Bartering And Horse Trading (Part Duh)

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Originally Posted by EdgeCrusher

Agnut, after reading this entire thread I felt compelled to give thanks to you for providing your insight and profound depth of knowledge on preparedness as well as the overall global picture we are all facing.

I am also in the camp that believes the most valuable commodity at this time is food. Also, everyone should own a Katadyn Pocket water filter or something in equivalent quality. That unit alone is capable of filtering over 10k gallons of water in favorable conditions.

A good quality (coleman) portable propane stove/grill w/griddle attachment and atleast 50 canisters of 16.4oz of propane will be priceless in the coming future. One of the best choices for cooking low key combined with a Stainless Steel thermos for efficiency.

I always keep my vehicle filled up with gas. If it goes below 3/4 of a tank, it's time to hit the gas station again.

As far as bartering is concerned, I will be taking the advice in this thread and stocking the most essential supplies that I can find at discount.

One last note. I hear a lot about toilet paper as a necessity but no one is mentioning baby wipes. Not only are they more space efficient, but the better quality kind is also useful for cleaning multiple items due to being more resistant to tear apart. No water needed to clean greasy hands if you are mechanically inclined as well.

And by all means.. people...whatever you do...do not forget to buy a fly swatter.

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Hi EdgeCrusher; good advice. Food preps are at the top of my list at this time. Now when I do my local shopping, I buy by the case. The Costco trips are by the truckload or as much as I can afford.

I have the AquaRain unit and have used it for years. Also a couple of the Katadyn pocket water filters for backup, even though I have a good well on my property.

Like saying “Buy enough food for as long as you will want to eat”, “Buy enough T.P. for as long as you want to wipe”. I would expect that it will be great trading material later. But you would have to have lots and lots since you would need it yourself. If not, you would surely experience “seller’s regret”. Butt of the joke or joke of the butt ? Your call.

You’re so right; the baby wipes are good for a quick cleanup, especially where water is scarce.

Many years ago I bought a Coleman stove that works with unleaded gasoline. A Y2K prep. I still have it new in the box. Ya never know what fuels will be available in the future. Also got a solar oven but have only tested it a couple of times. Boiled water but don’t know how it will perform in winter. Used in conjunction with a thermos, I could slow cook beans or rice. No fire, no fuel needed.



This article appeared the other day. In past months I’ve been seeing some warnings that food prices will be going up dramatically soon. So my harping on food accumulation doesn’t seem so iffy now. Especially with the oilcano in the Gulf of Mexico and what it portends for future food production. A win-win action; that is, if you ACT !


“Lack Of Food Is Going To Start Playing Havoc”

USDA Reports Food Shortages: Wall Street 'Caught Off Guard' by Severity
Published on 07-02-2010


By Eric Blair - BLN Contributing Writer

Several recent headlines indicate that food prices will continue their swift climb upward. These troubling new reports show that agriculture production and stored grains are critically low and experts are now predicting food shortages.

Look at a few of today's mainstream headlines: Drought threatens global rice supply in the India Times; VA farmers say heat taking toll on crops, Associated Press; Severe food shortage follows lack of rainfall in Syria; and, finally, Corn prices bolt as USDA downsizes crop estimates, which states that, "Commodity professionals were caught off guard Wednesday by a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showing 1 million fewer acres of corn planted this year than earlier projected, and almost 300 million fewer bushels of corn in storage." And these articles don't begin to address crops being damaged by the toxic rain from the Gulf oil disaster.

We are back to recession economics and rapidly heading toward a deeper, longer “Third Depression.” With all recent economic indicators setting new record lows and deficits at record highs, this ship is only going one way folks, down, down to Chinatown. This WTC-Building 7-style-controlled-demolition of the U.S. economy has long been engineered by the borderless banksters and will likely continue to collapse at the rate of free-fall gravity. With all of the manufactured confusion it may be difficult to know where best to invest your limited assets, but it seems to be clear that Food is on the march.

Depressions are caused when capital is removed from the economy and that large sucking sound you hear is your money being vacuumed out of your pockets into the banksters' coffers. The shakedown went like this: they bet big, got fat, then lost thousands of times more than everything real on earth combined, then representatives of the serfs gave them all of the serfs’ money they need (including bonuses) to re-stimulate the economy.

Well, our money is NOT flowing back into the economy as promised, and it will not be flowing back into the economy anytime soon. With nothing but crumbs left for the peasants, deflation is happening to durable goods and paper assets (of which real estate has become), while the cost of human necessity is rapidly inflating.

There were several trend forecasters and financial firms predicting upwards of $200/barrel of oil before the Gulf oil gusher. The “analysts” said this would occur because of the perception of scarcity and a weakening dollar. The oil disaster and the subsequent outrage at Big Oil will surely take care of selling the perception of scarcity, while the Federal Reserve and Congress will surely take care of weakening the dollar.


We’ve seen this Beta test before when oil prices reached their peak of $147 in 2008 sending the price of food to the stratosphere. Food staples like rice nearly tripled in six months and at times increased 50% in just two weeks primarily because of record oil prices and a weak dollar in 2008. During this run up on prices, big box stores like Sam's Club and Costco were rationing the number of bags of rice customers could buy. You can bet that Food Crisis Beta 2.010 will be far more severe.

This third factor of actual Food Scarcity, coupled with high oil prices and a feeble dollar, will multiply the severity of increasing food prices. Whether this scarcity is being engineered to further cull the population or is a genuine imbalance in supply and demand is not important. The fact is that this reality that is playing out in the matrix and this triple-threat to food costs creates an opportunity for the serfs to soften the recessionary blow, and perhaps offer some economic freedom.

You don’t have to be an “End Times survivalist” to believe storing food is a pragmatic practice. Everyone with expendable cash can and should design a good food storage and rotation system and buy bulk food as an investment. Many rationalists are touting guns, ammo, and gold as good small-scale investments given the despicable agenda unfolding in our matrix. Certainly those are critical investments in an economy dwindled to the rationing of necessity, but not everyone is into guns or can afford bundles of gold. And gold, at the end of the day, can only be traded for necessity.

These recent food alerts seem to indicate that food may be the best short-term investment for the “Average Joe.” It's simple, if the retail price of rice doubles as it did in 2008, then you (the investor) make 100% return in something that's immediately tangible. It’s time to pay the tax penalty to cash out your mediocre "I-bought-in-to-the-American-Dream" 401K and invest in Food!

http://www.roguegovernment.com/USDA_...17/17/Y/M.html

Gotta run; a family get together.

Best wishes,

Agnut

P.S. I would like to post all of the past years of the bartering and horse trading thread from the old GIM website but have been overwhelmed lately. And reviewing it all in order to post it is a huge task. I think life will slow down after I am dead; I hope so.

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Originally Posted by BabushkaLady

Thanks Agnut!

I thought I'd post an upcoming Huge Yardsale for anyone in the area. It is 675 miles from Hudson, Michigan to Gadston, Alabama. It's always the first weekend in August. This year is Aug. 5-8. The sale includes entire towns, big fields, any open spots. Some of the route is much better then others. You can find almost anything at this sale.

www.127yardsale.com

I also thought I'd mention a few tips from a Seller to all you Buyers out there. This goes for any paid booth, gunshow, fleamarket, yardsale, or consumer trade show. Take what you like, it's just from my experience:

• Don't approach a vendor with a low-ball offer if another Customer is standing right there. I may sell you that item for that price, If we're alone. Be patient for deals.

• Don't offer a ridiculously low price and then only want One of them. If I have 500 of them, I'm more likely to give you a Deal on several. If you see a specialized booth or table, not a bunch of random stuff, this is where you can get some good quantity Deals. Get on your cell phone and find your friends to share with, to get your price way down.

• Think before you talk with the vendor. If you "used to" make your own and tell that to the vendor, they'll immediately think "So? (assole)". If you're thinking of buying some of what you "used" to make, then compliment them on the Quality while you mention making your own.

• Nice goes a long way. I'm more likely to cut a deal to someone that really needs/wants/likes something then someone that walks up and throws cash and growls. Sometimes someone darts in with a low offer, gets a no and darts out. We call them Kamikazes. Stand there, talk and negotiate!!

• Talk in a low voice when you're asking for "no tax" at some of these venues. The tax people are all around actually checking the vendors. Of course it's negotiable!

Have fun at the summer sales!

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Hi BabushkaLady. Excellent advice; you sound like an old hand at bartering and horse trading.

We don’t have swap meets closer than an hour’s drive from here. I used to attend them when I lived in southern California several years ago and I miss them. Actually, you have made me think about going to the extra effort and seeing what is offered; could be some great bargains I am missing. I wish I had more time but I have my dance card filled with the last three times when I was at a moving sale and an estate sale from a home, I had my one ton truck loaded to the gills. The last sale I was so loaded that even the passenger seat was stacked with goodies that I could hardly see out of the right side mirror.

Not to take anything away from swap meets but I have never bought many items at one time. Look at what others leaving swap meets have and many are empty handed and others have only a few items in hand or in their pull wagons.

Perhaps selling your acquired items at a swap meet would be the place to get the best prices. And buying a few bargains from other sellers before the meet begins could increase your profits. I have done this and it works well.

My point is, time is money and the time spent at a swap meet is far greater than at a moving sale or estate sale. Sometimes I am able to get used items that would cost $2,000 if they were new for as little as about $100. And do this in a matter of a couple of hours.

I’m 63 years old and am still learning to use my time wisely. Much of my activities are guided by compressing my time in bartering and horse trading so that I have as much free time to relax and think and plan. And goof off. A favorite old cowboy saying/observation of another person is, “He’s going so fast that he’s passing up more than he’s catching up to”.

In my opinion, there is another opportunity that is even better than moving sales and estate sales. And that is buying out inventories of defunct companies. I have done it a few times and the percent return has been phenomenal. Problem is, it isn’t that easy to find these sales. Sometimes word of mouth or an ad in the paper. But I believe that if one were to search out where these inventory sales occurred, one could make a fortune.

One way may be to advertise in the newspapers that they are buying business inventories and see who calls. Most of them could be qualified on the phone without having to leave home.

Another may be to advertise “Buying Estates, Have cash”. Old folks are passing on or moving to a retirement home all the time and their children often just want the property cleaned out so that they can either rent or sell the place. Not that you have to be searching the local obituaries like a vulture but someone HAS to clean up the piles of a lifetime accumulation. It might as well be you. This sounds like a full time business and it may be if you get well known in your area. Maybe it would be a good idea to read the obits and contact the family and let them know that you are in the business of cleaning out a house and garage. I don’t know; I’ve never tried it. In such questionable situations we must turn the tables and ask ourselves how we would feel if our parents had just passed away and if we were contacted by someone offering to buy and clean out the old homestead. Some may be upset and some may be grateful; I don’t know. A matter to be handled delicately.

Another source would be to talk to a local realtor and ask them what they do when an inherited/foreclosed property is placed in their hands and who cleans out the contents and who cleans up the place and gets it ready for sale or rent. I understand that house cleanup that includes painting, patching drywall, yard work and other repairs pays very well in such situations. Banks taking foreclosures could be another opportunity. Contact them; what have you got to lose ?

Here’s a great thread on bartering items :

“Pseudo-Currency: Items You Can Trade Like Cash Or Use Yourself if the Balloon Goes Up”

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showt...c9b81&t=365804


There are events happening throughout our lives. Most are relatively innocuous; that is to say, challenging events from which we can and do deal with in order to continue. And once in a great while there are those events that are insurmountable; there seems to be no viable solution. Our unbacked fiat currency collapsing could be one, the ongoing oil disaster in the gulf of Mexico could be another. The thing is, we must adapt to whatever happens with all the knowledge and wisdom that we can.

Now if I were living near the gulf of Mexico I would have already made plans and be in the process of getting away from the area. Not just a couple of hundred of miles away because if this spill continues, there will be millions of evacuees. I would expect most of them to not move more than a couple of hundred miles away. No, I would relocate somewhere as far away as I could. Somewhere like Oregon, Northern California (not my favorite), or Washington. I would be thinking of these millions evacuating and putting an incredible strain on the resources of the adjoining couple of hundred miles area. Think about it; will these newly overcrowded areas be happy areas in which to live ? Will there be jobs available ? Water ? Sewage ? And what evacuating family would have the resources to buy a house or even rent a house and continue their lives. I envision millions of refugees. And as their name implies, they will need a refuge in which to live. I have read it estimated that there may be as many as 40 million who will have to evacuate. That is about one eighth of the U.S. population !

Are you getting the picture of the enormity of the situation ? Well, since the well blew up on April 20, we are in the 12th week with perhaps 5 more weeks until the relief wells supposedly stop the leak. And do you really think they will be successful ? Sadly, I don’t. Besides, there are fissures on the sea floor leaking oil also, some as much as 10 miles away from the blown out well. Will they be able to stop these one mile undersea leaks too ? How do you stop a volcano on land ? Right ! You don’t because you can’t.

My point is that we should be preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. BUT let us not rationalize that this disaster will go away. That would be an extreme case of hope and change (for the better). Wiser to think of it as hopeless and change for the worse. No apologies to campaign promises of hope and change. A politician’s promise is mere flatulence.

I know most folks don’t believe that this oil disaster will destroy the U.S. as we have known it. I am only stating that it has the potential to destroy the U.S. as we have known it. If mass evacuation becomes necessary or mandatory, it will mark the beginning of serious changes for us all. We live on a spider’s web of interconnectivity and a vibration goes out to all areas. And a tear in the web (such as diminished food production) decreases our security, even though it occurred all the way on the far side of the web. Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

As I wrote before, I have an open invitation for 6 people (4 family and two friends) in Florida to stay here with my family. I am surprised that none of them see the potential danger as I do. Maybe I am premature in my concerns but I know that if evacuations are enforced, it would be chaotic and dangerous. The best way to avoid a fight is to not be there in the first place.

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Proverbs 27:12

On a personal note, my transmission business has been totally dead for the last few weeks. Not even a phone call. And this is supposed to be the busiest time of the year. I’ve talked with others in the business and it is dead all around. In my 40 years I’ve never seen anything like it. So beware that we may have fallen off the cliff and haven’t felt the impact coming. If this be the case, cash may be becoming very hard to come by; much harder than usual. This may be the time to gather all the cash in hand that you can. I don’t trust fiat cash (no duh) but it is a necessary evil for now and all that the general population understand.

Best wishes,

Agnut


P.S. Here’s another nickel metal content change article. The following months may be the last chance to acquire bricks of real nickels at face value. Much better than holding paper dollars in my opinion.

Obama Plan to Make Cheaper Coins Criticized by Businesses

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/05...inesses/print/

Hey Agnut, I am glad you started this thread up again. It is nice to read something that makes you think as opposed to reading something that tells you what to think.

The USA as we know it is over. The crash started so slowly that it couldn't be seen and is now escalating towards terminal velocity. A couple of recent signs that I don't think you mentioned that show the acceleration of the crash are:

unemployment insurance not being extended for millions of people
cops being fired

Both of these events are big news. Both mean an increase in crime. It will be like a
pebble dropped in a pond, the ripple will affect many more than those from the initial event.

Cops being fired is one of the last things TPTB want to do, because they know what the cops job really is.

Another thing to consider, is that there is now a new group of unemployed people on the street. A group that is aggressive, trained, and is already dabbling in crime to a small degree. How much will it take for them to go feral?

Hi Agnut! Check out this story of a teen bartering his way from a cell phone to a Porsche!

Teen Trades up on Craigslist from Phone to Porsche in 2 Years

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Originally Posted by Bullfrog

Hey Agnut, I am glad you started this thread up again. It is nice to read something that makes you think as opposed to reading something that tells you what to think.

The USA as we know it is over. The crash started so slowly that it couldn't be seen and is now escalating towards terminal velocity. A couple of recent signs that I don't think you mentioned that show the acceleration of the crash are:

unemployment insurance not being extended for millions of people
cops being fired

Both of these events are big news. Both mean an increase in crime. It will be like a
pebble dropped in a pond, the ripple will affect many more than those from the initial event.

Cops being fired is one of the last things TPTB want to do, because they know what the cops job really is.

Another thing to consider, is that there is now a new group of unemployed people on the street. A group that is aggressive, trained, and is already dabbling in crime to a small degree. How much will it take for them to go feral?

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Hi Bullfrog thanks and welcome here. Yes, I have been reading about the police layoffs, the most recent the 80 layoffs in Oakland. Getting more obvious that we citizens are on our own, isn’t it ?

The huge number of unemployed who are now about to cease receiving their checks will next be running out of any backup resources (if they have any, that is ). So the first to go into financial shock will be those hanging by their nails. And the rest as they run out of savings. It is much like having preps stored away. The more you have, the longer the time until you are in desperate straits too. This is why 3 years of preps is advised; and that may not be enough for 3 years and one week. So much depends upon how long and deep this financial disaster continues. Reports of late have been very depressing and downright scary; at least for the masses of folks who haven’t a clue of what is in store.

These unemployed folks of whom I have read that they number from a million to 1.3 million (not sure) will be desperate and looking for any opportunity to continue. Many will double up with family or friends. Some will find part time work under the table in order to feed themselves. These people knew that their checks wouldn’t continue forever so they developed a plan (or should have); whether to find a job or to find sources of income under the table or to live so frugally that they needed little income. I don’t mean to sound trite but there is a number of possibilities and those who are not resourceful enough will devolve to their level of facing their financial situation. Not all of them but many will become an outward reflection of their inner being.

Apparently it has been voted to continue their unemployment for a while longer (until the elections ?). So the above scenario won’t be taking place now. But it is instructive to be aware of the effects afterwards so that we can anticipate and prepare for when it does happen.

The unemployed are different as a group than the welfare group. Now think if there were millions of welfare folks suddenly not receiving their checks. I would expect them to go feral, and quickly too, rather than the newly cut off unemployed. Also, the welfare group have been living under the belief that the government will take care of them forever. And that the world owes them a living. Not all of them; I’m just saying that many of them have a dangerous attitude and will be taking out their being cut off welfare on the surrounding populace. First a looting within their areas and next a spilling out into the suburban areas. This is why it is wise to have a bug out place when the shit hits the fan. And even that is not guaranteed since martial law may be declared and travel restricted. Nobody knows for certain how this will play out since there are so many variables. Who knew 6 months ago that the Gulf of Mexico would become a disaster zone ? And possible war in the middle east.

Here’s a short blurb about what is going on in the minds of American shoppers :

Full-Fledged Disciples of the New Frugality

Deloitte KnowledgeCo LLC and Harrison Group are out with a new report, "The 2010 American Pantry Study," detailing the results of a recent poll of U.S. consumers. Contrary to the expectations of Wall Street traders and ivory tower economists, it doesn't look like average Joes (and Janes) will be returning to their old ways anytime soon. According to Deloitte/Harrison,

over 40 percent of all American consumers in our survey have been directly affected by the recession – lost jobs, pay cuts or reduced hours. Furthermore, it seems as if everybody in America knows several other people who have been affected directly. The effect of these events over the 28 months of the Great Recession have bit deep into the American psyche.

In fact, if the following key findings are any guide, it appears that a sizable majority of Americans are now full-fledged disciples of the new frugality:

* 93% expect to continue spending cautiously even when the economy improves
* 92% have made some kind of change in their pantry-related shopping habits
* 89% feel they have become more resourceful because of the economy
* 84% have become a lot more precise in what they buy
* 81% find it fun to see how much they can save with coupons or loyalty cards
* 55% of those cutting back suffered no decline in income, but simply felt they “should be” cutting back


http://www.financialarmageddon.com/

Look carefully at those statistics and notice that the general population has already dramatically changed how they spend money and save. Big ticket expenditures such as appliances, autos and cruise vacations have dropped considerably.

Within the last year or so I have noticed a huge increase in garage sale and estate sale attendance. Late model cars and well dressed buyers too. And dealers and resellers are showing up early to scoop up the best bargains. The whole playing field has changed and consequently some of the rules. For instance, group buying of items for a discount may not work as well. But keep on trying anyway. Also, attending a sale just before closing time may not pay off as before. Why ? Because many of the good items have been picked over by a larger number of buyers. The oft offered “half prices on everything an hour before closing time” may yield only a pile of junk that nobody wanted. So get there early and often. And be ready to buy on the spot. He who hesitates loses.

Last week there was a nearby community garage sale. I went to several and picked up some bargains but the best one was a professional model Stihl weed wacker. The owner said that it ran well but slowed down and stopped. He was right, it does. Probably something simple like a return vent from the fuel tank. I got it for $5 and the retail new price is $392 with tax. How could I go wrong ?

Today I got a diesel generator. It is powered by a 4 cylinder engine made by Isuzu (C210). I have to wire it up but it cost only $230 delivered. Just a project toy for when I get the time.

Another recent project is the cow and steer out in the field. They are beefalo, half cow and half buffalo. Their father weighs 2,400 pounds so they should be getting huge in a couple of years. Preps on the hoof, I guess.

Recently got a 1972 VW poptop camper with 2 engines. It has 98K original miles and is straight and rust free. It needs paint and mechanical work but the basics are there. Price ? How about $300 worth of my labor in a trade out ?

And to top that, my son got a Reinell 18 foot boat with an 80 HP Mercury outboard and an almost new galvanized trailer. It even had an anchor. Price ? How about free ? The old owner just wanted it out of his yard. Seems unbelievable but true.

I’m not bragging here; my purpose is to get you motivated to look around for your own hot deals. Now is a time of great changes and as a result, many items that wouldn’t ordinarily be offered are up for grabs.

Best wishes,

Agnut

15 Things You Shouldn't Be Paying For

So much money and energy is wasted on things we could get for free. If you're into new, shiny things and collecting stuff, this is not for you. But if you want less clutter in your life and want to keep more of your money, then check out these 15 things you shouldn't be paying for.

[Slideshow: 8 Painless Ways to Save Money.]

Basic Computer Software - Thinking of purchasing a new computer? Think twice before you fork over the funds for a bunch of extra software. There are some great alternatives to the name brand software programs. The most notable is OpenOffice, the open-source alternative to those other guys. It's completely free and files can be exported in compatible formats.

Your Credit Report - You don't have to pay for your credit report. You could sign up for one of the free credit monitoring services online to get a quick look at your credit report. You just have to remember to cancel the service before the end of the free trial. Or you could do one better and visit www.annualcreditreport.com, the only truly free place to see all three of your credit reports for free once a year.

Cell Phone - The service plan may be expensive, but the phone itself doesn't have to cost a thing. Most major carriers will give you a free phone, even a free smart phone, with a 2 year contract.

Books - There's a cool place in your town that's renting out books for free: the library. Remember that place? Stop by and put your favorite book on reserve. And if you don't feel like getting out, visit www.paperbackswap.com and find your books there (small shipping fees apply).

Water - Besides the monthly utility bill, there's no reason to shell out $1 for every bottle of water you drink. Bottled water is so last decade anyway. We're over it, and into tap, filters, and reusable water bottles. It's cheaper for you and better for the environment.

Credit Card - With as many credit cards as there are available on the market today, it's easy to avoid a credit card with an annual fee. Unless you're dead set on a particular perk that a fee card brings, skip the annual fee card and pocket that money yourself.

Debt Reduction Help - Speaking of credit cards, if you're in over your head with credit card help, there are many free sources you can turn to for help with your debt. No one is going to be able to magically wipe away your debts, but there is help out there that will set you up on a debt reduction plan you can handle. Start with a visit to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Basic Tax Preparation - If your tax situation isn't that complicated, then you should probably be preparing your own tax return using one of the many free online services. It's now common for e-filing to be free as well with many services. You won't even need a stamp.

The News - Leave it to a blogger to try and kill off traditional print. I'm not anti-newspaper. I just don't find them practical anymore. Skip the daily .50 cents and get your news online. And for you dedicated coupon clippers, you can get most of your Sunday coupons online now too.

[Visit the US News Personal Finance site for more insight and money management tips.]

Budgeting Tools - There are many budgeting tools (both online and desktop) that offer up the service for free. Don't ask me how they do this, but who cares. If you're looking to reign in some of your spending, the good news is you can do it for free.

Pets - This is a controversial one, I know. But there are likely many pets down at your local animal shelter that could use just as much love as the pure-bred types. There may be a small fee due to the shelter for shots and basic care, but you'll have your pet home without paying a mini-fortune.

Shipping - If you like to buy online, you probably use coupons to get a percentage off of your purchase. Take your skills to the next level and look for coupons or promotion codes that offer free shipping. If in doubt, visit a site like www.freeshipping.org.

Checking Account - Isn't it nice when a bank takes your money, lends it out to earn money, and then has the audacity to charge you for the service? What a joke. Checking should be free. If yours isn't free then move to one of the many banks that offers a checking account for free. And the same can be said for ATM fees, teller fees, and checks.

DVD Rentals - Did you know that you can rent DVDs from RedBox locations for $1 a night? And better yet, if you use one of the coupon codes from www.insideredbox.com you can avoid the $1 charge. Free DVD rentals! Most libraries now have free DVD rental as well.

Exercise - Skip the expensive gym memberships. Visit your local park for a walk or run. Do basic push-up and sit-up programs in your living room. Rent a workout DVD from the library. There are many free workout programs you can download online as well.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20100...dntbepayingfor

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Originally Posted by DMac

Hi Agnut! Check out this story of a teen bartering his way from a cell phone to a Porsche!

Teen Trades up on Craigslist from Phone to Porsche in 2 Years

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Hi Dmac and thanks for the great article. Obviously it shows what can be done with determination and effort. This young man is not a rocket scientist; just a high school student with a dream. I wonder how many who read the article have reflected what THEY are doing with their dreams; or if they have even identified their dreams. I think we all have dreams from time to time but with all of the distractions in today‘s world, most everyone allows themselves to devolve rather than evolve. It is so much easier to come home after work and sit down and watch the boob tube until passing out. It has been said that the TV is a most effective tool to turn gray matter into brown matter.

To succeed we must change habits and prioritize what is centrally important. Sure, there are lots of things we can and must do in our daily lives. But once you have your bartering and horse trading skills down pat, you can pick and choose when you want to make and save money. If life is temporarily too demanding, you can plan for a day in the future when you have the time to go forth and seek. I know it sounds all too simple but it actually is all too simple and that may be the reason that so many reject just how it will open up their lives. The “too good to be true” syndrome.

Here’s a recent example of how things can open up in the course with dealing with people. We recently got the contract to pick up fruits and vegetables from a local supermarket. It is about a 500 pound load three times a week. We have two beefalo and a dozen chickens and we feed them what we can’t use. And boy, are they getting spoiled rotten (though the veggies and fruit aren’t). The rest we use ourselves and give away to folks who can use the financial relief, especially families with children.

What I can’t understand is that what we pick up is in large shipping boxes and the fruit is usually at its peak ripeness. The vegetables are also excellent. I heard that this has been going on for many, many years but suspect it will end in the not too distant future. Too much of a good thing doesn’t usually last for long. And that is why we are prepping and freezing as much as we can right now.

Anyway, one of the people we began giving the fruits and veggies to mentioned that he was working on a friend’s boat and needed an outdrive. I happen to have the one he needs and he plans to pick it up later this week. Deals sometimes seem to come out of nowhere. But that is not entirely true. What is foundational is that you have to be out there, meeting with folks and taking notes. And the more you do, the greater your opportunities will be. Enough lecturing Agnut; you’re starting to sound like a pushy parent. It is just that I am so excited and happy to have found such a fun and profitable activity that I can’t help myself in trying to pass it on. As I have written before, this is life changing stuff.

Last Saturday I had lined up 4 garage sales to attend. The first one turned out to be a huge estate sale run by a group of ladies that just wanted as much out of there as possible. The ad in the paper made no mention that it was an estate sale (my favorite type). I got power saws and an industrial drill and several tool for a pittance. I happened to ask if they had any vinyl records. The lady brightened up and took me inside the house where the other buyers had not yet entered. There were over 150 old albums in racks. Mostly country western but several old rock and roll albums. I asked her how much for all of them and she said, “How about $20 ?” I said fine. Then she said she had to clear it with another doing the selling. She came back and said that he wanted $50; would that be too much ? I didn’t answer but my body language spoke for me. She then asked if $30 would be okay. I said sure and she helped me load it into my truck. When I got home I checked out the values in one of my record catalog. One was $100 and several were anywhere from $60 to $20. The rest were from $10 to $20. A few I couldn’t identify. Now I know I won’t be able to just put these records on Ebay and make a fortune. Anything for sale needs a buyer; there may be no buyers. Also, the catalog prices are way, way above what I would expect to get for my albums. But I believe that someday they stand a chance of being in demand. Some of the records are over 60 years old and the only other way to have the music is on tape or CDs. I wonder how many vinyl records have survived for 60 years in good condition. Remember, vinyl records are somewhat delicate and can be ruined easily and then they lose all of their value. Well, except for skeet shooting maybe. So to acquire over 150 albums for 20 cents each didn’t seem to be much of a risk. Besides, my family and I will enjoy them before selling them; if we ever do sell them, that is.

Also got 28 DVD movies for 75 cents each. I’ve seen others selling their DVDs on Craigslist for about $3 each. Could be a moneymaker for you; I don’t know.

A brand new waffle iron for $5. A thousand feet of small nylon cord for free. Garden tools for 25 cents. And the list goes on.

Best wishes,

agnut

“Making money is a hobby that will compliment any other hobbies that you have, beautifully.”
Scott Alexander

“Living in the lap of luxury isn't bad, except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up”
Orson Welles

Hi Mneagle, great post. I always love seeing ways to save the money we DO have in our hot little hands.

It seems as time passes, there are more and more passive deals and less active deals to be had, so my focus has been changing to keep on top of this.

For some of you who haven’t read my past posts, passive bartering and horse trading is in the form of saving money when we buy things we need and want. Active horse trading is going out there in search of deals that we may resell and make a profit.

By the way, the free fruits and vegetables I wrote about in my last post are piling up in my truck and kitchen (over 600 pounds). And tomorrow we have to pick up another 500 pounds. And Saturday, about another 1,000 pounds. Some problem, eh ? I have been thinking about getting another heifer beefalo (for breeding) but I don’t know how long this cornucopia will continue. If it stops suddenly and I have three cows to feed I will have to buy much more feed. By the way I just heard from someone who raises Alpacas that the big commercial hay fields are in a bad way and some are predicting that hay this winter could rise to $18 a bale. I just paid $4 a bale for 90 bales so I am okay but what about the folks who aren’t stocked up with hay by now ? Just another case of seeing potential future problems and addressing them NOW.

Now look, I am most certainly NOT writing about this bounty dropped in our laps to brag but rather to show you who read this that the very same opportunity may be available in your neighborhood. I don’t know; that is for you to research out. Be sure you tell the produce manager that you have animals to feed. I have cows and chickens. Pigs and goats would be good too.

You may be able to talk to the produce manager of you local supermarket and strike a deal. You might even kick him a few bucks or a gift to sweeten the deal. With what we have spent in the past on fruits and vegetables, I figure I save about $1,500 per year or more. And that’s in AFTER tax dollars which means I would have to make about $2,000 in wages before taxes. Something to think seriously about. Also as a result of this, we are eating a lot more fruits and vegetables, therefore a much healthier diet. Hard to put a value on that but it is huge in my book. Our freezers are already packed to the top and we need another freezer if we are to keep any more fruits and veggies.

Even the many heavy card boxes we get may be flattened and sold to a recycler. I haven’t checked that out yet. We had been throwing away our steel to a local wrecking yard but have lately discovered that we can get about $150 per ton for short steel. Not a lot for a truck load but when we have to drive into the city, might as well load up and at least make it pay for gas, wear and tear on the truck and lunch. See, like the steel, the cardboard may also work similarly. More to think about.

MNeagle, some great suggestions. But if I may, I’d like to comment on them and give my viewpoint.

Computer software. I’m not into computers and am a self proclaimed idiot where they are concerned. I’m a big help here, huh ?

Your credit report. Good advice for many. But I avoid credit like the plague and have no debts. Cash and carry or bartering.

Cell phone. I have a 2 year contract and got a second phone for $10 extra a month. Still a great bargain.

Books. True, the library is a wonderful resource. And with the library network, you can order books from other libraries. For free, too ! I have hundreds of books and refer to them from time to time but they do take up space and require caring for. I bought most of them for a quarter to a dollar. So if I want to sell them at a garage sale, I may even make a profit. Probably a wash though although some folks make a living selling books online. Check out ABEbooks.com where there are millions of books for sale. I bought a book for $2 that was listed for over $150 on ABEbooks. Something to think about if you have a mind to. HaHa, I just wrote that and realized that it could be taken either way. Simple minds are easily amused (especially mine).

Water. I have a well and we fill old 2 liter Coke bottles for when we travel. And our water has no chlorine or fluoride. You might find someone who has a well and fill up at their place. Just a suggestion.

Credit card. I only use a debit card. No fees or interest. If the money isn’t in the bank, I don’t spend it.

Debt reduction help. That sounds like a good one. I have read that some debts can be negotiated for a far lower payoff.

Basic tax preparation. Good idea if your financial life is simple. If complicated however, a good accountant can be worth his weight in gold (or silver at least).

The News. I get the local paper, about $50 a year. Comes twice a week and has many bargains in the classifieds, free items and garage and estate sales. So in my case, it is highly profitable.

Budgeting tools. I’m 63 and if I can’t run a tight budget by now, I never will. But for those just starting out, a strict budgeting plan may set them on the right path at an early age. Good for them if they do.

Pets. We got our dog at the animal shelter and she is an absolute gem. Couldn’t ask for a smarter or more lovable dog. And so protective; she thinks she owns the property and chases off the deer and birds. Also a good gopher getter.

Shipping. True, like on Ebay when the seller offers free or cheap shipping. And if you are bidding on multiple items, email the seller beforehand if they will offer a package price for multiple items won. I have done this for years, both buying and selling. When selling, I have learned that buyers will bid up items higher and more aggressively if your sale stated that you do not charge any extra for multiple winners. I used to do this with antique jewelry and it worked like a charm (pun intended). By the way, if you are selling books, the post office rate is dirt cheap. You have to let them know that it is books of course.

Checking account. My bank doesn’t charge for a checking account, only for the check printing. I don’t keep much money in there anyway so if we have a “bank holiday” I wouldn’t lose much. Don’t you just love that expression ? A holiday for whom ? What a steaming pile of propaganda. But I digress…

DVD rentals. Good idea; we use Redbox for the recent releases. But in my last post I mentioned that I had just bought 28 DVDs for 75 cents each. This winter we will be watching them and afterwards we can either add them to our library or sell them for a profit. They sell for $2 to $3 at garage sales. I get mine cheap because I negotiate with the sellers for a quantity buy. They are glad to get rid of many at a time rather than wait to sell in dribs and drabs. Their loss; my gain. My last two big buys I got over 150 DVDs and paid less that a dollar each. Some great stuff in there too; I only buy what I want to watch. I must have over 800 DVDs and hundreds of prerecorded videotapes. Don’t discount the videotapes either. I get them for 50 cents to a quarter. They aren’t as good to resell but at that price, you could even give them away after you are through watching them. I get lots of Disney videotapes and give then away to friends for their children. Good PR and fun to do.

Exercise. Good advice but I get all the exercise I can handle building transmissions and taking care of our acreage. Lots of walking, feeding animals and hauling stuff around.

I hope this helps. I am an opinionated SOB (almost as much as Ponce HaHa) and have learned that there aren’t many money saving ideas that cannot be improved upon. YMMV

Now I know that dental work can be very expensive. You may be in a low enough income bracket to qualify and not know it, so check it out. I pay $40 for a cleaning or Xray or tooth filling. Sometimes my dentist will fill two teeth for the appointment, costing me only $20 per filling. They don’t do root canals, crowns or dental plates but do refer patients to specialists who work for cheap rates. Check and see if there is such a deal in your area.

Next I’d like to talk about a small savings; a very small savings. Twice a year we haul our trash to the dump. It costs 7 cents a pound. The last time I had over a half ton and had to pay over $70. Now if I were to burn my paper trash and collect the glass jars for recycling I could probably cut my bill in half. And perhaps have to go to the dump one time a year. So I would save $70 per year and one trip to the dump which blows most of the day. Is it worth it ? Well, it is to me because a whole day saved to do something else is precious; you can’t buy time itself unless you really use your head for something other than a hat rack.

Most of you probably aren’t as stupid as me and don’t smoke. But if you do you can make your own cigarettes for as little as about $2 a pack. If you smoke a pack a day which costs about $5, that would work out to a savings of $1,095 per year. You’d probably have to make about $1,400 to $1,500 in before tax wages to pay for your addiction. So roll your own and take a trip to Hawaii once a year on the savings. To paraphrase the Mogambo Guru, “Whee, this money saving stuff is easy”.

If you smoke cigars, here’s a website for cigar deals : http://www.thompsoncigar.com/

There are many possible so-called small savings that can add up to a large savings. And always be mindful that this is after tax money you are saving.

Ponce says that it is not what you have, it is what you DO with what you have.

There is so much waste and carelessness in America. But I believe that it is going to tighten up before too long. Even if I am wrong, doesn’t it make sense to change spending habits now so that you can enjoy the benefits of your changes ? See, change can be really good for cleaning out the cobwebs of a financially neglected attic (your brain). Even the first change you make can open your quest for more changes until you (and me too) have taken control of your finances and therefore your life. And in the process you will increasingly obtain peace of mind. Priceless.

Best wishes,

Agnut

"There is only one success....
to be able to spend your life in your own way."
Christopher Morley

And a few for grins :

"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know"
The Grateful Dead

"There are two places only where socialism will work; in heaven where it is not needed, and in hell where they already have it.”– Winston Churchill

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. "
-Mae West

“When all the experts and forecasts agree, something else is going to happen.”
Bob Farrell’s Rule number 9

“I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather... Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.”

City Council members propose $25 fee for garage sales in Dallas

Quote:

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Two Dallas City Council members have proposed charging a $25 fee next year to anyone who wants to have a garage sale in city limits.

City managers have floated the idea of charging $5, as a way to help balance next year's tough budget.

Council members Delia Jasso and Dwaine Caraway upped the ante today in a memo to City Manager Mary Suhm.

"We recommend the fee should be $25," the memo said.

Jasso and Caraway estimate the fee could bring in $500,000 next year, and they recommend the money go toward senior dental services, cultural affairs programs, graffiti removal and animal services.

I'm not sure how they estimated the $500,000, but I think one relevant question is: will the number of garage sales go down significantly if a $25 fee is attached? Will that decrease the revenue estimate?

What do you think?

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http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/a...9/post-11.html

Additionally, I have been thinking of buying a Detroit diesel generator. How much will it consume per day ? Even running it for 2 hours will use 2 gallons of diesel. That’s just to run the freezers and recharge the batteries (that I don’t have yet; or the inverter either). quoted from AgNut


A Detroit diesel of the 71 or 92 series is one of the most inefficient diesels ever made.Originally used in Sherman tanks, they are a two cycle and VERY LOUD. keep the gen head and use a different engine.