When you set up an emergency fund, probably the first thing to do is define what a true emergency is. Otherwise, you'll find that money leaking out for non-emergencies. Set up the rules first.

Size of the fund would depend of the risks you have, how much you would spend if you cut all luxuries out (like you would if…

What I'd like to start is basic monitoring of home systems and notification of the abnormal conditions when something is awry.

Examples: monitoring the inside temp, fire/smoke monitoring at several locations, power status (that means battery backup for the system and ISP equipment), temperature of…

you said "Would be nicer if it activated a battery backup system or something similar."

They exist, I have one. The sump pump systems has two pumps, one runs off of stand AC power, the other runs off a a deep cycle battery which has a charger. When we were out of power for two days after a severe storm with heavy…

Just a few comments:

Fishing cable through existing walls can be quite a frustrating challenge particularly in older, multistory homes. Often there are no clear paths from point a to point b and circuitous routes may be necessary. Keep in mind that Cat5e/6 cable in bulk is cheap.

Some walls may also have "fire-stopping" in them - they…

I have a small pasture of around 2 acres and it has a wild variety of grasses - from bluegrass to ryegrass, to brome to quackgrass to god-knows-what. While I don't water it, nor fertilize it, I do mow it and spray the weeds. But, I'll have to look at white clover. I know it's pretty tough stuff that can grow in…

Agree. The bureaucracy and the hoops you have to go through to adopt a dog around here has gone beyond sanity. Here you have to pay for the shots and spaying/neutering meaning that's it's over $200 before you can take one home. You also have to certify that you have a fenced in yard and will be around during the…

You're right, marginal cases may be helped, but the really bad ones with mental issues aren't fixable for precisely the reasons you state.

Wow, these are expensive. My wife bought an HP wireless all-in-one (printer/fax/scanner) for well under that these costs. Unfortunately, it is also downstairs and my office is upstairs.

I'm looking for a better option for a rural home. Right now I have a wireless DSL link to an access point approximately 7 miles away. Speed is 256Kbps (slow).

I have wireless DSL, so I'm not sure what that would be.

I think the answer depends on your situation.

I'm confused... silly me, I thought an emergency fund was for... duh... emergencies.

Best one I saw today was an article in a trade journal, reporting that the World Council of Governments declared open source software to be illegal effective immediately.

In my company only the top performers (top 10-15%) in my organization get a 2 percent raise a year (I know because I am one). At least 50% get nothing then rest get 1%. Our rise bucket last year was about 1% of pay - all while the company is making record profits and also at a record stock price.

Besides what the author suggests, when action is necessary, I put that at the beginning of the subject line with a due date. For information items, I start the subject with "Info Only". Often I will put in no reply necessary in the subject line.

I have chronic pain, virtually everywhere in my body. And no cause has been determined. It has fibromyalgia symptoms - chronic fatigue, pain and stiffness. Also have coordination issues and some intermittent problems with losing fine motor control (e.g. dropping eating utensils), particularly with my eyes and…

My current employer 5 years ago said the average worker has been there 12 years, now fully half the employee population has less than 5 years with the company. It has to do with wholesale cutting of experienced, older US and developed country employees and hiring lots of new hires with no experience in low cost, …

One nice thing we have in Minnesota is that auto dealers are closed on Sundays, which allows you to look at vehicles unmolested by salespersons. Dealership personnel seem to like not having to work on Sundays as well, so there hasn't been a push to change this carryover from the days of blue laws.

I have a lot of old windows, old storm windows, storm doors and some solid wood doors which I'm trying to fine place to take them. My county does have anything like that and there's no reuse it center. Also have extra building supplies which could be used for small projects. Have to keep looking for place that is…