End of the Year Bitchy Post....

Just gonna lay all the gripey things that have been bothering me out there on the line.

2013's most annoying things for OzM:

1.  Family knowing that other family members are struggling, heartsick and just having a rough time in general but turning a completely blind eye to the issue and remaining self-absorbed and ignoring their own obligations to said family member(s).

2.  The "my shit don't stink" people.

3.  Having your intelligence questioned because you don't believe the way someone else does (on any number of things; not necessarily religion).

4.  Waiting and waiting on karmic payback.

5.  Finally:  Those that forever scam the system but come out smelling like roses regardless of how many levels of crap they've dove into while those that follow the rules and do the right thing are forever being screwed over....and over....and over.

Okay...now that that hissy fit is over (brought to you by so many things)....what are your plans for 2014?

Still working out the bare bones of ours.  Budget is being worked on as incoming numbers have changed in the past month.  Outgoing numbers are relatively the same but we're upping the amount paid in on the vehicles in hopes of wiping that out sooner (especially since the Durango is just a very expensive yard decoration right now...see gofundme goo to the left and if you feel the need to help out, thanks...if not, still thanks).  Credit reports are being pulled at the end of January and being gone over with a fine tooth comb as I've be remiss and not done that since some accounts were paid off.

Oh and nagging will commence soon....Tanker has not been as active in jostling the VA over treatment delays as he should.  That will be changing...rapidly....as he is constantly in pain, despite meds, and has "numb" episodes more and more often.  Not exactly conducive to healing.  I kinda figure since we fall into some sort of gray area where we make too much for help, but not enough to do more than bail out the leaking boat with a teaspoon, and he's not rated at 100% (which is a requirement for most of the aid programs out there) that the VA should at least get him going to the point that pain isn't an issue holding him back from getting back to work (which is what he wants).  Gonna be rough on him though as they want him to go back through physical therapy (because it worked soooo well the first time...note the sarcasm).

And I'm on the j-o-b hunt again (still but upping the search).  Positive thoughts there would be greatly appreciated.

Alas, such is life.

Here's to hoping the next year is kinder to us all!

Every Single Penny Counts....

As I sit here in pain (whole 'nother story related to a cat and a swimming incident...no, not at the same time) and watch Tanker pack everything like we're moving next week, wondering exactly what his plan is when we need something he's shoved into a box, I'm reminded how great of a man I'm married to.  He's a provider (even as broken as he is), a supporter of many a mad scheme dreamt up by yours truly, a loving father and husband.  17+ years together and he still gets me.

Where does all this lead?

To a plea...for help...for a friend.

mmpaints could use a little boost.

Every cent counts...go boost.

Every Little Bit...

supposedly helps; I've been told.

I don't see it right now...feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming on.  Work is work; 4 and 5 hour shifts that I usually get sent home from about halfway through because they are overmanned.  I swear, if this 1st paycheck breaks $100 I'll be surprised.  Using gas, buying "approved" work shoes...welp, there went that check.

And we're still reeling from being "overpaid" during our move from Germany.  It only took a month for them to get the pay straightened out to begin with while we were forking over tons of cash on things that were supposed to be reimbursed but are now not eligible (Danke, very much).  Then we get the bombshell of "hey, we just realized that we overpaid you almost $700 when we finally paid you all that other back pay and moving expenses stuff and you were supposed to realize it even though we never gave you an exact amount of what to expect to be paid"...yup.  So we dig ourselves out of a debt hole over the past year just to be dumped right back in one...all because of military pay issues.

We'd apply for help from some of these charities that assist military families and Veterans, BUT that route is dangerous.  We can't get a loan from our preferred loan place because Tanker doesn't have enough time left on his contract.  We can't get aide from a lot of the other organizations anyway because 1.) Tanker isn't "hurt enough", 2.) he's still Active Duty, 3.) he has no official VA rating (there is one, we just are not yet allowed to know what it is) or 4.) the debt need isn't "valid" because we've paid the bills that needed paying and the problem lies in a negative bank balance.  So we do what we do best and soldier on.  Man, it's stressful.

The upside is that we saved enough to be able to send in and secure the house and land.  It's not everything that is needed, but it takes it off the market and allows us to have the stress of whether or not it would be sold out from under us gone.  Now to scrape the barrel bottom for the next 2 months and gather the rest while attempting to straighten out the mess we've been handed.  Nothing new...which is kinda sad.

Positive of the day:  The tomatoes, peppers and cukes in the "pot garden" are thriving.  My rescued apple tree and raspberries are finally sprouting new growth.  AND I've not yet killed the carrots.

Such is Life at the Nut House.

It has been asked....

how I got started on this prep/survival trip. I haven't really shared that here but figured "what the hey"...may as well.

Back in 2006, shortly after the youngest screamer was born, the Spouse and myself decided it was time to put down some roots and buy a house. Being incredibly unversed in the process, we got screwed with some shady lending practices (oh, shock and disbelief) and ended up being reemed by a surprise tax and insurance bill the following year. We were under the impression that said taxes and insurance were escrowed into the mortgage...they were not...we were actually told by the lawyer rep'ing the mortgage company AT THE SIGNING that they were...they were not...the ORIGINAL loan docs said they were....the company that bought the loan chose not to honor that particular point in the contract and did not inform us of the change. Said taxes did eventually get escrowed into the mortgage BUT doubled the mortgage payment (nice, eh?). What would have been a non-issue the previous year was a serious issue. You see, about 5 months after purchasing, the Spouse lost his job on a technicality (which the same company used to release several of its long time, higher paid employees and hire lower paid temps...nice, eh?). The Spouse was making less than half of what he had been making at home purchase time and we were on a less than shoestring budget when the tax bomb dropped.

We fell behind...a lot. Long story short, the house went into forclosure and we jingle mailed the mortgage company. No way we were going to pay what would end up being 3x's the actual value of a house that was killing our youngest child without us knowing (different story, another time). We were essentially homeless. Everything went into a Uhaul and we moved from KY to MO, staying with my parents for 3 months before the Spouse became gainfully employed and we got our own place. Sounds like current events doesn't it? Only way earlier...call it a foretelling of the future, lol. In the end the mortgage company got their money via short sell and then some...no, we did not see the extra because they loopholed (wow, another shocker) by selling the house BACK to themselves then selling it to someone else. Just shows on the credit report as a closed account with late payments in 2008...go figure.

At any rate, that particular snafu in our lives led me to finding a way to pad our meager means. It became a slight obsession at first, the quest to keep us fed, clothed and no longer living paycheck to paycheck (not easy to do on $8hr for a family of four). To be honest, it took a very long time...to me at least. We're darn near there...no longer relying on the system to supplement our food needs, no debt other than fairly minor student loans and no longer living paycheck to paycheck. We have enough foodstuffs put by to last us quite a while if needed (though they will soon enough be on a boat to Germany) and I know that if I have to I can make the clothing we need in addition to other household stuff.

It's a nice place to be, this small comfort zone. But it's not complete, meaning I haven't relaxed. There is always something else that can be done to further the comfort, something else that can increase the self-reliance. This is a journey, a quest per se...how can X be done in a better way for example?

So there you have it...the story of how one "things" obsessed family became drawn to this lifestyle...or at least a part of it. The biggest part of it.

Some post-Holiday Randomness...

Good holiday overall here...the littles didn't get spoiled with battery operated goo, just some good ol' fashioned games (checkers, connect 4, etc), some puzzles, matchbox cars, crayons, coloring books, notebooks, pencils and S-A-N-T-A brought an EasyBake oven. 

Go on, say what...yes, the screamers are boys...yes, they got an EasyBake...why you ask...well, they asked for it.  And it was really the only thing they asked for.  I take that back, the youngest DID ask for a real magic wand so he could turn his brother into a frog and step on him, but I couldn't find one of those anywhere.  So EasyBake it was.  Totally cool with me though, since I can work on their baking skills without risking the oldest shoving the youngest headfirst into a super-heated stove and visa versa (truthfully the visa versa is what would totally happen here...the youngest is a spitfire).  Looking forward to actually using it, haven't yet 'cause I'm an evil mommy (you just don't know).

On another note, I'm patiently waiting for some of this snow that is supposedly in the area to start showing up.  Jet stream is hooked just above us (literally) and keeping all that fluffy stuff north about 30 miles...30 miles...sigh.  We got just enough on Christmas Day to whiten things up, but it was gone by nightfall.  Unlike so many, I love the stuff...can totally rip up the road in it...and would so much rather have it than just the butt chilling cold we've had.  Give me a reason for the cold (aka snow on the ground) rather just having me freeze my rearend off, if you please.  This freakin' global warming is giving me frostbite! ;P

I hope you lot used the pre-season sales to stock up on some of the baking essentials out there.  Had some pretty decent prices on flour and sugar in these parts (at one point it was $.99 for a 4lb bag of sugar...killer deal for us).  Right now, the pantry is loaded and we're pretty much good to go.  Could use some more powdered milk but we'll survive until the 1st I believe.  Did score some pouch tuna for a little under 1/2 price on the last grocery trip though, with the assistance of a bunch of cent off and bogo coupons...poor cashier just didn't know what hit her.  I used the 'savings' to grab up some pouch salmon and still stayed under budget....which is a really big deal for me since we are now off the food stamps/ebt and going it all on our own.  A step forward, I think.

Which leads me to a whole different kind of rant...we make too much for assistance (not a gripe per se).  Only because the spouse gets chow hall allowance.  That puts us right under the line, by about $30 which isn't worth the red tape I'd have to fight through in order to keep it.  Yup, if it weren't for that, we'd still have the same amount of $$ coming in that was coming in when he was a civie making $8hr.  Scary isn't it?  Oh, yeah...for those that use the "you get benefits" argument...that includes all benefits but health insurance (since I can't really put a price to that one yet...what with the fantabulous healthcare plan that our great leader and his minions will be providing the civilian world with...please note the sarcasm).

Should be an interesting next few months on this continent...just keeping my eyes open for things that "may" impact us (being that we are in a rather interesting position now) will keep me busy.  Top it off with all the stuff that I KNOW (Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, etc) will impact us and well...it makes me want to just not look at the news anywhere...online, on the boob tube, in the paper.  Unfortunately, I can't...it's just not in me to turn a blind eye and live in the dark.

If ya'll don't mind (and I know you don't because it is MY blog after all) I'll likely be ranting, sharing, discussing some school related stuff here.  Seems my "Environmentlism professor" thinks I'm a meat-eating, carbon producing, Earth killing moron...2 outta 3 ain't wrong, but I'm no moron.  Break ends on the 4th with the first real assignment being about Urbanization...yeah, interesting and essential stuff (SARCASM).

Well, that's it folks...out for the day...unless I get a wild hair up my rear and decide to come back later...you've been warned.

What I need is....

a miracle...what I need is you!! (whoa, 80's flashback)

Nah, seriously though...I could use something. Front upper and lower ball joints and an exhaust system for a 1989 Honda Civic (base, 4sp...why yes, Momma can drive a stick thank you very much). Anyone got one they want to get rid of? Really, I need 'em...bad. The Honda is parked until we can get her patched which means that Momma and the family is without transport. Well, there is my mother...but do I REALLY want to depend on her for the next bit...nah, didn't think so.

Go get a car, you says? Sure, why not...'cause I don't feel the need to mess with MO laws only to turn around and do it again when we go wherever we are going. Besides, the old girl (aka The Honda...not me) is still kickin' butt on the road. She just needs a little TLC is all. Plus the little red nugget (again, not me) gets something like 35mpg at last figure...I really, really can't beat that.

So, transportationless I be...for a bit. We'll get her patched before the end of November (I hope!!) but I'd love to not have to fork over $500 to do it...I have enough $$ going elsewhere as it is this month and not a bit to spare...sigh.

Commiserate with me?

A Little Help?

After days of isolation (okay, one day) due to a slight modem malfunction (I fried it, alright), I am happily back online using a piece of ancient technology. It works...I won't bitch too much.

Anyway, the help part. I need guinea pigs...a few of you new, old and in between preppers...to help me out with some research for an article. No real names will be used, unless you want the to be used. I'll tack a list of questions below, you answer and EMAIL them to me HERE.

You'll get the gist of the article when you see the questions...trying to shed a better light on 'our sort' for those that don't really know what it's really about. I can do it as is, but I'd love to have some points from folks other than me ('specially since I'm way to opinionated and fairly new at this prepping in the bigger sense of the word).

Wanna help?

Questions:

1. What drew you to this lifestyle?
2. How did you start?
3. What is the number one piece of advice you would give a new 'prepper'?
4. Name three websites that you would recommend for those truly interested in learning about prepping.

Thanks to any and all that do this...oh and don't forget to let me know if you want to be quoted with your name or what! Feel free to throw in anything that you think is relevant too.

Poorer than we thought we were....

According to the SNAP calculator (I linked it before), we were eligible for roughly $375 in food stamps. I made an appointment, went in with all the required paperwork and got approved (no big surprise there). The surprise came in the form of a letter this am. We are receiving $391. We weren't expecting to get any until next month BUT the card came with the letter. Why?

We are poorer than we thought we were. I had no idea that we were in such dire straights as to deserve "expedited" services. Apparently, SNAP thinks we need the money NOW.

May I put it out there that we've been doing alright on our personal budget of $350 a month? That we've actually built up a nice little stock of storables without this assistance? And all this time, we've been dirt poor enough that we could have been getting all that "money". Now, for the next 3mths at least, we have the extra $$ to put to the bills and land purchase.

I suppose I should be feeling that we were failing ourselves because we are so far below "the line" that we needed those food stamps ASAP. I don't. I'm amazed at the fact that we have been making it when according to the .gov we shouldn't have been. Doesn't that just peel your paint?

Bonus, we can buy seeds with this. Yippee! The catch, there are no seeds available at big box mart right now. So when the time comes that they are available, there will be some serious seed buying for us. I have to re-read the info, but I think food producing plants are included in this as well. Can you see my plans? Now to convince my father that we need our own garden plot (since we won't be out on the land until late next year at the earliest). Maybe we'll get lucky and find a rental closer to the land that will have a spot for a garden. We're looking to get out of here (too many issues with the landlord) and into something with an actual yard for the screamers. Alas, that will have to wait until later this spring.

Anyway, the point is that we got "assistance" that we didn't think we needed but in the long run this short period of accepting is going to help us out more than if we hadn't accepted. In the next three months we can pay an extra $900 on the land, bringing us approximately 6mths closer to having the deed in hand.

I can live with that.

Inspired by Micheal

So I commented on Micheal's Earthquake post tonight, mainly about the last paragraph concerning food stamps/government assistance (now named SNAP). I know that I'm sure to catch a buttload of flack over my thoughts, but in truth they are logical. At least to me they are.

I firmly believe that if you have paid into the system (ie taxes) then you should use the system. They use you, return the favor. It's your money that is used to support these programs, if you qualify to use them then by golly USE THEM!! Now is not the time to pander to those feelings of pride, not if you need the help.

As I said in my comment to Micheal, I'd rather see a hard working American that needs the assistance get that assistance than those that pay nothing into the system, flaunt the fact that they aren't here legally and abuse it all get that assistance (not in so many words but that is the gist of it). We used to live next door to a house full of the later. It made me ill. Still does to think of it. So illegal, tons of under the table cash and yet they received housing and food assistance. How, I don't know...but they did. The screamers and I would traipse down to the Square for some ice cream and pass by the office. I immediately recognized our neighbors cars (yes, several cars for several families each receiving assistance and living in one house). A blind eye was turned to this. Still is as far as I can tell. But that rant is not the reason for this post.

You may be surprised by what you qualify for. Our little family of four qualifies for nearly $400 a month, so says this calculator. I'm thinking it's time to re-apply (used to get them way back when the spouse was unemployed). It sure would take a load off of us to know that we have that money to apply to preps and free up our regular cash to pay things off quicker.

Sure, it puts us on the radar. It also puts us closer to our goals of being totally independent in a round about way. Use the food stamps to build the preps, use the cash to pay the bills off and start building. It is using the system to get things done quicker, therefore getting us to a better place quicker. The hoop jumping required is a small price to pay.

The key of course is to use them responsibly should you qualify. Every shopping excursion I am subjected to standing either behind or near a recipient that isn't awful responsible. Frozen dinners by the stack full, sodas, candy, sugary cereals...the list goes on. I cringe to think of what healthy, storable foods that just one stack of those dinners would be equal to. I know, I know...not every one has the time or skill to transform from scratch ingredients into something edible. Seriously though, it isn't hard to make biscuits. Doesn't take much more time to make a cake from scratch instead of a box. Personally, I like freshly cooked meats to pre-cooked frozen things covered in gravy...just a preference.

I think I'll call the local office tomorrow and see about making an appointment. It's worth the risk to me. Just one month of assistance would buy us three of storable foods. They are our tax dollars after all, and we are legal born and bred American, think we'll tap into that particular resource for a bit. It is about survival after all.