An Elvis Costello song talked about something that turned out to be confetti and the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty. Thirty plus years later it turned out to be true. Alcohol is expensive. Tobacco is expensive. Meat is expensive. I would have to think that hobbies are too. As I have not played golf for almost a year. I really haven't missed it. Just being out on the course used to be fun. But it was getting to be a chore and couldn't wait to be finished. Making it a waste of time and money.
Bicycles have something I have been into for some time now. I for the most part can use a bicycle for all the daily transportation needs. I get on these kicks where performing maintenance is a pass time. But everything is up to snuff and I don't feel like messing with it anyway.
It doesn't seem like I feel like doing much of anything but staying at home. This isn't too bad as I have been able to get a lot of home projects done. Cleaning and taking care of my patio. I planted 5 tomato plants and four pepper plants. Hopefully they will be productive and result in some fresh veggies. I have tried in the past to grow them in the ground unsuccessfully. This year I am using recycled 5 gallon buckets as containers. I cleaned them out and drilled four eighth inch holes about two inches from the bottom for drainage. Then I put pea gravel in the bottom. Then made a mixture of manure and bagged topsoil. Not that much manure as it can burn the plants. Only time will tell. This should be a good little project.
I used really be excited about keeping a car immaculate. Now I could mostly care less. Last week I started a campaign to take better care of the car. I thoroughly cleaned the outside with a bucket, water, sponge, detergent and a chamois. It was time consuming and offered some good exercise. Plus it didn't cost anything. Got all the sap and bugs off and was as clean as when I got it. A good chore to accomplish and some exercise without bothering a soul. Unless of course someone got upset about the water in the carport which happen to get cleaned too from all the water. A win win as far as I am concerned.
Usually things that are considered fun has a money cost to them. Theme parks, restaurants, bars, sports and sports outings, boats, movies, shopping and just about any other thing you can think of. Try to find things to do with or without people with the resources you have already or are available for no money cost. Libraries, parks and other public places do not charge money. My community has a pool and a workout room that I admit I do not use. But I should. Just keeping your home tidy can be something to do that has an obvious benefit. You can also use your free time to work out a plan to get out of debt if you have any. Discipline your self to not spend more money and add to your debt.
Walking and a bicycle ride can be a fun pass time. Again this is something you can do with others or yourself. Teach yourself DIY skills that you enjoy. I mess around with model trains, sometimes. With the help of the internet and magazines I have taught myself how to be fairly proficient with model trains. Model railroading can become very expensive so my forward progress has pretty much stopped here.
Over the years I have became handy with bicycles. Minor repair, maintenance, tire changing and repair. Most of the time things that stop me on bicycles are not having the correct tools which can be costly. Making a visit to your local bike shop a wiser move.
I have also learned how to minor watch repairs. I have messed with this for a long time. But buying an inexpensive watch repair kit on ebay has expanded my capabilities. These are not jeweler quality tools but a lot better that none at all. Having the right tool although not the best one is a whole lot better then not having any at all.
Working on computers and electronics are also a hobby/skill. I can generally get a computer going again. Even though it may take some time and effort. Six years ago my computer blue screened and I stopped at a computer shop and they told me it would cost about $400 to fix. it took a while but I was able to figure it out and get it going again. As I am using it now. I am however surprised as to how many people will not even think about trying to fix something themselves.
In the food section I am an American. I like meat and all the fried stuff that kills us. The production of meat is getting cost prohibitive for low income folks like me. I will have to learn to switch to a more vegetable diet. One could live on beans. If it were the only food available beans would get you through. Add some potatoes and leafy greens and you have all that you need.
Again I like meat as much as anyone. But if I could learn to make it a treat and only have it intermittently it would be healthy and cost less. I have always been a meat and potatoes person. The fast food companies know that. So that is what they sell. We have at least two generations of these fast food junkies. For the most part I blame it on the "me" generation which spreads hitherto and henceforth of my age group.
So many people grew up in broken families with each parent "doing their own thing". The kids where just there. At least in that era there were grandparents to step in. After two generations the grandparents are "doing their own thing" people too. So evolved a group or generation that have kind of had to survive on their own. So they figured it out. Milk dad for this and mom for that. Work them against each other. Then reap the profits.
The currant generation coming of age do not want to work or move out of the "house". Just mess with their Facebook and play with the computer, watch TV and be Epicurean in their pursuits. Most would rather not work since they do not have to. If they do they only do the very minimum and complain about being tired. While still thinking they deserve thee best in life. The military has concerns that 2 out of 3 twenty year old Americans cannot pass the test to join the forces. As if they wanted to anyway. In their mind a machine or phone ap would get anything done that is needed.
So more vegetables and fruits are needed in my diet. Right. Economically I will be forced to. Will I ride the bicycle? I guess if I need to get anywhere. Do I need to cut the bad habits? They made a poor man out of Paul Getty. How do I stand a chance?
Bicycles have something I have been into for some time now. I for the most part can use a bicycle for all the daily transportation needs. I get on these kicks where performing maintenance is a pass time. But everything is up to snuff and I don't feel like messing with it anyway.
It doesn't seem like I feel like doing much of anything but staying at home. This isn't too bad as I have been able to get a lot of home projects done. Cleaning and taking care of my patio. I planted 5 tomato plants and four pepper plants. Hopefully they will be productive and result in some fresh veggies. I have tried in the past to grow them in the ground unsuccessfully. This year I am using recycled 5 gallon buckets as containers. I cleaned them out and drilled four eighth inch holes about two inches from the bottom for drainage. Then I put pea gravel in the bottom. Then made a mixture of manure and bagged topsoil. Not that much manure as it can burn the plants. Only time will tell. This should be a good little project.
I used really be excited about keeping a car immaculate. Now I could mostly care less. Last week I started a campaign to take better care of the car. I thoroughly cleaned the outside with a bucket, water, sponge, detergent and a chamois. It was time consuming and offered some good exercise. Plus it didn't cost anything. Got all the sap and bugs off and was as clean as when I got it. A good chore to accomplish and some exercise without bothering a soul. Unless of course someone got upset about the water in the carport which happen to get cleaned too from all the water. A win win as far as I am concerned.
Usually things that are considered fun has a money cost to them. Theme parks, restaurants, bars, sports and sports outings, boats, movies, shopping and just about any other thing you can think of. Try to find things to do with or without people with the resources you have already or are available for no money cost. Libraries, parks and other public places do not charge money. My community has a pool and a workout room that I admit I do not use. But I should. Just keeping your home tidy can be something to do that has an obvious benefit. You can also use your free time to work out a plan to get out of debt if you have any. Discipline your self to not spend more money and add to your debt.
Walking and a bicycle ride can be a fun pass time. Again this is something you can do with others or yourself. Teach yourself DIY skills that you enjoy. I mess around with model trains, sometimes. With the help of the internet and magazines I have taught myself how to be fairly proficient with model trains. Model railroading can become very expensive so my forward progress has pretty much stopped here.
Over the years I have became handy with bicycles. Minor repair, maintenance, tire changing and repair. Most of the time things that stop me on bicycles are not having the correct tools which can be costly. Making a visit to your local bike shop a wiser move.
I have also learned how to minor watch repairs. I have messed with this for a long time. But buying an inexpensive watch repair kit on ebay has expanded my capabilities. These are not jeweler quality tools but a lot better that none at all. Having the right tool although not the best one is a whole lot better then not having any at all.
Working on computers and electronics are also a hobby/skill. I can generally get a computer going again. Even though it may take some time and effort. Six years ago my computer blue screened and I stopped at a computer shop and they told me it would cost about $400 to fix. it took a while but I was able to figure it out and get it going again. As I am using it now. I am however surprised as to how many people will not even think about trying to fix something themselves.
In the food section I am an American. I like meat and all the fried stuff that kills us. The production of meat is getting cost prohibitive for low income folks like me. I will have to learn to switch to a more vegetable diet. One could live on beans. If it were the only food available beans would get you through. Add some potatoes and leafy greens and you have all that you need.
Again I like meat as much as anyone. But if I could learn to make it a treat and only have it intermittently it would be healthy and cost less. I have always been a meat and potatoes person. The fast food companies know that. So that is what they sell. We have at least two generations of these fast food junkies. For the most part I blame it on the "me" generation which spreads hitherto and henceforth of my age group.
So many people grew up in broken families with each parent "doing their own thing". The kids where just there. At least in that era there were grandparents to step in. After two generations the grandparents are "doing their own thing" people too. So evolved a group or generation that have kind of had to survive on their own. So they figured it out. Milk dad for this and mom for that. Work them against each other. Then reap the profits.
The currant generation coming of age do not want to work or move out of the "house". Just mess with their Facebook and play with the computer, watch TV and be Epicurean in their pursuits. Most would rather not work since they do not have to. If they do they only do the very minimum and complain about being tired. While still thinking they deserve thee best in life. The military has concerns that 2 out of 3 twenty year old Americans cannot pass the test to join the forces. As if they wanted to anyway. In their mind a machine or phone ap would get anything done that is needed.
So more vegetables and fruits are needed in my diet. Right. Economically I will be forced to. Will I ride the bicycle? I guess if I need to get anywhere. Do I need to cut the bad habits? They made a poor man out of Paul Getty. How do I stand a chance?
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