CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE: LOG CABINS

My brother was always coming up with some wild idea here and there.  My mother told the story of the time when he had watched a war movie on the television and later she looked out the back window and saw him digging a trench in the backyard.  She went out and asked him what he was doing and found out that it was a trench like in the movie.  Or like the time he was down the street in a vacant lot digging away and found a grave stone from civil war days (that made the local paper).

The best was when he got the idea to build a log cabin in the woods close by (probably from the movie “Treasure Island”).  I think I was around 9-years old that summer and thought it would be fun.  Besides, it was a little break from the backyard baseball and kickball games the neighborhood boys played during the summers away from school.

So a few of the older brothers and Mikie and myself started chopping trees down at a location in the middle of the woods.  It took most of the summer to complete but it was a fine resemblance of a crude log cabin.  It was about 6-7 feet high and tree length (about 20 feet long) in a square formation with no roof.  We had many play battles and fun after the construction.

We built two more over the next two summer breaks.  The second went just like the first except that because they were developing a new residential area close by we didn’t get to enjoy it very long.  One day we heard an explosion from the general area of our log cabin and went to check out what was happening.  We thought it might be part of the new development but found out that they had blown up our log cabin with dynamite.  What a disappointment it was since a lot of hard work had gone into it.  Well the next summer, out of spite, we built the third cabin but this one we made with bigger trees and more reinforced. 

Again we heard the blasting sound of dynamite.  In fact, it was several blasting sounds closely spaced together.  When we went to investigate we found that they had blown our cabin up again but this time was a much harder feat to accomplish.  Although disappointed again we enjoyed the fact that they had to use more dynamite to destroy our cabin this time.

Needless to say, that was the last of log cabins to be built since the older brothers were beginning high school.  All in all, building those log cabins gave us a great sense of accomplishment.  All because of my brothers creative imagination.

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

 

FINANCIAL CHALLENGE: UPDATE

Since getting my old job back in Kansas City last December I’ve still had to struggle to make ends meet.  I sat down and figured out a tight budget plan that helped me through paycheck to paycheck which included the basics of food, gas, utilities, rent, phone and car insurance.

The hardest part of my business plan was coordinating my bi-monthly payday schedule so that I would have enough cash left over from each paycheck to cover gas, phone and incidentals.  Rent was tough for the first 3-months because I couldn’t help being one or two days late since my paydays are on a Wednesday which meant $25 more.  That’s $25 I dearly needed.  Now, because of the way the calendar works, my rent can be paid ahead of the dead line giving me that additional $25.   I was behind on utilities from the get go and almost had my electric turned off twice.  I was lucky it was a hard winter and they were willing to work with me and receive whatever I could spare after I went in and explained my financial challenges.

I was denied food stamp assistance because I made $36 more on estimated salary and Missouri state allowances.  As it stands now I budget $150 per month but another $50 to $100 would be much better.  My main staples now are rice, bread and peanut butter.  My meat purchases subsist of hamburger, chicken and hot Italian sausage.  Sometimes I’ll splurge and get steak.   Pretty much, whatever I can mix in with rice.  The Salvation Army nearby has a food and bread pantry that I take advantage of.  I can utilize their food pantry once-a-month and the bread pantry once a week which I get primarily bagels and freeze in the fridge.  I usually just get what food I’m in need of at the time of my monthly visit so not to take advantage.

I had to miss my phone payment once so I didn’t have service for a week until my next paycheck which was a benefit since it put me on the coordinated budget plan that I required.  After my next phone payment my rate will drop from $50 to $45.  I changed car insurance carriers and saved about $30 per month then and now has dropped further by $7.  My utilities went from $122 (winter) to the last payment of $28 per month.  I figure utilities will range between this $28 to $40.  I try to buy most of my groceries all at once so I can take advantage of gas discounts for every $50 I purchase.  I usually get $.10 to $.15 off the gas price per gallon.

I had a windfall when the I.R.S. finally gave me a return of $1,200.  $400 of which was deducted to finally take care of back taxes.  So I was able to pay off utilities and since the hot days of summer have come purchased an air conditioner from Walmart and paid back those I owed money to.

At this time, I feel I have most everything under control.  If I could just get a $.25/hr raise, it would make about a $200 to $300 difference which would help considerably for any emergency issues but that has been a disappointing issue.  As much as I like what I’m doing and the people I work with,  It’s time to start putting applications out.

“POWER OF THE BUDGET” and living by it.

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

daveyenterprise@yahoo.com

FINANCIAL CHALLENGE: UPDATE

Since getting my old job back in Kansas City last December I’ve still had to struggle to make ends meet.  I sat down and figured out a tight budget plan that helped me through paycheck to paycheck which included the basics of food, gas, utilities, rent, phone and car insurance.

The hardest part of my business plan was coordinating my bi-monthly payday schedule so that I would have enough cash left over from each paycheck to cover gas, phone and incidentals.  Rent was tough for the first 3-months because I couldn’t help being one or two days late since my paydays are on a Wednesday which meant $25 more.  That’s $25 I dearly needed.  Now, because of the way the calendar works, my rent can be paid ahead of the dead line giving me that additional $25.   I was behind on utilities from the get go and almost had my electric turned off twice.  I was lucky it was a hard winter and they were willing to work with me and receive whatever I could spare after I went in and explained my financial challenges.

I was denied food stamp assistance because I made $36 more on estimated salary and Missouri state allowances.  As it stands now I budget $150 per month but another $50 to $100 would be much better.  My main staples now are rice, bread and peanut butter.  My meat purchases subsist of hamburger, chicken and hot Italian sausage.  Sometimes I’ll splurge and get steak.   Pretty much, whatever I can mix in with rice.  The Salvation Army nearby has a food and bread pantry that I take advantage of.  I can utilize their food pantry once-a-month and the bread pantry once a week which I get primarily bagels and freeze in the fridge.  I usually just get what food I’m in need of at the time of my monthly visit so not to take advantage.

I had to miss my phone payment once so I didn’t have service for a week until my next paycheck which was a benefit since it put me on the coordinated budget plan that I required.  After my next phone payment my rate will drop from $50 to $45.  I changed car insurance carriers and saved about $30 per month then and now has dropped further by $7.  My utilities went from $122 (winter) to the last payment of $28 per month.  I figure utilities will range between this $28 to $40.  I try to buy most of my groceries all at once so I can take advantage of gas discounts for every $50 I purchase.  I usually get $.10 to $.15 off the gas price per gallon.

I had a windfall when the I.R.S. finally gave me a return of $1,200.  $400 of which was deducted to finally take care of back taxes.  So I was able to pay off utilities and since the hot days of summer have come purchased an air conditioner from Walmart and paid back those I owed money to.

At this time, I feel I have most everything under control.  If I could just get a $.25/hr raise, it would make about a $200 to $300 difference which would help considerably for any emergency issues but that has been a disappointing issue.  As much as I like what I’m doing and the people I work with,  It’s time to start putting applications out.

“POWER OF THE BUDGET” and living by it.

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

daveyenterprise@yahoo.com

IT’S A SAD DAY

It’s a sad day when this country lets down its citizens in regard to employment and security.  We contract and outsource our services to third world countries because it’s more cost effective.  OKAY!  We’ve all heard it many times.  It’s called “GREED”!  For the few rich and greedy.

If you were to ask me if I’m frustrated, I would be one of many in my position to say “Hell Yes”!  I’m a professional and at 58 years old can’t utilize my experience in my field.  But, hey, I’m one of the best dish washers (server assistant) because I take pride in my work, whatever it might be but that’s not what corporate America wants.  I KNOW THAT I CAN GENUINELY OFFER A HIGHER SERVICE  but that’s not what America stands for anymore.

By law, there is no “AGE DISCRIMINATION”.  BULL FECES!  I’ve personally heard and seen it from a couple of men in my age group that have been put thru this same ordeal.  The only difference is that they have a spouse working full time compared to my lone ranger self.  I saw it first hand when 3 years ago I started putting my resume out for opportunities in my field of experience and never received any response.  When I put my applications in for any blue collar positions in retail and restaurant positions, the interviewer either deemed me too over qualified or asked me why I wanted to do such a menial job.  My reply, “BECAUSE I NEED A JOB AND PAYCHECK”. 

It took a confrontation with an employee who went out of control with the General Manager of the restaurant I currently work for to prompt a call to me at the Salvation Army where I was residing homelessly.  She requested I come to see her a.s.a.p. which was within 20-minutes with my free time.  After the interview, I asked her if I had the job and her reply was that she needed to talk to several other people before she made the decision.  Without bringing age in as an issue (which she couldn’t) she mentioned that she had reservations due to my over qualifications which I had heard so many times before.  I chalked it up as another turn down but got a call an hour later asking if I could start the next day.  As she would later confide in me that she took a chance hiring me but to this day has no regrets because of my professionalism approach to the job.  She’ll always be a blessed person in my book of those deemed worthy.  I’ve seen firsthand the chances she gives to many who are in need, fired, then given a second chance.  She’s demanding but that’s what a good manager should be to get the job done.

So, there are people out there willing to suck it up and make the sacrifices to make a buck in this economy no matter what it is.  It’s all a matter of “EFFORT, ATTITUDE, TEAMWORK AND SPORTSMANSHIP” (previous post).  E.A.T.S PHILOSOPHY

Hey! I’m just barely making it financially on a limited income but I’m the last one to complain.  I do have to find a more increased income to cover expenses that I know will be coming up to care for Ellie and any emergencies that may come up.  DAMN, I don’t have health insurance and I’m concerned there.

“IT’S A SAD DAY”

ALL I CAN SAY IS KEEP THE FAITH!  Things are meant to be!

God bless and God speed

www.lifeexperienceswithjim.blogspot.com

daveyexperience@yahoo.com