Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
Some things I have in common with you:

I'm a big fan of Jacob Lund Fisker, too. ERE is totally aspirational for me, though, and has never been how I've lived my life but I at least I try to allow the ideas to enlighten my financial decisions.
I bought my Prius new in '07 and am still driving it (142k miles) and plan to continue, maybe until I die (I'm a lot older than you).
Have also been majorly burned loaning/cosigning for people as favors.
Also believe that joining a gym is a waste of money. Reducing dependencies on paid outside labor and machines will keep you in shape.
Also am conscious of wearing out fabric so I line dry in the summer.
Also wash baggies.
ERE sets a high bar. I love how he breaks things down using mostly simple straightforward language and logic, reminds me of a mechanical engineering professor I had, many joked he could enlighten chimpanzees on mechanics of materials.

That's a great car, hopefully it keeps going.

I think the other thing that you learn from loaning to someone and not being repaid is that although there are probably exceptions, often enough if someone is asking you to loan them money it's because they have a pattern of living just at or beyond their means, which probably won't change with financial help from others. Those who don't tend to have some money squirrelled away and don't ask for/require loans.

Line drying is a great idea, especially in summer when a dryer can further heat up the house.