Well, lets face it.. I'm not good with money.
But... I'm better than I was 6 months ago. 90% better than I was a year ago! My financial situation is my own fault. However. I have taken a lot of steps to correct these faults and am/was doing good until last night.
Heres the story...
I have back bills on my lights,gas,phone,mortgage. then add in gas to get back and forth to work,car insurance,groceries and tobacco and tubes to roll our own cigs..
I called and made doable payment plans with everyone and have been doing great. I meal plan and only buy what I need for the week and only allow $100 a week for groceries (that includes TP,cat litter,cat food,ect) I have no extra money left at the end of the month but that's ok with me. As long as I can pay down the monthly bills. And it's only for 3 months.After that I'll be caught up and I'll feel a huge lift and have some $$ for the savings every month.
So, I'm happy with all the above. I was comfortable not shopping and having a strict budget.
But then Murphy came last night.
I get home from work, everything was fine. DH went to visit his cousin and calls me to ask if the windshield wipers and turn signals were working when I drove home. I think they were working... I didn't try the wipers so I'm not sure but they worked yesterday...
The turn signals.. I think they were working. I think I'd notice if I didn't hear the "click click click" sound they make when they are on... The fuses are fine.
Now mind you, I have NO EXTRA $$ for 3 MONTHS.
Today, I called my brother in SC who's a mechanic and he thought it's my switch. I tried to find a "how to fix it" answer online last night and found everything to say the same.. the switch.
I called the place I bought the car from ,the owner is a really nice family man, and explained my situation to him. He said this was the worst time to be asking him to defer payments for labor for 3 months but he would see if he had a used one and what it entailed to do the job and get back to me. In the meantime, I called the part store to see how much it would be to buy the part and beg a friend or a friends friend to fix it. The part store can't get it. I have to call the Dodge dealer or a junk yard. So, I call a junk yard. $65! They wanted $15 more than the part store-but the part store can't get it!
Ugh.
The wipers I can do without for a tad. it's not supposed to rain or snow for a while. But turn signals?! If I get pulled over how do I explain THAT to the cops?! "ugh, I'm sorry officer but I have no money to fix them for 3 months?!"
I'm still waiting for the guy from the shop to call me to see if he can help me.
but if he can't.. what am I going to do. I can't not pay something. It'll break the agreement and then I'll have to come up with MORE $$ I don't have.
I don't have cable, can't cut that out.
We don't go out to eat-no $$ for it.
I don't shop for things I dont need- no $$ for it.
Why when you are doing so good do these things freakin happen?!
I'm gonna see how far I can stretch the food I have in the house to save there but there is nowhere else to save. I've cut all corners. And if I use up all the food now, that'll end up being a bigger bill in the end too.. I've been trying to buy things before I run out so we always have it and it keeps me out of the store.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I guess I know that in the end it will work out. God knows, I've had my share of panics and it always works out. But we only have one car. Then, if this guy can help us and defer the payments I'll have to take time off of work. I have paid days off I can use.
ok, sorry its so long. my head is spinning.
But... I'm better than I was 6 months ago. 90% better than I was a year ago! My financial situation is my own fault. However. I have taken a lot of steps to correct these faults and am/was doing good until last night.
Heres the story...
I have back bills on my lights,gas,phone,mortgage. then add in gas to get back and forth to work,car insurance,groceries and tobacco and tubes to roll our own cigs..
I called and made doable payment plans with everyone and have been doing great. I meal plan and only buy what I need for the week and only allow $100 a week for groceries (that includes TP,cat litter,cat food,ect) I have no extra money left at the end of the month but that's ok with me. As long as I can pay down the monthly bills. And it's only for 3 months.After that I'll be caught up and I'll feel a huge lift and have some $$ for the savings every month.
So, I'm happy with all the above. I was comfortable not shopping and having a strict budget.
But then Murphy came last night.
I get home from work, everything was fine. DH went to visit his cousin and calls me to ask if the windshield wipers and turn signals were working when I drove home. I think they were working... I didn't try the wipers so I'm not sure but they worked yesterday...
The turn signals.. I think they were working. I think I'd notice if I didn't hear the "click click click" sound they make when they are on... The fuses are fine.
Now mind you, I have NO EXTRA $$ for 3 MONTHS.
Today, I called my brother in SC who's a mechanic and he thought it's my switch. I tried to find a "how to fix it" answer online last night and found everything to say the same.. the switch.
I called the place I bought the car from ,the owner is a really nice family man, and explained my situation to him. He said this was the worst time to be asking him to defer payments for labor for 3 months but he would see if he had a used one and what it entailed to do the job and get back to me. In the meantime, I called the part store to see how much it would be to buy the part and beg a friend or a friends friend to fix it. The part store can't get it. I have to call the Dodge dealer or a junk yard. So, I call a junk yard. $65! They wanted $15 more than the part store-but the part store can't get it!
Ugh.
The wipers I can do without for a tad. it's not supposed to rain or snow for a while. But turn signals?! If I get pulled over how do I explain THAT to the cops?! "ugh, I'm sorry officer but I have no money to fix them for 3 months?!"
I'm still waiting for the guy from the shop to call me to see if he can help me.
but if he can't.. what am I going to do. I can't not pay something. It'll break the agreement and then I'll have to come up with MORE $$ I don't have.
I don't have cable, can't cut that out.
We don't go out to eat-no $$ for it.
I don't shop for things I dont need- no $$ for it.
Why when you are doing so good do these things freakin happen?!
I'm gonna see how far I can stretch the food I have in the house to save there but there is nowhere else to save. I've cut all corners. And if I use up all the food now, that'll end up being a bigger bill in the end too.. I've been trying to buy things before I run out so we always have it and it keeps me out of the store.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I guess I know that in the end it will work out. God knows, I've had my share of panics and it always works out. But we only have one car. Then, if this guy can help us and defer the payments I'll have to take time off of work. I have paid days off I can use.
ok, sorry its so long. my head is spinning.