Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - [Homestead] Cash production, was The Piggy Bank is empty

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Homestead] Cash production, was The Piggy Bank is empty
  • Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:36:39 -0700


So from your 83-year-old perspective, what would you do if you were starting over?

tvoivozhd---in the present state of my "wisdom", based both on triumphs and defeats, I would do exactly as I am advising my children . . . .

Okay, I have archived your response, but I want more. This thread started out with you and James advising against stock investments and then you included real estate investments, with which I disagree. My question above relates to the investment plan to provide future cash needs, and it still requires an answer.

Here is the scenario: Homesteader wannabe buys land, accumulates tools and skills, pays off the land, move to the land, builds a shop, builds a house, gets the food-production and fuel-production systems in place, accumulating more tools and skills along the way.

Now what? If we preclude stock and real estate investment, how has our hardworking homesteader ensured a secure supply of money to pay ever-rising taxes, keep a car or light truck maintained, fueled, tired and insured, buy clothes and replacement appliances and tools, and pay for those utilities that cannot be produced, especially as age decreases work capability?

I once sought to see how cheaply I could live at Heartwood and got it down to about 700 per month. I found that automotive expense was the most difficult to control. Country roads tend to eat tires and air cleaners, for instance. Responsible people must have liability insurance. Cars and pickup trucks wear out no matter how perfectly maintained. And good homesteads are often many miles from the nearest hardware store. Something else I learned is that, yes, I could produce most of what I need, but it makes for a long, weary day. No trouble sleeping but also no time for reading and taking walks along the stream. Except during emergency time, few people I know, especially as they get older, want to spend eighteen hours a day doing everything by hand.

So my question still stands. After the homestead is set up and humming, if stocks and real estate are no good, what's your plan to generate the cash to pay for what can only be purchased? If stock and real estate investment are shunned, where does one put funds earned earlier to ensure future income? And please don't simplify with the home shop scenario; our self-reliant homesteader is already working long hours to produce food and fuel. Where do the dollars come from to pay the salt grocer and the tax man?






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page