Subj : Re: Living Debt Free
To   : debian
From : phiax
Date : Tue Aug 16 2022 04:43:52

Good writeup.

I think there are many different forms and definitions of "self-sufficiency".
Some people are all about going full Teddy K and living in an off-grid cabin,
eating beans they grow. Others it is having enough shit paid off and ample
savings/recurring income to whether crisis situations, etc.

I am more in line with the latter, personally. I am kind of social. I am,
politically speaking, a syndicalist. I think, especially since humans are
social creatures and we cannot easily (or necessarily want to) escape
society, finding solutions to liberate yourself from certain levels of risk
is important. Conversely, self-sufficiency (except for the hermit in the
woods) is a myth and not necessarily 100% desirable. I think a better goal is
self-resiliancy. First on your own means, secondly though mutual aid, and
lastly by contracted aid.

To unpack, one's own means is to make sure you can whether short and long
term crisis through your own resources. Your recurring expenses do not
outstrip your ability to earn or conceivably what you can earn/take from
savings in a pinch. For, say, a family with two potential wage earners, being
able to set the level so that either one can "carry" the household [even if
tight] is ideal. Most people can't be expected (nor would necessarily want
to) set their budget based on outlying circumstances like sudden disability
or illness, or both earners being unemployed for extended periods of time.
Rather a good level, again, from my perspective, is that bills and paid and
food is sufficient on one earner.

As a syndie, I am a big proponent of what anarchists typically label as
mutual aid and forming mutual aid networks. These can be formal, but it more
often more organic in nature [but do benefit by your awareness of them and
maintaining them]. A simple example would be making friends with neighbors to
the point you regularly can rely on sharing tools, pinch hitting with
pet/child care, etc. You know that if your car breaks down, your
sibling/friend/neighbor has your back enough to lend you one or pick up the
kids for a couple days for school until fixed. It's about cultivating
communities of shared and mutual self-interest. I help you, cos I can can
rely on you for X. I may not be for Y, but I have him for Y, etc. 

Also, this is very close to me living as foreigner [American living abroad],
as it is often very important to create and contribute to these web or
relationships, since you don't have family to bail your out. Sure, my sister
or brothers-in-law would totally help me out with X but they are thousands of
miles away... This is often my immigrant communities are resilient and
sometimes clannish (whether or not the native population is or is not
welcoming, and whether or not their status as foreigner contributes
negatively to their economic realities).

This can also include formal relationships (like a union) but I would only
say it is strictly this if you are actually involved and active in your union
[which you honestly should if you have the time].

The last is contracted aid, which seems vague, but is exceedingly mundane.
These are relationships that can be tapped by contract, as you have (by
choice or otherwise) been paying into it. Your home insurance is contracted
aid. You can be as paid off and self-sufficient, but if you have a fire,
well... you kind of need to have a policy. Similarly, you have contracted aid
with the State, albeit they can be a bit lackluster (especially in the US)
and regardless where you are at, often *highly* dependent of your knowledge
of the system involved. Some of are straightforward... some states (take
Massachusetts) have higher taxes, but actually have decent state unemployment
insurance. They also have decent baseline health and disability insurance for
residence. All of which are paid with state tax money and employment taxes.
You have to know what they fucking you are filing when you need it, but it is
contracted and can be good. Some places have funds or scholarships for
education and stipends if you become unemployed and want to change careers.
Literally 1% of people living in those jurisdictions know about these. Some
offer other social assistance [like with disability or elder care] for
non-disabled/non-elder people in a "crisis" situation, but you don't know. I
am pretty plugged into this sort of thing, but when my wife was hours away
long term for several months in the hospital, I was actually entitled to some
assistance where I live since I have two school age kids [but didn't know].
It could have been a care worker picking them up from school and watching
until I was finished with work or someone to come a clean a couple hours a
week... Didn't fucking know. 

So with contracted aid, you need to know what you need [insurance for home,
health, disability, etc.] for your situation and family, optimize the
expense, and understand *everything* you are potentially entitled to from the
municipality/state under what circumstances. The later actually can put more
credence for "homesteading" *in town*. I live in a rather rural area overall,
but I live on the outskirts of town. Sure I have to pay city water/sewer, but
the schools are great, proximity to walk to town/access to buses [even if not
city-level frequent] mean we can get by on one car, community programs are
frequently available to free/dirt cheap for children or adults in the
community. If I went a quarter mile out, I would be out of the district and
not a resident. But as you can see, it mean that closer to town is better for
some [like my wife and I with two school-age kids and two infants], but
others [single or couple with kids out of house] being out in the woods with
your own well and managing your own trash is more sustainable.

For me, the biggest is paying off home, vehicles, and debt. This is a tricky
enough proposition, as the expense of these (and the social expectations and
the business culture surrounding the buying and selling is around
credit/debit). But if you can keep everything going on one income (if a
couple) or for X time until a new job (or even planning based on an easily
available, but shittier job you can get in a pinch) makes things closer to
sustainable.

With homes, buy what you need, buy good "bones" and location, and fix it up
over time. Save and hire pros for what needs the pros and find time and money
to do the rest yourselves. Likewise, with car, get what you need. Find the
balance between utility, reliability, and expense. For some it is buying a
beater and cycling every couple years. Some it is buying something a bit
nicer, since keeping it for a number of years or using it for hauling more
than your own ass is important. And when you can, pay it off and own it.
Taxes and tags are inevitable, so no reason to bitch. Fuel will always cost
money, so plan your use (and selection) accordingly. A new car is almost
never a necessity.

Whenever possible buy the best quality [not most expensive] especially with
tools and things you wear hard [boots, outerwear]. Whenever possible, if you
can find it used and in good condition [especially for best quality stuff],
that will usually serve you better in the long run. I forget which random
dirty socialist philosopher I read recently made this point, but the poor
person often find themselves forced to buy $2 boots and replaces them every
year... They leak almost immediately, so they have to always put up with
cheap, falling-apart, boots and wet feet. The $10 boots last at least five
years and don't leak if maintained. The poor person is forced to get the $2
ones either because he cannot save for it or doesn't realize that he should.

But yeah, if you have space and time to grow food, do it. 100%. I skipped
gardening, since bought this place about and year ago and between babies and
fixing up the home, no time. But we are planning everything out for either
next spring or even potentially a fall planting. Animals are cool, if you are
the type to want to do that, but finding farms who sell meat and eggs
directly may be worth it. Same with farmers markets, etc. Hunting and fishing
is often an option for people to supplement and depending on where you are
at, it may be a significant enough piece of the food puzzle.

And make sure you have fun. Have hobbies. Travel if you enjoy it. The system
wants you to buy shit, new shit, all the time, but not all leisure and
entertainment is consumption. Musical instruments are fun. Programming is
great and you can do that on a potato of a computer. Making stuff is super
fun. Going and seeing new things is fun. Make sure you aren't just a serf
toiling on your homestead with no joy.

In the end, very few want to be 100% off grid, but most people want to live
securely, even if capitalists and imperialists are forcing the prices of
things up outside your control.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Linux/64)
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