It is May, and the weather is heating up. I’m ahead of the game on projects. Here’s what’s going on with me.
Free Lawnmower
I just got an old lawnmower that was bound for the junkyard back in running condition. A friend of mine was throwing it out, and he asked me if I wanted it. I was confident that I could get it running again, and I’ve been looking for a push mower for our camp, so I said sure. Here is a quick breakdown.
This thing was in pretty rough shape when I brought it home. Clogged with grass. Old fuel in the tank. Broken pull cord. No oil reading on the dipstick. I tore it all down and gave it a good cleaning. Then I changed the oil, cleaned the spark plug, put fresh gas in it, sharpened the blade, and repaired the pull cord. It starts with one pull. I have a perfectly good push mower that cost me around $4 for a new pull cord and about 2 hours of my time. The biggest issue was resetting the recoil on the pull cord. I found the solution to that here.
I’ll be taking it up to our cabin. There is a small area of grass in the backyard, and I’ve been looking for a deal on a mower. It paid off to have a little know-how when it comes to working on things. I definitely saved some money with this.
Other Projects
I’ve accomplished a few other things around the house and at the cabin this May as well.
The deck has been sanded and is just waiting for some dry weather for it to be stained. I’ve also repainted my garage doors. New doors were going to be around $1000, and that isn’t in my budget right now, so I decided to sand and paint the existing doors. It’s made a huge difference and cost only a can of paint to do. Finally, I’ve cut and stacked some firewood at the cabin.
Closing
It has been a productive and budget-friendly May so far. Keep that in mind when you start to do projects or when you think it may be time to replace something. Granted, sometimes replacing something with a brand-new item is necessary. But first, see if you can find something used. Before buying a replacement for something see if repairing or restoring the old one is an option. Your wallet will thank you, and you will have a sense of accomplishment. Until next time.
Read Also:
Updating Your Kitchen On a Budget
How to Save Money At the Gas Pump This Spring
Based in the Pittsburgh, PA area, Brian holds full-time employment as a Warehouse Manager for an electronics firm. Brian enjoys wealth building, investing, gardening and the great outdoors. Brian holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Robert Morris University.
