What influence does the wife really have ????

[JDgreen227]

Junkman,

My spouse had nothing to do with my tractor purchase and she had no say whatsoever about what I wanted to buy. Two months after we retired I went to my local JD dealer at the end of 2002 and picked out the 4210 package I wanted, made a downpayment and signed the finance papers, and asked them to hold off the delivery until spring. On Valentines Day for the next year, I bought my wife a very expensive gewgaw she had wanted for a long time, and she asked how I could afford it, being retired and on a fixed budget.

What I did was, I explained that being retired gave me more time to budget my income, and I had stopped investing into the 457K funds, and what with my part time job earnings I hoped to be able to budget for a replacement for my old JD 318 down the road. She told me, "well, I do think you need a new one..."

That's all it took. Had the tractor delivered a month later... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DUMBDOG]

I had been thinking about building a cad backhoe for a couple of years, even had the plans already. Then I had a real good streak in the market. Told the wife how much that I had made and she said if we could afford it go for it. I now have a 1992 JD 510D 4WHL DR, cab and extendahoe. It sure works nice.

The most important item is knowing if you can afford it or if there is somthing that is more important needed for the family. The other thing is never go out on a limb. If you cannot pay to fix it, do not get it.

After 28 years, she trusts my judgement.

 

[Poppa]

The easy answer is a lot. We've been married 17 years and neither one of us has ever made a unilateral decision over a couple hundred dollars. We both trust each other and each others judgement on both nos and yeses.

All kidding aside from my earlier posts, At this time she does not want me spending 12 to 15 thousand dollars on a tractor. I take care of the finances and I have told her that we can handle this easily (and it is true) but she is still having a hard time with it. Do I like it? NO! Do I think she is right? NO! Will I abide by her feelings and wait until I can hopefully convince her even if it takes five more years (yes, that is how long I have been asking)? YES!

Both Sandi and I have seen too many couples go the unilateral route and end up alone (That's almost Zen) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. As Frankf15 stated, Sandi and I know each other and each others tastes and we try to bow to those whenever we can. A classic example is my truck I mentioned before. When it was time to get a new one I started looking cheap and she literally insisted that I was wrong. Got to love a woman that smart /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

And, just for the record, even though I claimed that I was in charge of the finances, in all honesty I have to admit to not having a paycheck in the last 6 years. I am a stay at home Poppa with a four year old a two year old and another (and last) on the way in September. I might write the checks but without her there wouldn't be a need for purse strings so I guess I am back to the original easy answer. A LOT!!

Mike

 

[frank_f15]

YOU OLD RETIRED GUYS ARE TOO MUCH /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif oops i am old and retired also /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif sometimes u got to play the game! no what guys? they know what we are doing and let us do it anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Poncho]

After about 20 years.... we confer with each other on the large purchases.... yesterday we were looking at the Mahindra 4500.. she asked me what I wanted. My response was the 4500 4WD would probably meet the needs until we get more acreage... she said to get the 5500 4WD instead. Actually I baited her /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. I keep the finances so she usually defers to me... but she now has her dreams or has had them, house on acreage, horses, dogs, cats, Corvette, Trans Am. her comment has been that since I've given her everything she's wanted then she can't say no to anything I want. First comes the tracto.... then a 1970 GTO with a 455 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">how much influence does the wife really have in what tractor you purchase, how much you spend, where you buy, or how often you trade. Come clean and give us the honest scoop... do you really confer and defer to her wishes or are you just making all this up. Does she get a vote, a say, a objection, or even a chance to influence the purchase? Who holds the purse strings? </font>

My wife and I have both been working since high school, where we met. We both had the same goal... pay as we go. We have maintained that pay as we go attitude for the last 25 years. We always confer about all major purchases. Anything over a hundred bucks is a major purchase to us. She doesn't buy big ticket items without consulting me, and I don't buy big ticket items without consulting her. For either of us to do so would be most disrespectful. Our marriage is very much like a business, with incredible perks for the partners! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As for the specific tractor we purchased, she couldn't give a rat's whisker as to what specific tractor I buy, as long as I get the most bang for the buck that we spend and I can justify that we need it.

 

[BXMMCC]

38 years ago we made a deal - I'll make the money, she'd take care of it. It worked out pretty good; then she got a job about 33 years ago and about doubled her task; she had to take care of what I earned AND what she earned. (A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I'd like a sports car - she said OK as long as it's bright red, believe it or not.)

Junkman, we haven't heard your story yet!

 

[AndyM]

My wife and I consider over $50 a major purchase, one which needs discussed before the deed is done.

On the tractor purchase, we weighed all of the options that were being considered and I showed her which one I wanted (I mean, which one I needed). I told her how much it was going to be and she told me to go ahead and buy it. I still haven't talked her into the front end loader yet. Any advice on that one? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I grew up in a home where my mother wasn't allowed to work and dinner had to be on the table when my father got home.

He decided he wanted a new tractor, and purchase it on a layaway plan over six months.

When he broke the news to her that he was buying a new tractor, she told him they couldn't afford a new tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

He told her that it was too late, he already bought it and already paid it off! He told her just before they showed up to deliver it! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[DavesTractor]

From a tractor dealers perspective, the wife has a huge influence. And she generally tells the husband to buy what he wants. The wife is often concerned about safety and reliability and will often talk the husband into a nicer tractor than he came in to buy. Of course I often hear the husband discussing a new living room set or a new car for her....so there is some give and take. Some say a tractor costs double, if you know what I mean.

It is truly rare for a wife to come in with her husband and try to talk him into a cheaper or smaller tractor, and when that is the case, the wife is often right!

And guys, if you don't want a hydrostat, don't let the salesman get your wife on a tractor with HST. Once she tries it, you won't talk her into anything else.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Poncho.......Had the 70 goat first( with the 455/4gear) then got the wife the TC33D with user friendly hydro............Now we're BOTH happy..............Tom