Last night while cleaning the house, I found some old papers. Among the many memories, I found a document entitled “J.D.’s Ten Commandments”. I can’t tell exactly when I wrote this, but I’d guess it was back in 1992 or 1993, just after I’d graduated from college.
My ten commandments were:

Be physically fit.
Be attractive.
Don’t waste free time.
Be frugal.
Maintain the automobile.
Be curious.
Be loving.
Be productive.
Have fun.
Be rational.

The meat of this document are the supporting details beneath each commandment. They’re a fascinating glimpse at my mind from fifteen years ago. For example, under “be physically fit”, I wrote “eat food that will prolong life, not shorten it”. As part of my productivity goal, I aimed to “write for at least three hours a week”. (Ha! Now I write at least three hours a day.)
It’s fun to see which of these goals I’ve achieved and which I’ve missed. It’s also interesting to note which goals have made me happy [...]

When I first left home, my diet was awful. I mostly ate pizza and ramen, with a lot of hamburgers added to the mix. I didn’t prepare much food myself because I didn’t know how. Besides, I didn’t think I could afford it. Student Cook is a site designed to help young adults get started in the kitchen while keeping an eye on costs.
Student Cook was formed in late 2005 to offer a unique reference point on student cooking for all occasions and budgets. Feeding yourself as a student couldn’t be simpler with our tips on preparing, cooking, eating, storing and shopping for food.
Student Cook is based in the United Kingdom, but its advice is applicable to people of all ages around the world. This site isn’t just for students. There’s handy information in a variety of categories:

Cooking basics covers topics like basic cooking terms, general food preparation, and how to make basic sauces.
There are [...]

In our discussion about socio-economic class on Tuesday, Angie mentioned a series of articles from Liz Pulliam Weston (my favorite personal finance guru). Each of these describes what the average financial situation is like for a particular age group.

Your 20s: See how your wealth measures up — “You’re poorer than you’ll ever be again, but you can lay the groundwork for a prosperous future. Here’s how your finances compare to others your age.”
Your 30s: Now’s the time to get ahead — “At this point of your life, you’re starting to see financial gains — or the first signs that things might not work out as planned. Here’s how you compare to your peers and where to find help.”
Money in your 40s: It’s make or break — “The time for mistakes is over. If you haven’t begun to build wealth, to control debt, to look toward retirement, then now is the time.”

Here’s an unrelated article [...]

digg_url = ‘http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/05/30/how-to-improve-your-gas-mileage-23-top-tips-for-better-fuel-economy/’;

Fuel prices have been hovering at record levels around the United States for the past few weeks. Now is a good time to review of the best ways to improve your gas mileage and save money at the tank. I scoured dozens of web sites and read hundreds of tips — these are the best of the bunch.
>> Save Money With Your Vehicle <<
Purchase a fuel-efficient car
The best way to save money on gas is to drive a fuel-efficient car. It’s probably impractical to replace your current car for something that costs less to run, but if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, keep fuel economy in mind. Consumer Reports has several lists of fuel-efficient vehicles:

A list of the most fuel-efficient cars they’ve tested (CR loves the Toyota Prius)
A list of fuel-efficient SUVs
A list of cars that combine fuel efficiency and performance

This calculator from fueleconomy.gov allows you to compare the cost [...]

>> Curbly: Salvage and season cast-iron cookware <<
“Cast iron is incredible. It’s like nature’s non-stick surface. I have a 12” skillet, a round griddle for tortillas, and a large, rectangular griddle/grill pan, all of which I absolutely baby, adding flavor layer by layer, and avoiding soap, and many times water, at all cost. So, I was stoked to find this cast iron Dutch oven at a thrift store for $4. All it needed was a little TLC and a round of seasoning, and I knew it would be my new best friend.”
>> AskMetafilter: How do I sell an expensive item on Craigslist and avoid being scammed? <<
“I’m about to list a relatively expensive item on Craigslist (asking ~$700) and have been reading up on all of the different scam horror stories and what not to do. I’m only going to be dealing with someone in person, and I won’t accept any wire transfers, cashier checks [...]

Are you upper-class or lower-class? Someplace in between? The New York Times has an interactive graphic that explains how class works.
While there are many characteristics that could be used to describe a person’s class, among the most influential are the person’s occupation, education, income, and wealth. Below are different ways of looking at class using these factors, as well as an examination of how mobility has changed in recent decades. The fourth tab presents results from a poll conducted by The Times that asked people about class issues.
The interactive graphic allows you to enter information about your financial status, and then it displays a graph indicating where these factors place you on the socio-economic scale.

Be sure to look at the other tabs. The income mobility graphic and the nationwide poll offer a fascinating glimpse at class differences in the United States.
[The New York Times: How class works]