Author Topic: frustrated...unexpected expense  (Read 7096 times)

mrigney

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frustrated...unexpected expense
« on: January 14, 2014, 08:55:51 AM »
So we bough a used freezer (in what appeared to be good condition) back in October. 20 cu. ft, $150. Shortly after, we bought a half hog from a local farmer who produces nationally known/respected pork. It's absolutely incredible. The half hog cost $440 and was about 75# of meat.

Yesterday, after a workout, I opened up the freezer door to get some cold air. No cold air. Only warm, smelly air. Temp in the freezer was 65. Temp of the pork was 61 (measured w/a instant read thermometer). Dah!!! We probably had 50-55# of pork left? So something like $300-350 worth of food plus a freezer that is no good. So frustrated. I mean, it doesn't add an expense at this point, but we were looking forward to having high quality pork. Now we're faced w/getting mass produced pork from the store until we can save up money again. Here's hoping for a nice tax return.

Lesson learned. Don't buy used freezers. How does everyone deal w/unexpected expenses like this (from a psychological perspective...the financial approach seems pretty straightforward)?

arebelspy

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 09:00:39 AM »
How does everyone deal w/unexpected expenses like this (from a psychological perspective...the financial approach seems pretty straightforward)?

An understanding of variance.

If you did the smart move, but it didn't work out, there's no reason to have it bother you.

:)

That being said, that totally sucks, sorry it happened.
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freeedom

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 09:01:59 AM »
You're telling me... I just had to bail my father out of jail, and get his truck out of impound + towing. $1500 down the drain. Never again.

aglassman

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 09:23:11 AM »
That sucks! Is the pork noticeably better?  I swear that grass fed beef is much better than the normal crap, but have never tried local pork.  I must try when the farmer's market starts up in spring!

Side note @freeedom- Do you at least get the bail money back after he shows up in court?

mrigney

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 09:29:48 AM »
@aglassman This is our first foray into pork (we've done grass-fed beef lots in the past...fortunately we moved recently and haven't yet stocked the freezer w/a new quarter or half cow). To nerd out on the pork...this pork is noticeably better. I think some of it is b/c we found a great farmer. In terms of how he raises them, he goes all natural, no antibiotics, etc. You can't really go "grass-fed" with pork, so he does give them some organic/non-gmo feed (oat and barley...I actually tried some of it when we went and visited the farm...tasted like a bland cracker). The big key with this pork, is the breed of pig. He's basically been breeding toward what he considers the ideal pig for the last 40 years. His critique of modern supermarket pork is that it's been bread to have as much meat and as little fat as possible...he calls them "bodybuilder hogs." For evidence, go check out a pork chop at the store. Notice any marbling/intramuscular fat in there? He breeds a variation of Duroc hogs and has been tinkering with them to basically breed them to what he considers an early 20th century type pig, which he would consider more of a "linebacker" build instead of the bodybuilder. Solid, well built, lots of marbling in meat, etc. This produces the most divine pork chops you've ever tasted in your life. He sells to several high-end local restaurants in the region despite being a small operation.

@arebelspy yeah, I know, nothing to be bothered about. Not like I could've/would've done anything differently. Just sucks. Probably some analogue to "survivor's guilt" where people who survive some event and others don't will feel guilt over "what could I have done differently." Not comparing my situation, obviously, but you end up with the same line of thinking.

freeedom

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 11:19:05 AM »
That sucks! Is the pork noticeably better?  I swear that grass fed beef is much better than the normal crap, but have never tried local pork.  I must try when the farmer's market starts up in spring!

Side note @freeedom- Do you at least get the bail money back after he shows up in court?

I get the bail back, but not the towing/impound. My father's a bit of a derelict, and it has taken it's toll on my finances.

No more though, if it happens again he's on his own.

Nate R

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 11:26:58 AM »
Our used freezer has done well for a few years now.
When we first bought it, I put a freezer thermometer in it and checked it every day or 2 for several weeks to make sure it worked well and to get the thermostat setting correct.

I'd recommend a temp alarm for the future, or if you have the habit down well enough, a thermometer you check often (Every day or 2)  Probably an extra $10-20, but will pay for itself if you ever need it! The nice thing is, if the temp gets up to 15 or 20, you probably still have enough time to go buy a freezer and get it home before you have an issue.

mrigney

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2014, 11:45:11 AM »
@Nate R - this freezer supposedly had a thermometer. Guess it wasn't working. We did check it pretty much daily for several, several weeks. In fact, we let it run for about 2 weeks before we put anything in it just in case. After 2-3 months, though, we had gotten out of the habit of checking it daily.

Rural

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2014, 03:09:43 PM »
I had a used freezer that ran reliably for six years and died right after we moved it (none too gently given the dirt roads) for the second time. I know how you feel, though I lost less because we'd been eating it down for the move. It stinks, literally and figuratively.

This_Is_My_Username

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2014, 05:58:52 PM »
Lesson learned. Don't buy used freezers. How does everyone deal w/unexpected expenses like this (from a psychological perspective)?

Imagine you and I are betting on a fair conflip.  If it is heads, I give you $60.  If it is tails, you give me $40.

Will you accept this wager?  (Yes/no)

Then the coin is tossed, and you must give me $40.  Does that make the previous decision incorrect?

arebelspy

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2014, 06:13:37 PM »
Lesson learned. Don't buy used freezers. How does everyone deal w/unexpected expenses like this (from a psychological perspective)?

Imagine you and I are betting on a fair conflip.  If it is heads, I give you $60.  If it is tails, you give me $40.

Will you accept this wager?  (Yes/no)

Then the coin is tossed, and you must give me $40.  Does that make the previous decision incorrect?

A great example of what I was trying to get at in my first reply to this thread.  :)

Thanks for the clarity!
I am a former teacher who accumulated a bunch of real estate, retired at 29, spent some time traveling the world full time and am now settled with three kids.
If you want to know more about me, this Business Insider profile tells the story pretty well.
I (rarely) blog at AdventuringAlong.com. Check out the Now page to see what I'm up to currently.

TorontoDeveloper

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2014, 07:17:42 PM »
variance.

If you did the smart move, but it didn't work out, there's no reason to have it bother you.

:)

This is my favorite takeaway from playing Magic the Gathering semi-seriously a few years back. An understanding of variance is so applicable throughout all of life, and has changed my perspective on a lot of things. The realization that the right choice doesn't always turn out for the best - but was still the right choice - has made me a much more positive and confident person.

RetiredAt63

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2014, 07:29:06 PM »
Things happen despite our best plans, that is why we have emergency funds.  If it makes you feel any better, my car engine self-destructed before Christmas and I now have an 8000 km engine in a 54,000 km car.  Plus about $3000 less in my bank account.  I wish it had just been a freezer and some meat!

BPA

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2014, 08:23:13 PM »
You're telling me... I just had to bail my father out of jail, and get his truck out of impound + towing. $1500 down the drain. Never again.

My siblings and I refused to post bail for our sister when she was in jail because we had a feeling she would violate the conditions and we'd be out the $8k.  In the end, she used her jewelry to get herself out.

Don't know if that makes me mustachian, a bitch, or both.

And dude, sucks about the pork.  I think we need to look at these things as "overall the frugal decisions we make should work out to saving us a ton of money in the long run."

_JT

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2014, 10:47:29 PM »
So, what time's the cookout?

xingcat

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #15 on: January 15, 2014, 09:47:58 AM »
Friends with farms are awesome, because you get the best-tasting stuff for very little money. Pork products are wonderful (my friends sell the best bacon I've ever tasted) and farm-fresh eggs are amazing.

On topic: When you pay for used, occasionally, you're going to get a lemon. It's really frustrating when it happens, but being able to roll with those kinds of punches is what Mustachianism is all about, isn't it?

PantsOnFire

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2014, 11:07:48 AM »
The pigs I buy from the farm are actually cheaper than the flavorless supermarket crap.  Win-win.  Some disassembly required, but it's worth it. 

Miamoo

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Re: frustrated...unexpected expense
« Reply #17 on: January 15, 2014, 11:53:53 AM »
Poop.  Has the freezer not been working since October, December?  So it's totally lost?

Otherwise . . .

Yeah, what time's the cook out?

But if it's still edible (don't take any chances!) and you live in one of our colder states, just throw it in a snowbank for now. Or . . . when's the cook out?

Yep, the 1/2 pig bought from the local farmer is cheaper and tastes soooooo much better!  (not to mention that he uses the Joel Salatin methods and so no antibiotics, chemicals etc.)