It can be worse if that ramp causes you to be unable to afford routine maintenance and a sinking fund for all the ordinary things that can and do go wrong in any house. HVAC systems wear out as do water heaters, refrigerators, washers and dryers, roofs and similar, and that ignores the "oh crap!" surprises which occur too -- sewer or water service line problems, septic or well problems if you have them and similar. The latter two are especially nasty if you're on private water and if they occur you need to spend that money right now or you might not be able to flush the toilet -- for real.

Best advice eveeer. I started catching up on deferred maintenance on my own home before the crash. I have a new steel roof and a new well pump, next is a new hvac system. My heater quit in January and my regular hvac guy was sick and off line. I had to beg, grovel, kiss ass, and pay big bucks to get anyone to show up and look at it. One hvac " prince " took one look and said you need a new heater and refused to touch it. I sent him packing.

The old heater needed a new nozzle and the exchanger cleaned out and is running perfect. Still, I want a new heater and AC before the season ramps up and prices rise. For any preppers out there, the propane Buddy Heaters are a great non electric way to keep your pipes from freezing. I have 3 and they work great.

Thank you for all that you do, Mr. Denninger.