Let THAT Be a Lesson to You, Young Lady!

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“Let that be a lesson to you, young lady!” My dear mother of blessed memory would say that to me when I was a kid and learning the ways of the world. I’m old enough to say it to most of my neighbors now, but the thought it still there. It’s funny, isn’t it. Last year, before I undertook the burden of a new car (and accompanying payment), I called the HVAC company and a plumber and had them check three of the “big four” repair cost items: the water heater, the furnace, and the air conditioner. All got a thumbs up even though they were older. And here, eighteen months later, all three have now been replaced. THANKFULLY, the repairs were spaced out. The cheapest of the three, the water heater, went out first. I had that paid off when the furnace needed replacing. And, now that summer’s nearing its final hoorah, the air conditioner is being replaced. The water heater was leaking; however, the other two could have survived another couple of years. I opted to get them replaced before it became an emergency situation. The HVAC people will be overwhelmed in February with other furnaces on the fritz should mine go out. Plus, I have a saying that Mom totally agreed with: things will never be cheaper than they are right now. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but U.S. inflation has been running at about 5% lately, so this $4500 air conditioner might easily cost $6000 next summer. (I actually, for gits and shiggles, got another company to give me an estimate….they wanted $6,300 THIS year! ) If you think I’m going to call a roofer to inspect my roof (the fourth of the “big four” repair/replacement items in a house), you’re NUTS! I learned my lesson!!! The Smithereens talking about a house “falling apart” (but for a different reason):