What do you do when you hit your monthly budget?

[Shane1977CJ5]

Well that's assuming you have a monthly budget. Being my first restoration I'm just looking for hints a tips as to what you do when your waiting for your significant other to approve your next purchase . To give you an idea I have pulled my tub off and all of its insides. Waiting on my engine stand to move forward with tearing down my frame.

 

[gp4play]

I had to set up a Jeep account and have $50 a month ($25 a payday) direct deposit to it or when I sell a part. Yup, the boss knows it's there and I don't even have to share.

 

[Shane1977CJ5]

Yeah I get an allowance of $100 a payday. So far spending on tools mostly.

 

[raser13]

you get cash back on purchases when your wives not around to supplement. then you sneak the parts in when she's not looking.

 

[Hedgehog]

I tend to gather, gather, then gather parts some more until the right time comes then make a big jump into what ever project has the most complete pile of parts.

 

[Old Dog]

You just have to buy what you can when you can. I've been building/up grading mine for 12 years now, I don't even want to know how much money I've spent. I know I'm not done yet,( I can think of a few thousand $ worth of stuff I still want to do) but it's all worth it when your riding through the woods on a nice day. Just takes time and $.
Start by making it drivable and safe and up grade from there.

 

[Torxhead]

There was an old saying on what the letters in "JEEP" stood for, "Just Empty Every Pocket". For me, as time goes by the less I spend since I am tired of spending money on it and try just to have fun with it. I am at 25 years so far.

 

[Shane1977CJ5]

Ha I'm at year one and I hope I keep you alls inthusiasm. Growing up my favorite vehicle has always been Jeeps. And after having multiple YJ'S I'm finally have my first CJ5 and even tho I haven't had it long I'm happy with my project.

 

[HackFabrication]

Well, I'm lucky in that I don't need to clear any expenditures through the wife.

That being said, I have imposed a limit on the amount of money that is spent each month getting the CJ5 project on the road. When I hit that limit, I tell the shop they need to wait until next month to do any more work.

Hopefully the pain will end by July.

 

[IOPort51]

I start spending next months budget. And so on.

 

[raser13]

well in that case save that for latter when you do have a wife or husband. got to be pc now a days.

but since your paying a shop to do the work you could save yourself a lot of coin learning to do it yourself. plus if it breaks on the trail you know how to fix it. now i can understand if it's fab work and it would cost a bit to buy the tools to do it. but then again i've built a pretty good garage set up that can do most anything i want to do from harbor freight for probably around a grand. just start small and work up. a tool here a tool there as you think your good enough to try that next thing you couldn't do before.

 

[Shane1977CJ5]

Pretty much what I been doing. Weird how the list of parts include a list of tools

 

[HackFabrication]

...but since your paying a shop to do the work you could save yourself a lot of coin learning to do it yourself...

I can't buy the time it would take me to do the work.

Besides, I did my share of work already:









I started this project December 1996. Worked on/off on it until 2009. Then it sat for almost 5 years without me turning a wrench on it. It's not good for a project to sit. New parts, become old parts, and in turn need to be replaced with more new parts. And I was ready to get rid of it, but decided to pay the big $$$$$ and have someone finish it for me:









Other than the body work/paint, which I'm incompetent to do (and don't have the room to do), the mechanical work is all simple. And I wish I could find the time to do it myself. I'm also turning 65 this fall, and want this done before I croak....

 

[Peanut Butter]

you get cash back on purchases when your wives not around to supplement. then you sneak the parts in when she's not looking.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one doing this!


In between parts buying, I like to do things that are small projects with supplies on hand. I rebuilt my wire harness, rebuilt my steering column, next is the dash, etc.

 

[Shane1977CJ5]

Jeeps looking good hack

 

[PaRenegade]

The only incriminating money trail is left by a credit card, so use that sparingly to keep her happy. But cash leaves no trail. Order thru a local shop and she'll never know. Hide your receipts. Happy wife, happy life.

Even $40 a week will net you $2080 a year, at $50 it's $2600 a year. If ya got a habit of drinkin', smokin', and chewin', give one of them up to cover the cost. Adapt and overcome!

 

[IOPort51]

what motor is this??

 

[Hedgehog]

Hack - Talk to me about that dash .... that is unless you've already done that some where else.

 

[HackFabrication]

Jeeps looking good hack

Thanks. Along the theme of this thread, I had a meeting at the shop today to get a better grip on the timeline for completion. I want them done with it and it back in my driveway by July 1 (this year).

 

[HackFabrication]

what motor is this??

Ford Racing 5.0L. FRP GT-40 aluminum heads, 'B' cam, GT40 manifold, 24# injectors, 65mm TB & MAF, FRP F-AMC 150 stainless headers.