LEARN NEW SKILLS
For the past few days, I’ve talked about activities like growing a garden and maintaining your vehicle. These small tasks not only help you save money but also make you more self-sufficient. For instance, if you can grow your own food, you don’t have to depend on buying it, especially when prices are high. Plus, you get to control what chemicals, if any, are used on your crops. This is the kind of independence I aim for.
While I can’t do everything on my own, I keep trying to learn new skills. My time is valuable, so I wouldn’t spend hours on something that only saves a few cents. Being a nomad traveling on a motorcycle, I’ve focused on learning skills that meet my personal needs. You can create your own list based on what you need.
**Skills I’ve Learned Recently**
– How to make pizza from scratch, including my own pizza dough. I was frustrated with the expensive and not-so-great pizza in Guatemala, so I tried making it at home. BF and I loved it!
– How to change the oil on my motorcycle. With the right tools, this 20-minute job saves me $30 each time. We’ve been traveling a lot, so I’ve changed the oil twice in the past four months.
– Basic website, XML, and HTML skills. My blog might make you laugh, but I’ve tweaked some things and learned a lot along the way. Although virtual assistance is cheap, I like having control over my blog. I even know a bit of SQL from my previous job!
– How to sew. My mum taught me a bit when I made a custom baby blanket for a friend. Knowing how to sew a button or alter clothes is super useful and something everyone should learn.
**Skills I’d Like to Learn**
– How to make my own jam. I enjoy cooking and want to preserve fresh summer fruits. I’ll ask my grandma for her amazing elderberry jam recipe!
– How to make cheese, yogurt, bread, and other tasty things. Using prime ingredients instead of settling for cheaper store versions is appealing to me.
– How to make clothes. Although I lack design imagination, creating a simple summer dress would be rewarding and unique.
– How to build a house and handle repairs. As I’m about to buy a house, understanding construction and repairs would help me deal with contractors and cut down on expenses.
I’m not trying to live completely independently or save a few cents here and there. For instance, making yogurt when a pint costs less than $1 at the store isn’t about saving money. It’s about making it exactly how I like it with healthy ingredients. Plus, if I crave yogurt when the store is closed, I can start my own batch, even if it might not be ready by the time the store opens again.
Skills like plumbing and basic electricity are invaluable. When a pipe bursts or a wire goes faulty, knowing how to fix it myself saves a lot of money and prevents the helpless feeling that comes from not understanding my own home. I want to learn as much as I can to avoid overpaying professionals and to be more self-reliant.