I may have bought my last bike

[ny biker]

I wasn't planning to buy a new bike anytime soon. The road bike I bought in 2002 is still in good and shape and I see no need to replace it. It would be nice to have something lighter, but I'm fine with what I have.

The mountain bike hardly gets any use these days, so certainly no need to replace it with a new one.

And since I have to store them in my living room, there's no room for a third, or a fourth.

As for other stuff, I haven't really cut back all that much on day to day expenses, because I already cut back a couple years ago when I bought a new car and had to adjust my budget for the car payments.

I'm still making some large purchases, but they are planned well in advance so I can make sure I have the cash for them and can take advantage of sales. I bought a new dishwasher in October, when there was a sales tax holiday on energy star appliances. I just bought a new TV in January (replacing one I bought in 1994) but I'd been planning to do that for a year. And I got it on sale, plus had some gift cards to knock down the price a bit more. So I got a good deal.

I'm still planning to make some upgrades to my condo. I will probably be replacing my water heater as my next project, because I think it's nearing the point where a leak will be a problem. And then I want to finally move ahead with painting the living room/dining room and bedroom, which literally has not been done for something like 15 years.

But I'm still putting money into savings every month, too.

[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

[kfergos]

And since I have to store them in my living room, there's no room for a third, or a fourth.

Me, too! This is as good of incentive not to keep collecting bikes as anything. I may not mind bike-themed decorations, but after a while my dh might have something to say about it.

[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).

[tulip]

The last house I owned before this one (but I had two rentals in between) was nearly 100 years old and the furnace/boiler was 40. The 100 year old house was a solid as they get and I had no problem with the house! But the furnace worked until one very cold snap it did not. We were two weeks without heat! My then DH and I were separating, and he was staying elsewhere, so I got to stay in the very cold (in more ways than one) house.

I replaced the heating system and added AC in my current house shortly after I bought it. The old system was old and improperly installed (CO hazard) and the chimney needed alot of work. So I put in an electric heat pump system with central AC. It's very efficient and cozy for my little one-story house. By next winter I'll have my woodstove hooked up and I'll be even cozier (even when the power goes out).

ny biker, I don't know how long water heaters are supposed to last, but I think it's good to be proactive. Normally I believe in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," but when it comes to water in your attic, best to take care of that before it becomes an even bigger problem.

Back to the issue at hand...I'm so happy with the bikes that I have that I'm not even tempted to consider buying another one. Not that I can at the moment anyways. My kitchen has taken care of any non-essential purchases for a loooooong time. (But it's so nice to have a kitchen again!)

[indysteel]

I'm with you.

Something Indysteel wrote in the Best Bike Advice thread resonated with me: considering each purchase carefully and reminding myself that financial security is more important buying ______________. Saving for things and being content with what one currently possesses.

That said, a finding a good deal on something and buying it is also very wise.

I'm glad that resonated with you MichChick, but in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I'm in the middle of buying a new bike, and not a cheap one at that. In keeping with what I said in the Best Bike Advice thread, I decided to buy the bike after much consideration (a) because I saved diligently for it and am paying for it with cash; (b) because I didn't compromise on expenses that are more important to me, e.g., charitable giving, my retirement fund, home and car repairs (in the past three years, I've replaced some of my siding, my roof, the blower on my furnace, and my hot water heater and I've spent another 2k to keep my car running over the past 2 years); and (c) because I've otherwise been fairly frugal these last few years to offset it. I've also done what I could do to limit the costs in building it where possible.

I hope my bike purchase doesn't seem contrary to the advice I gave Smurf. If I were broke and 27, I sure wouldn't be buying it, nor would I buy it if it meant compromising my other financial goals. Yes, I could have invested it or simply kept that money in the bank--and believe me I've thought about it--but I know I'm going to ride this bike to death (figuratively speaking, hopefully) and it's one of the few luxuries--beyond a bit of travel--that I've ever allowed myself.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

In general, having a bicycle is certainly a wise investment in our good health.

[Selkie]

Indy, I still think you are wise. You saved for the bike, you thought long and hard about your decision, etc.

I try not to judge other folks' decisions as to how they spend their money, so long the purchase doesn't have an adverse impact on others. That said, I don't think irresponsible spending is very smart (particularly since my taxes will be going up and funding the big bailout, but that's besides the point). I'm old school and strongly believe that people should take responsibility for their choices/actions.

[indysteel]

Indy, I still think you are wise. You saved for the bike, you thought long and hard about your decision, etc.

I try not to judge other folks' decisions as to how they spend their money, so long the purchase doesn't have an adverse impact on others. That said, I don't think irresponsible spending is very smart (particularly since my taxes will be going up and funding the big bailout, but that's besides the point). I'm old school and strongly believe that people should take responsibility for their choices/actions.

Thansk, Michchick. I do sort of feel like a hypocrite at times though. I typically talk myself out of larger purchases, especially with furniture. I was 36 when I finally pulled the trigger on bedroom furniture. I had lived so long without a dresser that I had a hard time believing that I actually needed one--notwithstanding the piles of clothes in my laundry room, closet and bedroom and my inability to find anything in less than 15 minutes.

So, the bike is a big step believe it or not in enjoying the fruits of my labors. It's not that I'm a miser; I just have a hard time with anything that costs over, say, $100. I run the pros and cons over in my head until I usually just don't feel like buying it again.