Challenge Budget Question - Replacing Parts

If I buy a car that needs a windshield (due to being cracked) do I have to include the cost of the glass in the budget?

How about replacing aftermarket parts already on the car? For example, a Koni shock that is no good.

If the part was broken when you bought the vehicle you need to count it against your budget. If the glass broke after you bought the vehicle, replacement shouldn't count against the budget. The Koni replacement would count.

Yea, those would both have to be counted.

That's what I was afraid of.

This may sound petty, but I'm looking for every buck I can come up with for next year...what about what I call tool consumables? Things like sanding disks, sand paper, abrasives, etc. I'm guessing no since you wouldn't assign a value to welding wire/gas, etc.

Actually, I think quite a few people include an amount for consumables.

I usually leave them out, but I always include a reasonable "misc. expenses" line- to cover stuff like consumables, bolts pick up of the floor in my shop, or just a stupid moment when I forget to include something.

It also gives me a small amount of flexibility in case I get caught on something in tech.

I've been told multiple times: "Not on the car = not in the budget." Therefore, we've never inlcuded sanding pads, painters tape, etc. Bondo, yes. Paint, yes. Clearcoat, yes. What exactly is "no good" about the Koni? "Misc." bolts, fasteners, zipties, yes.

Swing over my way (north georgia) sometime, and I'll sell you some plexiglas...if not Lexan for a dollar. If you don't feel like coming all the way to georgia, go to a local, independently owned Custom Picture Framing shop. See if they've got some scraps/scratched plexiglas (acrylic.) It won't last for a million years, but it'll last long enough for 5 autox runs and a couple of drag passes.