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.....to live in Hawaii. We are a rock (ah several rocks) in the middle of the ocean. I know that higher and higher prices for everyday needs is not an issue for the affluent, but for us in the other than affluent (am I spelling that right?)catagory, it is really time to be realistic and think how we are going to deal with the ever rising cost of everything. And this all COULD be coming in the near future (cost of fuel going up, up, up).
So what do you say we start discussing this and perhaps leave some of the other less than "productive" discussions rest for awhile. After all, we are all here (or about to come here) and, well, and island is an island. What we gonna do?
OOOOOOOOh, Rob! Perhaps another new forum called, oh, I don't know, HOW WE WILL ALL SURVIVE ON THIS ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN WHEN GAS IS $8.00 A GALLON or somethin like that..hee, hee.
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I think the Island does have an enormous potential to actually be completely fuel independent! Geothermal is currently at 20% of the Islands electric production (non itermttent). That is obtained by providing 35KWH. The plant has a potential of 250 KWH, it could provide 100% power, with leftover!
On NZ, there are a series of plants operated by Maori, and paid to them! Think a single plant on the very corner of the Hawaiian Holdings land, operated by and paid to the Hawaiians for the island wide power they provide!
Gordon J Tilley
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We are certainly doing the sustainable thing....
We get fresh pork and and goat to cook.
We grow lettuce hydroponically that is no fuss, no mess (and we would be glad to show anyone interested)
We have a regular garden that had better get tilled soon... right now the pig is in there tearing it up for us.... and will be filled with green beans and carrots and lots of stuff in between....
We are working on the greenhouse for growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, etc...
Just little ways to save a few bucks....  Pam
ps... of course you all know I spend it a lot faster than hubby can earn it with my crazy projects!
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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There is one thing that is less expensive, Water wells (from diamond drilling). [ ] The cost is down $40 per foot from last year. So if you don't like catchment and live at or below 400 feet elevation you're in luck. Hopefully this will brighten somebody's not so rainy day [ ]
Daniel R Diamond
Daniel R Diamond
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Hi Daniel, how you doing?
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For almost a year now, we've been working to reduce our expenses. So, although prices are increasing we're actually spending less. It has been a fun challenge. So far, we've...
* Stopped satellite TV service (saves $58 per month)
* Turned off our water heater (saves about $20/mo in propane)
* Switched from high-speed Internet to dial-up (saves $37/mo)
* Wash/dry dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher
* Hang laundry on a line rather than using dryer
* Changed light bulbs to CFL
* Unplugged appliances and other electrical devices when not in use.
* When our refrigerator died we bought a smaller more energy efficient one (saves about $8/mo)
* Sold our car and put the money in savings. So, now have only one vehicle which saves on insurance, registration, safety checks, and maintenance (saves at least $100/mo)
* Menu plan, make grocery list and stick to it, cook from scratch (so far, we're saving $150/mo, but my goal is to save at least another $50/mo)
* Track every penney we spend so we know where our money is going. This helps us plan and prioritize instead of spending willy nilly. We've been doing this since April and now spend about $50 less per month on fast food. Also, spending less on all sorts of misc items.
* Have a few fruit trees (papaya, star fruit, lemons) and plan to plant a couple more. Also, when our building project is completed we'll have time to plant a few veges. Would definitely like to grow more of our food.
* Reuse whatever we can rather than buying something new. I've been getting pretty creative with this and finding that most of the time I can avoid buying something new. It's good for the environment and reduces expenses, too.
* Color my own hair instead of going to hair dresser (saves $90 each time and I like the color better)
* Lost 20 pounds, so taking in my clothes instead of buying new.
* Buy bread at the outlet store. Saves over $2 per loaf.
* In July when our cell phone contract is up we will cancel the service (will save $80/mo)
I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of at the moment.
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Great topic Nancy, It seems the main reason prices are going so high is from speculators jumping into the market pushing prices higher,So it will probably bust just like the housing market did [we hope]
(sorry Farmers u were probably just breaking even)But until then everybody plant wheat and soy![:p]
From what I can tell I'm paying 30% more for gas,groceries and electric, Thats a heck of a jump in such a short time.[:0]
Does anyone have any luck/advice growing veggies in a pot?
Putting in a garden or pulling weeds in the old one is just to much work right now.
Hey Daniel let me know when you'll work on credit and/or when prices come down to 2001 kine.
Somebody defiantly needs to lobby HELCO to lower their rates! Holy Cow they are out of control and they are doing their best to squelch solar options/programs for residents.
A park and ride lot would be nice.
If elected for Mayor Billy Kenoi wants to vastly expand on the free bus service[  ]
For me right now it would take money to be able to save money so I'm stuck in a hard place[B)] But if anybody has a lead on a cheap propane dryer I'd appreciate it![:p]
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Lettuce grown hydroponically is a piece of cake.... we buy food grade buckets at blanes for $2 each, drill the topos for four holders, and it takes about four to five weeks for the letuce to grow.
Contact me and see how easy this is. I buy all the stuff in bulk and will be glad to get you started. We all help one another on here and you all at Punaweb have done SOOOO much for me that I am always happy to give back when I can.
Seriously, send me an email .. pslamont@yahoo.com and we will get together. Depending on where you live you can also use this set up for tomatoes, cucumbers and a variety of other veggies.
Aloha!
Pam
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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Joined: May 2006
Everything is relative. When my GF from England visted me a few weeks ago, she couldn't believe how cheap everything is here. Gas or petrol as they call it is $10 a gallon.
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10 UK like 20 per gallon here!!!
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com
"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2
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