How is everyone dealing with their finances in this economy?

[nik-]

I'm not going to steal from them, but go ahead and do it, #### those companies. And don't start with that "oh we'll just all end up paying more". These companies will squeeze us to the absolute limit no matter if people are stealing or not. So go ahead, old lady, stuff that ham into your purse.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by gallione11

Holy crap! We camp for most of our vacations, but sites are at most, $33 a night. I guess I should be grateful for well-funded state parks here? (Oregon). 31 nights over the summer and the total for our sites is roughly $800.

If you can do the state parks it is cheaper. Even if you can get any of the ones inside the National Parks they're a lot less. But a place like Glacier has seen a huge spike in visitors and the St.Mary campground was fully booked hours after the dates opened up. If you are outside a place like Glacier, or Yellowstone these days those places are getting away with charging a hefty fee.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by gallione11

Holy crap! We camp for most of our vacations, but sites are at most, $33 a night. I guess I should be grateful for well-funded state parks here? (Oregon). 31 nights over the summer and the total for our sites is roughly $800.

I just camped in MacLean Creek this past Saturday, which is just outside of Bragg Creek (30 minutes from Calgary...sorry, not sure if you're from around here). It's totally off season, our site just had electricity, so not even fully serviced. 90% of it was covered in snow including the buried picnic table. All of that is fine given the time of year, of course, but $39. Seems outlandish.

[TheIronMaiden]

I am going to plant a #### ton of potatoes this summer.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by timun

I think where I save a lot of money—or rather, just don't spend as much in the first place as many others—is driving the same beater car I've had for 15 years. I haven't had a new car payment since 2014.

I don't think it can be understated how much getting into a new/used car(s) every 3-4 years contributes to the destruction of personal wealth. Losing 20-30K (on a moderately price vehicle) in depreciation every 4 years is incredibly expensive, but lost on so many in my circle of friends. Luxury German vehicles in particular....

Buy something reliable, keep it 10+ years, rent a truck if you really need it 5x a year. Avoid debt if possible.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I am going to plant a #### ton of potatoes this summer.

Potatoes take forever, but still good in general to have a home garden. I learned that radishes are the best for a quick turnover. Last year I was able to do 3 batches on the same row of dirt. Double radish salad on the menu FTW.

[Geraldsh]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I am going to plant a #### ton of potatoes this summer.

1979 my income was less than my expenses. Solution until I got a better job was to plant the entire unlandscaped back yard in potatoes. My BIL shot a moose, ground it into sausage and filled my deep freeze. Moose and potatoes every day all winter long. Potatoes are very versatile but we will never ever eat another moose.

[CliffFletcher]

We stopped planting potatoes because they would always get destroyed by slugs.

But they don’t have a great ROI anyway. A large bag of potatoes is only $9.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Potatoes take forever, but still good in general to have a home garden. I learned that radishes are the best for a quick turnover. Last year I was able to do 3 batches on the same row of dirt. Double radish salad on the menu FTW.

Gotta be Polish to enjoy that much radish. I saw way too much radish, pickles and cabbage growing up to like any of that stuff now.

[photon]

Seems like it'd be a much better ROI to grow cows.

[Sliver]

OMG I'd rather starve than pig out on radishes. That's a nasty-ass vegetable. Perhaps the worst of them all.

[undercoverbrother]

Is this where I brag about finding time to spend all my disposable income?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Oh great, now we've got the posts justifying stealing food. The mental gymnastics in that post are gold medal-worthy.

Jean Val Jean approves

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Is this where I brag about finding time to spend all my disposable income?

No it's the place where you tell us to live like we are in the 20's and cut out everything that isn't necessary to survive.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Gotta be Polish to enjoy that much radish. I saw way too much radish, pickles and cabbage growing up to like any of that stuff now.

Strangely enough, when l lived there that's when I learned to like them. Never had a taste for it before. Super cheap and super easy to grow, as long as you don't leave them in for too long.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Zary's-Mustache

No it's the place where you tell us to live like we are in the 20's and cut out everything that isn't necessary to survive.

ah my 20's

I was reminiscing with my kids the other day that on the Sunday of every long weekend you could get $0.01 drinks at most bars.

Good times.

I mean now I would never drink the well level crap, top shelf for this fella these days.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

ah my 20's

I was reminiscing with my kids the other day that on the Sunday of every long weekend you could get $0.01 drinks at most bars.

Good times.

I mean now I would never drink the well level crap, top shelf for this fella these days.

I meant the 1920's haha...maybe you were 20 then too.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I am going to plant a #### ton of potatoes this summer.

Potatoes? Strawberries are going for $7 a container. Probably $12 at the Farmers Market.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Zary's-Mustache

I meant the 1920's haha...maybe you were 20 then too.

This is about me.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I don't think it can be understated how much getting into a new/used car(s) every 3-4 years contributes to the destruction of personal wealth. Losing 20-30K (on a moderately price vehicle) in depreciation every 4 years is incredibly expensive, but lost on so many in my circle of friends. Luxury German vehicles in particular....

Buy something reliable, keep it 10+ years, rent a truck if you really need it 5x a year. Avoid debt if possible.

This a strong belief of mine as well. I've never had a car payment. Newest car I've ever owned was 12 years old at the time.

For me a car is just something reliable that gets me to point A to B.

A buddy of mine makes 70k a year and drives a 60k vehicle. I don't get it.