Read Between The Lines

How much of what we read can we trust to be written as the truth? That is the premise for my writing this article entitled "Reading Between the Lines" to air my feelings concerning what I consider to be an unethical practice. That practice being the method an author uses when writing an article about a subject that does not provide the reader with the full unbiased truth about the subject for which the article has been written.

Today more then ever we must be vigilant when we look over offers  presented  to us either via the internet or by any other means. When I write something like,"Read Between The Lines" as I did in the title of this post it is meant as a warning because the offer being presented may, in some way, not be worthy of our attention.

Earlier today while going through my email, I found an e-book. This was a product that sounded as if it may contain something that interested me enough to want to read and perhaps study more closely. I was impressed with the sincere style this individual was using to explain his situation and his solution to a problem that most heads of households must face every month. So being a homeowner myself, I chose to read on in the hope of learning something of value.

The author of this mailing was talking about how he and his neighbors were being over charged for electrical use by their local utility company. He had experienced an increase because the utility had changed the metering system and that change resulted in an adjustment to the amount being charged. The situation certainly is possible and of course the outcome could have favored either party involved. 

The author proceeded to offer his solution to the problem,which was to build his own solar panel. He was commenting about the high cost of a commercially produced and professionally installed system. He felt certain that he had developed a system that would take a big bite out of his expensive utility bill within the next month.. And, he wanted to share his good fortune with everyone interested  for an amount that was just under $50.

The author was suggesting that any individual could build their own solar panel. That is a true enough statement providing you have the desire, the tools and the mechanical/electrical ability to complete such a project. The end costs would be staggering, however. If you don't believe me, go and check the prices of screws, bolts, and aluminum framing materials at your local hardware store or big box stores. You will soon realize that you would need to purchase your materials at wholesale prices and in such large quantities that you would have to start your very own solar panel construction company.

A project like this suddenly seems overwhelming when you consider your time involved trying to locate the materials needed to be purchased. Much of your time will be required thinking about your electrical requirements. How many panels will you need to build? How many batteries will be needed to store your electric for use at night and on cloudy days? What interface components will be needed to connect everything that the your system will require? Will you be selling back to your utility company any excess electric your system produces?

This project would become an expensive hobby, and  could be a point of contention between you and your spouse. The time alone, which at first you may estimate at being a few days could easily become several weeks, several months, and maybe take a year or more to adequately study all that is required. Will your spouse be willing to sacrifice the time spent with you to such a project? And, during all that time the electric meter from your utility company is spinning continually.

At the closing of this email, the author suggests locating damaged commercial panels or perhaps finding a warehouse full of discontinued panels to be purchased and used in your project. Before you pull out your phone and attempt to make contact with any suppliers, be aware of the loss of efficiency those outdated panels provide. While their efficiency may equal that of any panel you may personally build, the numbers of panels needed for your project will be far greater then the number required from panels being built commercially today.

You simply cannot compete with the new technology. So why not locate a contractor in your area, schedule time with them to discuss your ideas. Set up a plan which will be completed in stages and that will in time meet your goal of producing your own power.

The alternative is of course to pay the money this author is requesting from you in order  to be permitted to download his e-book. This book will not be capable of explaining all the necessary requirements you will need. Consider the fact that you must be in compliance with your local building code, and that is the only way to satisfy your insurance company in the event of a possible fire caused by an ill prepared and poorly implemented electrical plan.

Our desire as a homeowner is to provide a safe, efficient, cost conscious method of powering our homes. Taking the time to read between the lines with any article, contract, or product description will save you time and money.

Finally, do an online search using any name you can find from the article you are reading whether it is a product name, company name or the author's name. Don't stop with just one entry from your search, but check on to the next two or three pages of search results. You may be surprised at what you find. But, remember that you can not always believe what you read. Be sure to read between the lines. When doing so, if you develop a feeling about the author's intentions that perhaps he may be trying to pull a fast maneuver on you be careful and keep your hand off of your wallet.

It's a jungle out there, so please be careful.

Living Off the Grid for the Masses

It is time for a reality check for those, like me, who wish they could live off the grid. I was just reading an introductory article from a web site about this subject, when I realized that I most likely will never achieve my dream of living without a high tension wire running into the back end of my property.

The site I was on was well organized with tabs to solar, wind, and hydro resources for alternative energy. There were other areas of interest the site owner(s) also tabbed for your perusal. I was impressed with the effort they had contributed to their web site.

The immediate and also crushing realization for me was first brought on by an advertisement they used about property for sale in Virginia.  Well, I for one will never spend the money for such property. I don’t have it! I doubt that I will ever have that kind of money to afford such beauty property as their ad picture had shown. Can you imagine a rural setting in the autumn overlooking rolling wooded hills with a rustic set of farm buildings in the scene? I hope it is a legitimate offer.

As much as I would love to live in such a place, I realize that is not likely to happen. Circumstances being as they are for me, dictates that I have to live in a particular community to satisfy the medical needs that I have. Also my family live reasonably close and I know they appreciate that I live close by them.  

I own a small lot in south west Florida. It isn’t much. But, it is home and I hope to stay here for many more years. I have a municipal source for my water, which is of excellent quality. It is equal to if not better than most bottled water.  I don’t have to condition my water. My electric comes from a very prominent source whose management is very effective in their operation of the company. These utility companies have provided me with good service and a very good product.  Finding these services in another community would be very difficult.

There is room at the back of my property, right along the same area with the electric right of way, for a wind turbine.  I doubt that my local government would give me permission to install a wind turbine due to the clearance issues with the electrical utility and my neighbors. I love my neighbors, but my installing a wind turbine may change all the warm fuzzy feelings we currently share.

 

Solar panels would fit also in my back yard or perhaps along the side yard. The only concern with panels would be to install them high enough to discourage the aluminum scavengers. It’s amazing what is being stolen around here these days.

 

Installing solar panels on the roof is generally the most popular method for residential applications. But, I would prefer not to use the roof, because at my age I don’t need to be climbing onto a ladder. So, I would have to install my solar panels on the ground.

 

Maybe a Rottweiler, a Doberman, or a really mean Chihuahua could be obtained to protect my investment. Or, how about building a twelve foot high wall with barbed wire on the top? Either of these issues might pose to be a problem obtaining permission from the local authorities and the neighbors.

Sorry, for getting silly in my comments. I don’t mean to belittle the green industry. But most of what they propose will not be feasible for most of us.  The majority of us do not own the land on which we live. Getting permission to install an alternative energy resource on your landlord’s property is not going to happen anytime in the near future. 

We most certainly have a problem with the depletion of our resources and the pollution of our environment. Our government says they are working on a goal to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels primarily from foreign resources. My hope is that our efforts are adequate for the achievement of that goal.

Each of us must honestly evaluate how we use our resources every day. Are we being cautious with our water and electrical usage? Do you utilize energy efficient appliances, and do you keep up with the maintenance of your property to minimize water loss as well as loss of heating or cooling?  Do you plan your trips each day to minimize the fuel you consume? If you need to make some changes then you need to follow through on making those changes or else learn how to live without that resource.

Having that wind turbine or an array of solar panels on your property might be the long term answer to reducing your energy consumption and cost. But, you have to look at the initial cost and the availability of space to install such devices on your property. Do you actually own the property on which you live? If you do own your property and you do have the financial ability to take on a project such as this, will your community allow such a project?

Perhaps you may be one of the lucky ones who has the money and can purchase that beautiful property somewhere out in the country. You might even be fortunate enough to install anything you like out there without being under the watchful eye of an envious neighbor or your community building inspector. If this fits your description then congratulations and good luck.

Gee! What about property taxes and insurance? That is two topics that will have to be considered. But, this is not the time, nor the place to accomplish either one. Right now, it is time to find that first cup of coffee and the morning paper. I will be back later to ramble on about some other related topic. Have a good day.      

Keeping Expenses Under Control

As a personal testimony, keeping expenses under control has some real significance for me. Pay close attention to what you read here. It may prove to save you time as well as money.

When, I realized that a major career change was going to be needed for my survival. I decided that my best choice would be to create my own web site and try to promote myself and other people’s products by using affiliate marketing.

I began to read articles about how to get started.  One article suggested purchasing a software program that would be helpful in web site design. The article explained how difficult it would be for someone with little or no experience in web design, to accomplish.

At that time, I did not believe the task could be beyond my abilities. I even bought one of those How to… for Dummies books which covered the exact software program I had originally purchased. I calculated that with time, I could work through the difficult setup for my web site.

The problem was with me. I found it very hard, extremely time consuming and the longer it took for me to get started the more frustrated I became. It was suggested in another article that I read, which, by the way, was written by the same person, that a familiar theme or niche subject should be used for my web site.

I jumped the gun trying to make the niche, that I chose, pay off. It could not, simply because there was not adequate internet traffic interested in anything other than gathering information.  I had purchased a domain name and hosting long before I found a copy of the software that I was going to use to create my web pages. So my new adventure had become too expensive and was frustrating to create.    

Many months have passed since my first thoughts about internet marketing came to mind. It was for the best.  Now days the updated articles are saying to use a Wordpress blog on your own hosting account instead of a full blown web site. I am not sure that is 100% true.  Only time will tell. Being out of money as well as time, I decided to try this method initially. If and when I start to see some income from this then I will decide about setting up my own website.

At any rate the money I spent for my hosting and domain has not been very fruitful. Our stubborn economy does nothing to bolster my confidence in our future. So keeping your expenses under control is even more important now then it was just a few years ago. So how do you go about maintaining a tighter grip on expenses?

·       When you begin to search for a niche, do stay with a subject you have some desire to learn about and already have knowledge about.

·       Do your best to determine that the niche has adequate traffic that is interested in purchasing a product found in your niche.

·       Use search terms, keywords in other words, that will target the type of traffic you desire to attract to your website. 

·       Web site quality should be the best you can afford, and/or create.

·       How you monetize your web site should already have been decided.  But, don’t rely on any one method entirely. Expand your site to incorporate several methods.

A bit of prior planning can go a long way in keeping your expenses under control. Do your best to determine that your niche of choice has the type of traffic and the quantity of paying traffic searching consistently month after month to help your site to be profitable. May I be the first to wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

Paying Attention to Time!

We have one chance at making the most of each day.  It is important for us to be paying attention to time and how we spend it in the daily activities that makes up our life. Here is what I have learned that helps me better organize my day.

·       Plan your day the night before.

·       Review your plan early that day and make any necessary adjustments.

·       Take notes throughout the day to keep track of your progress.

·       Avoid being distracted unnecessarily by individuals or personal activities.

·       Before going to bed, review that day’s accomplishments, look over your notes made throughout the day and write out your plan for the coming day.

We can go a long way in making the most of our day by doing some planning.  If we would only sit down for a few moments in the hour before we go to bed and write a physical note to ourselves like a “To Do List” of what will be required the next day, we will have already laid the foundation for a more productive day.

The next morning, sometime before or during breakfast, I will review my “To Do List” and make any necessary adjustments. Sometimes I will realize that I have forgotten something entirely, or that I may need more information, or perhaps more resources in order to accomplish a particular task. 

In the morning, while doing my initial review I start to make notes in a spiral notebook in case I need to prioritize the day’s tasks more appropriately, make changes in my schedule and make a note of coordinating those changes with others that may be affected. I also try to obtain additional information that may be essential to complete a particular task. By writing down important contact information I ensure that I have it available. I have found that this helps minimize my time since I am not thumbing through the spiral notebook looking for a phone number or an address.

Watch out for time robbers, those individuals who are excessively needy of your time. You can’t ignore them! Just be mindful of the amount of time you are spending solving their problems. Give them some attention and be courteous about how you interact with them. While we need to support them we still can not afford to be their crutch.  Also pay attention to your own activities that you are not undermining your own efforts at improving how your time is spent.

After your evening has begun to slow down, take time to review your list and notes and see how well you did at accomplishing your day’s tasks. Make up a new “To Do List” for the next day.

For those of you who are more technological savvy, I am sure you will reach for your Blackberry or touch pad Android to assist you in keeping your schedule, lists and contact information. That is up to you. What if you did not own any such device? What if you live in Japan and were fortunate to have survived the recent catastrophe that has happened to them. You might find yourself to be fortunate to have a pad and pencil in which to write.

You see, I am trying to be as simplistic in my life as I can possibly be. Yes, I have my computer and cell phone too. But I am also trying to learn how to function without having total dependence on them. We have enough chaos in our life without worrying about where the recharge cable is located for an electrical device.

A To Do List is a simple method to help you organize your day and will help you to pay attention to time. Good luck in your efforts to improve.  Until next time, whenever that may be, be safe and be happy.

      

About Me!

Welcome to My Living off the Grid. My name is John Dull the originator of this content.  The intent of this website is to provide the reader with information concerning ways to improve our health, wealth and/or relationships. I have a few ideas that may be of interest to you, and I encourage you to share your comments with us here.

From the blog title, a person may come to the conclusion that I am going to write about alternative energy or possibly how to live away from civilization. That is not my intent. I chose this title as a means of explaining my simple lifestyle and why I feel this concept will become important for us to consider adopting in some manner.

Some folks may appreciate knowing a bit more about me. So here goes, and I hope you won’t be too bored. I was born into a Midwestern farming family nearly sixty years ago. My parents rented a small farm that had a milking parlor in the barn, a chicken coop, corn crib, a garage, and of course a house. We grew grain crops, fruits and vegetables and also raised cows, pigs, and chickens.  We produced most of the food we ate, whether it was fresh, frozen or canned. We made trips to the grocery store, for items we could purchase for less money than what it would have cost us to have made them. Or it was for items that we could not make.  We also purchased most of our clothing, as well as our sundry type items.  Ours was a simple lifestyle.

I feel our lives then were better than most lives people live today.  I believe we had better tasting as well as healthier foods to eat. We lived and worked in a way that required us to interact with others in ways not practiced today. Yes, our new technologies have improved our lives on one hand, but on the other it appears to be making us less social, less desirous of face to face communication.  We know that our income and savings are not adequate to support us into our retirement years. Yet, we still expect to be able to drive our over sized vehicles to work and round about each day. We are living our lives in such a way as if we have endless resources at our disposal.

Through this blog, it is my hope to provoke useful thoughts and ideas about a simpler way of living that will bring benefits that can improve our health, help retain some of our hard earned money, and better enjoy our relationships with family, friends and neighbors. Thanks to you for spending your precious time to read what I have to say.