Inflation

[Ysabel Kid]

Well, got to experience (painfully) inflation and the rising labor costs firsthand today.

Last night as Mrs. YK and I were about to turn in we heard a loud noise. Darn near sounded like an explosion. I recognized the sound - the garage door spring failing. Sure enough, it broke in two. Fortunately, it did not damage the door, the opener, or anything else in the garage. But the door was now down for the count, and I wasn't about to toss my back out trying to lift it.

I've replaced openers (or installed new ones) plenty of times, including just last year (replacement). But I can't do the spring work. So this morning we called the service we had used last time this happened and they were out within the hour. They had the spring on hand, and it took about an hour to complete the work. $375. Ouch! It never fails; something always breaks before Christmas or afterwards. Hopefully this is it!

Anyway, I took the receipt after they left and put it in a clear sleeve and tacked it up above the door, replacing the receipt from the last repair. That one was 6 years ago in September... for only $210!!!

Same work. Darn price almost doubled in 6 years!

[lthardman]

Sorry for your luck, Jay.

I have had some eye openers myself. I was filling my truck gas tank and the pump was programmed to turn off at $100. As it wouldn't let me restart the pump using the same credit card, I left with the tank a little over three quarters full.

Due to our crappy roads, I purchase a one year "guarantee" on wheel alignments. I can go back in six months and again in 50 weeks and they adjust the wheel alignment for free. Last year, the plan cost $99. This year, it cost $149.

Thanks Joe.

[Grizz]

I was taught to frame that in terms of "that's how much buying power the dollar lost in that time frame". It's the value of the $ decreasing that we see as prices rising. The guy with the spring might have had to buy it for twice as much. His gas might cost twice as much. Etc.

Inflation is what all that "free money" from d.c. does. Every unearned dollar added into the economy decreases the buying power of the earned dollars. It's a plot I suppose.

[Jay Bird]

Feel for ya kid.......lets pretend you retire with half a mil in the bank or 401....in just a couple of years that half mil will buy what 300K did a few years before...........we can thank the losers and lazy for this.....print the money out ......

As to your garage door, people have been killed by the springs snapping...I had one snap a few years back (bang!) as the door was already down I used a bumper jack to lift it, put a 2x4 to hold it and lift some more...and so on..then stick a 3/8ths bolt through the hole in the rail to hold it up....put the new spring on and your back to playing.....springs are Available at Home Depot.

But that's too late now.......next time, your a young man and bound to have more spring breaks..you know, "breaking the spring...not at the T beach. ---

Birdman of Leverguns.

[GunnyMack]

...and the springs are probably made in china!!!

[Ysabel Kid]

Thanks Joe.

BINGO!!!

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I was taught to frame that in terms of "that's how much buying power the dollar lost in that time frame". ...........................................
Inflation is what all that "free money" from d.c. does. .......................

That's why you can still buy a new Colt SAA with a $20 gold piece.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Sounds much like my water heater experience .

[Grizz]

I was taught to frame that in terms of "that's how much buying power the dollar lost in that time frame". ...........................................
Inflation is what all that "free money" from d.c. does. .......................

That's why you can still buy a new Colt SAA with a $20 gold piece.

That's true. My Dad used to say he could buy gas for 10c, and proved it with silver dimes.

[Larkbill]

Sounds much like my water heater experience .

Oh man I'm dreading that. Our present 50 gallon one I installed in 1998, still had one kid at home all the time and since he used as much hot water as all three did when they were younger so I went back with the larger tank.

Since then I've gotten too old to carry the old one back up the steps. Though I could still do the install. Wife says no.

A 40 gallon is now double the price of my old 50.

My city now requires a permit so they can verify you've added an expansion tank.

Luckily that last kid is now a part owner of an HVAC company who also has plumbers so he'll give us a break on it. But I'm thinking the last one was around $200. Don't think I'll get off that easy this time.