bus at
> > 1:00 a.m. to go make a Western Union poker deposit, and, while waiting
> > for a connecting bus, realized I was crazy and just took a return bus
> > back home, but had to bribe myself with two stale Krispy Kreme donuts
> > bought at a gas station for about $1 each). This time I'm NOT asking
> > anyone for a handout because I have to learn from this experience. I
> > think I have enough food until I get a sales tax rebate cheque from
> > the government around the 10th and hope to file my tax return for a
> > refund before the end of January, and maybe enough of my eBay stuff
> > will sell for me to make it. If I have to live on spiced water for a
> > few days maybe that's exactly what I need.
>
>e > Miki- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

It's actually something called the Goods and Services Tax, which many
moons ago replaced the 12% manufacturer's sales tax. Originally it was
7% of retail item price but dropped to 6% at the start of 2006 and
drops to 5% this morning. Based on a person's tax return s/he is
issued quarterly payments in rebate of some GST paid. From 1998 to
2006 I did not get rebates because my income was too high, and in fact
had to *collect* GST on my billings to my employer and remit
quarterly.

The actual provincial sales tax is 8% of retail item price and I have
a small business exemption for paying it on business purchases but not
personal ones. Mind you, "business" includes things like my wireless
LAN adapter, which I use in both capacities.

Miki

I use to make rice with a can of chicken noodle soup.
BIG meal and cheap.
It lasts.

My budget, per day, after rent and phone and etc is about six dollars.
I have to watch what I eat or I'll starve at the end of the month.

Buying clothes or shoes is always a major hurdle even though I buy at
GoodWill stores or at Salvation Army thrift shops.

I have to go without milk last week or so at the end of the month.

I just got milk again.
Last night.
My foodstamps came.
I like milk in my coffee.

Ramen noodles are almost void of nutrition but you can crack an egg into
them and stir it in.
Thats cheap.

Cold cuts are simply go-with-out items.
I can't afford a half pound of sliced turkey ever.
Cheese purchases are portioned out so it will last.

Having a freezer and a crockpot can also do wonders with food
management.

Seperating my whites from my colors for laundry is not financially
posible.
Laundromat money is over my six bucks a day.
Its simply a go-with-out.
I often wear the same clothes a few times to keep my laundry expenses
down.
I rotate two shirts for example for four days.

I had some luck this summer so my suppliments will last for a while then
its back to cheap vodka.
I have a shrink appointment soon....
Maybe get something for my heebie jebbies.

SBK

Ramen noodles you can do a lot with.
I have a whole case of them..partially used case....
Its not that I use them alot but when times are good I stock up.

I'll make em in the microwave and stir in an egg real good.
Nuke box breakfast.

I ALWAYS break the noodles up before I open the package. Makes eating
easier.

Hot dogs can be useful too.

Think of extending food.
Like making rice in soup instead of in water.

Eggs can be good too.
The price here, at the dairy down the sreet are dirt chep but currently
have gone up about a buck a dozen reflecting the price of chcken feed.
2,00 a dozen yesterday.

The money folks need the chicken feed grain for SUV gas food.

All meats and dairy are expected to rise.
I forget the percebt increase.

Milk went up a quarter these last some months at the dairy.
The dairy is almost half price to a supermarket.

When I heard about the coming food price increass due to the crunch on
the poor folks subsidizing the folks who have gas guzzler cars,, I
bought chicken.
Fast....
And a few other meat products, broke the package open and put meal
portions into zip lock bags and froze stuff.
My freezer has never been so full.

Stocked up.
Now lets help them rich folks.
The prices are climbing now.....

Having a pantry is an excelent tool.
I have maybe eight cans of tuna I got at cheap prices..like 50 or 60
cents a can.

I buy chicken..I use to before prices began ther climb....
at 69 cents a pound TOPS.
Sometimes 59 cents..
The trick is to buy chicken thighs.
Its likly the best meat on the bird and its cheaper then breasts, for
example.

I hot BAGs and BAGS of zip lock chicken thighs.

Turn on my crock pot, put in a can of chicken noodle soup (50 cents,
drop in a thigh or two, rice, and you got a couple tasty meals.
ALWAYS throw in a hot dog that has pork listed as an ingediant and it
simply makes the chicken flavor better...somehow it does that.

Now.....how much money is SBK Chicken Surprise?
One thigh is possibly cheaper then one hot dog.
Lets say 40 cents and thats way high.

So....
1.20 for thighs and flavo hot dog
.50 for the soup.
.25 for the rice.

Thats only two bucks for two good meals.
Freeze half of it for nuke boxing it another day. (microwave)

On Jan 2, 11:29 am, brainsprai...@webtv.net (Deep Thoughts) wrote:
> Ramen noodles you can do a lot with.
> I have a whole case of them..partially used case....
> Its not that I use them alot but when times are good I stock up.
>
> I'll make em in the microwave and stir in an egg real good.
> Nuke box breakfast.
>
> I ALWAYS break the noodles up before I open the package. Makes eating
> easier.
>
> Hot dogs can be useful too.
>
> Think of extending food.
> Like making rice in soup instead of in water.
>
> Eggs can be good too.
> The price here, at the dairy down the sreet are dirt chep but currently
> have gone up about a buck a dozen reflecting the price of chcken feed.
> 2,00 a dozen yesterday.
>
> The money folks need the chicken feed grain for SUV gas food.
>
> All meats and dairy are expected to rise.
> I forget the percebt increase.
>
> Milk went up a quarter these last some months at the dairy.
> The dairy is almost half price to a supermarket.
>
> When I heard about the coming food price increass due to the crunch on
> the poor folks subsidizing the folks who have gas guzzler cars,, I
> bought chicken.
> Fast....
> And a few other meat products, broke the package open and put meal
> portions into zip lock bags and froze stuff.
> My freezer has never been so full.
>
> Stocked up.
> Now lets help them rich folks.
> The prices are climbing now.....
>
> Having a pantry is an excelent tool.
> I have maybe eight cans of tuna I got at cheap prices..like 50 or 60
> cents a can.
>
> I buy chicken..I use to before prices began ther climb....
> at 69 cents a pound TOPS.
> Sometimes 59 cents..
> The trick is to buy chicken thighs.
> Its likly the best meat on the bird and its cheaper then breasts, for
> example.
>
> I hot BAGs and BAGS of zip lock chicken thighs.
>
> Turn on my crock pot, put in a can of chicken noodle soup (50 cents,
> drop in a thigh or two, rice, and you got a couple tasty meals.
> ALWAYS throw in a hot dog that has pork listed as an ingediant and it
> simply makes the chicken flavor better...somehow it does that.
>
> Now.....how much money is SBK Chicken Surprise?
> One thigh is possibly cheaper then one hot dog.
> Lets say 40 cents and thats way high.
>
> So....
> 1.20 for thighs and flavo hot dog
> .50 for the soup.
> .25 for the rice.
>
> Thats only two bucks for two good meals.
> Freeze half of it for nuke boxing it another day. (microwave)

I am eating pretty well for a broke person. It helps that I usually
only eat once a day, that stretches things out a lot.

I get a big sandwich when I work at the shop every day I am there and
a lot of days that's all I eat.

The rest of the time I use stuff from the food pantry. I just got food
stamps today... or went and applied for them.

So essentially I am eating for free.

That helps the dollars stretch.

"Gelly" <Gelly.D@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9f58ec74-b464-4326-97a3-6c66c99a67c3@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 2, 11:29 am, brainsprai...@webtv.net (Deep Thoughts) wrote:
>> Ramen noodles you can do a lot with.
>> I have a whole case of them..partially used case....
>> Its not that I use them alot but when times are good I stock up.
>>
>> I'll make em in the microwave and stir in an egg real good.
>> Nuke box breakfast.
>>
>> I ALWAYS break the noodles up before I open the package. Makes eating
>> easier.
>>
>> Hot dogs can be useful too.
>>
>> Think of extending food.
>> Like making rice in soup instead of in water.
>>
>> Eggs can be good too.
>> The price here, at the dairy down the sreet are dirt chep but currently
>> have gone up about a buck a dozen reflecting the price of chcken feed.
>> 2,00 a dozen yesterday.
>>
>> The money folks need the chicken feed grain for SUV gas food.
>>
>> All meats and dairy are expected to rise.
>> I forget the percebt increase.
>>
>> Milk went up a quarter these last some months at the dairy.
>> The dairy is almost half price to a supermarket.
>>
>> When I heard about the coming food price increass due to the crunch on
>> the poor folks subsidizing the folks who have gas guzzler cars,, I
>> bought chicken.
>> Fast....
>> And a few other meat products, broke the package open and put meal
>> portions into zip lock bags and froze stuff.
>> My freezer has never been so full.
>>
>> Stocked up.
>> Now lets help them rich folks.
>> The prices are climbing now.....
>>
>> Having a pantry is an excelent tool.
>> I have maybe eight cans of tuna I got at cheap prices..like 50 or 60
>> cents a can.
>>
>> I buy chicken..I use to before prices began ther climb....
>> at 69 cents a pound TOPS.
>> Sometimes 59 cents..
>> The trick is to buy chicken thighs.
>> Its likly the best meat on the bird and its cheaper then breasts, for
>> example.
>>
>> I hot BAGs and BAGS of zip lock chicken thighs.
>>
>> Turn on my crock pot, put in a can of chicken noodle soup (50 cents,
>> drop in a thigh or two, rice, and you got a couple tasty meals.
>> ALWAYS throw in a hot dog that has pork listed as an ingediant and it
>> simply makes the chicken flavor better...somehow it does that.
>>
>> Now.....how much money is SBK Chicken Surprise?
>> One thigh is possibly cheaper then one hot dog.
>> Lets say 40 cents and thats way high.
>>
>> So....
>> 1.20 for thighs and flavo hot dog
>> .50 for the soup.
>> .25 for the rice.
>>
>> Thats only two bucks for two good meals.
>> Freeze half of it for nuke boxing it another day. (microwave)
>
> I am eating pretty well for a broke person. It helps that I usually
> only eat once a day, that stretches things out a lot.
>
> I get a big sandwich when I work at the shop every day I am there and
> a lot of days that's all I eat.
>
> The rest of the time I use stuff from the food pantry. I just got food
> stamps today... or went and applied for them.
>
> So essentially I am eating for free.
>
> That helps the dollars stretch.
>
>

I got food stamps years ago. It seemed like a huge luxury at the time. I
had been spending minimal amounts for food and suddenly I had something like
$150 a month for food. It seemed huge. (I'll bet I gained weight!)

I spend:
$7 a day for food
$5 a day for personal items and supplies unedible
$1 a day for laundry, $1.25 wash/dry machines
$1 a day for vitamins, pills, prescriptions, health related
$3.67 a day for internet, cable, phone
$2 a day electricity
$5.13 a day rent (about 1/3rd of what it might be next summer, Gov't Default)
and few more bucks allocated to things like clothes, electronics, etc.

$25 a day so far, total.

And I just sit in my chair all day because I'll just pass out from overt
depressive psychosis if I think of how far I can go with my cash-flow.

On Jan 3, 7:33 am, "Cymbal Man Freq." <Don't
Bot...@ForgedPostsAnonymous.unorg> wrote:
> And I just sit in my chair all day because I'll just pass out from overt
> depressive psychosis if I think of how far I can go with my cash-flow.

Ha ha I think I know what you mean.