It sounds like a dream come true – living via your own means, not having to work for a salary and not needing to rely on supermarket trips to get food. Instead, you live through nature, growing your own food and becoming truly self-sufficient. Pure bliss.

While this all sounds great, is it actually practical and possible to live like this, on a solely self-sufficient basis? Put simply – not really, but, as the case of the Watkinson family proves, that shouldn’t stop you from doing as much as you can to live independently.

Whether you live in an apartment or on a farm with 200 acres of land, every single one us can do more to become more self-sufficient. Plus, with the UK Government aiming to reduce greenhouse gases to almost zero by 2050, we all need to contribute in our own way to making the planet a much more environmentally friendly place.

Whether it be installing a renewable energy heat pump or simply growing your own food, we can all do something. Here are some of the key reasons why living self-sufficiently is so important, and some effective strategies you should think about implementing.

Reasons for becoming self-sufficient

Everyone has a different reason for wanting to become more self-sufficient. From personal reasons, like wanting to improve someone’s diet, to political justifications, like wanting to ‘stick it to the man’, here are some of the common reasons why people choose to live independently.

• One of the main reasons for becoming self-sufficient, many people want to prepare themselves for any potential catastrophe, such as an end to cheap oil, political threat or a zombie apocalypse. Living by your own means can give you peace-of-mind and security in the event of a disaster.
• A self-sufficient person may believe that the current social structure is wrong, and that the food infrastructure is badly organised, finding issues with the cultural habits of over-consumption and food waste. By choosing to become more independent, this person could remove themselves from that culture, and start to feel more connected with an already disconnected society.
• Perhaps the simplest explanation for self-sufficiency is the personal satisfaction that people gain from the lifestyle. Whether it be growing their own food, raising their own animals or building their own home, people take pride in being able to provide for their family and enjoy the principle of living via their own means.
• It’s no secret that climate change is happening – the sea levels are rising, atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing, and ice caps are shrinking. People are becoming more and more aware of their own carbon footprint and are doing all they can to protect the planet. Choosing to be self-sufficient is one of the most effective ways of doing this, by reducing your waste output and heating your home via renewable energy.

How to become more self-sufficient

There are so many different ways you can make you and your home more self-sufficient. Here are five of the main ideas to get you started:

1. Renewable energy.

Wherever you live, you are going to need energy of some kind. Now, to become more self-sufficient, you simply have to use a form of renewable energy – whether that be solar energy, a heat pump or a biomass heating system.

Being able to produce your own electricity and pay less each month is one of the best parts about living self-sufficiently. Whatever happens in the rest of the world, you can rest assured that you will always have energy when you need it.

2. Food and Water.

One of the easiest ways to become more self-sufficient is by growing or sourcing your own food. Fruit and vegetables can be easily grown using a few seeds and a bit of knowledge, whereas raising your own animals – such as chickens, goats or bees – can provide you with a constant source of produce. Plus, learning how to fish and hunt properly can be a highly effective way of finding your own food.

In terms of water, you need to ensure you waste as little as possible, so think about installing a greywater system. Also, install a few rain barrels or water butts in your garden to collect water to use as and when you need it. Whether you want to water your plants, wash your dishes or purify it for your own use, you should avoid using water from the tap as much as possible.

3. Think about finances.

If you choose to ditch your job and live completely independently, you are going to need to secure your finances somehow. Earning your own income is important not just for clearing your debts, but also for ensuring you can continue to live in the event of an emergency, or if your crop yield fails.

Whether you choose to sell your own eggs, lemonade, goats’ milk – whatever – having your own source of income can also help maintain relationships with the self-sustained community. After all, we all need relationships in our life, so shopping for other environmentally-sourced goods from fellow self-sufficient living people ensures you meet this need.

4. Some things to avoid.

Domestic appliances are serious energy-guzzlers. While some may be required more than others, avoid using your dishwasher and clothes dryer when you can, and start hand washing your clothes using your collected rainwater. Also, think about getting rid of your TV – not only do they use a lot of energy, but they also drain you of your time. Remove it from your life and you’ll be surprised at how much more productive you become.

You should also avoid using products with harsh chemicals in, such as cleaners or bleaches. These are bad for the environment, so follow this guide to learn how to create your own eco-friendly alternatives.

5. Some things to learn.

Without that TV in your life, you will free up so much more time to learn new things. Whether you choose to do some thing that increases your revenue, or a new skill that will help you in the long run, here are some things you could learn to do in order to increase your self-sufficiency:

• How to sew, knit or crochet.
• How to make your own candles.
• How to make your own soap.
• How to make a fire.
• How to tap trees.
• How to forage.
• How to make butter, cheese and yoghurt.
• How to utilise the medicinal use of herbs.
• How to fish, hunt and butcher.

In conclusion…

Choosing to become more self-sufficient can not only help protect the planet, but make you feel better at the same time. Whether you choose to embed one or all of the strategies we talk about here, you will be making a difference whatever you do, and should find you feel a lot more productive as a result.

Every casino house is designed with an edge to profit from every game. However, there are a few gamblers who have surpassed the norm. These people have mastered their act and beaten land-based casino games through high intelligence and determination, which wouldn’t be possible when playing Roulette or Blackjack online. In this piece, we will reveal the five most successful casino players of all time.

1. Edward Thorp

During his time, Edward Thorp was a mathematics professor and an enthusiast of blackjack. After a series of game time, he realized that there is a mathematical method to beat the game. Thorp simulated a billion hands of blackjack to understand the game better.

He discovered that smaller cards are more beneficial to the dealers. However, when they are placed on the deck, the advantage edge would shift to the players. Hence, the best move is to bet more. With his method, he figured that it is possible to earn 5% advantage over the house. For years, he won severally from Vegas casinos with his accomplices. However, once he started winning an outrageous amount from the casinos, many casinos owner banned him from their house. Thorp went on to develop the “ten count system,” and eventually, he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

2. Richard Marcus

In history, Marcus is one of the most successful gamblers in the world. He developed the popular roulette strategy known as “The Savannah.” This method works by betting a low denomination of chips to avoid attention from casino owners. Anytime that he won, he would be excited just like any average gambler.

However, while the dealers are wondering why he was so happy for such a regular win, he would then hit them hard. Marcus would reveal a brown $500 chip beneath the three $5 chips to the dealer; a chip which has been placed there right from the start by him. But if Marcus failed to win, he would take out the $00 chip secretly.

Over time, Marcus and his groups started placing $5,000 chips beneath the $100 ones. However, Marcus was caught eventually after raking in more than $5 million in profits.

3. MIT Blackjack Team

This team consists of a few students from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who came together to develop a statistics-based system. The system is designed to beat Blackjack – and it was successful. These students asked colleagues to join them in a bid to learn the system of card counting, which gave them an edge over the house.

The team was able to lower their chances of getting caught, and after several hours of perfecting their system, they visited a real live casino.

With backing from several investors, they were able to beat many Vegas casinos with more than $400,000 winnings in one weekend. Before long, some casinos noticed their game and they were forced to stop after a legal battle. Nevertheless, the team went away with over $5 million in profit.

4. Louis “The Coin” Colavcchio

Colavcchio was an expert in duplicating precious metals and stones. However, he used the duplicate to win as a professional gambler. After FBI raided his house, several hundreds of duplicated slot tokens from different casinos were found. Colavcchio, also known as The Coin, was able to beat several casinos in North America before he was caught by the law.

Casino owners began to notice the activities of Colavcchio when a massive amount of coins were showing up on the inventory of casinos located in other parts of the continents. While the exact amount won by Colavcchio wasn’t known, it is believed that it will worth up to $500,000.

5. Ida Summers

During the ’60s and ’70s, Ida successfully raked in several thousands of dollars from casinos with guile and shiftiness. While using the famous “hand-mucking” on the blackjack tables, she would conceal a card, which had been removed from the game. Afterward, she will then reintroduce the card with sleight of hand to benefit herself.

With her amazing look and figure, Ida was able to switch cards without drawing attention to the game. She successfully used her cunning ways to enter Las Vegas, where she introduced cold decks and coolers to her game. For a long time, Ida was invincible, until FBI caught up with her.

And there you have the five most successful casino players to have edged past the house. With their trickery, smartness, and intelligence, they were able to win a massive amount from the casinos.

You might think that planning and preparing for your funeral is something you just have to put off at a much later date in your life, most especially if you are in your prime age. Funerals may be something you would not want to tackle, talk about, and face head on because well, it is really scary. But no matter how scary it might be, it still is a reality that everyone would have to deal with and face – it is the cycle of life. You may not consider it such a big deal, but did you know that funeral costs have gone up so much since the past years. Funerals back in 2004 would only cost you £1,920 on average. Funeral costs in the present day are now at an all-time high ranging from £3,500 up to £5,000 on average, and it would only continue to rise each year following of course the annual escalation of the country’s inflation rate. On average, the inflation rate per annum is at 1.5 to 2%. Which means that the cost of funerals would rise by that much per year on a minimum. If you want to save on funeral costs – no matter when you would spend out for it, you should be prepared and get a prepaid funeral plan.

Funeral Costs Today Vs Prepaid Funeral Costs

If you were to spend and plan for a funeral right now, you would need to have around £4,000 to £5,000 if the deceased would want a burial and only around £3,500 to £4,000 if it were a cremation. That is an amount which is not at all easy to come by, most especially if the passing of your loved one is untimely and unexpected. This amount represents all of the costs of planning a funeral, including preparing a memorial service for the deceased. With prepaid funeral plans, you would have the option to choose from different packages that range in values such as £2,899, £3,349, £4,144, or the most expensive £4,599. All of which you have the option to pay for straightforwardly, or if you want it to be more affordable, you could spread it out for a couple of months for smaller monthly payments instead of a lump sum. Not only will it be able to cost you less compared to the current average funeral costs today, but the value of the funeral you paid for today would not even move or increase even if you pay for it within two or three years.

Beating Annual Inflation While Setting Money Aside

Because you have a more convenient option of spreading the payment of the total value of your chosen prepaid funeral package, you would not have to set up a separate savings account for your future. Some people set aside a certain percentage of their earnings for each month for savings, emergencies, and other contingencies such as a funeral. But if you plan ahead of time, it would not have to be a problem because you would have already incorporated it early on when your money still had a lower value compared to twenty or fifty years from now when the cost of goods and services has already ballooned so much. Preparing for a funeral ahead time would allow for you to actually beat the continuous rise of costs due to inflation and other economic factors. So you could actually say that it is a pretty wise investment to make especially while you are still young and able to work hard.

Prepaid Funeral Plans are Transferable

What makes prepaid funeral plans great is that you could transfer it to your loved ones. If an untimely and unexpected death occurs within your family and that family member does not have a prepaid funeral plan or his or her immediate family members could not afford to pay for a funeral, you have to option to transfer your existing plan to the deceased. That way, not only will they be able to afford a funeral for their deceased loved one, but it would also cost much less than the average funeral costs at the time of his or her passing. When this happens, you could easily just get a new prepaid funeral and still be on your way to a better management of your finances because you would not have to let your family pay for a highly ludicrous price for your funeral when that dreaded day comes. It would also serve as a safety net for the people you would leave behind that they would not have to find difficult ways or apply for loans just to come up with money for your funeral. In fact, these days, more and more people are actually having a hard time with paying for funeral costs that most families just opt to donate the bodies of their deceased loved ones on scientific researches and projects. It is a sad reality, but it can be avoided if you just make smart money decisions regarding it.

The quickest and the probably least helpful answer to this question is a fixed amount; say $500 for example.

Many brokers do set a minimum amount required to open a Forex trading account. But if you want a more practical answer, then it gets a bit more complicated!

This is because part of how much money you need to start trading Forex depends on what you are trying to achieve with Forex trading. It all also depends on a number of other factors, including your personal circumstances, trading style, and strategy among others.

First, let’s address an issue that most tend to gloss over: risk management. This is generally the factor that separates successful FX traders from the rest. And how much money you have in your account plays an active role both in mitigating risk as well as shaping your risk management strategy!

It Depends On Risk Management!

There are other articles that get into detail about how to optimize your risk management. However, similarly to Ghost Insights’ bankroll management technique, as a general rule, you don’t want to be risking more than 3% of your account on each trade you take.

This puts a risk-based theoretical limit on your trade size, depending on how much you have in your Forex trading account.

The thing is, if you are getting into Forex trading, you’re probably not doing so just as an academic exercise – you probably want to get money out of it. The more money you have in your trading account, the more you are likely to make in profit. After all, you need money to make money, as the saying goes.

However, and this is crucial, the more money you put into your account, the more that is at risk. You never, ever want to have money in your Forex trading account you cannot afford to lose!

Calculating Potential Profits

How much money you have in your Forex trading account determines the size of trade you can enter. Let’s say you have $1,000 in your account. Being a beginner, you want to start out conservatively taking less risk, say at 1% of your account per trade. That means the most you can risk is $10 per trade, which is one mini-lot position, with a stop loss at 10 pips.

If your Forex trading strategy has a 1.5:1.0 profitability ratio (that is, the amount of gains divided by the amount of losses), which is about average for the industry, then you could expect to average $5 per trade.

With an average of 5 trades per day, as a day trader, you could expect to make about $25 per day of trading. That is, of course, provided you win 100% of the trades you take.

Does My Trading Style Matter?

Yes! If you tried swing trading, that requires a much broader stop loss because you have to withstand wider moves in the market since your position is open for longer. This means you’d have to take a micro-lot to keep from risking more than $10 with a 100 pip swing. If that were the case you’d likely end up averaging around $100 per week, depending on how many trades you can get in.

Now, we should stress these are hypothetical examples based on average ratios that successful traders with several years of experience have. You shouldn’t use these as a benchmark or objective by any means when trading Forex. They are strictly for reference, in order to understand what kind of profitability ratios you could consider in evaluating your forex trading account size.

Is More Money Always Better?

Maybe not for a beginner. Trading Forex on a live account is different from trading on a demo account.Your initial performance is virtually guaranteed to not be as good as what it will be after you have experience under your belt.

When you start out, you might want to be more focused on generating modest gains that you do keep in your trading account, without withdrawing. However, remember that while having a minimum account might be less risky, the relatively small profits you make when trading Forex might not be enough of an incentive for you to stick with trading long enough to get better at it.

Think Through Without Haste

Rather than consider just one initial deposit, many FX traders come up with money allocation plans over a period of time to manage their risk and grow their FX portfolio. While you might want to make withdrawals to enjoy your profits, that also means you have fewer funds available to gain from the Forex market.

Forex trading is an art that takes time to develop. And this is an opportunity for you to save up or build your trading account to be the size that suits your trading style and profitability aspirations!