If you're new here, this blog will give you the tools to become financially independent in 5 years on a median salary. The wiki page gives a good summary of the principles of the strategy. The key to success is to run your personal finances much like a business, thinking about assets and inventory and focusing on efficiency and value for money. Not just any business but a business that's flexible, agile, and adaptable. Conversely most consumers run their personal finances like an inflexible money-losing anti-business always in danger of losing their jobs.
Here's almost a thousand online journals from people, who are following the ERE strategy tailored to their particular situation (age, children, location, education, goals, ...). Increasing their savings from the usual 5-15% of their income to tens of thousands of dollars each year or typically 40-80% of their income, many accumulate six-figure net-worths within a few years.
Since everybody's situation is different (age, education, location, children, goals, ...) I suggest only spending a brief moment on this blog, which can be thought of as my personal journal, before looking for the crowd's wisdom for your particular situation in the forum journals.
If you enjoy the blog, also consider the book which is much better organized and more complete. You can read the first chapter for free, listen to the preamble, or see the reviews (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,Z). Subscribe to the blog via email or RSS. Get updates on the facebook page, join the forums, and look for tactics on the ERE wiki. Here's a list of all the ERE blog posts.
I need to fix a metal futon frame. It will require something better than duct tape and superglue. Any ideas? It needs to be “simple”, that is, not require a $500 welding machine to fix what is probably a $50 frame. Solder and blowtorch?
As you can see from the fuzzy picture, the thin wire has broken off of the frame. There are at least 10 such instances.
Jacob comments: I’m “fixing” it for the Dojo. This may either mean getting a new used frame, which I know I can do for $20 (although that would be a resource waste) or fixing it for less in terms of material or service costs. I do not mind ending up with some welding equipment (only I can’t afford $500 right now—well, technically I can, but …you know)as long as the material costs are less than $20—
welding is number 3 on my list.
