First - why isn't your 14 year old daughter mowing the lawn with the push mower??????? Didn't we ALL do that when we were young? I certainly did.
Second:
Quote:
I hate to "but" this...but how it feels is this: "here's a nice lady I see once a year. we have a great time, we converse at a deep level, we have a lot in common including how we see life. but I don't really have the time or interest to make this any more than an annual visit...but I don't want to say it because I don't want to sound unkind. so I'll check in every now and then and say something I know she wants to hear to maintain interest and not seem like a cad."
You need to get the movie "He's Just Not That Into You" and watch it. Several times. I'm thinking of buying it and watching it weekly myself, lol. I think you assessed the situation perfectly and need to move on - while you're at it, look for a guy with boatloads of money (or at least a great pension!).
As for the suggestion about looking for a dryer on Craigslist - great idea. Lots of times people move and need a different dryer in their new place - gas or electric. So you might pick up a deal. I once bought a used washing machine from a guy who advertised in the Pennysaver (yes, this was in those dark primitive times before the internet). He made a business out of fixing up old appliances and reselling them. He took our old washer, installed the new one, and it cost us half as much as a new one. WE used it for about 14 years, with a family of five - once my husband replaced a belt. It was still running when we left it for the new owner of that house when we sold it.
You've gotten hit with a boatload of unexpected expenses at once. BUT - you do need a budget that accounts for these things, because they DO happen (just usually spread out a little more). You might take a look at your budget and make sure there is an amount set aside every month for these kinds of things. You might need to lower your expenses or raise your income in order to accomplish this.
(I always wonder on these boards why more people don't rent out rooms in their houses? Yes, roommates can be a pain, but what easier way to make several hundred extra dollars a month?)
