[quote=CVPost-37 chief"](reply to post at 13:51:07 05/29/20) [/quote]
I decided last fall that I was Going to actually make a little money from my hobby tractors, a 1953 NAA and a 1970 Ford 4000 by actually charging rates for tractor work instead of doing it all for free. I plowed snow from driveways in winter, but could not get most of the beneficiaries to even help with the fuel bills. I tilled garden plots for 9 neighbors who live within a mile either direction from the house with a rotary tiller, and would run a spring tooth over the plot if it showed a lot of rocks. And did brush hog work in the summer, Then back to tilling for fall cover crops. Pretty much kept busy all year long but maintaining 2 tractors was getting expensive. I listened to what people were paying for what I was doing for free. I talked to the neighbors and told them I was on a fixed retirement income and was losing money keeping 2 tractor running. One got hostile but the rest agreed that the rates I wanted to charge were very much at the low end of the market for the work performed. Things were looking up a little, only lost one job, but I really did not want him as he had never forked up a dime to cover actual costs for fuel. Good riddance to a bad apple. Then it hit the fan. Absolutely no snow this winter, highly unusual for this area. We had one 3 inch snow that literally melted of by noon the next day. Profit from snow removal exactly $0. Expenses on both tractors $100. Things not looking so good now. It rained constantly, 3-4 days per week for 4 solid months. In addition, 5 of the older neighbors said they were not going to raise a garden this year for health reasons. With the one dropout, that was 6 out of 9 garden jobs out the window I was planning on a revenue of $75, or a net of $50. Things were not looking good. I did manage to till the 3 remaining on 1 day in FEb when we had 4 days of no rain. Garden profit a hefty $150, or a net of $0 when tractor expenses were added. Now the big One. I was hauling dirt with my 1/3 yard rear mount scoop to fill a flower bed. I had finished the job and collected my fee of $75. I parked the NAA and when I stepped of the left running board my left knee buckled under me and my right foot caught under the clutch pedal and whipped me to the ground. I landed hard on my Galaxy note 4 phone in my back pocket which pretty much destroyed the phone. Replaced it with a good used phone off ebay for $115. Back in the hole $40 now. Did I mention that I also broke the femur in the right hip joint. Required a rod in the broken bone and 3 pins to hold in place. In Total , 2 surgeries and 2 stints in rehab for repairs. Spent over 1 month in hospitals with no family contact for over a month due to virus. Finally came home after 5 weeks with 2 bacterial infections and a staff infection in the leg. Talked the docs into 2 ea 10 day antibiotics from home instead of IV's in hospital. Will be laid up approximately 4 months before walking again, 10weeks of home health wound care, nursing and physical therapy. Total costs to date are $275000 and climbing. I think my idea of making some extra money with the hobby tractors is officially BANKRUPT. A Walmart greeter position is looking better all the time
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