<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Sell some stuff - like an ETD and you’ll have some extra money. Selling my Verituner earlier this year paid for my convention trip and allowed me to buy some tools that were more needed than it was.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Yes, it’s the bottom of the cycle here too. Usually January is my best month. Irregular income earners like us should save some of our money for the lean times of the year. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> For instance, I pay myself 75% of my gross income. The rest stays in the business account to cover taxes, tools, and supplies. This way, we’re not scraping around for $$ when we need to purchase some tools or some other business item.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Then, I have $700/month drafted into my emergency fund (money market account). I have a 6-month emergency fund so I can live for a while without earning an income should that ever happen. (Or, if there’s a medical emergency or whatever.) Also, part of that $700/month is being saved for my next car purchase. We typically pay around $400/month for a car loan, so why not pay ourselves that every month so we actually have the CASH to PAY FOR a car when it’s needed? I kind of like the idea of saving $2K or more of interest. You can buy a lot of tools then. ;-)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OK, off me soapbox….<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> JF<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tom Sivak Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 8:17 AM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: RE: Fujan lever/lightweight tuning levers<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> I have a McLanahan (I think...?...I can never remember the Irish name) lever that I bought at the national institute 3 years ago in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>.  It's not light, but so well-balanced that I feel the same way: it's easier to move from pin to pin because all the weight is in the handle.  My cheapie antique lever is the same, though...being a light-weight hammer it's also easier to move from pin to pin than my Schaff.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I'm not posing any of this as anti-Fujan propaganda.  I fully intend to, at some point, try out the Fujan.  And I fully expect to like it.  That's why I'm not trying it out now.  I don't have $180 to spend right now.  (I don't know about your area, but July 4th is the bottom of the cycle here in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>.  Peaks at Christmas time, wanes till July 4th.)<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Tom <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>