$$$ upsets!! $$$

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I guess a case of you snooze you lose!

Been planning house and life upgrades for a while - as many of you know! Had 100k banked for this for about 18 months, but had so many things to do and then organizing it all is tough too. Despite the wild inflaion numbers floating about of nearly 10% inflation, I'd take that in a heartbeat over what it looks like the real cost increase is  - 50% to nearly double, or 50-100% inflation, since I first started to try to get this together about 2 years ago.

A bit beside myself, lol.

And of course, my 100k didn't really gain anything at all. In fact, I put some in stocks and it is down.

#saltyashell























#SALTYASHELL

[azucena]

Neighbors are replacing their deck. Composite is $2k cheaper than lumber.  Weird world we're living in right now.

[wvugurl26]

All of our big home improvement projects are paused because prices are so crazy. Except for a gallon of paint and stain for the deck nothing is happening. The last time DH bought 2 x 4s it was $30 for 4 and he said it used to be like $2-3 apiece. It's just insanity.

My 401k was up over a milestone, the second big one in my mind and now it's under that with this crappy market. I wouldn't have looked but they made some changes to providers and the website so I got a quarterly statement in the mail.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 12, 2022 10:50:59 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

All of our big home improvement projects are paused because prices are so crazy. Except for a gallon of paint and stain for the deck nothing is happening. The last time DH bought 2 x 4s it was $30 for 4 and he said it used to be like $2-3 apiece. It's just insanity.

Has he checked recently?  Our lumber store has 2x4 studs for $2.48 each again.  I think they were up to $6 or $7 at the peak.

[Sharon]

I'm jealous that you can even find contractors to do work.  In my area many of them aren't even answering their phones anymore.  If they do answer you are told they have a huge backlog of work.  I was able to finally get a new furnace and new hot water heater but that was mainly because mine had died and they new I was without heat and hot water.  I went without heat for a month in March and was without hot water for about a week and a half.

I did find an electrician who is working on the side to replace some light fixtures.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Aug 12, 2022 10:50:59 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

All of our big home improvement projects are paused because prices are so crazy. Except for a gallon of paint and stain for the deck nothing is happening. The last time DH bought 2 x 4s it was $30 for 4 and he said it used to be like $2-3 apiece. It's just insanity.

My 401k was up over a milestone, the second big one in my mind and now it's under that with this crappy market. I wouldn't have looked but they made some changes to providers and the website so I got a quarterly statement in the mail.

but will it stay up?

or get crazier before it gets better?

how long to wait?

[wvugurl26]

DH goes to Lowe's at least weekly for something so I don't think prices have come down much here. I was in there a few months ago and almost died when I saw the price of a single sheet of plywood.

We need replacement trim for our first level and its still too expensive. It's been gone from the living room for 5 years so no need to rush and overpay.

[nidena]

Aug 12, 2022 11:32:41 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 12, 2022 10:50:59 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

All of our big home improvement projects are paused because prices are so crazy. Except for a gallon of paint and stain for the deck nothing is happening. The last time DH bought 2 x 4s it was $30 for 4 and he said it used to be like $2-3 apiece. It's just insanity.

My 401k was up over a milestone, the second big one in my mind and now it's under that with this crappy market. I wouldn't have looked but they made some changes to providers and the website so I got a quarterly statement in the mail.

but will it stay up?

or get crazier before it gets better?

how long to wait?

I think it depends upon where you are.  But it also depends upon what is being sourced and from where.  I recently read an article about how Amish furniture makers here in IN are having trouble getting drawer tracks in because there are only a few places that make them.

[finnime]

I do feel lucky right now that I've been able to get the labor needed and fairly reasonable costs for work done on the house I just bought. I've had the entire interior painted, including the closets, for under $5000, for instance. I found a gifted and willing handyman, too, to replace light fixtures, install a new kitchen sink, faucet and garbage disposal, replace electric outlets, fabricate a set of shed doors and build a new temporary fence gate at the side of the house. He's done other things, too.

The cost of materials is fluctuating pretty wildly. I hope, Rukh O'Rorke, that you are able to secure the services and supplies for a more reasonable cost soon, like this year.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Aug 14, 2022 3:46:02 GMT -5 finnime said:

I do feel lucky right now that I've been able to get the labor needed and fairly reasonable costs for work done on the house I just bought. I've had the entire interior painted, including the closets, for under $5000, for instance. I found a gifted and willing handyman, too, to replace light fixtures, install a new kitchen sink, faucet and garbage disposal, replace electric outlets, fabricate a set of shed doors and build a new temporary fence gate at the side of the house. He's done other things, too.

The cost of materials is fluctuating pretty wildly. I hope, Rukh O'Rorke , that you are able to secure the services and supplies for a more reasonable cost soon, like this year.

kudos!

Is your gifted handyman interested in an all-expense paid trip to chicago?