Personal Transportation

At the age of 16 I purchased my first vehicle, and I have always had one or more vehicle at all times since – my ideas have changed a bit.

A few months ago my daughter claimed her driver’s license – then claimed our second car, which to be fair I had promised to sell to her at a significantly reduced price. My “promise kept'” resulted in our one remaining vehicle proving it could not be in two places at the same time.

It could have been easy to nab a loan and pick up a third vehicle, but after looking at additional payments, taxes, licensing and other related costs I pursued other options.

The first option was a 49 cc scooter. What I liked about this was 80 mpg, no special driver’s license and in my state no insurance was required. I located one I could afford, drove it home, and tried to use it for my work vehicle. The problem I personally encountered was not an issue of interest or quality of the scooter – it was an issue with a headlight that didn’t seem to be fixable. Since I drive to work before 4 AM a headlight was important.

I took a loss on the resale of the scooter, but I think it was a needed step to begin to think about an alternative I’m not sure I would have previously considered – a bicycle.

Mass research tool place in seeking an ebike alternative for my work vehicle. The cost for ebikes was beyond my budget, but I did unearth a retrofit ebike solution that could be used with an existing bike. Since I have a bike I already like I spent the money to outfit my existing bike with the Clean Republic Hilltopper.

I used the electric assistance primarily going to work. I am a broadcaster and I can’t really arrive at work ready to talk to an audience if I am winded.

The installation process took me about 10 minutes, battery recharging costs about$1 a month, and I figure I save about $400 a month by not buying another vehicle. I take into account things like gas prices, loan repayment, repairs, taxes, licensing, etc.

I am nearing the end of my third month of using this as my mode of transportation. I have had to rethink how I transport items to and from work. I have had to think about cooler mornings. When to place the recharged battery back on the bike and a few other issues that I never had to consider when driving a car. My daughter considers the bike a “Sweet ride” and my son loves to ride it whenever he gets the chance.

I don’t know if I can make it through the coldest days of winter, but I plan on trying. And even if I don’t make it, my family has rethought how we might be able to handle the issue and I think it might work.

To be honest there may come a day when I do purchase an automobile for a work vehicle, but I am genuinely amazed at how much I love riding the bike. Rather than being a drudgery like I thought it would be, riding the bike is one of my favorite parts of the day.

There are multiple options to convert a regular bike to an ebike, but you’ll want to look at all options and read details carefully. Some less expensive options come without a battery. The battery will be one of the more expensive parts of the kit. In some cases you will have to return to the kit supplier for the battery because they will be the only place you can buy the battery.

Many businesses are using ebike conversions to outfit short trip delivery bikes.

Of course if you’d like a simpler and less expensive option you could always walk. I’m sure many of you do just that.

What creative ways have you discovered to reduce your overall transportation costs?

Quick Tips – Scratch, Thrift and Reuse

We have a facebook group that share thoughts and tips on a regular basis. Many of those tips wind up here. Enjoy a new set.

Learn how to shop at thrift stores. Half of the thing in my kitchen came from there. LeCreuset, Calaphon, JA Henckels, Sabatier, All-Clad, Wusthof are now part of the things I use daily. No matched sets but they all work. (Occasionally you find really nice stuff like the handmade 1930s copper pots from Switzerland for $15, pictured) I’m wearing a pair of Doc Marten shoes I got for $7.50, my son paid $145 for a nearly identical pair.
The key is to shop often and learn when new items are put on the floor. (Good stuff doesn’t last long) Don’t shop with a specific item in mind, just know what you need or what you would like to upgrade. (From member Jerry)

Hitting that balance between paying high price for just a name or spying quality in a lesser name takes some time and a few mistakes along the way.
Of course, the occasional ‘scratch and dent’ saves a lot too! Our ‘scratch and dent fridge lasted 25 yrs!” (From member Pat)

One of the things I have used for about 14 years now is cloth napkins. We use them for all meals. One time we had one of our girls and her family visiting and we were having BBQ. Our Grandson Ky looks at me and says Nana are you sure you want me to use this it is going to get REALLY dirty. ( He was about 5) Besides not wasting a lot of tree’s there is just something special about using a cloth napkin. I just started throwing away napkins from the set I first bought in 97, not because they were stained but because the fabric had worn. (From member DeLinda)

A Video Top Ten List

A simple post this time around – all in the name of “Less Expensive Living“. Enjoy this creative animation.

Facts, History and Diapers

I’ve always loved facts. Here are a few for you.

• Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour.
• Every month, we throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper. All of these jars are recyclable.
• The US population discards each year 16,000,000,000 diapers, 1,600,000,000 pens, 2,000,000,000 razor blades, 220,000,000 car tires, and enough aluminum to rebuild the US commercial air fleet four times over.

The roots of my raising were on the plains of Wyoming. In this beautiful place we understood the value of reusing, reducing and recycling.

Farmers embraced conservation techniques, and my dad? Well, he always saved a little bit of lots of stuff just in case he needed it for a project (he often did).

Life was less disposable then. Scrap lumber was saved and used to create things like a workshop bench, wall framing or any of a number of projects.

Television repairs were always considered before purchasing a new set. Cars often received a rebuilt engine before we said they were unusable.

Yet there were very few who I would classify as environmentalists in the same way we do today.

It’s true, neighbors cared about the land because the land helped them provide for their family. They cared about fixing instead of replacing because it made economic sense. They cared about recycling because there was money to be made. They cared about reusing because it made no sense to waste resources.

What I am getting at is the reasons I saw then for encouraging less waste had more to do with economics than it did about saving the planet. Perhaps that’s because the cost of raising a family was a prime consideration and very few considered the state of the planet.

I love the fact that post-consumer paper can be repurposed. I am glad that recycling has allowed a smaller burden on landfills. I’m pleased that tree planting is a priority especially in places where clear cutting for lumber has taken place.

Would you find it strange that there may be a large number of people who don’t have a strong opinion on climate change who still reuse, reduce and recycle because it simply makes good financial sense?

These individuals may not base their political ties on environmental issues. In fact their political leanings may be all over the map.

Is it so hard to believe that ‘Less Expensive Living’ is not a political issue? It doesn’t have to be a matter of smug pride. It doesn’t have to alienate.

So, whether you consider yourself “green” or simply a gifted manager of personal resources you are welcome here. I don’t present this as a “green” site, but many of the outcomes of “green” living fall in line with less expense.

Oh, and on a little related topic – on our facebook group page we recently discussed the idea of cloth diapers. You may have noticed in the facts above that 16 billion (some say 18 billion) disposable diapers make their way to landfills each year. This wasn’t true a few decades ago. If you’d like more information about cloth diaper alternatives check this page.  If you’d like to know how to make your own cloth diapers check here.

If you’re not a part of our facebook group click here and join.

Thanks for dropping by.

Cleaning With Less

At Less Expensive Living we love to promote ideas. It is not our intention to promote products, so in the interest of full disclosure I need to let you know that the product we are talking about today was brought to my attention from one of our members, Bobbie Kuns. You need to know that Bobbie uses this product, but she also sells the product.

In fairness there are similar products available and you are always encouraged to compare any item you are looking to purchase.

With that in mind. I had the opportunity to visit with Bobbie about a cleaning product from Norwex that is designed to save money and storage space in the form of cleaning cloths for your home. Let’s get to the Q&A session.

Q: Bobbie, can you tell us more about Norwex and you’re involvement with the company?

A: Norwex is a Canadian company . Their mission is to improve quality of life by radicallly reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning. Their foundation product is an antibac MicroFiber cloth that picks up 7 times it weigh in “stuff”, and effectively kills 99.99% of germs. There are many other products, but this is their cornerstone product.

I am a distributor for Norwex.

Q: Norwex got it’s start in the European Union. I know there’s a lot to consider when it comes to being a green product, but is this something that will save money for those simply looking to pay less overall?

A: Imagine not having to buy cleaning products such as Windex, Clorox spray, 409, stainless steel cleaner, bathroom cleaner, soft scrub and paper towels to clean with. Our two cloths cost $37 with shipping and handling. They are guaranteed to last two years, however, most people get longer use out of them. The cost savings of just not purchasing those products will save upwards of $200 or more per year. Some people claim to spend between $450 and $600 per year on cleaning products. That seems a bit high in my household, but I can imagine we used to spend over $200 a year.

Q: I know you sell the product, but you’ve mentioned that you also use it. What are the top three things you love about the products?

A: Top three things I love about the cloths.
1 – I can clean my windows with no streaks, the window seals, the kitchen counter, the stainless steel refrigerator, the cupboard door, the banister and wipe off the door knobs, all with these two cloths, with maybe rinsing them in water once. No having to get out windex for the windows, spray for the counters, etc. Just my two cloths and I have cleaned my entire house in just a few minutes.
2 – I love that I am not breathing any chemicals when I clean. When most people clean their homes, the toxic level of chemicals is so strong that if it was a work place, it would be shut down. I use no chemicals, just water, so there is never a worry about what I am breathing.
3 – I also love that I am helping the environment by keeping it healthier and cleaner for my children and grand children.

Q:  How long have you used the products?

A: I have used the products for about six months.

Q: Anything else you’d like to cover that we haven’t already discussed?

A: I was a skeptic when I first heard about these cloths, and I imagine you are as well. Cleaning with just water? How is that possible? We have been trained by the media that we need all these cleaning products to do different cleaning jobs. Reality is, our antibac microfiber cloths kills germs, clean our homes and do it all with just water. I tried to prove it wrong. I cleaned everything I could find that first day I got my cloths. And it worked on everything!

And Norwex has a satisfaction guarantee. The company will refund your money if you are not satisfied in the first 60 days. $37 to try it. A $37 investment to save between $200 and $600 a year in cleaning products and paper towels.

And I have never had a customer not rave about how great these cloths work. They are probably the most amazing on windows, as they clean with just water and leave NO STREAKS.

I’d like to thank Bobbie for taking the time to visit. If you are interested in knowing more about Norwex you can visit bobbiekuns.norwex.biz and you can send Bobbie an email at bobbiekuns@gmail.com

What’s In A Name?

There’s lots of cool names for sites that seek to improve the way you live. This could be high pressure money making sites or things with the words simple, country, or better in their title.

I chose Less Expensive Living with a purpose. Yes, it is possible you may find this type of information can lead to simple or better living, but then again you might not.

“Less Expensive” doesn’t always mean your life is simplified. In fact, there are times when less expensive means inconvenience and essential planning. “Less Expensive” may not even seem better if you’ve come to rely on convenience.

“Less Expensive” signifies an intentional choice – not just to get a better deal on something, but to engage in changes that affect your entire mindset and lifestyle.

There are plenty of attributes that will be common among those who choose this life direction and we’ll share some of the stories and successes of guests and Facebook followers along the way.

Here are just a few traits of those who choose “Less Expensive Living”…

• They attempt to fix before replacing
• They comparison shop before buying
• They consider the merits of used before buying new
• They are less inclined to adopt new products until they have both proven themselves and are competitively priced
• They regularly review expenses to see if there are any adjustments that can be made that would result in savings.
• They seek ways to simplify life
• They chose delayed gratification over impulse buying

You may have a few ideas of your own, and I’d love to read them.

Today’s economy may have a more than normal group of people interested in saving money, but there have always been those who have chosen this lifestyle. What I find interesting is that many who embrace “Less Expensive Living” are also some of the most generous.

This mini-movement isn’t about becoming Scrooge – it’s about freeing yourself to be able to do more for and with your family – for and with others. When we chase money we may get what we wanted and lose everything that is really important.

Consider this story I once heard…

There once was a man who visited a small island. He had saved his money to afford the trip. As he walked along the beach he noticed a man sleeping under a tree. For some reason this sight disturbed the traveler. “Hey,” he called, “it’s the middle of the day. Shouldn’t you be working?”

The resident woke up and smiled at the traveler, “Is everything OK, Sir?” he asked.

“Well, for me, yes. For you? I’m not so sure. Why are you sleeping when you could be working?”

“I ate this morning,” the man smiled, “and look at all this fruit. I will eat again.”

“Yes, but you should work. Maybe become a fisherman”

“Why?”

“So you could sell your fish.”

“Why?”

“So you can make money and buy a house.”

“Then what?” The man said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

“Then you could earn enough to buy a boat, then a fleet of boats.”

“I like this story – go on,” the man enthused.

As the traveler said the next words they began to slow as he realized the impact of the words, “By working hard for many years you could finally earn enough money to take a trip to a beautiful island where you could relax and enjoy yourself.”

Less Expensive Living requires an alteration in thinking. Maybe you’re the island dweller in the story – maybe you’re the visiting businessman. Perhaps you’re somewhere in between.

Thanks for dropping by. More to come.

Words of Economic Wisdom From Readers

We invite readers to share their own “Less Expensive Living Ideas”. Here are a few for your consideration.

Gonna give away one of my prime secrets here: find grocery store coupons in your towns recycle center newspaper bin if it’s easy to access like mine is. I always do this before making my shopping lists. – Bill L.

Plan for travel…Hotels often offer a fairly deep disount for “paid in adavance” – “Non-refundable” bookings. I just saved 20% on my hotel bookings for Thanksgiving, which is quite a bit! – Jerry K.

My husband really wanted a pressure washer … saw one on the clearance aisle and waited, and waited, and waited. Caught it on the day they marked it down another 50% off the sale price. Got it for less than 25% of the original price. It felt WONDERFUL and he appreciated a really nice birthday present! – Katie R.

The Value of Neighbors

Lyn and Marsha were great neighbors. I miss them.

He was a heavily bearded, Harley riding, tender spirit. She was the calm, collected, smiling counterpart to Lyn.

When we became neighbors Lyn seemed intimidating. However, regular conversations over the fence allowed us to become something more than simple acquaintances.

Lyn passed along shoots from his strawberry plants and I passed along transplants from my raspberries. I gave him all the rhubarb he wanted and he passed along homemade jellies that featured rhubarb, and strawberries, and raspberries.

We watered houseplants and fed fish when they were out town and they returned the favor when we were gone.

I recall Lyn harvesting dry seeds from my wildflowers so he could start his own wildflower garden, and when we bought a new metal bunk bed for our daughter he was at the door with his cordless drill to help in the assembly (we didn’t even have to ask). Our second shed was also built with the wisdom and experience Lyn had to offer. The sidewalks were often cleaned off by Lyn because he had a snow blower and liked to use it (or so he said).

There is something within me that suspects Lyn and Marsha got the short end of the stick, but they never complained. My family has always felt grateful in knowing Lyn and Marsha.

How did being neighborly help us with less expensive living? When you take into account the cost of all the things we shared without the exchange of money it equaled hundreds and even thousands of dollars over the nine years we were neighbors. I can’t even begin to assign a value to the memories.

In the 21^st century there may be valid arguments for not becoming friends with some neighbor, but perhaps friendliness is simply a lost art that needs to be found by many.

Do you know your neighbor’s name? Have you ever shared tools, skills or recipes? Have you ever asked or been asked to watch over property when away?

Not every neighbor will be like Lyn and Marsha, but you never know if you never acknowledge them. It is surprising what a shared meal or strawberry-rhubarb jelly can do to bring neighbors together.

Here are a couple of other ideas on how neighbors are working together to save money.

When you can cooperate with a neighbor you are accessing more knowledge, greater opportunity and shared good will. The trick is to never wear out your welcome, and give in the same way you receive. Here’s some extra reading on working collectively to help one or more neighbors.

More ideas for less expensive living next time.

Welcome

I’d like to say thus idea came to me in a dream, but it didn’t. It actually started by recognizing I had placed personal blinders on options that I either considered distasteful or not practical in the 21st century. In my research I have uncovered an incredible number of people that are finding ways to do things in a down economy that not only baffle the mind, but inspire possibilities. I may share some of my own ideas, but more often than not I will be sharing the concepts, videos and links of those who are doing something about less expensive living. Together maybe we can find new ways to find contentment with what we already have.

Thanks for dropping by. My name is Glenn. I’ve written for hundreds of websites, but never really for my own, Oh, there are a few blogs from the last decade that had me posting two or three items about my life and then faded away due to lack of interest, but I think it’s about time we hear from those making life work when it doesn’t seem like it should. No complaints – no excuses – just great ideas to do more with what you already have. These are the brave men and women who are turning down the volume on their credit cards and turning up the idea of making decisions today that will positively impact tomorrow, the next day, week, month and year. They refuse to let life simply happen to them. Stick around, there’s some people you really should meet.