$10,000 money problem, what do you do?

I cannot physically spend over $10,000 on a money problem. I can physically spend any amount of money less than $10,000 to solve a money problem. So I have to be clever.<br><br>I have a problem with my concrete in my basement. Because it was done incorrectly, it is sinking and needs to be lifted. There are 3 competing problems. I have 3 competing problems to solve. <br><br>1. The concrete is sinking on one side of the house. I believe this to be a drainage issue. When it rains, the ground gets waterlogged and causes the concrete to sink. But I can't fix the concrete until I fix the drainage issue. <br><br>2. Where the concrete has sunk, it is pulling away from the wall. So now I have a gap that critters can get in. <br><br>3. There is a small crack in the wall that is allowing critters to get in. <br><br>So, in order of most important to least, I need to fix the drainage issue. With the drainage issue fixed, the ground isn't waterlogged, so the concrete won't sink anymore. <br><br>That now leads to the second problem, that the concrete has sunk and moved away from the wall. But now that the drainage issue is fixed, I can safely lift the concrete without it sinking again. <br><br>Now that I've lifted the concrete, I can fix the crack in the wall. <br><br>I need to jackhammer the concrete up. Fix the drainage issue by installing a french drain. Then I can put the concrete back down. I know I won't be able to lift the concrete without breaking it. So I'll have to repour the concrete. <br><br>So I have to lift the concrete. Jackhammer the concrete, then repour it. Then fix the crack in the wall. <br><br>Am I missing any other problems? I think I have the problems I need to solve. <br><br>To fix the drainage issue, I need to install a french drain. I have to purchase a french drain. That will cost money, but not $10,000. Then I need to hire a contractor to install the french drain. That is also under $10,000. When the french drain is installed, I have to cut the concrete to jackhammer it out. If I jackhammer too much, I run the risk of breaking the foundation of the wall. I don't think I can jackhammer the entire area without compromising the foundation. So I need to hire someone to jackhammer the concrete for me. Once the concrete is up, then I need to hire a contractor to fix the crack in the wall. <br><br>Then I need to put the concrete back down. So I need to hire a contractor to repour the concrete. <br><br>And I am done. <br><br>It will cost me roughly $8,000. <br><br>This is a very good first attempt at solving real world money problems. I get an A+.