I outdid my tightwad self!

RJM62

RJM62

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Geek on the Hill
Being a tightwad is one of my hobbies. I enjoy saving money. Perhaps too much, according to my family and my lady friend...

In any event, this past weekend, I outdid myself.

On Saturday, I bought a grill from my friend Paulie. I had stopped by to shoot the breeze with him, and I mentioned I was in the market for a used grill. Hey, why pay a couple of hundred for a new one? Well, wouldn't you know it -- Paulie had one he was looking to sell -- for ten bucks. TEN BUCKS!

Paulie showed me the grill and told me the regulator was pretty new and that all of the burners worked, which was all I really cared about. I mean, what else matters on a grill? The stand is all rusty, but a can of Rustoleum will fix that; and it's missing a wheel, but a rock will fix that -- and if there's one thing we have plenty of around here, that would be rocks.

"Done deal," I said, and Paulie and I loaded the grill on to my car.

Of course, now that I had a grill, I needed a propane tank; and you have to have an empty one to turn in to get a new one, or else they charge you a $30.00 deposit. Thirty bucks??? No way this tightwad is going to pay a $30.00 deposit on a propane tank.

So I put an ad on Craig's List offering ten bucks for an old tank. The next day, a guy down the road responded and said he had like half a dozen of them laying around, and I welcome to just take one for free. So off I went before he changed his mind, returned with the tank, traded it in for a full one, and fired up the grill. It works perfectly! All four burners burn nice and blue, and even the piezo igniter works.

My lady friend says it's ugly. I say a can of spray paint and some steel wool can do miracles.

Then on Sunday, I decided that I needed a gasoline-powered lawnmower. I use an old-fashioned reel-type mower for most of the lawn, and it's actually easier than using a power mower because it's much lighter in weight. But there are a few places where what I have are weeds, the reel mower won't cut them, and the weed whacker makes them look like a haircut by a barber with the DTs.

So I went to the various places that sell lawnmowers, saw the prices, and decided that what I really wanted was a vintage lawnmower -- you know, for historic reasons and all. I checked Craig's List and found one described as "Starts and runs, but then stalls." The lady wanted $30.00 for it.

Bingo! Probably a fuel problem, and fuel problems are easy to fix!

So I drove out there and found a 1996 Murray 21" mower with a 6 HP Briggs engine. Initial inspection revealed that in addition to the usual old-mower schmutz and a spark plug ($2.39) that looked like it could very well be the original, the throttle cable ($7.99) was kinked. It also needed the self-propel belt ($5.99) and a new air filter ($7.99).

I had the lady hold the safety interlock and pull the cord while I held the throttle in position. After maybe half a dozen pulls, it started and ran, though roughly, for as long as I held the throttle. I gave her the thirty bucks and brought the mower home.

Then I changed the throttle cable and the spark plug, douched out the whole fuel system with SeaFoam, and pulled the cord. She started on the first pull and ran nice and smoothly once she blew out about half a pound of black soot. So I put refilled the tank and put some more SeaFoam in just for good measure, and then mowed the whole lawn and the weedy areas rather than wasting the gas. She didn't complain once.

She's loud, though. The muffler rotted away where it attaches to the exhaust manifold, and one of the mounting screws is missing. So I decided to splurge and ordered a new muffler ($11.95, including the screws). Total cost for a great-running, self-propelled, vintage lawnmower: $66.31.

And then there's the futon.

I happen to like futons, but the one I have in my living room (which I bought from someone on Craig's List about eight years ago) had a couple of the metal cross members come loose. I tied them up with baling wire temporarily while debating whether to weld them back on (a pain in the butt -- I'm a decent welder, but I don't enjoy welding), or buy a new futon (also a pain in the butt -- I have the money, but I don't enjoy spending it).

And then inspiration struck!

I could press nylon wallboard anchors into the cross members, I thought to myself, and then drill horizontally through the main members and into the wallboard anchors to reattach the cross members. And that's just what I did. Now the futon is as good as new, as far as I'm concerned. Total cost of repair: $1.20 -- compared to about $250.00 for a new futon like the one I have (not to mention having to schlep it 47 miles and put it together).

So all in all, I think I had a successful weekend of being a tightwad. Now if my family and my lady friend only shared my enthusiasm...

-Rich
 

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Craigslist is a wonderful thing if you use it right.

Someone t-boned my Caravan. Took out the right front fender, passenger door, and sliding rear door. The insurance company totaled it, but left it in my driveway. I put an ad on CL offering to pay someone $200 to pound out the doors so they would open. A response said for $250 he's replace the doors and fender.

For $250 I got another year out of it. The color even matched.
 
Never apologize for being resourceful. It's a gift. A famous Preacher, who shall remain nameless because even his name has become a point of controversy once said, "Prosperity is walking into a store with $5 and coming out with $15 worth of merchandise."
 
I got a Weber Genesis three-burner grill for free a few years ago. It was on the sidewalk in front of a house with a sign saying "Free - gas flows but doesn't burn". Cnfirmed with the resident that it was indeed free, loaded it up and headed home. I brushed off the burners and blew compressed air through the manifold and hooked it up to the tank. Five minutes later it was at 550 degrees. Five years later it's still going strong.
 
Don't even think about moving to Dallas.

RJM62 said:
Being a tightwad is one of my hobbies. I enjoy saving money. Perhaps too much, according to my family and my lady friend...

In any event, this past weekend, I outdid myself.

On Saturday, I bought a grill from my friend Paulie. I had stopped by to shoot the breeze with him, and I mentioned I was in the market for a used grill. Hey, why pay a couple of hundred for a new one? Well, wouldn't you know it -- Paulie had one he was looking to sell -- for ten bucks. TEN BUCKS!

Paulie showed me the grill and told me the regulator was pretty new and that all of the burners worked, which was all I really cared about. I mean, what else matters on a grill? The stand is all rusty, but a can of Rustoleum will fix that; and it's missing a wheel, but a rock will fix that -- and if there's one thing we have plenty of around here, that would be rocks.

"Done deal," I said, and Paulie and I loaded the grill on to my car.

Of course, now that I had a grill, I needed a propane tank; and you have to have an empty one to turn in to get a new one, or else they charge you a $30.00 deposit. Thirty bucks??? No way this tightwad is going to pay a $30.00 deposit on a propane tank.

So I put an ad on Craig's List offering ten bucks for an old tank. The next day, a guy down the road responded and said he had like half a dozen of them laying around, and I welcome to just take one for free. So off I went before he changed his mind, returned with the tank, traded it in for a full one, and fired up the grill. It works perfectly! All four burners burn nice and blue, and even the piezo igniter works.

My lady friend says it's ugly. I say a can of spray paint and some steel wool can do miracles.

Then on Sunday, I decided that I needed a gasoline-powered lawnmower. I use an old-fashioned reel-type mower for most of the lawn, and it's actually easier than using a power mower because it's much lighter in weight. But there are a few places where what I have are weeds, the reel mower won't cut them, and the weed whacker makes them look like a haircut by a barber with the DTs.

So I went to the various places that sell lawnmowers, saw the prices, and decided that what I really wanted was a vintage lawnmower -- you know, for historic reasons and all. I checked Craig's List and found one described as "Starts and runs, but then stalls." The lady wanted $30.00 for it.

Bingo! Probably a fuel problem, and fuel problems are easy to fix!

So I drove out there and found a 1996 Murray 21" mower with a 6 HP Briggs engine. Initial inspection revealed that in addition to the usual old-mower schmutz and a spark plug ($2.39) that looked like it could very well be the original, the throttle cable ($7.99) was kinked. It also needed the self-propel belt ($5.99) and a new air filter ($7.99).

I had the lady hold the safety interlock and pull the cord while I held the throttle in position. After maybe half a dozen pulls, it started and ran, though roughly, for as long as I held the throttle. I gave her the thirty bucks and brought the mower home.

Then I changed the throttle cable and the spark plug, douched out the whole fuel system with SeaFoam, and pulled the cord. She started on the first pull and ran nice and smoothly once she blew out about half a pound of black soot. So I put refilled the tank and put some more SeaFoam in just for good measure, and then mowed the whole lawn and the weedy areas rather than wasting the gas. She didn't complain once.

She's loud, though. The muffler rotted away where it attaches to the exhaust manifold, and one of the mounting screws is missing. So I decided to splurge and ordered a new muffler ($11.95, including the screws). Total cost for a great-running, self-propelled, vintage lawnmower: $66.31.

And then there's the futon.

I happen to like futons, but the one I have in my living room (which I bought from someone on Craig's List about eight years ago) had a couple of the metal cross members come loose. I tied them up with baling wire temporarily while debating whether to weld them back on (a pain in the butt -- I'm a decent welder, but I don't enjoy welding), or buy a new futon (also a pain in the butt -- I have the money, but I don't enjoy spending it).

And then inspiration struck!

I could press nylon wallboard anchors into the cross members, I thought to myself, and then drill horizontally through the main members and into the wallboard anchors to reattach the cross members. And that's just what I did. Now the futon is as good as new, as far as I'm concerned. Total cost of repair: $1.20 -- compared to about $250.00 for a new futon like the one I have (not to mention having to schlep it 47 miles and put it together).

So all in all, I think I had a successful weekend of being a tightwad. Now if my family and my lady friend only shared my enthusiasm...

-Rich
Click to expand...
 
I also look for good deals on craigslist. Found my SL40 comm almost 4000 miles away on craigslist. The search function on craigslist is limited in range so I frequently use searchtempest to search craigslist.
 
My husband is also in the tightwad category and happily uses the "reel mower" he claims it's better for the environment and whatnot. He likes that it's quiet (he has a really loud racecar so I think he's trying to be considerate of our neighbors sometimes) He says it's better exercise. I'm starting to become more frugal but when it comes to choosing between buying generic vs name brand I go name brand EVERYTIME.
 
Oh, I forgot to add, this just about trumps Craigslist, depending on your area, but they are both invaluable in the fine art of pinching a penny.
 
asechrest said:
Enjoyed the story. Well done!
Click to expand...

tangopapa said:
Nice work!
Click to expand...

Thank you.

saracelica said:
My husband is also in the tightwad category and happily uses the "reel mower" he claims it's better for the environment and whatnot. He likes that it's quiet (he has a really loud racecar so I think he's trying to be considerate of our neighbors sometimes) He says it's better exercise.

. . .
Click to expand...

I, too, prefer the reel mower for everything except the weedy areas. It's more relaxing, it doesn't create fumes, it doesn't vibrate, it doesn't make noise, and it's easier to maneuver. Reel mowers also provides a more gentle, "even" sort of exercise, for lack of a better word. There's no fighting with the machine because it's so lightweight, but it's still a long walk pushing something that generates a bit of resistance.

-Rich
 
RJM62 said:
I, too, prefer the reel mower for everything except the weedy areas. It's more relaxing, it doesn't create fumes, it doesn't vibrate, it doesn't make noise, and it's easier to maneuver. Reel mowers also provides a more gentle, "even" sort of exercise, for lack of a better word. There's no fighting with the machine because it's so lightweight, but it's still a long walk pushing something that generates a bit of resistance.

-Rich
Click to expand...

Obviously written by a guy whose septic tank laterals aren't beneath the yard.
 
Sounds like a winning weekend.

My wife used to own a couple of retail stores and in those days, you could still buy postal carts full of stuff from broken shipping boxes for pennies, maybe you still can. She sold a lot of stuff from those carts she bought. Used to make. Quite a bit of money and the customers loved that you never knew what was going to be in her bargain bins.
 
RJM62 said:
Of course, now that I had a grill, I needed a propane tank; and you have to have an empty one to turn in to get a new one, or else they charge you a $30.00 deposit. Thirty bucks??? No way this tightwad is going to pay a $30.00 deposit on a propane tank.
Click to expand...

The exchange route is good if you have a POS tank that you want to get rid of.

But... you have a 20 pound capacity tank. The places where you get the tank filled on the spot will usually come close to putting in 20 pounds of propane. The exchange companies (Blue Rino, whatever) typically put in 15 or 17 pounds of propane and charge just as much (read the plastic wrap that they put on the tank). The empty tank weighs about 17 pounds (the number should be stamped on the tank) so you can weigh the tank yourself to see what you really got.
 
Loved the story. The Mower is not "vintage" at <20 years. Like the grill. Save on!
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
The exchange route is good if you have a POS tank that you want to get rid of.

But... you have a 20 pound capacity tank. The places where you get the tank filled on the spot will usually come close to putting in 20 pounds of propane. The exchange companies (Blue Rino, whatever) typically put in 15 or 17 pounds of propane and charge just as much (read the plastic wrap that they put on the tank). The empty tank weighs about 17 pounds (the number should be stamped on the tank) so you can weigh the tank yourself to see what you really got.
Click to expand...

Right. The tank the guy gave me was free, but old and rusty. They accepted it for trade at the store, however (it is, after all, their tank) and gave me a new-ish one in return.

Rumor has it that the hardware store up the road a mile or two will refill the tank for me, at lower cost, and to full capacity, if the label happens to fall off... ;)

-Rich
 
Bringing it back to airplanes, how about a set of landing gear bushings bought, machined, and installed for <$4 ?
 

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I think you could have done better
I see grills free all the time on craigslist. Plus free non working mowers.
We expect better next time:D
 
Rich - your posts are always entertaining! More power to you for thinking up new uses for old things. Tinkering around with items that others believe to be trash and giving them new life is not only fun, but leads me to believe you are going green!

Gary
 
I always enjoy your posts !
PS ; If you are looking for a riding lawn mower ? I have a Craftsman sitting outside in the woods for the last 30+ years and you can have it for free .
 
Thanks.

Here's the grill after a can of spray paint.

I was good and didn't paint the area where the instructions and safety warnings are, by the left-side burner... yet.

-Rich
 

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My kind of story!

My wife used to call me cheap too.......Until I started flying!:hairraise:

George
 
Concorde said:
I always enjoy your posts !
PS ; If you are looking for a riding lawn mower ? I have a Craftsman sitting outside in the woods for the last 30+ years and you can have it for free .
Click to expand...

I think you can still take that back to Sears for a new one:D
 
RJM62 said:
Thanks.

Here's the grill after a can of spray paint.

I was good and didn't paint the area where the instructions and safety warnings are, by the left-side burner... yet.

-Rich
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Good as new.
 
Concorde said:
Why didn't I think of that ? :mad2:

Sorry, Rich.:rofl:
Click to expand...

No problem. The shipping costs would have been a bit high, anyway.

I got the muffler and the belt for the mower yesterday, installed them, cleaned up the mower real nice, and went to start it up -- and it wouldn't run past the primer charge. Obviously something was gumming up the works fuel-wise.

So after the requisite amount of cussing, I removed and completely dissembled the carburetor, cleaned it up, blew out the fuel lines and breather line... you know, all that sort of jazz. After reassembly, the mower started up on the first pull and kept running nicely.

I think carburetors in general are one of the most-often needlessly-replaced mechanical devices. I've lost track of the number of carburetors I've taken apart over the years. I've never had to replace one. They almost always can be fixed with either a rebuild kit or just by replacing the worn or failed part(s); and quite often, all they need is a bit of cleaning.

-Rich
 
Well, it's three years later, and the "heat tent" is shot. I searched around and found it at my favorite online miscellaneous parts vendor, eReplacementParts.com, for $8.62. Most places want > $30.00 for that piece of sheet metal.

I was so pleased that I also ordered the shelf for the inside ($13.96), which was missing when I bought the grill; and a replacement for the missing wheel ($2.99), for which until now I've been substituting a rock, there being no shortage of rocks in Sparrow-Fart, and my having no need to roll the grill anyway. But hey, you only live once, right? So I splurged on the wheel.

The shipping was kind of hefty at $18.82, but the total for the parts still came in at < $50.00. I admit that I agonized for a while, but considering that I only paid $10.00 for the grill and it's been trouble-free for three years, I decided to go ahead and spend the money. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Rich
 
saracelica said:
when it comes to choosing between buying generic vs name brand I go name brand EVERYTIME.
Click to expand...
Why? 90% of the time(Yes I made that figure up) they're made in the exact same factory, with the exact same materials and the only difference is the label they put on it.

My exception to buying generic is tools. Tools matter.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Why? 90% of the time(Yes I made that figure up) they're made in the exact same factory, with the exact same materials and the only difference is the label they put on it.

My exception to buying generic is tools. Tools matter.
Click to expand...

And even then, sometimes the tools are built in the same factory with the same parts and a different label. At least power tools. Craftsman and Ryobi cordless tools used to be like that. In fact, the only difference was and extra piece of plastic inside the drill to keep from being able to plug in the otherwise identical batteries. mumble, mumble, fume!

John
 
RJM62 said:
my favorite online miscellaneous parts vendor, eReplacementParts.com,
Rich
Click to expand...

Needed some parts for my gas weedeater. Go to the manufacturer's site and all I get is unknown model. Tried eReplacement and BOOM, all the parts I needed and very reasonable cost. Great company.
 
Nice job OP. Now I wanna see you build an E-AB airplane!
 
Fixed the knock sensor on the Subaru a while back. $15 shipped to the door.

Fuel mileage went up 3 MPG, surprisingly. (Measured and confirmed over more than a month of heavy driving.)

When I was driving to the office daily, it would have paid for itself in a little over two weeks, but now it'll take two months before I see the ROI. Heh.

Was showing someone where it's located today and he pointed and said "you have a hole in your air intake hose, you going to fix that?"

Sheesh. I might have to splurge and spend another $10.

This "having a car payment" stuff is horrible. I might have to buy it new tires this fall. :)
 
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