Both of us retired as of today, yippee! We will be FI within a month or so, paying off our mortgage. Will be living officially under the taxable level from now on for an indeterminate time, and completely debt free. This will enable us to get the O'Dumbocare health insurance (for what it is worth). The changes we are making to be able to do all this: park the paid-for car, biking, walking taking bus to get places on a regular basis except for an occasional trip. This way we can cut down on car insurance cost, repair bills, gas, and make the car last us for years more. We can do this because of where we live. Not eating out unless someone gives us a gift card. Cooking everything from scratch unless we get a prepared mix or something free. Purchasing and cooking food economically. Make our own bread much of the time. Make our own yogurt. Not buying any more clothes except when absolutely needed socks, uw, shoes will eventually wear out). Bowing out of most gift-giving, using up stockpiles for occasional wedding gifts and the like. One shared tracfone for emergencies/out and about (the one who is out uses). Land line with unlimited incoming calls (you call me, or if I call you, hang up and call me back). Lower level of internet (not highest available, but still ok). No cable. Library usage (order books and movies that we want, then renew a couple times online to use longer). No purchasing of books. Continue usage of store, manufacturers coupons, rebates and store sales for purchase of toiletries, cleaning supplies and drugstore items, though honestly we have a huge stockpile to chip away at that will last a long time. Cut our own hair. Cat going off the expensive flea meds.; he never had fleas and is an indoor cat so we were just doing it "in case". No soda or alcohol purchases unless we get it for gifts. Changing the fridge filter half as often or less than the manual says to. Air drying clothes except for a short tumble to shake the wrinkles out.
To cut our future living expenses down even further, now that we have the time, we will be decluttering over the next year or two; gradually culling things we don't need to keep. This will enable us to move to a lower cost area; moving, storage and housing costs will be less if we have less stuff. We may end up staying right where we are but it would be nice to have some different viable options for living even more economically (houseboat? mountain cabin? overseas?)
Anyway that is about it; I will report back in a few months to let everyone know how it is all going. Love this forum; this, Amy D., and Your Money or Your Life were my main inspirations.
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Originally Posted by frugal-one
