Bad case of Tractoritis, budget for attachments?

[cisco]

Hmm, I have no room to comment. I've had my tractor for about 3 years, and got such with a FEL and heavy duty brush cutter. Now I've a rake, potato plow/subsoiler combo, box blade with rippers, and post hole digger. I've constructed a railed platform of the FEL (for tree trimming), and another for transporting debris. Now I'm lusting after a backhoe. Seems there's no end - just like tools in general.
Cooked Friday supper for my wife (deer goulash with egg noodles) and cleaned the dishes (OK, rinsed them and used the dishwasher for the rest). Got permission for a new miter saw out of the deal - she wanted a picnic table for the yard - so, one can't construct one without a miter saw, right???? Anyhow, we're all in the same boat - and you'll get all the toys you don't really need, just may take a little time.

 

[WVBill]

Thought of another angle to work into many of the tactics mentioned:

"Wow honey, First Choice has these tillers for $1,000 - they usually run almost $2 grand. Look how much I can SAVE us by getting it now!"

...works for them. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[CTyler]

Re: Bad case of Tractoritis, budget for attachment

LOL....Thats my line. The wife does the same thing,"It was on Sale!"

 

[Spencer]

hazmat, I would stop yapping about attachments so much. I would wait a few months (she will appreciate the break) until you find a implement you want at what you think it a good price. Then try to be matter of fact about buying it instead of asking. When she complains about how much you want to spend then remind her of the following (not all these may apply but some might):

You don't spend time and money at the bars
You don't spend time and money going fishing
You don't spend time and money going hunting
You don't spend time and money going golfing
Your not on a bowling league
Your not on a softball league
You haven't bought a motorcycle
You haven't bought a jetski
You haven't bought an atv

You get the idea. Let her know how important your homestead (and she) is to you. Tell her that you like staying home and improving the area in which you live. You are only trying to improve the area. Then explain how this implement will help you to accomplish that. If she still complains then go ahead and join that bowling league. Go out hunting and fishing. Spend a few late nights at the bar. If she is not going to let you have fun at home then I guess she wants you to have fun away from home. After all she does want you to have fun in your life doesn't she. She should be glad that you get so much enjoyment out of working around the homestead. A lot of my friends do al lot of the items on the list above just to get away.

Oops, I forgot to mention that these implements hold their value quite well. Tell her that you have been looking for a used one but that they are hard to find used. When one does come up for sale it gets snatched right up if it is in good shape. So later if you decide to or need to sell the implement you know you can sell it fast and for a good price.

 

[rmonio]

I like Spencer's idea - although I would have to say that the hunting (and Shooting - competitive clays) is probably my own real vice. I'm blessed to have a wife that continually comments that I don't spend ENOUGH on the things that I (or we) really need. In the case of my 4600, trailer, etc., she was the one that told me if I didn't buy it then she would - so I guess I'm lucky from that perspective.

I have noticed though that since I bought it, the number of hunting trips and tournaments that I've been to have gone down. Something about being able to do projects now without breaking my back and the fact that I do enjoy it probably has something to do with it.

Good luck!

-Bob

(next purchase for me is a Box Blade and a trailer receiver/3pt attachment so I can move trailers in the pole barn...)

 

[ronjhall]

<font color=blue> I'll have to kick my gotta have-it now tractoritits disease.</font color=blue>
Hazmat.
My wife was looking over my shoulder this afternoon while I was reading this thread. Her comments went something along the line of
“If you didn’t spend time on TBN reading about all the attachments and improvements that can be made to your tractor you wouldn’t have this tractoritits disease.” /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
At first I thought she was talking about you. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Then she explained it applied to me also. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
She has been the Love /w3tcompact/icons/love.gifof my life for over 40 years. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif But these kinds of comments can put a lot of stress in a marriage. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
Giving up or cutting back on reading TBN to cure tractoritits is more than I’m willing to do. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
What implement do I need next? /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
Now I remember. A 10" bucket for the backhoe. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[hazmat]

Thanks everybody for the support! I do remind her on occasion that some guys are drinking and or gambling their paychecks away!

I'll have to keep a better eye out for the used implements. I guess it is time to get a subscription to the local want ads newspaper.

My idea for a budget was that we would agree on an annual number and then I wouldn't need to go thru any approval processes to purchase an implement, Ie: It's on sale, or it would cost $X to pay someone to do it etc. etc. etc.

Hmm, maybe I should ask her which she would prefer?

Someone mentioned that she needs an expensive hobby. I wish! The only hobby she has that is exclusive of me is playing ultimate frisbee. This costs all of $100 a year/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif. She does enjoy skiing & hiking & sailing, but we do this together. Whenever she mentions wanting something, I always say, go ahead buy it if it makes you happy so long as it doesn't bankrupt us.

On a good note, the inlaws were visiting this weekend. They live in Northern NJ. We got to talking about the tractor after my father in law asked how the snow banks were piled so high? He pays $54 per cut for his 2/3 acre lawn & $65 per plowing of his 60 foot driveway. Even factoring cost of living differences, it helped reinforce how much we were saving by owning the tractor. Especially since we've got 2 acres of lawn & 200' of driveway!

 

[SteveM]

Spencer has the right idea, but there is a missing element - you need an advocate: a girlfriend of your wife that will argue on your behalf. My wife's best girlfriend has a husband who is always travelling for work, staying out late to see a game with the boys, etc. Generally a loser. So she continues to remind my wife how wonderful it is that I am out in the barn with our boys fixing the tractor, working the land,etc. It is FAMILY TIME, I remind her. Anyhow, this friend has been VERY helpful in arguing my case, she is even helping me free up some money for an FEL - and my wife seems to be coming around. He he he

Also, if you are the primary breadwinner, dont forget to play the 'stress-reliever' angle - that is why I mow 3 acres