Alright, I’m fessing up. Here is my budget. What can I do to make my money go farther, other than NOT buying gas for the van?
Monthly Expenses:
| Car and Trailer Insurance | $ 70 |
| Dental Insurance | $ 34 |
| Hospitalization Insurance | $ 38 |
| Verizon Internet Service | $ 64 (essential) |
| Ancestry.Com | $ 30 (generates some income) |
| TOTAL | $236.00 |
| One time only: | |
| New Hard Drive | $ 65 |
| New checks | 14 |
| TOTAL | $ 79 |
| Income: | |
| Social Security | $853 |
| Sketches | 90 |
| TOTAL | $943 |
| Expenses (8/22 until today): | |
| Gas | $105 |
| Food and misc. | $100 |
| TOTAL | $284 |
| Balance today | $194 |
Out of that balance will come September’s bills due prior to 9/21 totaling $72, leaving me with $122 for gasoline and food and emergencies between now and 9/21. A tank of gas will cost about $90 or more as prices go up again… leaving me less than $30 or so for food and emergencies. So, I’m stuck at a nephew’s house in Indiana (rather his yard) until I can get more income from sketches or my social security check arrives.
If anyone can think of ways to trim the budget or generate more income, I’d appreciate the ideas. Internet access is my life line… can’t cut that. Ancestry.com is my hobby and sometimes generates a little income from doing genealogical research for others… so I SHOULD NOT cut that. Insurance… I don’t think I should cut… I usually get the value for my $ there… and besides, I do have military health coverage which covers any other medical expenses.
I spend little on fast foods, just an occasional sandwich from a dollar menu, seldom eat out, carry a supply of ham, cheese and bread in my 12v fridge, have a supply of canned meats on hand, keep some cereal on hand and buy soy milk about 1/2 gal a week. Don’t buy candy or ice cream often… maybe once a month.
So, HOW can I have more money for gas so I can keep on going down the road. I plan to pretty much just “park” from Oct – Mar… so things should be a little better then.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for any ideas (or photos to draw). I am also available for photo retouching and genealogical research.
I feel like a caged wild animal when I can not keep going, driving, reaching my goal… and I scare myself.
