I'm so torn, keep or sell the motorcycle?

**cheappearls** · 08-20-2008, 05:48 PM

We are in a tight spot. Super tight spot. My DH just changed jobs, we moved to a different state and we keep getting hit by one thing after the other. I'm working hard to get everything evened out. Some things are unavoidable like some paycheck issues that left us VERY short for a little while but this morning because a small mess up in my budget math, we got hit with a $25 overdraft fee (for being $4 over)... We only had $55 for food for the next 2 weeks and we are low on a lot of things. I'm honestly very scared but we'll be okay on sandwiches, pasta and frozen veggies for a little while. All the bills are paid and we have enough for rent, it's just our food budget keeps getting smaller and smaller to cover everything else. We've already borrow a bit of money from family.

The good news is that we will be getting hopefully $600 extra a month very soon, all from military. DH is National Guard so he has a drill weekend with his new unit coming up plus $200 kicker to his GI Bill (pays for college) that wasn't added in and there's talk of the military adding an extra $200 on top of that for everyone. That would truly be a huge help.

What I'm torn about is DH's motorcycle. He LOVES to ride and it provides us with a second vehicle. Right now, it's been parked in the garage for 3 months because we can't afford to get Texas tags on it and with his new job, he has to have state tags to drive it to work. So my boys (4, 2, 9 months) and I have cabin fever from being stuck at home without the truck. We live in the south part of town so there's not much within walking distance and it's so HOT outside that I barely want to step outside in the first place. I've made a few friends in the neighborhood but I am starting to get really frustrated having to work my plans and errands around DH's schedule OR get up at 5am to take him to work then pick him up that evening. I want to be able to just leave, go to the store or park whenever I want to. We will tag it with Dh's Guard money next month. Hopefully.

But, the Harley is a big expense. It's our biggest bill besides rent, even higher then our utility bill. It does help a bit with auto insurance with the multi vehicle discount but I'm not sure if it's worth it anymore. It is a 2008 105th anniversary edition Wideglide, only 2000 produced so it's not like we can sell it and just buy one just like it later. We've talked a little bit that if we can't make it work, we would sell it. Now with some extra money coming in and we've reduced the bills we could we will be alright but we do have a lot of debt and no EF fund. If we sold it (hopefully for more then the pay off amount) the the extra money a month could make a huge dent in our debt and we could get together a down payment for a house we hope to buy next year.

I guess I'm mostly just rambling. Thanks if you made it all the way through this. I would like some insight. Keep it because DH loves it and I love having my truck or get rid of it and pay down debt? It's something that makes both of us so happy (him riding, me with my own vehicle) I'm just so unsure.

**PAVallygrl** · 08-20-2008, 05:52 PM

Any way you can drive DH to work and pick him up afterwards?

**DaisySue** · 08-20-2008, 05:53 PM

At my house this is a no-brainer.......he'd get rid of me before the bike! Seriously!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do, hon.

**PAVallygrl** · 08-20-2008, 05:54 PM

Hit the submit button before I was done.

If the sale of the bike would pay down a lot of your outstanding debt I'd sell it. No use having outstanding debt and a payment on something you can't use.

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-20-2008, 05:58 PM

The debt on that bike is rather outrageous. Why not sell it, and by a cheap used one with the extra cash? Then your hubby could take that to work and you would have your truck. Plus you would no longer have that monthly payment, but still have a bike, even if it isn't THE bike. Win win for everyone.

**cheappearls** · 08-20-2008, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by PAVallygrl

Any way you can drive DH to work and pick him up afterwards?

I have before but it means getting up at 5am, waking the boys up and taking him. The time I did, we had a funky day because the boys lost 3 hours of sleep and it ended up cutting our play date short because I had to make sure I was at his work when he got off. A huge PITA and I think I'd rather sleep then have the truck most days.

We have talked about him carpooling but we don't live near any of his coworkers.

**Cricketlegs** · 08-20-2008, 06:04 PM

I hope this doesn't sound snippy but here it goes.

When the family suffers, the toys need to go. If it has been parked 3 months, you can do without it.

You said it yourself, it is second biggest next to the RENT and you have no food and babies in the house....

time for some serious talking with your dh.

Better to get a cheaper one than to continue on as you are.

Let the new income really help you without the burdens of what you can not afford.

Will you share what you owe?

**cheappearls** · 08-20-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by itsahumanzoo

The debt on that bike is rather outrageous. Why not sell it, and by a cheap used one with the extra cash? Then your hubby could take that to work and you would have your truck. Plus you would no longer have that monthly payment, but still have a bike, even if it isn't THE bike. Win win for everyone.

Yeah it is a bit ridiculous. I think I'm more upset at the thought of selling it then DH is. He hards so hard and sacrifices so much for our family and he should have one thing that he truly enjoys, some little joy in life outside of work. Taking it away from him, even for a extra bit of financial security seems so very wrong.

**cheappearls** · 08-20-2008, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Cricketlegs

I hope this doesn't sound snippy but here it goes.

When the family suffers, the toys need to go. If it has been parked 3 months, you can do without it.

You said it yourself, it is second biggest next to the RENT and you have no food and babies in the house....

time for some serious talking with your dh.

Better to get a cheaper one than to continue on as you are.

Let the new income really help you without the burdens of what you can not afford.

Will you share what you owe?

Not snippy because you are right. He is more then willing to sell it, he was the one to bring it up in the first place. It's mostly me (see previous post). We aren't out of food, just short. I make a lot from scratch and I have a mini stock pile on things like pasta, frozen veggies, flour and oatmeal. If it came down to it, the bike or food the bike would go without a second thought. But with food, we're just going to be bored with meals for a bit.

The pay off amount right now is $16,749.92. Monthly payment is $369.

**Cricketlegs** · 08-20-2008, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by cheappearls

Yeah it is a bit ridiculous. I think I'm more upset at the thought of selling it then DH is. He hards so hard and sacrifices so much for our family and he should have one thing that he truly enjoys, some little joy in life outside of work. Taking it away from him, even for a extra bit of financial security seems so very wrong.

Then work for it now and reap the benefits later when dh CAN have what he wants when you can truly afford them

Me, I am DYING for another camper--the first thing to go back in the day when it all hit the fan.

One day, when the time is right, we will have another one.

NOT YET though, the time is not right so we must do without.

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-20-2008, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by cheappearls

Yeah it is a bit ridiculous. I think I'm more upset at the thought of selling it then DH is. He hards so hard and sacrifices so much for our family and he should have one thing that he truly enjoys, some little joy in life outside of work. Taking it away from him, even for a extra bit of financial security seems so very wrong.

All of us here have had to give up one thing or another for financial security. At least if you can buy a cheap used bike, he still has something to enjoy. Even better, if he likes to tinker, it can be something that he can work on. He could even involve your kids in it too. There are plenty of things to enjoy in like that don't cost nearly as much.

**FrugalMomof3** · 08-20-2008, 06:25 PM

You said he uses the motorcycle as a 2nd ride, correct, if that's the case and you need the money, I would sell it.

Remember material things can always be purchased again some other time but your health matters more than a motorcycle. You need to eat and I am sure the stress level you have is above what it should be, Sell the motorcycle, take some money from that and stash it away in the EF so when things get tough again like they are now, you have something to dip into.

Health means more than a motorcycle can any day in my book!

**Cricketlegs** · 08-20-2008, 06:25 PM

have you done the debt calculator with and without the bike to see when you could be debt free? Did you roll the bike payment into the balance without the bike?

**missmanny** · 08-20-2008, 06:34 PM

Hi there,

It's hard when you know that something brings your Hubby so much joy. I think that if he is happy to make the sacrifice and even suggested it himself, you should deffinately do it and here is my reasoning....

It is hard for men when they feel that they are not providing for their families, he works hard and your right he deserves something special, but at the end of the day I don't think that it is making him feel special at all, it sounds to me as if he is feeling guilt. Let him sell the bike to put your family into a better position. I promise you there will be 110 year aniversary special bike that you can buy in 5 years time. He'll feel better and most certainly like he is providing better for his family so i think that it is a win win situation.

Thats my 2 cents anyway.