Obviously, we are ALL aware that we are living in some seriously strange times right now! Some are loving things, some absolutely hating it, most I think though are still just struggling to understand and figure out what step to take next.
There are just so many ups and downs every day. Conflicting information coming from every angle. It’s so hard to know who to listen to, what’s truly concerning and what isnt …. etc.
One thing that is for sure, the economy is currently tanking! Many of us are feeling rather helpless about this fact, others just don’t get it, while others are clueless and others are trying to be proactive in controlling at least their own personal economic state. The government decided that a temporary fix is to send out Stimulus checks to the majority of the country!
Without getting into the pros and cons of this decision and potential ramifications down the road, both negative and positive… because honestly, there’s enough back and forth on THAT topic available all over the place 🤷♀️ I have been doing a lot of thinking on if I wanted to weigh in on this topic at all but since there is definitely not an end to these checks currently… I finally decided that I will…. on the level of wise ideas for spending it!
I’m sure you know already that there was a stimulus package giving each adult $1200 recently.
Also a small business one to help business owners keep employees paid, which was just doubled yesterday or the day before.
Currently there is another package on the table even bigger than the last! This one is potentially, assuming it passes as is, giving $2000 to everyone over 16 and $500 per child under 16, up to 3 children…… MONTHLY for 6 months 😮. I have no clue how this one may turn out so for now im ignoring it … however if it comes through at any size or consistancy… the rest will still apply and simply can be done to a bigger/better degree if it happens 🤷♀️ Don’t assume it will though. This is very much a case of NOT counting your chickens before they hatch!
First – be sure your mortgage/rent and car payments are covered!
This one should be obvious but if you missed the next but of information, it might not be as clear 🤷♀️. Even though there’s a hold on ability to evict or foreclose at the moment … once that block is lifted THE WHOLE past due amount is expected to be paid immediately by most places 😮 So if you skip payments for 3 months, the 4th month that block comes off and suddenly you owe 4 months all at once! Yikes! So …. take care of those big, credit hitting, necessity, payments!!!
Second – Take stock of your food supplies!
Go through your cabinets, pantry, freezer, refrigerator, root cellar and anywhere else you may store food. Take a good inventory, figure out what meals can be made from what you have already, then what could be if you got this 1-2 items. How many meals can you get from that?
Now make a solid shopping list of essentials you will need so that if supplies start running low in stores you wont be stressed out. DO NOT HOARD be considerate, but certainly dont be afraid to take care if your family! Call your smaller stores or butcher and see if they do meat deals, 1/4 or 1/2 an animal, will they give you a deal if you buy a full case of something etc. Many of these stores have more flexibility and availability than the big box stores!
Spend some time on pinterest and find out how to make some basics from scratch …. sour dough bread, gravy, cream of (whatever) soups to name a few staples are INCREDIBLY cheap from scratch!
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Third – This is kind of part of second but needs it’s own section.
If you haven’t been keeping up on the news of effects around the country you may not be aware ….. down south where a lot of produce is coming from or would be shortly, farmers can’t get people in to harvest crops and are having to chop down and/or plow under full crops of tomatoes, lettuces, broccoli and probably many other crops! Many other commercial farmers simply are not planting in order to save being in the same position!
So this year is an important one to start looking at what food you can supply for your own family! Now is the time to invest in some growing supplies, plant a garden to at least provide you fresh stuff for the summer! If possible I suggest aiming a bit higher to get some put up either frozen or canned to get into colder months!
You can learn so much on YouTube, look up victory garden, emergency garden, first time gardener, container gardens as some places to start.
I know from personal experience that seeds are getting harder to come by but they are still available, you may have to go to a couple stores, again check out smaller stores! Look online …. I’m working on a list of places with a decent selection of seeds left….hope to post in the next couple days. If you don’t want the hassle of looking all over, you could get a set like these that gave a great variety of heirloom seeds … being heirloom means they are old varieties that are non GMO and you can save the seeds from the plants to grow next year and be confident you will get the same variety!
If it’s your first time you may want to do some leaf lettuce from seed and otherwise spend the extra money and get some started plants!
Fourth – if you have money left, depending on your situation consider, paying off credit cards … then it wont hurt your credit but you’ll have the funds available for future use if needed 🤷♀️
Consider buying heating fuel for next year, if you use oil, prices are lower than they have been in years so good opportunity to “stock up” as in fill your tank early 😉 or order your wood early, prices seem lower currently than later into summer or fall. This way of the economy is still bad and money is tight you wont get left in the cold, literally!
Fifth – This actually goes back to the food category and depending on your situation and your concern for future … now, with these checks, might be the time to consider getting some livestock to produce meat for your family!
Ok I can hear you already I dont have room, time, knowledge …. I’m not talking get a herd of cows 😉 more like a trio of rabbits, even in an apartment you can make space for a few rabbits and have enough meat to feed your family! Maybe a dozen corturnix quail … they only need 1 square foot each so again very easy to keep even in an apartment!
Rabbits have a 30 day pregnancy and young are ready for the freezer 8 weeks later! Rabbits can be rebreed as soon as they deliver although personally I like to give them some recovery time between. 1 doe could produce 400lb of meat in a year depending how many she has per litter and raises as well as how bug they are when they go to the freezer.
Quails start laying eggs at 6-8 wks old and are full grown so also ready for the freezer at the same age. If you have them just for eggs you could get a dozen females and get 10-12 eggs a day. They are tiny eggs, it takes 2-3 to equal a chicken egg, but what they lack in size they make up in flavor and nutrition! If you want them for meat, you will want 10 females and 2 males and an incubator! Quail dont hatch their own eggs very well. They need 17 days in the incubator then you have another batch coming! A dozen quail could keep you covered in meat pretty well too! You can order some hatching eggs here if you have an incubator! They are based here in Maine.
We will have half grown quail for sale in a couple weeks and eggs starting to come around the end of May if you’re interested!
Either of these animals can produce meat and/or income for you and your family so would also be a good a good investment with these stimulus checks that can bring a level of sustainability which can bring some peace of mind and long term help for you!
Of course there are many other areas to spend on or you could just stash it away in savings to milk out as needed if that is a better fit in your life and finances!
No matter what you decide, just be sure to use this help to improve your solidity in life … don’t be frivolous with it … even if the new package comes through! For those who WANT a more sustainable life, this can be a gift, for those who depend on every penny of every paycheck, this may be your reality check that something needs to change and this may be that opportunity to make some important changes and improvements!
Remember that saying “time is money” …. well if you are stuck hone currently, make the time valuable and learn how to provide for yourself, learn to forage wild edibles! Learn to garden! Learn to raise small livestock! Learn about how to start a business from home! (Zoom call at 1,3,5 and 7 PM EST)
