I wrote the original article in 2018 when I was really frustrated with the system. Guess what? I still am. Now it feels like I am back in 2007-2008. Granted, then we were in a recession and now we are still dealing with inflation. Income grew more slowly than it does now. However, with inflation, we are seeing a rise in average wages, but the cost of goods and services has risen exponentially as well. The income-to-cost-of-living ratio still feels the same as it did back in 2008.
Now, when I look at gas prices, I want to scream. Corporations are reaping the rewards of raising prices, even though we get very little crude oil from Iran. Maybe their costs are going up, but when their executives and CEOs are making millions in bonuses and salaries, I don’t feel sorry for them. I am more angry at them for once again screwing the consumer.
With gas prices increasing, the cost of goods is also increasing. It takes fuel to get products to stores and to deliver them to consumers. By-products of crude oil and petroleum are used in the manufacturing of other goods. We, consumers, get screwed some more.
In 2018, I was pretty frustrated, but I was doing pretty well besides that. However, I still feel as though I live paycheck to paycheck. I look for any and all ways to dodge the system we are in and break the endless loop of work, bills, and repeat.
You have all heard the phrase, “Every day you can get up, go to work, and pay your bills is a good day” (or something like that). I suppose that is true, but wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to pay bills or work incredibly hard just to pay them? Most people cannot live on a single income anymore without making some extreme sacrifices.
Even in two-income households, people often struggle to pay the bills. Why? Because the cost of living is rising while income is not keeping pace. Why is the cost of living rising? Why are goods and services becoming more expensive? Because the greedy are getting greedier? The sellers of the goods will claim that transportation and other overhead costs are what are driving up the price, but their pockets are not getting lighter either. Yet the people who actually make the goods (the workers) are not getting paid any better. Any raises they get are sucked up by higher insurance premiums, more taxes, and the costs of other goods. The vicious cycle that those in power like to keep us in is getting worse by the day.
Why does the cost of housing (buying, renting, and owning) eat up a significant amount of someone’s income just to have a roof over their head and a place to stay? Why does it cost so much to rent or purchase a home? Do you realize that when you purchase a home, you don’t actually own the land? You just paid for the right to own the home you’re in. That land belongs to the city, county, state, and/or federal government, and therefore, they can make you pay property taxes on something you have already paid for the right to live on.
Why do we pay for services and goods that should be free? Why are we taxed on almost everything we purchase just because we purchased it? Does the government have a right to that share of your money and why are you being penalized for making a purchase in the first place? Do they have a right to your money in order to pay the salaries of those in power who do not serve your interests in the first place? Yes, they say the money goes to the schools, recreation departments, and other community services. They say the money goes to help pay for roads, “helpful” government services, and those in need. However, those in need and those in power get raises and benefits paid for by the money that we worked for. Is that right?
Why are we paying to be titled, licensed, registered, and proven to be competent in anything and everything? Just because you bought a vehicle, decided to get an education, or work in a trade does not mean the government needs to earn an income off of your hard work. They claim you need to be held accountable for your vehicle, your life, your job, your trade, and your hobbies, like hunting and fishing. Why do we need to pay money to be held accountable? Why do we need to be held accountable in the first place?
Our government was $10 trillion in debt in 2008. Now it is $39 trillion. Think about that. We continue to pay taxes to a government that spends far more than it takes in. Political parties aside, we have had many Presidents claim they will fix this and none of them have.
If we spent money like this, we would be in jail for theft and fraud. We are not allowed to spend more than we make without consequences, nor should we be. It is reckless and dangerous. If businesses continued to do this, they would be out of business because they couldn’t pay suppliers.
Think about taxes again. What happens when you don’t pay or can not pay your taxes? The IRS will start pursuing you and will eventually involve the law. Yet our government is free to continue spending regardless of our current situation. Do you still want to participate in this process?
Why are we paying more at the grocery store? The price of meat and dairy is high, bordering on astronomical. We all know that profits are not being passed on to the actual growers of the meat, dairy, and produce. Wholesalers cannot figure out why there is a trend towards people growing their own food and buying directly from growers and producers. However, they are doing their best to put a stop to it by taking more business away from growers/producers, paying them less, supporting state and local laws against local homesteaders and small business owners, and attempting to take away free trade for buyers and sellers at the local level.
Only four corporations own all the meat processing plants in the United States. Think about that. Only four. That’s it. They are willingly messing with meat prices and supply to create shortages and raise prices. You don’t think they are lobbying to get rid of small producers and make processing meat harder? You bet they are. This is why buying directly from the farmer and using local butcher shops is important. If you can, learn how to butcher your own meat. You cut out the middle man and keep your meat and money.
To sum this up, the greedy are getting greedier and it is the lower and middle classes who are paying dearly for it. The farmers, self-employed, and small businesses are paying dearly for it. This is what corporations, big businesses, banks, governments, and world leaders want. They want us so broke, so desperate, and so dependent on them that we do not know any better than to work more, work harder, and keep buying their goods and services. We have been conditioned to believe that we need all of the stuff they are pushing, all the services they created, and all the laws, rules, and regulations we are forced to live with.
If you haven’t already, read 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Both authors wrote these books as cautionary tales about what could happen in society, especially with unchecked government and media.
I know some of you are going to say that this is the way it is and I just need to live with it. Well, here is the thing. I don’t want to. I don’t think it is okay for other people to tell me how to spend my money and my time, and to rule my life. I am not okay with that and you shouldn’t be either.
I just got paid today. I get paid every two weeks like clockwork from my regular full-time job. I make more money than I ever have in my life and the money is not going further and than it has in the past. I also get a small amount of child support and a small income from this blog and my eBay store. However, I am one emergency away from being broke every month. By the time I pay bills today, buy groceries, buy gas in two vehicles, and purchase feed and any other necessities, the money will be almost gone.
Remember when people used to be able to save a portion of their income? Most people admit they can’t save money at all because of their expenses. I do contribute to a 401(k) because I have made it a priority, and I don’t believe I can rely on Social Security to cover my expenses in retirement. However, every time I have money saved, something comes along to wipe it out and it is usually a bill of some sort.
Now, knowing that more than 50% of Americans have no savings or less than $1,000 in savings is pretty eye-opening. Granted, some of them could have made better decisions with their money. However, I think this is indicative of how many people live paycheck to paycheck.
This makes me wonder why people keep on this rat race, because I am trying to figure out a way out of it, short of death. Every day, it is a struggle to be as frugal as possible, make money however I can, and still be kind to those who need it. Every day, most people in America living in the lower or middle classes struggle with money to some degree. The problem with poverty and living paycheck to paycheck is getting compounded daily with the rising costs of living in this country.
Now, in the media and other places, there is this growing sense of wonder why people are inspired, encouraged, and flat-out enchanted by the self-sufficient, off-grid lifestyle. They are wondering why people are living this lifestyle as much as possible or living it completely. They can’t figure out why people are leaving their “comfortable lifestyle” for one that requires blood, sweat, and ingenuity to make it happen.
People are leaving the rat race for this self-sufficient lifestyle because they no longer want to be part of it. They want to provide their own food, reduce their bills, and live a less chaotic life doing what they love. They want to decide how they will spend their money, their time, and live a better quality of life than most people can dream of. They do not want to live a life regulated by someone who is more concerned with their own profits or policy-making than with making this country a reasonable place to live.
You want to hear something else? You should be working towards this life too. You should be figuring out how to live more simply, more independently, and more self-sufficiently every day. You should be preparing to live a life without the creature comforts we are told we need. Why?
It doesn’t take a genius to see what is coming down the pipeline. Our federal government is getting deeper in debt every day. Foreign countries hold the notes for our national debt. Our Congress, leaders, and government agencies serve big banks, big corporations, special interests, and their lobbyists. We, citizens, are just pawns in their game. Every day, the laws and regulations are getting a little more socialist and a little less constitutional. Every day, we pay a fine for being citizens (taxes, titles, licenses, and more). Every day, we watch our basic rights being subjected to debate and withdrawal because they do not serve the interests of foreigners or special interests.
The world and country we live in right now are crazy and getting crazier by the day. If you don’t figure out a way to prepare for it and become as self-sufficient as you can, you will become a casualty of the implosion that will happen in this country. That is why you need to figure out how to live a self-sufficient life. You need to know that you have the skills, knowledge, and tools to live a decent life. You won’t be able to do this when the stuff hits the fan. You need to know how and be actively practicing now so you won’t be taken by surprise later.
Nothing has changed. If anything, it has gotten worse. We continue to allow it to happen. It is said that the best way to disrupt a system is to leave the system. Maybe that is the answer.