Well, around here, a midsized dozer or backhoe and operator run about $100/hour. I have about 200 hours on my mule. I figure it takes me about 3 hours to do what a pro could do in an hour. So, I figure I have saved the equivalent of 66 hours x $100 = $6600. My tractor will pay for itself a little before I hit 700 hours.
On the other hand, having a tractor when I need it...
I put about 30 hours on the tractor just running the generator after Katrina.
Plus, 4 hours clearing my driveway and the street in front of my house.
And another 30 hours clearing the downed trees around my property.
All this at a time when I couldn't have rented a tractor for $5000/hour because all the rental places were torn up from the storm...
Priceless!!!!!