If you're new here, this blog will give you the tools to become financially independent in 5 years. Here's how I did it and here's a few dozen online journals from other people who are currently doing it. This is not some stupid get rich quick scheme. The method is robust and replicable (no need to win the lottery, sell your 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). This is done by running your personal finances much like a business, thinking about assets and inventory and focusing on efficiency and value for money. See this post on how to enjoy a middle class lifestyle on $7,000/year (Please read it, especially the part about the lentils!). There is a "21 day" step-by-step plan for how to get beyond 75% in the left side bar. Also, check out my answers to Frequently Asked Questions which also covers common misconceptions regarding my personal budget, blog income, retirement, marriage, children, health care, etc. I also suggest reading About ERE in the top menu bar.
This recipe is grand because it can be cooked in the morning and eaten in the evening.
Start in the evening by soaking some black eyed peas and some navy beans. These can be pressure cooked in the morning while DW takes a shower(*) and you cut up some green onions (I found a few in the fridge), a normal big onion (basket over the counter), jalapeno peppers (didn’t have any, so I improvised and took some out of the vinegar/killer pepper spicy bottle), a handful of corn (from the freezer). Mix all this together will a big can of diced tomatoes and slow cook on low for 8 hours. Spices to add are oregano, chili powder, and cumin. You should have twice as many beans as you have tomato. Half as much corn as the tomato and roughly as much onion as you have corn, probably a bit more corn. Spices according to taste. Experiment!
(*) Cutting veggies doesn’t use water, so you won’t take away DW’s shower pressure and thus she won’t be hostile when she comes out of the bath room (like all those other times when I start a laundry load right after DW gets up because I figure the noise won’t wake her up – see, I’m first order considerate
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Originally posted 2008-06-08 07:49:38.