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Community Corner

When Neighbors Share Lawn Mowers

From lawn mowers to chainsaws, Patch neighbors are splitting the cost of big ticket items to save money. Believe it or not, it's also helping their friendships.

Written by Bridgette Outten

This group of neighbors started sharing out of necessity. 

After a huge snow storm hit in 2009, Kerry and Chris Petz, managed to buy the last snow blower available at their local Home Depot. The purchase was necessary because Chris Petz is a first responder who needed a clear driveway in case he was called to an emergency. But the cost was a little unsettling. 

"We got [the snow blower], but we surely didn't love the cost," Kerry Petz recalled. "And our neighbor didn't love not having one. So we split the cost and off they went. Splitting the cost of the machine was a huge advantage."

Soon after, the group of neighbors, including the Petzes and Robin and Richard Blanchard, worked out a similar deal with a mulch delivery, splitting the cost of the mulch as well as the one delivery fee. And on it went.    

Kerry Petz says neighbors should explore how they can share to make their lives easier. The two families have even taken the sharing on the road, with a trip to London when the Petzes had a free place to stay. 

"Our households have four working parents and three boys between us," she added. "It saves valuable dollars and time that we can now spend with our families. It also helps foster community between many of our neighbors."

Do you share items with your neighbors? How does it work? Tell us in the comments!

Interested in sharing with your neighbors? Here are some items to consider.

  • Gardening aides. The price of mulch depends on how much is ordered and what kind. But as the Petzes and Blanchards realized, it's always cheaper to order together and pay one delivery fee.
  • Chain saws. Kerry Petz said the Blanchards own the chain saw, which is another item that can easily cost hundreds of dollars and is only used for bigger projects the neighbors share. "We—mostly the men—work together on projects to get them done faster and affordably," she said. "Taking down trees, building decks, fixing roofs."
  • Large drill press. The Petzes own the drill press, which they use for  bigger renovation projects.
  • Labor. Multiple hands can get the job done quickly and foster a community environment that Kerry Petz believes is pretty awesome—and priceless.
  • Lawn mowers.  Lawn mowers can start as low as $149 and go up to several hundred dollars. Since you only need a lawn mower for a few hours every week, more and more neighbors are scheduling the grass cutting around each other. 

About this series: As part of our reporting on spending habits, Patch is profiling people across the country who have found creative ways to save money. Do you share items with your neighbors? We want to hear from you! Share your story here or in the comments section below.
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