My Old Pal

This has been a difficult month for us. We lost our loyal and faithful border collie, Charlie, to cancer. He has joined his two "brothers" across the Rainbow Bridge. Each one of our three boys was 14 years old upon his passing. Our beagle Shadow crossed with on Christmas Day from cancer, just before we became "snowbirds." Then we lost Buddy, our long-haired orange cat, to kidney disease on Valentine's Day of this year.

Each of our pets chose us, rather than us choosing them. Charlie came to us on an airplane from Florida to New York when he was 8 years old, after Jim's Aunt passed away from cancer. He was such a good boy, and I am so happy that he was able to return there one last time. Shadow was an abused and abandoned doggie when he appeared on our doorstep, but in time, he became the boldest one of the threesome. His endless energy filled our days with joy. Buddy came with our home, after we told the sellers "no, we really don't want a cat." But leaving that sweet, demanding ball of fur behind for us was the most wonderful, unexpected housewarming gift that we received.

With Emmie off to college, we are empty nesters once again, and even more so without our beloved fur babies to keep us busy. I have submerged myself into writing pieces for an upcoming anthology of memoirs along with a couple of nonfiction articles that plan to pitch this week. I am looking forward to our next trip down the East Coast in mid-October - the ocean reminds me that God is all-powerful and has prepared a grand reconciliation for all believers.

RV Living Frugality - Part I

Everyone makes a trade-off at some point in life. For example, your family may skip eating at restaurants for a year to save money for a kitchen remodeling project. The questions to ask yourself are, what do I want and how can I get it?

Those of us who travel around the country by RV choose to give up many of our personal possessions in exchange for new adventures and friends. We must run a tight ship, so to speak, in order to afford the “upscale” vagabond lifestyle. Since so many people have asked me how we can afford RV living, I have prepared a list of money saving tips for the basic necessities.

1. Food – Clip coupons and shop the sales, especially buy 1 get 1 free deals. Stir-frying on the grill is a healthy and affordable. Crockpot meals = leftovers for a second dinner. Instead of going out to eat, buy a good quality frozen meal for a special meal. Eat lighter and get in shape!
   
   
2. Clothing & Household Items –Shop end of season clearance sales and make routine visits to thrift shops. Go yard-sailing. Save time and find the best variety online using the free ship-to-store option. Choose multi-tasking items like apparel pieces that you can mix, match, and layer (another example: a Pyrex measuring cup for measuring AND microwaving foods).
   
   
3. Shelter – Shop around for the best RV deals and bank interest rates; don't rule out pre-owned models. Weigh comfort and storage needs with style, and factor in the cost of maintenance. Consider adding a portable patio room to a small unit for increased living space. Ask about single night campsite discounts for boon-docking (dry-camping with no hookups). Skip the park and take advantage of free overnight parking (some Wal-marts and Cracker Barrels allow it, but always ask first). Make reservations for state and national parks or VFW campsites. Most RV parks offer discounted lot rates for monthly and seasonal rentals. Barter your expertise or services in exchange for a discount.
   
   
4. Transportation – Tow a light, economy vehicle (we call these toads). Buy a scooter, which can get up to 75 miles per gallon of gas. Plan to stay in walking or bicycling distance to a grocery store or a discount department store; bring backpacks along to carry your purchases back to your campsite (baskets for bicycles). Long-term RVers might consider trying to find a campground near the public bus route. Taxis are for emergencies only!
   
   Stay tuned for more tips in part II of RV Living Frugality...
   
   
   

For richer, for poorer...

I don't know where exactly the rumor started, but before we embarked upon the journey, people believed we were...nearly rich. At work the whispers went something like, "rich husband - that's why she travels so much." My own parents and sisters were under the impression that I had "money in the bank." The kids didn't hesitate when asking for help with  car insurance bills and shopping money either. 

 

Everything changed this year, beginning when Emmie found out she was getting $0 in college financial aid grants (in addition to a $2,500 loan for her and a $10,000 loan for me). Jarrod (My stepson) found out when he made the decided to return to college without financial assistance from Jim. Thank goodness Daniel, my other stepson, financially supports himself. Immediately upon returning "home" after our long-term RV trip, a crisis arose in my extended family, and all involved were stunned when I could not "help them out." 

In order to obtain the lifestyle we desired, we made sacrifices and lived frugally. We didn't buy or lease "new" vehicles; instead, we saved money and bought used ones. I won't bore you with details, but we went without the things many people take for granted. Our stationary home is an old trailer - we weren't sure if it would still be standing when we returned.

When you want something badly, you must work really hard for it, and at times you must "go without," and put your money in a savings account. Emmie knows - she finished almost 2 years of college while in high school so she can afford the degree. Jarrod and Daniel know too - both took a longer route while learning to succeed in the "manual labor" workplace. These are lessons most of us learn the hard way, though they need not be. 

What kept each of us going? The adventures ahead of us; allowing ourselves a week in Virginia Beach, VA or Myrtle Beach, SC every 2-3 years, and taking weekend trips in between. We also found joy in spending time together, as well as in the daily events of life. We looked at everything inside our little world with humor.

My words of encouragement to help readers reach their "dreams" are simple:

• forgo instant gratification, work to save money, and do something EVERY MONTH that brings you closer to your goal. 
• think about the brevity of your dream - will it sustain your happiness over the "long-haul?" 
• material items decay, but a way of life is irreplaceable.