If you're new here, this blog will give you the tools to become financially independent in 5 years. Here is how I did it and here is how I currently do it. The method is robust and replicable (no need to win the lottery, start a blogging business, or win at real estate), but not easy; much in the same way that a diet results in weight loss but is hard to follow persistently unless you set your mind to it. The key is to save 75%+ of your net income and invest it in income producing assets (bonds and dividend stocks). There is a "21 day" step-by-step plan for how to get to 75% in the left side bar. I try not to be too trite, so if I cover a topic, you will probably not see it again for a very long time, thus you may want to read the older posts here and here. Also, check out my answers to frequently asked questions and while you're at it, don't forget to subscribe to the blog via google or RSS.
I have the best commute in the world. I travel at top speed and I am rarely bothered by slower people in front of me since I always pass them without considering oncoming traffic in the other lane. Some times there are faster people on the road. This is fun as we can start racing or tailgaiting. Fortunately I live in an area where the local law enforcement isn’t bothered by my driving. As long as I don’t run any red lights or stop signs (rolling stops are semi-okay) I don’t get harassed. Also other drivers do not try to run me off the road and they don’t seem to mind me smiling as I pass them one by one in the side lane as they’re idling along in the 15mph stop-and-go fashion of the morning commute.
It’s a good thing that I drive a bicycle.
If I drove a car there would always be another car in front of me and a car behind me limiting the speed to 1/3 of what the car could do without obstacles. It would annoy me to sit in a fine piece of machinery that could easily go 100mph and yet only go at an average 35mph due to congestion. I would be pissed having to waste $3/gallon gas on a continuous cycle of acceleration and braking to follow Californian traffic; slowing down to coast or ride the green wave doesn’t help as other drivers just pull in in front of you. Better pray that you don’t find yourself going in the wrong direction since you can’t just turn the car around and go the other way lest other drivers get annoyed. Instead a wrong turn can turn into quite an adventure or subsequent right turns due to one-way streets and “no U-turn” signs. Also finding a place to park can be a major hassle when you can’t simply park on the sideway.
It’s a good thing that I don’t drive a car.
