Comments on: Living for free http://www.off-grid.net/2010/01/12/living-for-free/ renewable energy,survival,save money,self build,Green homes,Solar power, cheap power, 12 volt, Solar panels, Wind power, peak oil, Batteries, Inverter, Generator, Rainwater harvesting, survivalist, prepper, self-sufficient, vans, yurts, yachts, RVs Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:39:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jason Palmer http://www.off-grid.net/2010/01/12/living-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-349378 Jason Palmer Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:52:50 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=4417#comment-349378 great book ! great book !

]]> By: Valerie http://www.off-grid.net/2010/01/12/living-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-283019 Valerie Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:45:40 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=4417#comment-283019 I'm not brave enough to do what Katharine did, but once you start opening your eyes to what's either free or low cost, there are a million ways to drastically cut down on how much you spend. I've belatedly discovered Freecycle (and just gave away a bath panel that's been standing in my hallway for a year to someone who otherwise would've bought once from a DIY store). I buy a lot now in charity (thrift) shops and use ebay too, both cut down on buying new from regular shops. I've acquired an allotment so can grow veggies and soft fruit, all for a rent of about £20 a year. Libraries, museums and galleries provide free entertainment, and just not wandering aimlessly around shopping malls but rather going 'into town' with a specific purpose in mind stops at least 50% of shopping. A friend's got the knack of finding stuff in skips - including a lovely Turkish-style rug and a space age looking lamp from the 50s or 60s. Most people won't realistically do what Katharine did, but if we all cut down on the new things we buy and acquire a reasonable quantity of our clothing from charity shops and food from local market stalls we'd all save money and help local economies to flourish. I’m not brave enough to do what Katharine did, but once you start opening your eyes to what’s either free or low cost, there are a million ways to drastically cut down on how much you spend. I’ve belatedly discovered Freecycle (and just gave away a bath panel that’s been standing in my hallway for a year to someone who otherwise would’ve bought once from a DIY store). I buy a lot now in charity (thrift) shops and use ebay too, both cut down on buying new from regular shops. I’ve acquired an allotment so can grow veggies and soft fruit, all for a rent of about £20 a year. Libraries, museums and galleries provide free entertainment, and just not wandering aimlessly around shopping malls but rather going ‘into town’ with a specific purpose in mind stops at least 50% of shopping. A friend’s got the knack of finding stuff in skips – including a lovely Turkish-style rug and a space age looking lamp from the 50s or 60s. Most people won’t realistically do what Katharine did, but if we all cut down on the new things we buy and acquire a reasonable quantity of our clothing from charity shops and food from local market stalls we’d all save money and help local economies to flourish.

]]> By: mainah http://www.off-grid.net/2010/01/12/living-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-280102 mainah Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:14:53 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=4417#comment-280102 I concur with elnav. You can even hit the jackpot now and the. I've found rare books, antiques, even Gold and Sterling. You just have to know when something is truly valuable. It's a great education. I have a house full of stuff, enough to keep some people busy for a long time. There's enough stuff out there to keep Civilization going for a couple of generations. I concur with elnav. You can even hit the jackpot now and the. I’ve found rare books, antiques, even Gold and Sterling. You just have to know when something is truly valuable. It’s a great education.

I have a house full of stuff, enough to keep some people busy for a long time.

There’s enough stuff out there to keep Civilization going for a couple of generations.

]]> By: elnav http://www.off-grid.net/2010/01/12/living-for-free/comment-page-1/#comment-279688 elnav Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:00:01 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=4417#comment-279688 Here in Canada especially the northern regions, recycling is becoming a way of life. A number of the land fill sites have set up 'swap sheds' where people can drop off usable but unwanted item instead of dumping it into the land fill . Some places have staff that supervise and even catalog or test the stuff, other places only make sure it stays neat and tidy. Some swap sheds charge a nominal fee to help defray the expense of staff and heatingthe shed during the winter months but others do not charge. In addition several good will organizations run well stocked stores that resell good stuff for a nominal fee. And they also have FREE BINS sometimes. I first heard about the swap concept from a friend who collected much of the fittings, insulation etc that he needed for building his house. He cut the logs from his own property but windows, insulation, piping etc required stuff he could not get in the woods. Now that I am living out here I have found I have furnished a home and equipped a shop from stuff found in a swap shed. Although I am normally running several computers all of them were diverted on their way to the dump. We also found new clothing still in the box or plastic wrapper. Boots, jackets, pants and shirts not to mention curtains towels books and even crystal stemware, plates, cups, etc. have supplied all we need. Its amazing how much new clothing gets tossed out. Since we do not have access to radio or TV entertainment we tend to read a lot. Sometimes I find new best sellers that are still on the best seller list and only published for a few months. There is a used book store in one town that gives credit for used books so we take the free books from the dump and build up credits that way. We certainly live in a wasteful society. Here in Canada especially the northern regions, recycling is becoming a way of life. A number of the land fill sites have set up ‘swap sheds’ where people can drop off usable but unwanted item instead of dumping it into the land fill . Some places have staff that supervise and even catalog or test the stuff, other places only make sure it stays neat and tidy. Some swap sheds charge a nominal fee to help defray the expense of staff and heatingthe shed during the winter months but others do not charge. In addition several good will organizations run well stocked stores that resell good stuff for a nominal fee. And they also have FREE BINS sometimes.
I first heard about the swap concept from a friend who collected much of the fittings, insulation etc that he needed for building his house. He cut the logs from his own property but windows, insulation, piping etc required stuff he could not get in the woods.
Now that I am living out here I have found I have furnished a home and equipped a shop from stuff found in a swap shed. Although I am normally running several computers all of them were diverted on their way to the dump. We also found new clothing still in the box or plastic wrapper. Boots, jackets, pants and shirts not to mention curtains towels books and even crystal stemware, plates, cups, etc. have supplied all we need. Its amazing how much new clothing gets tossed out.
Since we do not have access to radio or TV entertainment we tend to read a lot. Sometimes I find new best sellers that are still on the best seller list and only published for a few months. There is a used book store in one town that gives credit for used books so we take the free books from the dump and build up credits that way.
We certainly live in a wasteful society.

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