I may have bought my last bike

[Selkie]

... We're putting more money aside as a "just in case".

Very smart. Last year, we have several major unexpected expenses: new water heater & replace the remaining steel pipe w/copper; new A/C and furnace; new computer; and big car maintenance bill. Luckily, my parents (not DH's) taught me to "pay myself" first by putting money away each paycheck. This is something I, in turn, taught my spouse.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Very smart. Last year, we have several major unexpected expenses: new water heater & replace the remaining steel pipe w/copper; new A/C and furnace; new computer; and big car maintenance bill.

Ooof- furnace, that's a big one. We got a new furnace this past year too- major expense, especially when you have to redo a lot of the old inefficient ductwork. Our old furnace was over 50 years old- definitely was time to replace it.

[Selkie]

Furnace AND A/C. Actually, our electric and gas bills have gone down. The newer systems are so much more energy efficient!

Wow, getting 50 years out of a furnace! That's incredible, Bleecker.

A new roof be next, I suspect. Hopefully, not for several more years. We should replace the windows, too, before long. Maybe it's time to start buying lottery tickets

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Furnace AND A/C. Actually, our electric and gas bills have gone down. The newer systems are so much more energy efficient!
Wow, getting 50 years out of a furnace! That's incredible, Bleecker.

Yes, we did central air at the same time as the furnace as well- saves a lot of money to do both at the same time. We work at home, so the air conditioning was very worth it to us- we were suffering terribly before that- even our printers were balking with the soggy paper!

the old furnace was older than 50 years, but the previous owner (now in his late 60's) could only remember that it was already there when he was a boy in grade school. The house is 68 years old, but we don't really know if it was the original furnace or not.
Even though it was still gamely chugging along, we actually performed 'euthanasia' on it during the summer rather than waiting for it to die perhaps in January some year. That way we had time to shop around and carefully plan and schedule the whole purchase and installation instead of doing it as a rushed emergency in the dead of winter while we were without heat.
You're right about the new one being a LOT more efficient. We are saving money now and not wasting heat and oil. But it was a major expense all right.

[Selkie]

Guess the best thing is to consider it an investment. Glad to hear your new HVAC system is working out well. Our AC died in August, but like you, we replaced both units at once. The furnace wouldn't have made it much longer.

My dad refused to get central A/C until the "kids" moved out, so I know the misery of summers spent sweltering in heat/humidity. Oh, he was so cheap that we couldn't use fans because they used too much electricity and at night, were a "fire hazard." LOL. Not surprisingly, he bought himself a window AC for his "man den" - the family room - when I was in college.

[fidlfreek]

I think of bikes as an investment themselves! Imagine all the healthcare bills I'm saving down the road by being a trim, fit young adult rather than a couch potato "fat thin" gal. Ya know, thin but without muscle or cardio capacity.

True, running shoes are cheaper than bikes, but my quality of life improves with the euphoria gained from biking. Another investment. Imagine all the $$ I'm not spending on self-medicating at the mall buying things I'll decide I hate in 6 months. Plus, biking I'm extending my social contacts so maybe someday I'll nab that brain surgeon husband who I met at a t-shirt ride one Sunday. Also an investment

Yes, its all a justification in my little warped mind. And I don't have a house or a furnace *good lord* to worry about.

[shootingstar]

Plus, biking I'm extending my social contacts so maybe someday I'll nab that brain surgeon husband who I met at a t-shirt ride one Sunday. Also an investment

Yes, its all a justification in my little warped mind. And I don't have a house or a furnace *good lord* to worry about.

Enjoy your bikes as much as you can now, fidlefreek. You never know about the future, you might be primary breadwinner for times if hubby ends up temporarily unemployed or you end up divorced --with even a child or 4 (like a cousin of mine). Just even having 1 bike during tough times, is truly helpful.

But I agree 110% that a bike is an investment..if used well, ends up with way more benefits than a fitness club.

As for moi, no immediate plans to buy /replace another bike. I already have 3, of which 2 of them I hardly use now. (But were used well, prior to bike #3). Can see maybe a folding bike or whatever in a few years. A bike is a real investment and savings for me because we haven't had a car in decades (and don't want one either).