Its always something!

Well tax returns are due in soon, I was thinking yesterday that WOW we might be able to do something we want to with it this year. Wouldnt you know it, I went to put something in the trash can and smelled a gas smell, hhhmmmm. Well the only thing around my house that can have that smell is my heating oil tank, and guess what, yup its leaking. GGRR. Its not the lines or connections its leaking from the bottom of the tank."Sigh". Well I called our oil company(great people, family owned) and they gave me an estimate for the tank and install of about $800. That doesnt include a couple other things that the new tank might need but that was a rough estimate. I repeat "estimate". So I figure its gonna cost us about $1000. We would do it ourselves but we want a pro to come in so we know its being done right, and warranties on something like this are a big plus too. Oh well at least it picked a decent time to do it, the temps during the day are around 50 for now and night temps are in the high 30s low 40s for the next day or so and they are gonna come replace it today.
I knew I opened my big mouth too soon. I am such a jinx. Im not gonna open my mouth about anything else or Ill jinx myself again.
Just needed to tell someone, I guess in a way its a good thing because I dont know how old that tank is and I wanted to replace it because of that and DH didnt want to do it unless we HAD too. So if you think about it Im actualy getting my way without an argument and a bunch of gripping. Hey! I found my silver lining. LOL Ok I feel better now.

((((Dravencat)))))

Thanks Terry I really needed that.
Ok it is now 10:20 am. they finished about 10 minutes ago. It only took them an 1 1/2 hours to do this, and, they kept to the estimate and only charged $800 for everything. That includes tank and labor, new concrete blocks with rebar in them, cleaned up the area, and the guy filling tanks today came right as they finished up.
This was actualy a good experience. I kept thinking it was gonna cost a couple thousand when I first found out the old tank was leaking. This price was because they considered it an emergency so that kept the cost way down. I sent a prayer up thanking God for these wonderful people. I am so lucky to have found this company because they are always genuenly great people, even when your calling at six oclock in the morning, they are already up and ready to go, and it seemed to me they went into double time to get this done for me. Im just amazed. There are still people who treat their customers with respect, courtesy and the willingness to make evreything right from the git go.

D'cat, you done good!

I always find that expenditures rise to meet income, especially extra income. By the same rule, possessions increase to fill all available space, LOL.

Boy, isn't that the truth about expenditures! We needed a couple repairs done on the van and what started out at $100 ended up being $350. We'd have paid at least twice that had we gone to a shop, but the guy who did our basement remodel is also a mechanic and car restoration expert. Whew!

It always happens that way at our house too. Just when I think the budget is ahead - something happens. One of the cats gets sick, or the car needs a huge repair, (is there ever a minor reapir on a car ?) or an appliance goes on the blink and can't be repaired because the parts aren't made for it anymore, or the septic needs pumping. The list goes on and on.

My favorite is when the needed repair or trip to the vet occurs on a Saturday holiday evening in a snowstorm. It has happened to us more than once.

dravencat-Look on the bright side by the way i figure it you have 200.00 now to spend on daylilies since it only cost 800.00 and you thought 1,000.00! lol

((((((draven)))))))

LOL, Dori! That's what we did...We'd budgeted $500 for the repairs, and when John said he would do them for $100, we thought we had extra to buy Howie a new chair. Well...Then the repair cost went up! But Howie worked overtime and was on-call, so it almost evened out. Whew.

D'cat, consider this: leaking fuel costs you money, so you are saving there too. No telling how long it has been leaking, you may have only smelled it today because of a change in wind direction. More plant money?

I have to show this thread to my DH. We had our hot water heater go...$500.00 for that, the pipes to our old steam boiler went...$1200.00 for that (but when it's -54F you *will* pay without thinking twice). Just like you Dravencat we were expecting extra money but...........

would it have something to do with packing and moving that reminded you possessions increase to fill all available space? darius?
I just hope nothing happens to prevent me from going to Ga. for the round-up. I'm the only one working in my family and every little crises is finanacially devastating. It's my aging car that worries me the most. I guess it is true that the older you get, the more you worry...

The heading for this thread is PERFECT, ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING! Just wanted to say it's nice to know we're not alone and share so much together, just love DAVES GARDEN and the fact there's all of you to share with. I agree too the older we get the more we worry. Well I can relate, we've had to replace water heater which was $800 and now need to replace heating/air conditioning unit that will be over $3000. Hugs to all of you! Denise

Darius- Expenditures always always rise to meet extra income, this time it let us off easy and was below our extra $$$ instead of more than.

GW-Isnt amazing all the differeent skills a single person can have? You were being watched over on that one.

HG- a holiday or time so inconvinient as possible is when this "usualy happens to me. Boy did I get lucky.

Dori- I really, really like your train of thought.

MaryE-as far as I can tell since our privacy fence is so close to the house, the leaking started the same day or day before so not too much leaked out. But that did have me really worried too so Im glad they came when they did. I was afraid they were gonna tell me it would take a week.

Lilypon-every year it seems to always be at least one really big repair or an outside cost that we have to do, one year the well pump, then the car died, then a legal matter came up, Oh boy but it just goes on and on.

WS- I will be keeping my jinxy little self from aiming my curse in your direction and make sure you get to the RU

tomden-you hush, cuz your second replacement item there is what I keep thinking is next over here too. I guess if it does I hope it happens at the best time that it could have, when I wont absolutly die, the cost will be kept down, and I have a company come like the ones who did my tank.

Ok enough individual answers but didnt want anyone left out, but now my fingers hurt because I also cleaned up the backyard by myself yesterday and that took a couple hours of work and chasing dogs out of my leaf piles.lol

You are right.....along with the above expenses that we incured this winter we also had to take our cat to the vet ($150.00) and my parent's house burnt down. Their fire was caused by gas escaping from the water heater....catching these things ahead of time is much cheaper in the long run.

Dravencat, I wish I had a fraction of the talent this fella John has. He restores cars completely from as little as a rusty frame. If he can't find a part he needs, he fabricates it himself. He's amazing!