BUILDING PERMITS!

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2003

Nothing to be afraid of my friend. Remember the codes are designed to protect you, your family and those you love. (as well as those you don't love). Use them, enjoy them, live with them. Let me tell you a little story, a few years back, a very good friend of mine decided to build a structure on his property. He opted not to get a permit, and did just about everything right except he grossly undersized a major structure girder. The inspector discovered the mistake and had him make the change. The inspector is your friend Makers_Mark. (i still know where you live though)

utahmule · Jan 22, 2003

When we lived in the Chicago area, you needed a permit for anything. Replace water heater, permit; replace dishwasher, permit; replace 1 window, permit.

They had the garbage collection guys on the narc payroll. Set out the old appliance, and the next day the Bldg. dept knew it. Had a few late night work sessions, finishing up with a run to my father-in-law's a few miles away with less surveillance to dispose of the evidence.

hazmat · Jan 22, 2003

I understand you need a permit in Mass. to change your mind?

The good men and women of the State Legislature have seen to it that changing your mind is now illegal, you are told what to think./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

utahmule · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

In southwest Utah, we pay ~$700 a year on a $280,000 valuation. Well, septic, county fire protection. 40 acres, ag. classified.

How have things worked out going below the tax bite income level? We're looking at the same type of approach.

Makers_Mark · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

$700 for $280,000?????? What the heck is that all about? Help! I'm being raped! AAAUUUUGH! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

utahmule · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

Did you at least least get dinner out of the deal?

dummy · Jan 22, 2003

Maybe I'll head over there with a bottle of Scotch if ya know what I mean...wink wink. From your choice of monikers, I was sure it would be bourbon. One of my favorite brands.<A target="_blank" HREF=http://makersmark.com> maker's mark</A>

ejb · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

>>How have things worked out going below the tax bite income level? We're looking at the same type of approach.

So far so good. I highly recommend it for those that can. We have reduce our expenses to such a level that we can get by comfortably on what would be considered way below poverty level based on income and family size...at what we make now, we would be eligble for all kind of free stuff from you taxpayers

(i.e. food stamps, health insurance, housing subsidary etc - *none* of which I intended to make use of).

At the "above average" income levels, everything you buy really costs you 2X the stated cost, i.e. to buy a $20K tractor, you need to first earn $40K to hopefully have $20K left after taxes...and how long do you need to work to make the $40K? What I do now is whenever I want some expensive toy, I remind myself that it really costs me 100% over the asking price...and so I end up buying a lot of things used, or making do without.

If you really sit down and figure out where your money goes, and what you give up in order to get it, you really can change your priorities around quite a bit and end up with time to do what really matters...for me that is being with my kids while they are young enough to think I am still cool

.

Having paid of the mortgage early, and never got into the whole living-on-debt-thing makes this type of lifestyle change a lot easier to try.

utahmule · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

If you don't mind my asking, where did you make the biggest cuts?

ejb · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

The biggest "cuts" if you can call it that, are the savings on interest payments. Getting the mortgae paid off is certainly the deal closer...once you get that monkey off your back, everything else gets easier.

Cars we don't finance either. My last 3 vehicles have all been used, not old and tired, but used enough that the first owner paid most of the drive-off-the-lot depreciation. You need to be disciplined enough about saving for the next car (i.e. banking what would have been a car payment so that you have the money when the next is needed.)

Except for my tractor (which I got when I was still working a good paying job), all the attachments have been used. I try to get everthing I can used. I have no clothing needs to speak off (though my wife wouldn't mind if I bought some more...I keep telling her, "but I already have a pair of pants")

My wife stocks up on sales, and buys 98% of all the kids clothes used, or gets them as hand-me downs from here sisters's kids. And don't think for a second that we sent the kids out looking shabby; she is very partricular about getting real-clean, used stuff, and usually name brands. With 4 kids, clothes, if all bought new, can be expensive.

A large part of the other "savings", aren't really savings, but are things we don't need to spend money on.

I don't commute into a city job, so I don't need expensive clothers, a car to impress clients, don't need to pay tolls, monthly parking, eat lunch out with my co-workers etc. I don't stop in for a few drinks after work with the guys.

My wife cuts my hair
I grow all the vegetables we need for the summer (and hoping to learn better ways of preserving for off-season).

We don't have a fancy house, the latest hi-tech gadgets, project/plasma TV etc.

No cell-phone, high deductiles on the insurance I do carry. Don't go to fancy restaurants, rent movies instead of going to them...

I do almost all work around the house myself and only hire out when I absolutely need to.

In short, there are a million ways to save money. The big two are taxes and interest; throw in a lower-consumption lifestyle and you are on your way...

Darren · Jan 22, 2003

In the rural areas of West Virginia the only thing you may need a permit for is a well or septic system. Other than that ... nada. No code, no inspector looking over your shoulder. No one snooping through your trash or peeking in your backyard (you can get shot for that).

You'd be surprised how many folks are moving to the state from New Jersey after retiring.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

I envy you. I would love living on the basics. But that would mean i'd have to give up my Direct TV. Which of course i rely on exclusively when i can't get my tractor started. (it hasn't started since 1983, and my wife won't let me buy parts for it)...but that's a different story.

Makers_Mark · Jan 22, 2003

I was sure it would be bourbon

It is. I just didn't think many people would connect the two.
Good call.

Makers_Mark · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

All my money goes to mortgage interest and prostitutes...JUST KIDDING /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

HalseyGreen · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

A comment about building permits - they can protect you from yourself. By getting the permit, you are documenting that the addition, building, etc. was constructed according to standards. I have heard stories where homeowners finished off a basement without a permit, later has a fire, and his claim is deminished because he can not prove to the insurance company that the work met "code" . I have an uncle that was a plumber and did contract hot water heater installs for Sears. Well, one of the houses he put in a gas water heater exploded shortly after he finished (like a month). Since he pulled the permit, and the work was inspected by the county, his lawyer was able to get his name removed from the suit for damages as they could prove that the county inspector approved the work. As a side note, the gas leak was caused by a nail hole in an upstairs pipe, made when the occupant hung a picture about the same time the water heater was replaced.

ejb · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

>>All my money goes to mortgage interest and prostitutes

Well, at least you are only wasting 1/2 your money

Wingnut · Jan 22, 2003

just didn't think many people would connect the two
you mean there might be some other meaning for Makers Mark?
I just automaticall thought of the red wax seal .... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Wingnut · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

JUST KIDDING 

yeah, we knew you were joking about the mortgage interest!

/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

utahmule · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

Sorry. I talked w/ my wife @ lunch and realized I made a mistake. We pay $700 on assessed value of $357,000.

ejb · Jan 22, 2003

Re: BUILDING PERMITS!/TAXES

>>Sorry. I talked w/ my wife @ lunch and realized I made a mistake. We pay $700 on assessed value of $357,000.

And you are trying to rub it in?

My assessment is slighly more than yours and I pay 11X as much in taxes...arrrghh