BATMANI just sat down yesterday and figured out the cost of running the John Deere to cut my one acre of lawn. Including purchase, servicing and fuel it work out to $28.00 every time I cut the lawn over the last twelve years.
New Samsung front load steam washer and dryer $3500.00. The first time I ever hooked up a water hose to a dryer.
I did just fine in public school and so did my wife but can the kids go there?
The down side. At 53 I have an 8 year old and an 11 year old and sometimes run out of gas before I should.
andrechapelon1. Septic systems.: $180 to get the thing dug out. $200 for a new sewage pump (the old one gave up the ghost after > 20 years in that filth), $185 for the pump out (and cheap at that), and $180 for the plumber. Total:$ 745.
Lawn tractors:
New tires. The Odyssey will need new tires by the end of summer. Estimated cost: around $450. P225/60R16's ain't cheap.
You did not mention car insurance. $650/month.
I'm sure there'll be more, but I don't even want to think about it.Oh crap. Sometime this summer, the furnace needs to be serviced.
Then there's property taxes in the fall.
But my biggy that has eaten up all the train budget this year is hospital bills. Despite good insurance constant doctor, nurse, hospital care for a cancer victum adds up. $40 co pay here, $300 surgery copay there, $100 hospital admision there, $75 emergency room visit, $10 perscription copay there, etc, etc.
Okay, I'll give you that one, Chip.
Things that get in the way of spending beaucoup bucks on trains.
1) Not having beaucoup bucks.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
selector Had to have the plumbers in twice this past year to fix problems related to well pump cut-off switch and filters. Recovered the roof last year (that was fun....I had to lift and remove all the asphalt shingles myself), had to replace the weed-eater last month...need paint for the exterior trim and doors at $24 a pop. Property taxes, vehicle insurance and maintenance. Yes, I am on an austerity programme. -Crandell
Had to have the plumbers in twice this past year to fix problems related to well pump cut-off switch and filters. Recovered the roof last year (that was fun....I had to lift and remove all the asphalt shingles myself), had to replace the weed-eater last month...need paint for the exterior trim and doors at $24 a pop.
Property taxes, vehicle insurance and maintenance. Yes, I am on an austerity programme.
-Crandell
I forgot about the roof. We replaced ours this year. With any luck, it'll outlast us.
Two years ago, it was a complete window replacement, retiliing the bathroom, tiling the kitchen and adding a toilet and sink to the laundry room.
Living in a cave and being a hunter/gatherer is starting to look awfully attractive.
Andre
I just sat down yesterday and figured out the cost of running the John Deere to cut my one acre of lawn. Including purchase, servicing and fuel it work out to $28.00 every time I cut the lawn over the last twelve years.
Other things; New furnace with electronic air cleaner and computer control $8000.00. But boy did natural gas consumption plummet. That was a good investment.
Four new snow tires for the Honda $427.00
The real kicker is a $6000.00 a year increase in tuition for the hoydy toydy school my wife insist on sending the kids to. No shops in the school just science and computer labs. I don't think there's a kid in the school who could hammer a nail if their life depended on it. I did just fine in public school and so did my wife but can the kids go there?????
Anyway I started my blue collar, union scale, career working for various governments when I was sixteen. I followed my long departed dads advice on investing 10% of everything I earned and as a result at 53 I am retired and have a very comfortable life.
Oh ya, I didn't get married until nine days before my fortieth birthday. This was a conscious choice. I was to busy having fun or working seven days a week.
The down side. At 53 I have an 8 year old and an 11 year old and sometimes run out of gas before I should. The upside. By having them late in life I have a lot more money to spend on them and can show them the world.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Andre, you should have bought a GRAVELY instead. My 15 year old 16G GRAVELY has only cost $127.00 a year to maintain. It pushes snow and cuts grass, and nothing on it has ever needed to be rewelded. My Uncle still has the 1963 Model L walk behind my father bought new, its only been rebuilt once and still cuts his lawn.
Well, given that the Deere is in its 7th season, I can't complain too much. It's not like I had to do it every year and it's been pretty reliable otherwise. Had it not needed new blades, I doubt I would have caught the problem with the weld or the bearing. Mowing nearly two acres at a time does cause some wear and tear.
1. Children - I know, this fails the politically correct test, but its the truth. Anyone want to adopt 6 grown children?
If they're grown, why are they still costing money? My kids don't cost me much. The grandkids, however, are a whole other story.
As for the tires, I'll check out Pep Boys. However, the nearest one is nearly 60 miles away. Can't complain about the Odyssey. It's got 145,000 + miles on it with only normal maintenance.
#1. Septic system: $1,600 for new tank, new field lines, having the old tank pumped out and disposed of, having the ditches dug, pipe laid, gravel brought in and ditches filled in.
#2. Having roof repaired after Rita came through: $700.
#3 Getting brake booster and master cylinder on car replaced, having transmission replaced.
#4 Getting 30 year old van ready for the road again because it's in better condition than 16 year old car that's falling apart faster than I can put it back together.
jwhitten
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
andrechapelon2. Lawn tractors: $85 for a maintenance kit (oil and air filters, oil, spark plug) and a new set of blades. After examining the deck, a mounting bracket has to be re-welded and one of the bearing sheaves has to be replaced due to excessive play. Estimated cost: around $200. Total: $285 (estimated), not including two round trips (so far) to the Deere dealer.
andrechapelon3. New tires. The Odyssey will need new tires by the end of summer. Estimated cost: around $450. P225/60R16's ain't cheap.
Consider Pep Boys house brand tires, they are made in the USA by Cooper Tire and have a great warranty at super prices, likely less than $90 a tire, on the rim and out the door.
Sheldon
1. Septic systems.: $180 to get the thing dug out. $200 for a new sewage pump (the old one gave up the ghost after > 20 years in that filth), $185 for the pump out (and cheap at that), and $180 for the plumber. Total:$ 745.
2. Lawn tractors: $85 for a maintenance kit (oil and air filters, oil, spark plug) and a new set of blades. After examining the deck, a mounting bracket has to be re-welded and one of the bearing sheaves has to be replaced due to excessive play. Estimated cost: around $200. Total: $285 (estimated), not including two round trips (so far) to the Deere dealer.
3. New tires. The Odyssey will need new tires by the end of summer. Estimated cost: around $450. P225/60R16's ain't cheap.
Running total so far: $1480.
I'm sure there'll be more, but I don't even want to think about it.
Oh crap. Sometime this summer, the furnace needs to be serviced.