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.
This is what you should keep next to your bed (if you live in earthquake territory—the suggestions are good for fire as well though)
- Crowbar or wrecking bar
- Bath robe or similar “suit” that can be put on in two seconds.
- Sturdy work gloves
- Boots that can be put on in two seconds.
As a bonus you can also keep a small bag with real clothes. Make modifications accordingly. If you live on the second floor, keep a rope ladder.
Additional supplies should be kept somewhere else, where the roof will not cave in on them, such as a small (lockable) shed outside—use a combination lock, lest you forget the key in the house.
As a side note, I have experienced three earth quakes. Two in Switzerland and one in California. None of them were more than a small tremor that lasted a couple of seconds—most of that time I did not spend running out of the house but trying to determine what was going on.
Originally posted 2009-07-21 10:05:34.
