What influence does the wife really have ????

Inspector507 · Mar 22, 2004

I guess I have to bite also.
The wife takes care of all the bills. I open them when they come in the mail, so we both have a good idea where we stand on everything. I won't work on the budget though, I leave that to her. We don't really have a fortune stashed away, enough to hold us for a bit if the need arose. But I like my toys and she is very accomodating to that downfall of mine. When there is a purchase of $100 or less, I can make that purchase anytime I want, but I usually "clear" it with her first. Anything over that, I tell her what I want so she can fit it into the budget in the near future, so we are paying cash for it. Now for the high dollar toys of mine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.......
On my first tractor I made her a deal, I'd sell my motorcycle and I could buy any amount of toys (tractor included) I could with that amount of money only. On the new one we did have to run that through NH Credit, so we sat down and looked at what I needed to get, size wise. I would be using the proceeds from the old tractor to use as a down payment on the new one. I looked at quite a few colors, made ALL the comparisons. Took weeks. After I decided on what I wanted, that would suit me for the next umpteen years, I showed her all my charts and figures (I'm kinda **** that way). Told her how much money I had to put down, how much the new one was gonna run each month. She just said to me......."you've done more research than I can follow and if thats what you need to make your life (work around the house) easier, then get it."
She knows I rarely buy a "toy" just to have it. She knows it is something that will make my work around here just a bit easier. My health is not all that good and Phyl wants me to spend as little time doing "chores" as possible.
So.......all that said.....I guess my tractor purchase was a health benefit....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ICGREEN · Mar 22, 2004

A few years ago my wife and I started working on our retirement plan. I wanted a workshop / barn and a tractor. She wanted a pool. As you can see in the attachment parts 1 and 2 are complete. The tractor should arrive in the next couple of years if everything goes well.

frank_f15 · Mar 22, 2004

did not know where to jump in here, but seems to me that after reading all these post , of folks being togeter,20, 25, 18, 30, 38, and in our case 40 years, we all seem to have found a system that works. WHAT MORE CAN U SAY?

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Mar 22, 2004

Poncho.......its got 3.42's now.......I have the 4.10 set on the shelf........I drive it to work some in the summer ( about 30 miles each way........) so the 342's are more hiway friendly........Believe it or not, my wife was sad to see her 25 year old kubota leave when I got her the new boomer.........I make the bigger $$ decisions at our house( as well as anti up the money for them)........But we have a system...........If we have it saved up it's ok but we don't borrow for anything not a necessity...........Tom...........She knows that my old cars increase in value so I never hear too much about buying one.

MossRoad · Mar 23, 2004

we all seem to have found a system that works. WHAT MORE CAN U SAY? 

That's right. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowzuki · Mar 23, 2004

Well, I'm a bit different. Mid 20's, my gf of 5yrs and I have just bought 30 acres.

She currently makes more than me. We make decisions together and both agreed not having big debt. Our land will be paid in 5 yrs and we are buidling a shop/apartment out of pocket.

So, I looked hard at tractors, hammered out a good deal on one, took her to the dealer let her try it out. Showed her the numbers on the payment.

Asked her if we could get it. She says, what, you mean now? I thought you were thinking in 5 yrs time!

To me, the advantages aren't worth making here upset for several years with the payments on it. I'll keep trying every year and see.

BillyP · Mar 23, 2004

The wife and I always tell each other "If you can pay for it, go for it".

A few years ago, the wife took her Honda Accord to get the SES light checked out. She came home driving a new Honda CRV. Then she decided she wanted one of those Chevy Trailblazer but I did some fancy talking and talked her into a Silverado Z71 extended cab /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy · Mar 23, 2004

I call mine.. 'the treasurer'.

Like some of the others have stated.. she is contributing income to the household 'fund', and thus gets to voice an opinion on purchases.

Since we both work.. we usually set aside 'fun money' for ourselves, and then contribute the rest for household/bills/savings.. etc. Within reason.. we more or less use our fun money as we see fit.. with little or no 'review' by the other. Still.. on large purchases.. like anything over a thousand.. even if out of fun money.. we generally run stuff by each other. And deffinately any large purchase that requires say.. a loan.. deffinatelt group project there..

You really don't want the wife unit mad at you for overpurchasing... remember.. they control more than just one of the purse strings...

Soundguy

techinNY · Mar 23, 2004

Like others have said, it wasn't what, where or why but when. I knew what I wanted, where to get it and how much it was seeing as I work for where I bought it. As far as how much, her only question was how soon I wanted a new truck. 'Cause you aint gettin' one until the tractor is paid off! So that told me how much I wanted to spend and how long to drag it out.

DanR67 · Mar 23, 2004

Well, as I mentioned in my first post (link) , my wife turned the big 4-0 this January and SHE brought up the tractor idea! (Pinch me - am I dreaming? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

I'd been "casually" researching CUTs the past few years - but got *serious* when she brought this up - then I ran headlong into....

( AndyM wrote:

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 still haven't talked her into the front end loader yet. Any advice on that one? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif )

--> Living in fairly rocky area - I KNOW I'm going to be using the FEL - certainly more than my wife thinks. Our only disagreement was in the size of the CUT - a local Deere dealer had a great price on a barely used subCUT JD2210 (40 hrs) - but I felt strongly that the extra $$ would be wisely spent for a larger, more powerful CUT & FEL. She thinks it'll just be a *big mower*.

In my opinion, settling for a subCUT - when our needs would ultimately be better served by a CUT - would have been "penny wise - pound foolish". As such, I firmly stood my ground that a B7500 would better suit our requirements. (just look at the 3PH load on the B7500 picture that GregJ attached in the thread I linked!) Once I looked at the monthly finance payments - I even managed to "upsize" to a Kubota B7610 - as the @ $1200 difference in price should be neglible if we hold onto it for 10+ years as we intend to do.

As a final *incentive* - I agreed to take a cut in my *allowance* (ie personal "play money") that we each get at the start of every month until it's paid off. I figure as soon as we move some really good sized rocks around - she'll *reinstate* me! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif But seriously - I think the larger 7610 is worth it - and I'm more than happy to put my money where my mouth is!

In general - all decisions over @ $100 are discussed and agreed upon in advance - unless it comes out of our personal "fun money" stashes. My wife and I have been together 8 years - married 6

Should be getting my 7610 this Saturday! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Dan

lablovers · Mar 24, 2004

Slowsuki,
I just turned 50 and my wife and I discuss all major purchases. I do it out of respect for her and she is really good to me.

One thought on your having to wait years for your tractor. I don't mean to butt in but I will anyway. I thought about paying cash for my Kioti. Right now they have 0% interest for 3 years. At least through the end of March. You can buy now and use Kioti's money. I doubt that you will get the same price today that you will in 3-5 years. Inflation, steel prices, etc. I sure it will be more not less. For me it made a lot more sense to use their money. The down payment is about 20% but it still seemed a no brainer to me. Good luck and be sure to keep your lady happy. Hopefully she will be around longer than the tractor.

herdfan · Mar 24, 2004

( Some say it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. That leads to a lot of nights in the doghouse if you ask me. )

Arfff Arfff!! Anybody "Got [a] milk[bone]?" /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

GerardC · Mar 24, 2004

I respect my wifes thoughts. She is my best friend and my soulmate.
I was looking at the Kubota BX23. Wife was not to fond of the price for what you get so to speak (seems small). I took her to look at the Kioti CK20 and she told me to buy it. Don't have to twist my arm!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It should be ready for delivery this Saturday! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JDGREEN4ME · Mar 24, 2004

Making the decision to spend $20,000 bucks on a tractor was a choice we both needed to agree on. My wife did not care however what brand it was or anything else other than the fact we needed it to accomplish the dreams we both have of a retirement home on Seneca Lake. I would say we talk about any purchase that will be greater than $300 bucks. We have been married nine years and that has worked for us so far. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Mar 24, 2004

( I figure as soon as we move some really good sized rocks around - she'll *reinstate* me! But seriou )

I've used that angle.

A while back I wanted a 3pt spreader for the tractor.. wife balked at the 260$? price tag.

We needed to seed about 13 ac.. plus fertalize it. She thought it would be a breeze with a couple of those walk behind jobs. So I called her bluff.

After seeding for a few hot sweaty hours together one morning, she said.. 'how long is this gonna take?' I cooly said.. oh probably only another 6 hours... then we need to fertalize it.. and probably again after it comes up... then hit it with rye in the winter...

At lunch we drove to tractor supply... I can't recall.. but I think SHE bought the seeder...

Soundguy

Poppa · Mar 24, 2004

I have tried the angle of pointing out how much work the tractor could save. I've offered to let her run the shovel or operate the wheel barrow and she keeps laughing. She SAYS she understands how much work I've done and there still is to do but to no avail. She claims it's good exercise. I ask why is it that she is the one that needs to go to the gym?

(Warning!!! when trying to talk a wife into a tractor some comments should never be used. That was one. Set me back at least six months.)

Mike

DanR67 · Mar 24, 2004

( I have tried the angle of pointing out how much work the tractor could save. )

Bingo! I think that is intangible to my wife - until she sees it actually working for her. I know it will let us "do more IN less". It's not an angle - it's reality - plain and simple.

I just have to make sure she feels comfortable on how to use that FEL! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That's essentially all that we *haggled* about!

Dan

herdfan · Mar 25, 2004

( She claims it's good exercise. I ask why is it that she is the one that needs to go to the gym?
)

Sounds like a very dangerous comment, Poppa /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

herdfan · Mar 25, 2004

( Bingo! I think that is intangible to my wife - until she sees it actually working for her. I know it will let us "do more IN less". It's not an angle - it's reality - plain and simple. )

Very true! The amount of money that we'll save just cleaning up a few hillside slips will cover at least half the cost of our tractor and dump truck. Then you can start adding on the other jobs - cutting a house foundation, water line trenches, culvert installs, . . .

It's definitely an investment with some nice returns.