Preparing for troubled times ahead - Advice on what is needed.....

[Woody girl]

I sold my electric food processor a few months ago that I have used only once. Influenced into getting one by a yt video that used one to make humous in seconds instead of the ten minutes it took with a spong mincer, that cost pennies rather than pounds from a charity shop.
I make a lot of humous so I spent a lot of money for one, what a waste.! The finished product tasted no better, and it took longer to clean, so I did not save any time in the long run, used electricity that I didn't need to, and cost me hard earned cash! Did I ever feel foolish!
I can make everything that I can make with that machine without it, and I feel much prouder of whatever I've made, as its made with love and care rather than plastic and electric.(and cost more to make into the bargain!)
Not saying it would not be usefull in other situations where large quantities were needed. If I had a humous making business it would be essential I guess, but I don't, so I don't need it, and never realy have. It's so easy to get sucked into a false need.
Learned the hard way despite my reluctance to use tech. I was suckered by that old "you need this to make life better" adage.
Nobody is perfect, and even I can own a lot of mistakes in my life, but I'm doing what I can to mitigate them now.

A push mower saves that gym fee!

 

[knowledge=gain]

Well what I read the long term effects of the forever chemicals aren't currently know, obviously I doubt they'll be beneficial, but "my tech solution" would be to hope that those with more modern tech, computers, brains and knowledge than I, are clever enough to use the modern tech they have to find alternatives or fixes for the problem...

I mean you're talking about scythes and push along mowers as if refusing some modern tech is going to keep you free from those chemicals... and if you're talking some modern world whereby the grid catastrophically fails, then you're going to be talking about a world where society likely breaks down...and in that world, the valuable tools you have, sounds like they'll be pretty attractive to the person with the bigger stick..

@knowledge=gain
Yes we are all too reliant on tech, but there are plenty ways to remain on the tech bandwagon whilst keeping your impact to a lower level than many others and this is what we should all be doing... I'd assume most of us arent the type to need the latest computer/tv/iphone/laptop every 6 months? I know I'm not, but equally I'm not turning back to an abacus and a ledger to do my accounts when i have a perfectly workable modern tech solution... and if the world fails enough to make that tech redundant, then I'd imagine HMRC aren't going to be chasing things up.... but until then, I can't get HMRC to accept "im anti tech" as an excuse..

i would quite happy go back to times before tech and be taught the knowledge from our forbears

did you know paying tax is voluntary and there are bona-fide ways that will help you stop paying tax to hmrc

how do you think the elite do not have to pay taxes, well use their loopholes for your advantage

start here if you want to safely stop paying taxes to hmrc

tell them there companies physical mail only, that is what i do yes they will argue and try it on but you must stick to your boundaries and not let them dictate

 

[Broch]

i would quite happy go back to times before tech and be taught the knowledge from our forbears

did you know paying tax is voluntary and there are bona-fide ways that will help you stop paying tax to hmrc

how do you think the elite do not have to pay taxes, well use their loopholes for your advantage

start here if you want to safely stop paying taxes to hmrc

tell them there companies physical mail only, that is what i do yes they will argue and try it on but you must stick to your boundaries and not let them dictate

So, you want to abolish the NHS, education, the police force and fire brigade? Or you want everyone else to pay for it and you enjoy the services when you need them?

Not paying the correct taxes earned on income is a crime against all those hard working people that do pay taxes IMO.

 

[knowledge=gain]

I sold my electric food processor a few months ago that I have used only once. Influenced into getting one by a yt video that used one to make humous in seconds instead of the ten minutes it took with a spong mincer, that cost pennies rather than pounds from a charity shop.
I make a lot of humous so I spent a lot of money for one, what a waste.! The finished product tasted no better, and it took longer to clean, so I did not save any time in the long run, used electricity that I didn't need to, and cost me hard earned cash! Did I ever feel foolish!
I can make everything that I can make with that machine without it, and I feel much prouder of whatever I've made, as its made with love and care rather than plastic and electric.(and cost more to make into the bargain!)
Not saying it would not be usefull in other situations where large quantities were needed. If I had a humous making business it would be essential I guess, but I don't, so I don't need it, and never realy have. It's so easy to get sucked into a false need.
Learned the hard way despite my reluctance to use tech. I was suckered by that old "you need this to make life better" adage.
Nobody is perfect, and even I can own a lot of mistakes in my life, but I'm doing what I can to mitigate them now.

A push mower saves that gym fee!

yes i feel for you as we [including me] have all been sucked in like a vacuum-cleaner for various products

most things have their place and some things have non place

we all own mistakes and like you i am mitigating mine as best i can and i am proud of you for owning and mitigating yours

i agree hand-made is best, you cannot get better because of the love care and attention and patience etcetera, sometimes blood sweat and tears goes in too yet nothing beats home-made

 

[knowledge=gain]

So, you want to abolish the NHS, education, the police force and fire brigade? Or you want everyone else to pay for it and you enjoy the services when you need them?

Not paying the correct taxes earned on income is a crime against all those hard working people that do pay taxes IMO.

now now that was not said nor implied tbh

i meant that if you are concerned with hmrc chasing your takes you could use the same loopholes as the elite and big corpse-orations do

in the context of not paying for police fire ambulance and-such are you not already paying for them on the local level within your council tax previously called poll-tax...??, which is much different than your hmrc tax which many a business owe billions of pound to hmrc yet evade paying hmrc in the first instance

thereby you imply that we pay for police fire ambulance and-such at least twice, once [1] via council tax and second [2] via hmrc tax

 

[Wildgoose]

Knowledge gain do you work for a living?

 

[knowledge=gain]

Knowledge gain do you work for a living?

why do you feel the need to ask such a question...??

my work status is my business and not to be portrayed over a public forum

i would never ask such a question on an open forum to anyone as that is their business and theirs and not our business

 

[Broch]

now now that was not said nor implied tbh

I disagree; your post implied you were encouraging the non-payment of tax.

However, I'm not going to get into these ludicrous anti-this, anti-that discussions. In fact, it must be the heat, I really shouldn't have bothered typing anything in the first place

 

[Wildgoose]

why do you feel the need to ask such a question...??

my work status is my business and not to be portrayed over a public forum

i would never ask such a question on an open forum to anyone as that is their business and theirs and not our business

I’m curious that’s all.

I didn’t ask what you did, just if you work or not.

You have a interesting view of the world sometimes.

 

[knowledge=gain]

I disagree; your post implied you were encouraging the non-payment of tax.

only the hmrc which by definition of the law is purely voluntary and not a necessity, your choice if you want to volunteer and loose out on the money you could be saving, i provide the knowledge it is your choice to use that knowledge or ignore that knowledge or keep it on the back burner for future use

then you mentioned police, nhs, education, police fire ambulance and-such which implied are paid by taxes taken by hmrc, which in fact check on your local council website and or literature as these are indeed paid for by council-tax on the local level and that is also voluntary as there be non obligation to pay council tax, whereby many have proven this to be the case in courts law

whether i agree or do non agree the law is the law and it has been proven there be no obligation to pay either hmrc or council tax

all big corpse-orations do not pay tax and get away with impunity, thus if one [1] want or need to use the loopholes to financially survive then they are entitled to it just as the rich are already doing so

and with the skyrocketing price rises one [1] would think of helping their fellow brethen save money where possible

 

[knowledge=gain]

I’m curious that’s all.

I didn’t ask what you did, just if you work or not.

You have a interesting view of the world sometimes.

my interesting view of the world is by observation and great study

being impartial to knowledge that comes my way and assess whether it be right wrong or down right ludicrous and-such like to good to be true by impartial research in the most common-sense and reasoning approach by using various sources different search-engines other than google

my research sometimes takes me back in history and there i finally learn the true history and not the portrayed history

it also takes me down many a rabbit hole whereby i assure you they are not for the feint-of-heart as the things i have seen and read i wish i could unsee and unread

i am lucky and very grateful that i am in a position to be able to study the knowledge and to learn with a complete open mind with non bias and i can see and read between the lines to make proper sense of ninety [90] - ninety-five [95] percent of the knowledge i have gained

alas most folk are not in that position for the need of rushing around after family or work or hobbies and-such

we all need to find time to slow down and reground ourselves back to nature and remember or learn where we came from spiritually mentally physically and-such

 

[Wander]

i would quite happy go back to times before tech and be taught the knowledge from our forbears

A laudable aim.
Why not start now?
Why not refuse to use a computer/mobile phone/internet.
Go on, have the courage of your convictions.
Please.

 

[Wildgoose]

my interesting view of the world is by observation and great study

being impartial to knowledge that comes my way and assess whether it be right wrong or down right ludicrous and-such like to good to be true by impartial research in the most common-sense and reasoning approach by using various sources different search-engines other than google

my research sometimes takes me back in history and there i finally learn the true history and not the portrayed history

it also takes me down many a rabbit hole whereby i assure you they are not for the feint-of-heart as the things i have seen and read i wish i could unsee and unread

i am lucky and very grateful that i am in a position to be able to study the knowledge and to learn with a complete open mind with non bias and i can see and read between the lines to make proper sense of ninety [90] - ninety-five [95] percent of the knowledge i have gained

alas most folk are not in that position for the need of rushing around after family or work or hobbies and-such

we all need to find time to slow down and reground ourselves back to nature and remember or learn where we came from spiritually mentally physically and-such

So no, you don’t work.

 

[knowledge=gain]

So no, you don’t work.

i never said that

and that is your assumption and one [1] you made

you also have not taken heed for what i said earlier quote

why do you feel the need to ask such a question...??

my work status is my business and not to be portrayed over a public forum

i would never ask such a question on an open forum to anyone as that is their business and theirs and not our business

take note and please refrain from mentioning it again or you will be ignored with non dishonour on my part as any-ones work status is their business not our business and not for any open forum to read whereby internet bot crawlers frequent, just ask the mods about internet bot crawlers as they likely have to keep blocking them

see https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/bots/what-is-a-web-crawler/

 

[Woody girl]

I agree that ones working status should not be up for discussion. I do not say much about myself that I could for various reasons that have nothing to do with my work status.
I could be retired on a pension, and whether that's a state or private one is no ones business but mine, or I could be a "benefit scrounger," or I could genuinely need to rely on them for various reasons. I could have a small business that earns me a fair amount, or pocket money. Or I could be living off an inheritance.
I personaly will never reveal details of my life that are not relevant to strangers online either.
I find those that work and particularly those who have their own business rather quick to judge those who do not work, or they percieve not to work even without knowledge of that person's particular situation.
It is an invasive question of a stranger to a stranger. It makes one feel that unless they say, yes, I do this or that they will be judged as a lesser person. Even if that person was to say, yes, I'm a bin man, that would also lead to judgement along the lines of oh that's all he does, he doesn't have the umph to better himself. I'm better than him,I've seen it myself.
So please let's not get all uppity and accusative because someone does not wish to discuss their financial standing or work status. That's not anything more than bullying.
I feel this (should be ) a place better than that.where we are all equal in our pursuit and giving of knowledge, expertise, and experience without judgement on ones financial status.
Surely we are more adult than that.?
I'm disappointed that this needs to be said at all.

 

[billycoen]

This looks like a handy bit of kit....https://en.reset.org/solariskit-the-flat-pack-solar-heater-thats-ready-in-15-minutes/

 

[Woody girl]

This looks like a handy bit of kit....https://en.reset.org/solariskit-the-flat-pack-solar-heater-thats-ready-in-15-minutes/

That does indeed look like a nice bit of kit, but I think I could build a similar thing(and have done, on a course)using an old radiator or hose in a sealed and insulated box.
My simple solar shower bag has been heating up water three times a day to about 40° + the past few days!

 

[Wildgoose]

I agree that ones working status should not be up for discussion. I do not say much about myself that I could for various reasons that have nothing to do with my work status.
I could be retired on a pension, and whether that's a state or private one is no ones business but mine, or I could be a "benefit scrounger," or I could genuinely need to rely on them for various reasons. I could have a small business that earns me a fair amount, or pocket money. Or I could be living off an inheritance.
I personaly will never reveal details of my life that are not relevant to strangers online either.
I find those that work and particularly those who have their own business rather quick to judge those who do not work, or they percieve not to work even without knowledge of that person's particular situation.
It is an invasive question of a stranger to a stranger. It makes one feel that unless they say, yes, I do this or that they will be judged as a lesser person. Even if that person was to say, yes, I'm a bin man, that would also lead to judgement along the lines of oh that's all he does, he doesn't have the umph to better himself. I'm better than him,I've seen it myself.
So please let's not get all uppity and accusative because someone does not wish to discuss their financial standing or work status. That's not anything more than bullying.
I feel this (should be ) a place better than that.where we are all equal in our pursuit and giving of knowledge, expertise, and experience without judgement on ones financial status.
Surely we are more adult than that.?
I'm disappointed that this needs to be said.

I agree that ones working status should not be up for discussion. I do not say much about myself that I could for various reasons that have nothing to do with my work status.
I could be retired on a pension, and whether that's a state or private one is no ones business but mine, or I could be a "benefit scrounger," or I could genuinely need to rely on them for various reasons. I could have a small business that earns me a fair amount, or pocket money. Or I could be living off an inheritance.
I personaly will never reveal details of my life that are not relevant to strangers online either.
I find those that work and particularly those who have their own business rather quick to judge those who do not work, or they percieve not to work even without knowledge of that person's particular situation.
It is an invasive question of a stranger to a stranger. It makes one feel that unless they say, yes, I do this or that they will be judged as a lesser person. Even if that person was to say, yes, I'm a bin man, that would also lead to judgement along the lines of oh that's all he does, he doesn't have the umph to better himself. I'm better than him,I've seen it myself.
So please let's not get all uppity and accusative because someone does not wish to discuss their financial standing or work status. That's not anything more than bullying.
I feel this (should be ) a place better than that.where we are all equal in our pursuit and giving of knowledge, expertise, and experience without judgement on ones financial status.
Surely we are more adult than that.?
I'm disappointed that this needs to be said at all.

That’s a lot of assumptions for someone accusing me of making assumptions.

My point is simple, I do not have the time to do half the things I’d like to do. I’d love not to drive or rely on tech but I have to, for work.

If I didn’t work I’d love to have a nicer garden, grow more, make my own solar hot water system but I don’t have time.

I’ve wasted enough time for today. Wildgoose out.

 

[knowledge=gain]

This looks like a handy bit of kit....https://en.reset.org/solariskit-the-flat-pack-solar-heater-thats-ready-in-15-minutes/

that is an interesting bit of kit

i also like the concept of the solar ovens-cookers that use only the sun to cook, no solar-panels or any such extra energy

there are many shapes and designs and easy and cost-effective to make for the DIY'ers

no batteries
no gas
no electricity of any kind

just the sun and reflective materials even baking-tin-foil and pizza-box can be used

plenty on youtube to choose from or design your own

 

[Woody girl]

That’s a lot of assumptions for someone accusing me of making assumptions.

My point is simple, I do not have the time to do half the things I’d like to do. I’d love not to drive or rely on tech but I have to, for work.

If I didn’t work I’d love to have a nicer garden, grow more, make my own solar hot water system but I don’t have time.

I’ve wasted enough time for today. Wildgoose out.

Busy man syndrome.
At least some of us walk our talk, no car, and now no bike, no TV, no microwave among much else. My "work " sustains me, and gives me time for what I want to do.
It's called a work life balance.
Not easy in the beginning, but bliss when you attain it and are not one of the busy little mice scurrying about trying to fit everything in , that said, things often do get left for lack of time or energy. I just never worry about it. It's not perfect, but better than before I tried to fit into the rat race like everyone else. Downsizing my life was the best thing I ever did.
I go to bed and sleep well, knowing I have attained most of what I need to do, and tomorrow is another day and conciquently most deadlines are met those that arn't can wait another day. I'm not beholden to anyone for my life. I can think independently and if it doesn't fit mainstream conditioning I don't give a fig!
I live well most of the time, and when it gets a bit tight I'm resourceful enough to work around things.
And I understand the anxiety a lot of people are feeling right now. My life has been since the start of covid, about making sure I'm sorted rather than waiting for the day I could rip my mask off and go back to normal.
My new normal is good, and I'm happy, all except about my beloved bike but I needed to do what I needed to do to walk my talk on my beliefs.
My one bit of real tech, my phone, will go one day as will everyone else's and it will be missed, but I can live without if I need to, unlike many, I'm not glued to it like some I see, even while walking the dog, or pushing kids in pushchairs,driving, or crossing the road.
I've not recharged it on the mains for over a week now since I got the jackery, so my energy consumption just went down another notch.
Solar shower has done all my hot water needs this week, including washing clothes, and I'm not worrying about my bills quite as much as I should be. That may come back to bite but I shall just have to see.
There is always don't pay UK.