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Cultivate Simple 3: Debt

October 22nd, 2012

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We forgot to mention these two documentaries on the show. Both are free for streaming for Amazon Prime members and on Netflix Streaming:

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23 Comments to “Cultivate Simple 3: Debt”
  1. Songbirdtiff on October 22, 2012 at 7:50 am

    We went through FPU twice, once as students and again as leaders. It changed our lives. I can’t remember if I have seen those documentaries, but I think they are on netfix.

    Reply to Songbirdtiff's comment

    • Susy on October 22, 2012 at 7:58 am

      Yes they are on Netflix.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Donna B. on October 22, 2012 at 10:22 am

    I simply cannot wait to get home tonight to listen to these! I’ve listened to every podcast so far and I’m LOVING your topics!
    [like how I’m hellbent now to go get some green manure to plant down my gardens for the winter…]
    Debt. Ohhh debt. This is the subject I’ll be sure to definitely check out your references [yay Netflix streaming!]. I always need good listening content while I’m doing my illustrative work.

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  3. Estelle on October 22, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    Very inspiring! However, I am shocked that… I have been pronouncing Chiot’s wrong in my head all these years! I always thought it was ki-yot just like the greek island of Chios. Good thing I listened to the podcast!

    Reply to Estelle's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on October 22, 2012 at 5:30 pm

      It probably is pronounced that way. Feel free to call it what ever you want! :)

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

      • June on October 22, 2012 at 9:03 pm

        Doesn’t Chiots refer to the French word for puppies? If so, it would be pronounced like “she oh”. But the way that you’re pronouncing it is pretty cool.

        to June's comment

      • Mr. Chiots on October 22, 2012 at 9:16 pm

        That’s right June. Our friend Genevieve was born in France and she had no idea that a “She Oh” was what we were talking about. Buuttt.. Susy speaks spanish and I am not French.

        to Mr. Chiots's comment

  4. daisy on October 22, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Great information. We are debt-free and from hearing some of the ideas on this podcast, I think we can move forward with our plans to relocate to our dream location much sooner. I cannot tell you how much I agree with you on unnecessary spending. We enjoy NOT keeping up with the Jonses.
    You’ve given me so much food for thought. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    It would be helpful to know how long the podcast is going to be at the beginning of the program (or displayed somehow), so that I can make sure I have the time to dedicate to listening. Thanks!

    Melissa-We use pine straw mulch on all of our beds here in Florida, and it works great and looks faboo! We don’t have a pine tree, so we have to buy it, so enjoy providing your own mulch!

    Reply to daisy's comment

    • Estelle on October 22, 2012 at 3:33 pm

      I was able to see it once I clicked on the little arrow :) Duration appeared right on top of it for me.

      Reply to Estelle's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on October 22, 2012 at 5:32 pm

      Good idea Daisy. Let me look into this and see if I can do it automatically (because I will forget if I don’t).

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

  5. mandie on October 22, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    I love the podcasts! I just wish you had started these months ago, they’re graet listening material while I’m gardening, and all my major chores are done now!! Great stuff though, thanks!

    Reply to mandie's comment

  6. Carrie on October 22, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    Are you going to do an “Ask the Chiot’s” section? I live in North Dakota and we have some of the toughest thistles in the world (it seems like, anyways) and I was wondering if you have any tips to get rid of them, once and for all!

    Reply to Carrie's comment

    • Susy on October 22, 2012 at 5:20 pm

      We have had these thistles – a few years of very regular pulling will help eliminate them. Also improving the soil will help. I often pull them weekly and throw them down for mulch right there. After a few years the number of thistles has greatly declined. I’m not 100% rid of them yet, but they’re on the way out!

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • Carrie on October 22, 2012 at 5:31 pm

        Appreciate the feedback! The Canadian thistles are terrible! And hurt if you step on one barefooted! I reaaaally love the podcast! We are hoping to get a farm in the next month or so and I seriously take notes when listening. So keep it up! And I know you mentioned possibly putting out an ebook–Yes, please! Are you guys planning on any other livestock on your new place? Very intersted to hear what you guys have planned next :) Thanks for such a valuable information source!

        to Carrie's comment

  7. Tamra Hess on October 22, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    Well done! Lots of food for thought.

    Reply to Tamra Hess's comment

  8. Lynn on October 23, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Another great show! I’m one of the ones trying to pay it all down and getting there very slowly……would appreciate either book. Great information on this one…..FYI – called to cancel cable. They actually lowered the price by over 50% and gave me more services. Ugh, note to self….must be more forceful next time. : )

    Reply to Lynn's comment

  9. Mich on October 23, 2012 at 12:56 pm

    Downloaded the latest podcast so I could listen to it whilst walking the dog and spreading muck on the veg garden :)
    Rather shocked at the price of mobile phone contracts in the US; Im in the Uk and pay £15 a month for 3000texts, 600mins call time and 1gb of data.
    I use the mobile instead of the landline!
    I am debt free, have got out of the habit of shopping for ‘stuff’ I

    Reply to Mich's comment

    • Mich on October 23, 2012 at 12:59 pm

      oops…
      ‘stuff’ I dont need.
      Good thing to do is write a weekly menu plan, depending on whats in the veg garden and also budget a set amount to spend on food.
      Do a list & check fridge and larder just buy what you need….

      Reply to Mich's comment

  10. Estelle on October 23, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    I am French and did not even even think of the puppy refrence, how embarassing ;) I think I will stick to ki-yot since I inly pronounce it in my head and nobody has complained yet!

    Reply to Estelle's comment

    • Susy on October 28, 2012 at 7:02 pm

      Love the pronunciation!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. Misti on October 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    RE: The person asking about the pine needles….we too thought it was strange/wrong when we first came to the community garden we were part of for a year before we bought our house but it works as a great mulch and we continue to use it at our house now.

    I had to laugh when Mr. Chiots talked about deciding against the leather jacket—–I have become quite good at putting items back that I don’t need when I go to a store. I often put things in the cart, items I didn’t come for, but by the time I leave they are back on the shelves.

    We haven’t set a goal to be debt free by any particular time, but I would love for it to be by the time we’re 40-43 if not sooner, so, another 8-10 years. Definitely the last five years have changed my perspective on debt and living differently….there’s no way we could have hiked two long distance trails on a lot of debt or without saving up.

    Reply to Misti's comment

  12. KimH on October 24, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    Great podcast! Love Dave Ramsey too.. he cracks me up, but his common sense grounds me.. I use some of his plan in my life..

    I’ve lived in all sorts of different economic brackets and I find myself wishing for more of the type of life when I was financially the poorest.. I was indeed the happiest.. It was very simple and it was mostly very good.

    Thankfully, I’ve never been big on keeping up with the Joneses but I’ve also been known to like “stuff.” I dont have to have the latest & greatest, but every once in a while even I bite.
    M’honey keeps wanting to get me a Kindle Fire and I dont really want one. I asked him if he thought I really needed another electronic device.. I sure dont. I’d be happy to get rid of most of the ones in our life now.
    I’ve been thinking about getting rid of my Droid, not cuz I dont love it, I do, but just because the bill is ridiculous. We each have one, and my daughter is on my acct, and while she usually pays for her own, its still crazy.. We’ve gone insane. ;)

    Reply to KimH's comment

  13. whit on January 9, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    Hi Susy and Brian,

    Little behind in my listening here…but just finished this episode, and i have to tell you i am seriously going to put this into my homeschool curriculum next year! You did a wonderful job conveying a sensitive topic!

    Before hitting play, i was bracing myself for the flood of guilt to return over our recent decision to move. It was a hard financial decision, because we were poised to pay off our old home in 7 years, and more importantly 2 years before our child was to eligible for college and 6 years before our dream retirement age for my hubbie of 56yrs. Essentially we’ve started all over again because of the higher cost of homes now as compared to 10 years ago.

    The ways that you’ve outlined how to critically view your debt and spending habits and your graceful and positive tone have left me feeling empowered.

    After digesting your insights, it is clear that the sum of our choices is what matters. Sure, we have taken on additional debt in a mortgage, however we are saving in other areas. Our former home was completely uninspiring. We were right next to the 5 about 15 miles south of Seattle, and it was very much a commuter’s neighbourhood. Because of the crime rates, i used to leave the house almost every day for safety’s sake; usually heading to the one stop shop, the thrift shop,the coffee shop or the craft shops to acquire more “distractions” that filled our home and saddled me with more guilt regarding keeping things “magazine” pristine. It’s a very viscious circle.

    Now in the country, it’s different. We don’t feel prey to criminals so that we feel “safer” at the mall than in our home…and there aren’t too many restaurants either, so if you’ve eaten out once, you’re curiousity is satisfied for the month. :) There’s no need to fill a smaller home with stuff. Recently, i’ve seriously been considering doing what The Minimalists did (have you seen their site?)–especially since most of our boxes we moved last year are still sealed up and sitting in our garage. Obviously nothing we’ve missed there. And because we have the facilities and the property, i’ve started looking into what it would take to sell environmentally conscious food produced on our land…even if it only covers a small portion of our expenses. In the old ‘hood it would have been very hard for me to make money farming or most other ways from home–as we couldn’t exceed a certain earned dollar amount within the city limits.

    Now to get my hubbie on board with firing the cable company
    …hmmmm. Any tips for alternative viewing for sports fans who “have to” watch the game on t.v.?

    Reply to whit's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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