Should I replace my lawn mower or get it fixed?

Matteo M

My 7-year-old Toro self-propelled lawn mower's cord is off so the self-propelled part doesn't work, the engine will no longer start (it wasn't fully engaged last time I used it... it was running slow and loud with a lot of smoke and used a lot of gasoline). The last time I got my mower serviced it was over $100. The newer model Toro is $350-$400.

At this point should I just buy a new one with all those problems?

Answer
7 Years for a mower is great.

It sounds like it is time for a new mower.

If you buy the new mower will you get 7 Years out of it? That is hard to tell.

Mower Selector Helper
Answer these questions and we will help you select the Toro® mower
that is just right for you.

How big is the area you mow?
Under 1/4 acre
1/4 acre to 1/2 acre
1/2 acre or more

How often do you bag your grass clippings or bag leaves?
Never bag
Sometimes bag
Always bag

Do you prefer to push the mower or would you rather the mower be self-propelled?
Push
Self propelled
Doesn't matter

Would you prefer to pull a cord to start the mower (recoil) or an electric start?
Recoil
Electric
Doesn't matter

Where can I purchase a Toro SUPER RECYCLER lawn mower for $400?

stp24core

The SUPER RECYCLER is more powerful than the "RECYCLER" and I can't seem to find one under $500 ($400 plus tax is my budget). I would prefer to pick up at a retail location (close to zip code 60175) but wouldn't hesitate to purchase online if need be. I would not have interest in a used model at this time. Any help is appreciated!
Found an entry level one for $429 (without the "Personal Pace" but elected to go with the upgrade for $499).

Answer
The problem is they are priced at 450 - 500 bucks. Nobody is going to sell them cheaper. Here are some online place where you can buy them in your price range.
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-Super-Recycler-190cc-Mower/dp/B001XFDHQ0
http://www.avantgardegadgets.com/20092.html

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What is life like as an adult financially?

best lawn mower under 400 image

chef

When you are through with college and you have a job, a car, and a home, what things do you have to pay for? Insurance, mortgage, bills, tax, etc. What is life like as an adult?

Answer
It's a little scary at first, because there's always something creeping upâand when you first get out of college, you have the least money to deal with it.

But it changes over time, as you make more money and can better predict expenses.

So...
⢠rent/mortgage
⢠phone bill
⢠car insurance and maintenance (tires every 50,000 miles can run $400 or so, plus regular rotations; oil changes, brakes, filters, plugs, etc.âcheck the maintenance book for your car)
⢠renter's/homeowner's insurance
⢠probably a credit card bill (if you rack up debt)
⢠car payments, if you have one
⢠gas for the car
⢠grocery bills
⢠saving for the future (future down payment, vacation, retirement. Start with what you can. Even $50 a month adds up)
⢠other incidentals (sometimes things like a water bill, garbage collection, homeowner's dueâwhich are required by law if you are part of an HOA, something a lot of people don't consider when buying a house)

You do also have to pay taxes and health insurance, but those usually come out of your paycheck before you get it, so you can't "forget" to factor them in.

Those are just some of the regular bills, though. There's always something creeping up, like:
⢠Car repairs
⢠Medical bills (even with insurance, you have deductables and co-pays)
⢠Prescriptions, if you have any
⢠Christmas presents (if you don't set money aside, it can be a big hit)
⢠Vacations (which ALWAYS cost more than you expect)
⢠Entertainment (can't go to the movies for less than $20)
⢠Restaurantsâreally adds up if you eat out a lot
⢠Clothing
⢠Hair cuts (can be expensive for women)
⢠Furniture and other home stuff (if you buy a houseâlawn mower, etc.)
⢠Kitchen stuff (have someone throw you a house-warming party when you move into your first placeâpots and pans, flatware, plates, etc.)
⢠Other on-your-own startup costs (shower curtains and the like add up quickly)
⢠Home repairs
⢠HOA dues (if you buyâthere are advantages to renting for a while)
⢠Dating (mostly if you're the guyâa classy guy, anyway)
⢠And other incidentals I can't think of right now (the occasional $162 speeding ticketânot that I know anything about that)

And...dun dun dun... children. That's a whole new ball of wax, but I wouldn't worry about that right now.

It sounds scary, huh? But it's really not.

A couple general rules: Don't commit to more than 1/3 of what you make for rent or a mortgage. So if you make $30,000, no more than $10,000 a year ($833/month) on total rent/mortgage payments. (Remember, there are hidden costs in a mortgage, so you can't just divide the cost of the house by number of weeks.)

That rule alone should keep you from getting in way over your head.

Second, cars. They also have hidden costsâlike annual registration. A new car registration can cost $500-600 on top of buying the car. It goes down every year, but when you've forgotten you're going to get a $400 bill, it can hurt.

So even though you might suddenly feel flush at $30,000, buy a cheaper car. Buy a used car. The registration and insurance will be much cheaper, and you'll be able to save faster for a nicer one later. Then, when you buy a nicer car, you will have more money to put down, and your monthly payments will be less.

Check out Jane Bryant Quinn's "Making the Most of Your Money." She gives great advice for each stage of your lifeâhow much to save when, etc.

A couple other notes: If you're good with Excel spreadsheets, you can create a budget there. Maybe someone can set it up for you (if you're not good), and it does the math for you so you can keep track of what's coming in and going out.

Also, I keep a list in my checkbook of all my regular monthly bills, with the months listed out to the right. As they come in and I pay them, I check under the month. That way, I don't ever look at my bank balance and think, "Wow! I've got a lot of money!" only to have a hefty bill come in the next week.

Yeah, sounds scary. But you'll get the hang of it pretty quicklyâjust try to be organized, and you'll stay on top of things. Get a box to keep files, and get a desk. Really, this will help you a lot.

Hope that's not too much.

@jcurrieâoh yeah. Don't forget to buy condoms.

How would you get 400$ quickly like in one month?

Q. i want an xbox bundle splinter cell its pretty good for all those things the give you thanks i barely have 25$ lol how would make money?? fast im 14 so i cant work like in a job base so how would you??

Answer
Mow lawns in the neighborhood. charge 10 per lawn. Lots of times you can find a client who will have you come back week after week. Thats great. Also, if you dont have access to a lawnmower..consider asking your parents for a loan to buy equipment for your business (a lawnmower) You can probably find a good mower for $100 or less...I've seen them for under 50, but never bought one. The one I have now, I bought used for $85...I think. Its been great. It bags the clippings, and it is self propelled. Anyway, you can pay your parents back for the loan first. Then earn money for the iTouch...and continue mowing so you have more income....and tell the mower again when you move on.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How would you get 400$ quickly like in one month?

best lawn mower under 400 image

Q. i want an xbox bundle splinter cell its pretty good for all those things the give you thanks i barely have 25$ lol how would make money?? fast im 14 so i cant work like in a job base so how would you??

Answer
Mow lawns in the neighborhood. charge 10 per lawn. Lots of times you can find a client who will have you come back week after week. Thats great. Also, if you dont have access to a lawnmower..consider asking your parents for a loan to buy equipment for your business (a lawnmower) You can probably find a good mower for $100 or less...I've seen them for under 50, but never bought one. The one I have now, I bought used for $85...I think. Its been great. It bags the clippings, and it is self propelled. Anyway, you can pay your parents back for the loan first. Then earn money for the iTouch...and continue mowing so you have more income....and tell the mower again when you move on.

He cut 2 fingers on my property with a lawnmore, am I responsible?

Kosher1

I have a tenant that lost his job and could not pay $150 of his $400 rent payment, he asked me if I can give him some work and said he can cut grass. I gave him a written letter saying that he can go and provide me with an estimate first and then we can discuss further. Well, he did not listen, instead he went on one of my properties and started mowing the lawn, he bent down to pull something while the lawn mower was running and chopped 2 of his fingers off. Am I or my homeowners insurance responsible for damages due him? Even though he did not have permission to cut the grass, not in writing nor verbally? (this is in the state of Florida)

Answer
Whose lawn mower was it?

How old is he?

What was the item he claims to have been trying to pick up from under the lawn mower?

Did anyone see him when his fingers got cut off?

If your story is true and accurate, he's a complete idiot and a dead-beat. You'll need a lawyer, but if you get a good one, the moron doesn't have a prayer (if your story is dead-on accurate).

He got what he deserved for sticking his fingers under the lawnmower while it was running. He's SOOOO close to earning a Darwin Award. See if you can get him to voluntarily do something more dangerous (without a verbal agreement or a written agreement).

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What type of oil is used in a Briggs & Stratton 400-500 series lawn mower engine?

best lawn mower under 400 image

Dennis M

Answer
Go to this link on the Briggs and Stratton website, there is a chart that shows you which weight oil to use under different temperature conditions

http://faqs.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/faqs.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1419

Could you recommend a walk behind mower w/bag that does the best with picking up leaves?

Diane P

I need Brand name/model

Answer
Like the previouse responder, I LOVE troy-bilt products. But for the money, I recommend Craftsman walk behind (self-propelled). They have Honda engines and are made to last. I have had 2 Craftsman walk behinds (my particular model # was 917.377791) and never had a minutes trouble with them as long as I did basic routine up keep. They now have a 6.5 horse engine model that is under $180. It has a 21 in. deck and 3-n-1 Mulch-Bag-Rear Discharge.
I think a lot of people do not realize that there are (relatively) just a few large lawn mower manufacturers. Just like with certain breakfast cereals, one factory makes the same, basic product but different name brands are slapped on the box. This is a quality product. You could pay $400 and get a John Deere and it would not pick up your leaves any better than this one. I use my mower to get up and mulch leaves before I put them in the compost pile.
For more money a really great Craftsman model that fits your description is:
Sears item #07137161000 Mfr. model #37161

Powered by Yahoo! Answers