Do you ever think about how many things that a person owns that requires maintenance? Think about it. There's a car, a house, all the appliances in a house, computers, motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, boats, airplanes; you name it, and it typically requires maintenance.
Probably the first thing everyone owns that needs maintenance is a car. First it's an oil change which typically costs $25 if you have someone else do it for you. Then it's brake pads and shoes, and if it is bad enough, rotors and drums. About 50,000 miles later, if they were new when you bought the car, tires. Tires can get expensive. If you have a common rim size, say 16 inch and not low-profile, tires are relatively inexpensive. But if you get into low-profile, larger rim sizes, and truck tires, then the price goes up. Typically when the price for the tire goes up, so does the labor cost. Finally, the most expensive repair, not including body work, is the engine and transmission. I know someone that had a transmission go out and ended up spending $1,500 on a rebuilt one. A rebuilt transmission means that the transmission is used, but the inside components have been replaced and usually means it is a little cheaper.
A house is a whole other story. You have the structure to maintain; siding, the roof, electrical, plumbing, and windows, along with everything in it; appliances, flooring, carpeting, furniture, and everything else that makes a house a home. Appliances die, roofs age and become leaky, windows start to be less efficient and leak air out, plumbing rusts and starts to leak, and furnaces and air conditioners fail. Then there is the interior. Furniture becomes "outdated" and worn down, walls are repainted to co-ordinate with the new furniture, carpet becomes broken down and ragged, and hardwood floors show their age and need to be refinished.
Everything adds up. Usually when you let things go, you end up paying more than you would have if you had done "preventative maintenance." My outlook is that if you think or something looks like it should be repaired, repair it. Don't wait until it is too late. I look at it like this: I can either buy what I need when it is on sale before the old item breaks or I can buy what I need when I need it and spend more money.
I like to be prepared and research products before I buy them. Waiting until I need something means that I am rushed through the research phase and might not get what I want and need, and may end up spending more.
Always check multiple places (stores and websites) and multiple brands. You can narrow it down to a handful of brands, but don't think that you have to buy top-of-the-line. You'll probably be paying for the name more than the quality in the product.
I wrote about this because a family member is having problems with their oil in the engine and I have to figure out what is wrong.
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2 comments:
thats really good that your helping your family out when its time for need. alot of people to me underestimate the general cost just to get by. like you said, oil, brake pads, regular sized tires. its already expensive enough how can people aford to ha "pimp their rides" where does all this money come from? i'm not sure because i know im lucky enough to even have a car. although its not working right now theres somethin gwrong with the radiator i'm in the same predicament you rfamily memeber is in. oh and howd you get the weather thing on your page?
I have the worst luck when it comes to cars!! I was a dummy one time and paid $2,200 to fix my transmission on a '98 ford contour, yes I was young and dumb. Now I own a trailblazer that needs new tires but they are 140.00 per tire. Cars are the worst investment you can ever make, is the main bulletin point of this. :)
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