Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 27th 2017, 4:17 pm
#77
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I wouldn't expect someone who drives a Priass to understand. .... For some people cars are a lot more than a tin box to transport you. If I won a big lottery jackpot I would happily buy dozens of cars, or more - in fact I would endeavour to take on Jay Leno, who the last time I heard has over 170 cars.
Jul 27th 2017, 4:19 pm
#78
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
But to go back to my original rant, I'd have to work more than the 2 hours to earn the money it takes a pool guy to "maintain" my pool water.
I pay my dentist, doctor, kids' teachers more because of their skills. I might change the oil on my car but I make sure it gets serviced at the correct intervals by a qualified and trusted (!!) mechanic. I'd pay an arborist to sort out my trees but I mow my own lawn..
My overall point in the rant though was to watch out for creeping lifestyle inflation.
Jul 27th 2017, 4:22 pm
#79
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I wouldn't expect someone who drives a Priass to understand. .... For some people cars are a lot more than a tin box to transport you. If I won a big lottery jackpot I would happily buy dozens of cars, or more - in fact I would endeavour to take on Jay Leno, who the last time I heard has over 170 cars.
I love my prius. love it. Went to Ikea last night and parked right next to the doors in a special spot reserved just for moi... hybrids/electric cars. No schlepping around the car park getting irate for me!
Jul 27th 2017, 4:34 pm
#80
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
The only times I have been there I needed to take my truck, which I backed up to the loading dock right next to the door. 
Jul 27th 2017, 4:49 pm
#81
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 27th 2017, 4:52 pm
#82
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
anyways just to really make you laugh.. I'm going to ask Santa for one of these..
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/produc...nt=27902381121
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/produc...nt=27902381121
Jul 27th 2017, 5:13 pm
#83
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
yep. saw a family doing that last night.. attempting to get it on their truck themselves, turning it this way and that...tying it down . All in 100f. This is where I will happily spend money. I'm waiting for the delivery guys to turn up and lug the bed upstairs, take it out of its box, take the boxes with them and then I'll put it together. .....
When Mrs P and I got home I took a look at the bookcase where they had left it (with my agreement, halfway up the stairs), then we went out for dinner with my in-laws (who were there to oversee the delivery). When we got home, it took my FIL (who was already retired, and in any case, like me, not a "professional furniture mover" ) and me about 10 minutes to get the book case up stairs and into the office.
When I reported the fiasco to the furniture store, not least so they could schedule a repair to the bookcase, the woman in customer service told me that the lead delivery driver who delivered the bookcase was one of their most experienced delivery guys!
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 27th 2017 at 5:41 pm.
Jul 27th 2017, 7:33 pm
#84
in Northern California
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 284
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 27th 2017, 8:40 pm
#85
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Jul 28th 2017, 12:26 am
#86
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
Posts: 3,265
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Maybe it isn't a lot of money to have someone take this work off your hands?
$50 a week for someone to test your pool water, throw in some pH adjuster, top up the pucks in the dispenser and empty the skimmer baskets? Backwash the filter if necessary (?2/3 times a year).
...
I don't earn $165 an hour so if it takes the pool guy 2 hours a month to look after my pool, I'm clearly in the wrong job. It's not skilled labour, it's not tricky, it's not a horrible dirty job, it just takes a few minutes a day. About the same time as flossing and brushing your teeth.
Jul 29th 2017, 11:29 am
#88
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 29th 2017, 12:05 pm
#90
Muskoka, Ontario
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,045
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I can see PF's point about creeping lifestyles, inheritantly it's all about the choices you make with your house etc, but without downsizing our house which we've only just bought we will also continue to pay for the guy who cuts our grass too.
Incidentally there was some "research" posted by the beeb this week that said that people who spend their money on services that free up time rather than material possessions are very happy.