the richest man in atherstone

This series of articles was inspired by a wealth-building strategy created by Stuart Goldsmith. It is called 'Double Your way to a Million' and you can sign up for your free copy on this webpage.

On Friday, I discovered that the company I work for were scrapping a number of old printers. Most were in perfect working order, just surplus to requirements.

I asked my manager if I could take one, however the MD was one step ahead of me and sent an email around offering the printers in exchange for a 'donation for charity'. There was no recommended minimum sum for a donation but I thought that my 64p stake money would not be well received.

My idea to sell on a free printer seemed foiled, but over the course of the weekend the cogs of my mind started turning and I came up with an idea.

Knowing my mum was looking for a new printer, I phoned her and told her about the cheap printers and she said she'd pay up to a tenner for one. I said I'd test it and make sure I got the best printer (working in IT has its advantages) and ship it to her all for a nominal fee of 64p. She agreed.

Worried I might be contravening the doubling rules in some way, I read back through Stuart Goldsmith's report.

Although I'm not allowed to divert personal resources into the 'doubling game', the car journeys (to and from work and to and from my mum's) would have been made anyway, so no additional cost would be incurred. In fact, the only resource I would be contributing would be my labour (choosing, testing, making the transaction and carrying), which is okay by the rules.

Today (Monday) I picked out the best printer, tested it to make sure it worked, contributed £5 of my mum's cash to charity (half of what she said was her limit) and put it in the boot of my car.

Then, I took it round to my mum's house, installed and configured it and showed her how to use it - more than enough to earn my 64p commission. I gave her back her change (£5 from the £10 she gave me) and collected my 64p.

One thing I've observed since starting this project is that I am noticing more opportunities, or rather I'm seeing things that happen in my day-to-day life as opportunities. Before, I would have seen the email about the printers and probably ignored it as I don't need one myself. I think because I'm actually looking, I'm seeing more.

Step 8 complete.
Cumulative Cash: £1.28