What are you doing to protect yourself against inflation?

[Pdbeta]

Time heals all wounds dept?
Inflation beaters?
Being childless and almost nearly debt free I'm gunna guess we're about as "ready" as any modern middleaged couple can be regarding the current economic fiasco? Aka/bent over/not?

Things that I think have helped us save $$$ during the past decade?
In no significant order then:

1.)Compact Fl lightbulbs throughout the house. Since 1999.
2.) Energy star appliances exclusively. Circa 2000.
3.) Big box stores for consumables, especially paper products and chemicals. Buying in bulk whenever feasible. 2002 onward.
4.) Shopping price on all household insurances, each renewal. 2004+
5.) Vehicles bought according to actual use and economy & longevity.
6.) Rethinking lesiure time. TD rather then Ramada. C the USA!
7.) Dressing down (function) whenever possible, not fashionable.
8.) Reading forums like this one and other subjects we're interested in.
9.) readily taking "well informed advice" from others.
10.) Changing whatever i can and adjusting to things I cannot.

Perspective is everything, hurt no one, and be happy, impress yourself, and realize "having everything" isn't really anything.
Hippies man those Micro busses Now!

[Wimperdink]

Just bought a teardrop @ yesterdays prices. Now I dont have to go camping with my 11mpg 77 ford f250. Looking seriously at harnessing some wind energy with a wind generator, and/or, using solar energy. (more because my lil geeky mind likes playing with that stuff than the actual need though)

[CAJUN LADY]

I know installations can vary. But does anyone have a ballpark figure on the cost of a tank-less water system.

We installed a tankless water heater 1 week after Thanksgiving after our old money hungry won committed suicide in the garage the night before Thanksgiving. The one we bought from Home Depot cost a little less than $400 and almost that much to install it but it cut our electric bill down $90 a month so far. Worth every penny.

[mikeschn]

Ah there are some really good answers here... I like both the tankless and solar water ideas..

No one here stocks the food pantry at yesterday's prices?

Mike...

[pete.wilson]

Hey

My wife and I are voting for one "Conservative". We are still recovering from a move two years ago in which we lost $25K on a nice house in MI. to come to KS. In doing so I had to close out my retirement accounts in order to make it, so we are starting over at age 42. Not a good feeling right now but the Good Lord has always taken care of us, so I'm not worried. I'm more concerned for my childrens future than my own.

Pete Wilson

[asianflava]

I actually heard this on the radio when I was in FL last Feb. The talk radio host was asking around about water heaters and which one was more energy efficient. A couple guys called in saying that they would put a coil of copper tubing in the attic before it entered the heater. As hot as it gets in the attic, it would pre warm the water to about 125F before it went into the heater.

I was thinking that this could be improved if you put some kind of thermostat and expansion overflow (like a car) on it so that it bypasses the coil when the weather is cooler.

[SmokeyBob]

Kerry and Becca
Thanks for the info on your tank-less system.

[JIML1943]

Kill NAFTA bury CHINA

[starwars]

I am spending my money instead of saving it since there is no place to get any returns. Buying things that I will likely buy in the next 5 years anyways now to have them at today's prices. Thinking about a new car even though I don't need it (but will in next five years).

Can't remember where I read this but in 1992 we were in a recession and the fed made the unpopular decision of raising interest rates to force an adjustment in the economy and after the economy took off.

Bernanke OTOH seems to be trying to please wall street only - and the bubble gets bigger and bigger.

Glad our local governments are there for us ready to crank up property taxes and such so *they* can be insulated from the economic slide.

[len19070]

I for several years have depended on Real Estate. Over the long run it has always done well. Even though things are bad now. Over the past 25 years it is way ahead of the curve and it will take a lot to shake it out of its position.

I also drive a 28mpg truck and the wife has a 33mpg car. Live in a passive solar house. My daughter is a Lawyer and Son a Med student.

I'm Ready!

My attorney made an interesting statement the other day;

And I quote,

Work for the government, any government at any level.

While the rest of the country is getting laid off.

You can enjoy a cost of living increase.

Happy Trails

Len

[CAJUN LADY]

You are very welcome SmokeyBob and Mrs. SmokeyBob.

My husband and I are conservative but yet still very comfortable. We conserve energy and I get blasted when I leave a light on unnecessarily. I've tried to use FL lights in my lamps but I just find them to dull and hard for reading. We only use our AC when it is just too hot to breathe and the same with heat. We purchased a new washer and dryer last July, the ones that have the glass fronts and use 65% less water and that was a smart buy. I have become better at changing the filter in the AC monthly...we recycle too. We used to have a large garden when we lived in Georgia and canned the majority of what we grew so food was plentiful. Now, our yard is small and the freekin' squirrels eat anything we try to grow. So, yes, I do stock up on buy one/get one free A LOT. We are avid couponers too...especially the hubby. I've always wanted to build an energy efficient home, a green home, but I doubt that will ever happen. I would happily live off the land if I could and probably use a wood burning stove to cook but I live in the suburb now. My mom swears in another life I was Laura in Little House on the Prarie.

[toypusher]

Becca,

You should relook at Florescent lighting. They are always coming out with new and better ones. There is a type that is supposed to emulate sunlight pretty good now. I know that I have several types and some are way different that the others. Some come on really fast and are brighter.

[CAJUN LADY]

Hi Kerry,

We do use forescent's but they are those long ones on the ceiling, just not the lamps. I will take a second look at them though. I'm all for saving energy and $$.

[asianflava]

My truck gets pretty good mileage (17.5-18.5) considering it is 5700lbs with a 380hp V8 but it still doesn't compare to my Honda. As long as I don't get any tickets, it will help curb my need for fuel. I recenty got it running again after sitting broken in the garage. It saw the light of day for the first time in a few years.

Check out the last time I put registration and inspection stickers on it. All that saw dust on it is from building the teardrop.

[packerz4]

My truck gets pretty good mileage (17.5-18.5) considering it is 5700lbs with a 380hp V8 but it still doesn't compare to my Honda. As long as I don't get any tickets, it will help curb my need for fuel. I recenty got it running again after sitting broken in the garage. It saw the light of day for the first time in a few years.

Check out the last time I put registration and inspection stickers on it. All that saw dust on it is from building the teardrop.

Nice car! what was wrong with it? you definately did the right thing hanging on to it. I had a 88 CRX, and a 90 4dr civic... loved and miss both of 'em.

tk