Recent unexpected expenses?

**marvholly** · 11-19-2010, 01:10 AM

I also have ben out of work for 3 months. I have not yet hit unexpected expenses BUT:

Furnace has been acting up (guestimate $3000)
Auto needs brakes (estimate $350)

As soon as I get my Dad resettled into his newer routine (moving from rehab to his senior apt today) I NEED to take care of both before the brakes cost even more & the furnace goes.

**disneysteve** · 11-19-2010, 03:56 AM

Our most recent unexpected expense was $1,650 to have a tree removed. Just paid that yesterday. Another smaller upcoming one is $185 to fix a broken window although the landscaper should be covering all or part of that because they broke the window when the mower kicked up a branch that broke the window.

**maynard** · 11-19-2010, 04:26 AM

Had a tooth extracted and an implant put in. $2600 out of pocket.

Paid for in cash from my EF.

**disneysteve** · 11-19-2010, 04:39 AM

Originally posted by maynard View Post

Paid for in cash from my EF.

Yes, how we paid for that unexpected expense is important to mention. We paid for our tree removal out of our checking account, so basically out of current income.

**wincrasher** · 11-19-2010, 05:09 AM

DS - an axe at Lowes is only $25. And you pay a lawn guy?

What a spendthrift you are!

**cypher1** · 11-19-2010, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by wincrasher View Post

DS - an axe at Lowes is only $25.

I've never cut down a whole tree, personally. But if I have an enormous tree next to my house to be removed, I'm not going to risk accidently crashing it on my house, let alone trying to break up and haul away once on the ground. I'll leave that to the experts, that and any work with natural gas or being on my roof.

**disneysteve** · 11-19-2010, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by wincrasher View Post

DS - an axe at Lowes is only $25. And you pay a lawn guy?

What a spendthrift you are!

If I took down a 40-foot maple with an ax, the bill to repair the damage to either or both of our homes and cars would have been a whole lot more than $1,650.

**biff** · 11-19-2010, 05:57 AM

Originally posted by marvholly View Post

I also have ben out of work for 3 months. I have not yet hit unexpected expenses BUT:

Furnace has been acting up (guestimate $3000)
Auto needs brakes (estimate $350)

As soon as I get my Dad resettled into his newer routine (moving from rehab to his senior apt today) I NEED to take care of both before the brakes cost even more & the furnace goes.

Ouch! I'm sorry! Thought I had it bad

**biff** · 11-19-2010, 05:59 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

Our most recent unexpected expense was $1,650 to have a tree removed. Just paid that yesterday. Another smaller upcoming one is $185 to fix a broken window although the landscaper should be covering all or part of that because they broke the window when the mower kicked up a branch that broke the window.

Steve, were you able to keep any of that wood to burn? I like to have bonfires, even though it doesn't get super cold out here!
If your landscaper is licensed and insured I would agree with you on that. They should pay.

**biff** · 11-19-2010, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

If I took down a 40-foot maple with an ax, the bill to repair the damage to either or both of our homes and cars would have been a whole lot more than $1,650.

Ha! +11111!
had one blood test done recently in the last three years because I have hyperactive thyroid. $1000 deductible has yet to be met. Out of pocket expense $90. Man alive!

**disneysteve** · 11-19-2010, 06:26 AM

Originally posted by biff View Post

Steve, were you able to keep any of that wood to burn?

Since we don't have a fireplace, no, we didn't. I'm sure the tree company makes money selling it all but since I had no use for it, that's fine with me.

**Ima saver** · 11-19-2010, 06:32 AM

I had to pay an emergency room bill of $6000 for my dh. I sent my FIL $2000 to pay his property tax and my little poodle had to have emergency surgery to the tune of $1000. All of this was paid within the last three weeks. I took the money out of my emergency fund.

**Homebody** · 11-19-2010, 06:45 AM

Nothing big lately, thank goodness, but we know we have to remodel our bathroom next spring. Floor seems like it is getting a little weak.... uh oh!

Trees.... I live in Redwood country and we had a huge pine taken down a few years ago after a severe storm locally. It cost us $1000.00. There is no way anyone takes down trees around here who are not professionals. They have to climb the trees and top them out a few times before actually taking down the tree. Yes we used the firewood. We have a wood burning stove and it heats the house wonderfully. In fact sometimes we end up opening windows.

**nick__45** · 11-19-2010, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by marvholly View Post

I also have ben out of work for 3 months. I have not yet hit unexpected expenses BUT:

Furnace has been acting up (guestimate $3000)
Auto needs brakes (estimate $350)

As soon as I get my Dad resettled into his newer routine (moving from rehab to his senior apt today) I NEED to take care of both before the brakes cost even more & the furnace goes.

Don't let them talk you into replacing the rotor unless you have been feeling vibration and the rotors look bad. Their sale pitch would be the cost is the same to just inspect or replace. Yeah, whatever. If there is still metal and it is relatively shiny, don't replace it. Pads themselves are very cheap and the labor is the true cost. And you don't have to do the brake fluid when you just replace pad and rotor. Unless your brakes are bad, and you would feel it if it is, don't replace the brake hoses and they are expensive in both labor and parts.

I let my 'mechanic' friend talked me into replacing more stuffs than I needed. Let's say I prematurely spent 600 dollars on parts and labor on 2 cars that could have gone another 2 years or 25k miles each on the old parts. He won't see me coming down there much unless I really have to. Out of work mechanics can be very artistic about extra work.

Recent unexpected expenses?