Who all tracks their spending and plans on their projects?

[shovelhead]

I don't know if I should thank or cuss y'all for this thread. I asked my wife to build me a spreadsheet to track my costs. I had some stuff written down and a BIG pile of receipts. I called out the date, store, costs and items to her. When we were finished, I had over $5000 in a truck that is a BARE FRAME sitting on sawhorses in the back yard! My kid remarked that if you figure in the time I've spent, that would cover a note for whatever I wanted to drive! The wife didn't say anything, but kinda looked at me funny. I used up all my wit and my comeback was: Shut up Y'all!
As Forrest Gump said, "I'm not a smart man."
Anyway, I'm not unhappy, but kinda scared at the amount of dough I've spent on engine parts, paint and blasting sand. My original estimate was a couple of years and $3500-5000. Yeah Right! I still wanna track the costs of this project, so thanks for the inspiration (I guess!)

shovelhead

[hotrodhomi]

There is no way I would ever keep track of that... If my wife found it I would be killed. I'm not that stupid.

[PartyPooper]

Alright I'm up for it

But, do I count the cost of the tools I've bought to work on my truck? or should I start another project to share the cost? Maybe something around the house?

[Chevyman680063]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

There is no way I would ever keep track of that... If my wife found it I would be killed. I'm not that stupid.

Good strategy, if the wife ever ask you can truthfully say you don't know. Of course saying you don't know could be just as bad in some cases.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by PartyPooper

Alright I'm up for it

But, do I count the cost of the tools I've bought to work on my truck? or should I start another project to share the cost? Maybe something around the house?

My thought is that the tools will outlast one project. I track them as ancillary costs, but not as the cost of the truck project.

[72Subby]

It's in my nature to plan projects before executing them and to try and keep a budget and actual costs. Having done a number of projects, I'm a big believer in planning the vehicle restoration or build - the less I plan, the more I end up buying extra/wrong parts or getting myself into corners.

I also think the planning process can be fun - and it can help you identify and work out some of the catch-22's (you need to do A before B, but you can't afford to do A and you need to do B before the winter, that sort of thing)

Here is the spreadsheet template, if anyone wants it. The summary worksheet totals up the categories, but I didn't connect the budget totals yet.

http://www.oldwatchlover.com/Suburba...ojectCosts.xls


--steve