Can I get you to come out with some specific reasons here or am I to be ignored again?
Ha! I love you guys!! I got all my worrisome spending problems off my mind last night, left it to you guys to sort out and went right off to sleep!! That was rotten of me wasn't it...?
But thank you ALL SO Much for the thoughtful responses....I could wait to get home tonight and check back in.
Spoke with DH about the hot water on demand idea. He will be looking into getting that done this summer. We don't use heat in the summer of course, and the dang thing is burning propane to keep the tank hot all day while we are at work....doesnt make sense.
Also, I am going to look into the buy a tank idea. I tried to join a propane coop but they didn't cover my area.
The housekeeper/house maintenance thing is a bit tricky for me. This is my personal must-stache philosophy....
BEST: spending cuts that have NO negative impact on fun/quality of life = Great! (For example I LOVE beans, rice and veggies, dont like steak, hate food made in a factory. So cutting grocery spending is :-))) Did these type cuts FIRST.
GOOD: Good return, but requires investment or risk. But still - No negative fun/quality of life impact. (Like efficient energy improvements, increasing your insurance deductible, etc.).
ICK: Spending cuts that results in me scubbing the bathtub on Saturday instead of going out hiking with my pals = BAD. I will do the ICK cuts, but only if I cant get to my goals another way.
Im NOT afraid of physical work. I will happily spend 16 hours painting, gardening, building stone walls, etc.
We hired our housekeeper almost 20 years ago, when DH was starting a business, I was working full time and doing my MBA. We were both working 50+ hours a week and raising 3 messy rambunctious boys. DH is not really into housework at all and I was spending my entire time off cooking, cleaning, and laundering. I was NOT happy, DH was NOT happy. Hiring the Housekeeper HONESTLY saved my relationship with DH and sons.
The house/property is a huge expense. We bought a 20 acres of what used to be a farm. We have orchards, nut tree groves, gardens, barns, a stream, and access to ATV/snowmobile trails out the back door. We have building lots set aside for any of the kids that chooses to build here. Winter is brutal, but summer is paradise. I don't think I will be able to leave.