Horse & Carriage

I have been pondering a lot about life in this day and age- especially the exhorbitant costs that are associated with society's accepted standard of living. How much would it have cost in the yesteryear to feed the horse and how much time and skill would have been required to keep the cart in good shape?

When I ended my career with Shell in 1998 that also meant losing the company car. DB and I both did not own private vehicles, so did not have to consider vehicle costs. Living on one salary meant no car for me and that finally was my reason for going back to work in 2001- to have some wheels.

Affording the cars is one thing, but our budget clarifies the stark facts:

ANNUAL VEHICLE EXPENSES

$610 VicRoads Registration- Hyundai Grandeur
$620 VicRoads Registration- Mazda CX7
$841 RACV Insurance- Hyundai Grandeur
$967 RACV Insurance- Mazda CX7
$313 Car Service- Hyundai Grandeur ($250/ave service every 15,000kms)
$612 Car Service- Mazda CX7 ($360/ave service every 10,000kms)
$2250 Fuel- Hyundai Grandeur
$2200 Fuel- Mazda CX7 (ave of 187 litres/mth)
_____
$8500

We are getting quite expensive to maintain! I don't like it, really.
...And pardon me for wondering, but did DB want to add a motorbike to this equation?

Agreement?
AGREEMENT??

House on the Prairie, where art thou-
*sigh*

PS My issues are many-faceted. Should I consider trading my horse for a donkey? Are our costs reasonable and our deals good? Mrs. Smith wonders what Mr. Jones pays? Any financial advice out there?

Comments

[DB]

notice my nonbranded choice has lower running costs so bike will even up lah

[Mr Apple]

Haha, my dear sis. I think you and my dear can have a very nice talk re this and I am sure you 2 will click and chat till the sun goes down... But, I agree with you and respect you "accountant" in you. I need this "accountant' nature back in me too :-)