monitor problem

My monitor keeps blinking on and off everytime I turn on my computer. Someone suggested that it could be the computer, but I hooked up my friend's monitor to my computer and it works fine. When I have my monitor plugged in to an outlet, it continues to blink on and off (the light turning from green to blank to green again). This monitor is still fairly new, only about 2 years old. Is there a way I can fix this on my own? I really don't want to get a new monitor or pay someone to fix it, as I am a student without much money. The same thing happens to me... all the time. That's how I found this page. It will blink on and off (about a second off, and half a second back on, then repeats) usually when I start my computer. I know for a fact that my computer isn't to blame. I figured out that if you left it sitting for some time, it DOESN'T work. What does work is unplugging the power cord that is hooked to the back of the monitor, then plugging it back in, after blowing in it to get the dust out. Try that a couple of times, and it may work. I've shopped around, but I've found no sign of an inverter board, if that is the problem. Ever so often, about an hour or two into a login session, it will start back again and it's a pain in the back to get the monitor working again. I've not a clue what to do besides buy a new monitor.