Friday, March 6, 2015

frugal living 28


FRUGAL LIVING 28

MICRO-BUSINESS + CONCLUSION

No one can live on no money, apart from Stone Age practitioners in the wilds.  Which while having its attractions is sure to be far more of a hardship than just going to a job ten hours a week.  I mean, there’s mountain lions and crap out there and while space between neighbors is great, as is a small village rather than a city, I still have confidence in human numbers rather than the propensity of Mother Nature to refrain from rending me with tooth and nail.  I’m not very good eating, but in the middle of winter I’m sure I’d do.  The trick, as I hope you’d have learned by now, is living in such a way as you need very little.  A micro-business fit’s the bill nicely.  Mine is my writing, and while my talents beg a much bigger reimbursement, I’m happy to have a successful miniature business.  It makes me not a target at all ( of course, not being a target also makes me invisible, but I’m happy not playing that game ).  Nobody else is going to compete with me for my customers because they can’t or won’t live on what I’m living on, plus they haven’t had decades of experience doing this business.  That combination makes me nearly fool-proof, which is high compensation in a league of its own ( in case you don’t get our Perpetual Decline, you need to try to stay ahead of it, and the general population, to be successful in dealing with it.  Just as you don’t fight against nature for the best results, you don’t try to fight a natural phenomena which is what an imperial collapse/resource depletion/civilization decline is ).

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Now, please listen carefully.  Do NOT, allow me to repeat-NOT, get into a business because it will make money.  And by money, I mean a micro-business level of money which is marginal like $200 or $300 a month.  Even with such a small amount, you will still fight with your customers.  Meaning, it will be a mercenary activity and even with getting the best deal in three states, the customer will be resentful.  On the other hand, if you ONLY engage in a business that makes you happy, that you are passionate about, your customer will willingly begrudge you your compensation.  And there are your referrals.  Because you are a hobbyist, only barely charging enough to survive, rather than just one of millions of asshat greedy whores.  By under-charging, and by doing it for love rather than money, you are a better business ( one local example is our bike shop.  He charges a lot, because of rent and lack of winter business, but he is a former pro rider and is doing it as a labor of love, and it shows-I don‘t resent the higher prices ).  This realization came hard to me, as it would most of us raised in this money centric economy, but it is really only just embracing our barter roots.  Being a smaller, tighter knit community, helping rather than hurting your neighbors.  As a HUGE bonus, you have peace of mind and happiness in your life, for once ( yes, I know mowing lawns is few peoples idea of a hobby, for example.  But if you love being outdoors and exercise, and helping others [ say, every ten lawns you give a free service to an older crippled lady without family ], why couldn’t you enjoy it? ).

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Now, everyone has a hobby they would love to do more of, and for a smidgen of survival cash, so I needn’t tell you’re your business in that aspect.  You already know what you can do/want to do ( don’t try to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs-the oddest expression I’ve encountered, and still really not sure why that particular activity is cited, but cool and apropos ).  So let’s move on to quasi-micro-business.  The business of needing less money rather than earning some ( I’m sure you will be using more than one strategy cited here ).  Welfare payments and declaring bankruptcy.  For the longest time, being on welfare was severely frowned upon.  It was/is shameful.  However, this should no longer be the case.  First of all, we are no longer taking other taxpayers money by being lazy.  The government is paying interest on the national debt, and paying a military for garrisoning over a hundred countries, and about everything else they “pay” for is only borrowed ( created out of thin air ).  You are not cheating anybody by being on welfare.  The money will NEVER be paid back.  Don’t listen to Limbaugh or Beck, two rich humper pricks who begrudge having to pay one fifth the percentage of taxes poor people do.  They have an agenda, they are paid shrills for the banker elite.  Pay their propaganda no mind.  Next up, welfare is, literally, the ONLY way to survive in many parts of this country outside of manufacturing crack cocaine or other crime.  Welfare is a bone to suppress revolution by the federal government.  So unless you love the feds, why feel guilty for taking their bribe?  That is a time honored position nomadic tribes had with nearby agricultural centers.  Blacks have no remorse taking welfare, most likely viewing it as compensation, and poor White trash don’t care about it either, with their southern occupational army merely giving them food and beer money to stay quiet.  Getting on Food Stamps alone takes away 80-90% of your money needs if you are living frugally ( just keep in mind that while Food Stamps will continue until the end of the FedGov, distribution problems might make them useless eventually.

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As for bankruptcy, I have no clues to give you, as I declared mine prior to the law changing.  I’ll just say, if applicable, far better to be out of debt than to try to keep earning more money.  The economy is only going to get worse, as will your job security.  In conclusion, I’ve had a lot of fun writing this book.  I’ve churned out a few since “Apocalypse Gun Porn”, which was THE funniest to write because I think that one was my breakthrough realizing I should loosen up a bit and not take myself so seriously in book form just as I had been doing in blogs, but none since were as enjoyable as this one.  Probably because this was the first time I wrote all practice and no theory.  Not something I’ll do much of, because after all my life is boring by choice, but a fun change of pace.  A writer should always take a vacation periodically ( I feel sorry for the fiction writers trapped in a series/character because of economic considerations ).  I hope you enjoyed the journey as well ( and don’t worry, more books are shortly on their way ).

END BOOK
 
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14 comments:

  1. Oh great impotent and hairless:

    Go sell your VIAGRA.... It does not work on you.

    How do I know this??? No need to tell....

    Jerome.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nice Closing.
    As a concluding chapter it helps set a person toward having a goal that ties back into (getting compensated for their hobby).
    Gun nuts who like working on or trading guns can become an FFL dealer (lots of paperwork that route though). Some one who likes canning can sell jars of specialty jellies - perhaps in gift baskets. Some one who likes music could be a DJ or edit custom "mix tapes". Like working on cars? don't open a garage, do a business of 'customizing/maximizing' vehicles. Like gambling? offer to teach your favorite games - don't try to be, or beat, a casino,.

    None of these micro-businesses could replace a 9-5 job for money income, but they could all provide just enough scratch to make ends meet if you live dirt cheap. But enjoy the work, and the work will make you almost as happy as lots of money would.

    Don't forget to get an LLC and do the business in the name of it- tax and liability issues can only be safely legally met this way. Your biggest threat will be the IRS followed by local regulators so when you get the $ get a good small business accountant and lawyer for your area - even if you are only pulling in a couple hundred gross every month (no matter what your profit level, the first thing people see is the gross income).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Be very cautious, and even then you'll never be prepared for everything. I've been earning from "Off the grid" for more than 30 years and let me tell you something, eventually you'll encounter an asshole. Sometimes I think I attract them somehow.

    If an entity pays you more than $600 in a calendar year they are required by law to submit a 1099 form on you with the IRS which must include your SSN. A person that I have been doing $300-$1000 worth of work for per year for the past 3 years recently decided he wanted to file a 1099 on me after never doing so before, and inquired for my SSN and of course I didn't give it to him. He got mad and may retaliate in some manner. I charge very little for what I do so there is no room for a middle man if you catch my drift and I don't appreciate someone deciding spur of the minute to bring someone else into our private free market party.

    This isn't my first trip down this long bumpy road.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Girandoni air rifle used by Lewis and Clark

    Thought that you and the minions might find this interesting James. I had no idea that such a weapon existed?

    The Girandoni air rifle is a 20 shot repeating air rifle that was carried on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The air tank was the rear stock, and held 800 psi of compressed air that required 1500 pumps from a bicycle style pump. It could fire up to 40 shots before velocity started to taper off. Firing a .46 calibre lead ball, this gun would penetrate a 1" pine board at 100 yards! I see the potential for an effective post-collapse firearms replacement in such a weapon.

    I have also seen modern variations of this gun that utilize a compressed air tank.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI&app=desktop


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know I've run across this type before- I think the company had to put you on a waiting list. And they were as expensive as a semi. A great idea, but then so is a lot of over priced stuff

      Delete
  5. Here are two different versions James. The Benjamin Marauder, an 8 to 10 shot repeater depending on the calibre that you choose, and is rather expensive starting at $500.00

    http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Marauder-Synthetic-22-Caliber-Pellet/dp/B00AU6EICA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1425875288&sr=1-1&keywords=benjamin+marauder

    And the Benjamin Discovery which is a single shot, but a very nice rifle.

    http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Discovery-Air-Rifle-rifle/dp/B003KOZMGK

    These guns are charged with a special hand pump, a scuba tank with a special fitting, or in the case of the discovery, a duel fuel option that includes CO2 refilling.

    So there are additional accessories to be purchased in addition to the gun. Figure for well under $1k, you have a gun that is quiet, efficient, and much cheaper to shoot than the .22 rimfire.

    For myself. I'll probably just stick with the Crosman Fury Nitro that I just ordered, or similar guns. But if one has the budget, these are very nice guns to consider.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear what you are saying, it just seems to be to much of a Boy Toy rather than a needed tool.

      Delete
    2. Yes, as I've mentioned, I'll probably just stick to the Crosman, but it is a cool idea.

      Wayne

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    3. I don't mean to crap on anyone's cool idea. Hell, I still lust after multiply HK-91's gifted to me by an Amazon warrior princess who lusts after my hair. I'm just trying to keep it real(er) than most places

      Delete
    4. When lusting for an HK-91, remember to lust also for many steel 20-round magazines and enough ammo (8000 per?) to burn out all of your extra barrels. Fire carefully, and deliberately, to maximize the barrel life. Glowing hot barrels lose their accuracy real soon.

      For example, firing 240 rounds rapidly from an M-4 in semi-auto (but fast) will heat it to a point of permanent damage. If you fire the same 240 rounds over half an hour, it will be fine.

      pdxr13

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    5. WHATTTT???? Firing aimed and controlled is no fun. If you can't burn through hundreds of rounds quickly, your enemies shaking in fear at the awesome noise, what use are they. If I can get the princess to deliver the rifles, and stick around for our mutual hair appreciation party, I'll gladly pay for the ammo, mags and barrels. That's at least half-no free lunch.

      Delete
  6. Loved the series as much as your hair. Will be living it by the end of the month. You use work for Internet?

    - Z

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've told the boss repeatedly, don't worry about a raise unless inflation goes wild. I can thrive on minimum wage. That said, I look at morning all I can drink coffee as part of my compensation. That, and Internet access. I come in one hour + early to make my nuke bread, fill water jugs, then get on the Net.

      Delete

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