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.
It is possible to pump up truck tires (here RV tires) with a bicycle pump . They both use schraeder/auto valves. In fact pumping the truck tires requires less strength than bicycle tires since the max PSI is generally lower (about the same as mountain bike tires). Of course it requires more air and so more strokes. My pump requires about 10 pumps for each PSI.
Now that’s an excellent opportunity for a free workout.
I use a floor pump and stand right over the pump locking my arms. Then I just so half squats similar to Hindu squats but not quite as hard). I lost count but my six tires required a couple of hundred squats.
Now, you could buy a 12V pump for 15 bucks or a 110V pump for 40 bucks, but then you would just end up with a superfluous pump that is weaker than you are and why deprive yourself of a free workout?
So grab that floor pump and head out to the car (if you still have one) and top off those tires. You’ll save on gas as well as gym memberships.
Thanks to Bruno for the confidence.
Update: Seeing as I recently blew out the hose of the pump while inflating a car tire, I should warn you that compressed air is hot (it’s physics, babe!) which is apparently enough to kill the rubber hose on an 6 year old Walmart pump. I’ll see if the hose can be replaced. If not, I’m getting a bigger pump.
Second Update: A pair of scissors fixed the rubber hose. I just cut off the few torn inches at the end and reattached everything. Lesson learned: Always think before you go out and buy!
Originally posted 2009-05-23 03:02:25.
