tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post6785459668955043756..comments2024-03-29T03:03:36.922-07:00Comments on Done by Forty: Outsourcing Yard Work, or Exploiting My NeighborDone By Fortyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-91856300463846138602013-07-25T16:11:07.197-07:002013-07-25T16:11:07.197-07:00Viva la Revolawncion!Viva la Revolawncion!Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-26181891079764024352013-07-25T16:02:48.601-07:002013-07-25T16:02:48.601-07:00The lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.The lawn is nature under totalitarian rule.fred doehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04141888329490447807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-79329598523719810022013-07-24T12:55:28.861-07:002013-07-24T12:55:28.861-07:00That's true -- there are opportunity costs for...That's true -- there are opportunity costs for that $60.<br /><br />I like the idea of avoiding yardwork altogether, as you do. It sounds great! But moving would have huge transactions costs -- the realtor commission on a sale & closing costs on a new home alone would seem to dwarf the costs of yard maintenance. Going to a rural area would also potentially have higher costs in some respects (e.g. - transportation). I'd have to do the math, but it seems that moving to a new area would take a long time to "break even" from the transition costs...<br /><br />In the short term, a good compromise might be for me to suck it up and do the yard work myself. It'll cost me time, but no dollars...Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-4611937396671191652013-07-24T11:36:26.488-07:002013-07-24T11:36:26.488-07:00I think the lesson is that you should move! Who wa...I think the lesson is that you should move! Who wants to work or shell out money for something of little value to them just to avoid judgment from others? Heck, you actually paid $295 for that work - $60 at 8% interest for just 20 years.<br /><br />We kicked yardwork to the curb when we moved to a home with au natural landscaping and left the neighborhood behind. Great for frugal (and lazy) living!<br /><br />Watering grass is ridiculous anyway, especially in Arizona! You can't eat it and it serves no practical purpose.Emilyhttp://www.forkinthefreeway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-6847927892131873042013-07-23T11:08:52.654-07:002013-07-23T11:08:52.654-07:00Thanks for the chuckle, Anna! I didn't know h...Thanks for the chuckle, Anna! I didn't know how that would go over...I have a weird sense of humor.<br /><br />I think I'm going to reconsider Betterment, thanks to your post. I had initially written them off since I think I can find lower fees directly at Vanguard, but that tax-advantaged rebalancing feature is really intriguing and may put Betterment ahead overall re: taxable accounts, due to the tax advantages.Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-77437075008507489732013-07-23T11:06:40.187-07:002013-07-23T11:06:40.187-07:00Any tips on how I can get my wife to do yard work?...Any tips on how I can get my wife to do yard work? :)Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-76950752470590904142013-07-23T11:06:05.815-07:002013-07-23T11:06:05.815-07:00Hi Joe! Thanks for stopping by. You're right...Hi Joe! Thanks for stopping by. You're right, having a good neighbor & a good relationship's worth a lot.Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-74858855156781848692013-07-23T10:44:18.493-07:002013-07-23T10:44:18.493-07:00I would have done the same thing, since I tend to ...I would have done the same thing, since I tend to be more generous if they're really old or really young (though I've also been known to be a sucker who will buy mass amounts of Girl Scout cookies since it's hard to say no to cherub-faced Girl Scouts). I had to chuckle at the "and on the third day" analogy. :) My parents live in Phoenix so I know how hot that can be (and dry heat, nothing - it's still dang hot!), so I think that was $60 well spent. He probably spent 25% of it on rehydrating. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-78477400080886638572013-07-23T10:11:27.954-07:002013-07-23T10:11:27.954-07:00IMHO, $60 is well worth 2 days of back-breaking ma...IMHO, $60 is well worth 2 days of back-breaking manual labor. Of course, I despise yard work and make my husband do it all. :)Kerenhttp://www.steppingitdown.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-5841545495894238982013-07-23T09:54:18.458-07:002013-07-23T09:54:18.458-07:00Hey, just dropping by to say hi. I haven't hea...Hey, just dropping by to say hi. I haven't heard about your blog either until I saw your comment at Pretired.org. :)<br />I think you did the right thing. Everyone is happy in the end. <br />Having a good neighbor is worth that much. retirebyfortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02180702594001358403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-80316649571290369002013-07-23T09:22:27.784-07:002013-07-23T09:22:27.784-07:00Thank you, Jen. That's a positive outlook...w...Thank you, Jen. That's a positive outlook...when this happens again, maybe I'll come back to this post and try to learn a bit from the experience.Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-58988842908960146682013-07-23T09:02:09.210-07:002013-07-23T09:02:09.210-07:00This is definitely a tricky situation and I think ...This is definitely a tricky situation and I think I would have done the same. On the bright side, the list of learning moments you listed is great--you can take away a bit from each and every one of them for the next time you're in a similar situation with negotiating.Jen @ The Happy Homeownerhttp://www.thehappyhomeowner.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-78918703503480326892013-07-23T08:44:59.432-07:002013-07-23T08:44:59.432-07:00Wait, so paying a guy $60 bucks once every few yea...Wait, so paying a guy $60 bucks once every few years won't cut it? ;)<br /><br />I'm really still torn on this. I don't like the idea of doing the work myself, or of paying out money regularly for someone else to do it. It's a dilemma. Maybe we need to make a couple kids who will work for free...Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-77442180388038142752013-07-23T08:26:29.912-07:002013-07-23T08:26:29.912-07:00Well first of all I think paying anyone to help yo...Well first of all I think paying anyone to help you with the yard is a great idea if you can afford it. The time and disdain of doing it yourself it probably not worth it, yet having a nice yard can add a lot of curb appeal in the future. Plus your neighbors won't give you dirty looks. I wouldn't feel bad that he did it, but I'd maybe look around for the best deals on having someone work in your lawn maybe a couple times a month? Budget and the Beachhttp://budgetandthebeach.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-21058633859562507482013-07-23T08:13:05.971-07:002013-07-23T08:13:05.971-07:00I agree that the feeling of guilt isn't worth ...I agree that the feeling of guilt isn't worth the extra $30. Though the bottom line doesn't particularly care how you got there, we're humans and it's important that we feel good about our actions, not just their results.Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-40937321176738335782013-07-23T08:09:34.610-07:002013-07-23T08:09:34.610-07:00That's true: I probably would've felt very...That's true: I probably would've felt very differently watching a professional do it for the same price. The fact that I live up the street from him makes it a little more personal.<br /><br />I don't know how I'd feel about trying this again. I think I can safely say the "floor" is at least $60 now though.Done By Fortyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246597867355460723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-76456883592841012222013-07-23T07:57:01.422-07:002013-07-23T07:57:01.422-07:00I wouldn't feel like a sucker. Paying a neigh...I wouldn't feel like a sucker. Paying a neighbor a little extra to a neighbor who worked in the blazing heat is probably better than feeling guilty or him feeling resentment. As for negotiating, it reminds me of the times I go to the carribean and asia (3rd world countries) and the tourists were always haggling with the locals when buying stuff or for services. I did a little too cause they inflate the prices. But some tourists really were fanatic. It was a difference of a few dollars and they would be intensely negotiating. Listen a few dollars to me is not a big deal compared to the local.Andrew@LivingRichCheaplyhttp://www.livingrichcheaply.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980246226076317453.post-42088971441707937332013-07-23T06:00:41.072-07:002013-07-23T06:00:41.072-07:00Interesting situation. I would guess that the guil...Interesting situation. I would guess that the guilt comes largely from watching a neighbor do it rather than paying a true professional. But it sounds like you guys were able to work out an arrangement that worked for both of you, even if you ended up paying more than you had to. And it's not like you signed a contract, so you're free to modify or eliminate the relationship going forward.Matt Beckerhttp://www.momanddadmoney.com/noreply@blogger.com