Bye-Bye EF Fund (RANT)

**many houseapes** · 06-30-2008, 08:42 PM

It has taken us a little over a year to fully fund our EF...& trying to keep it at 1K has been a constant struggle.....now it has been TOTALLY OBLITERATED!! GGGRRR

We had to get the brakes fixed on the backend of the van(our ONLY vehicle)...I had brought some money to cover it...thinking that it wasn't going to be too bad.................it turned out to be $850 ....AACCKK!!
So...dh & I had to leave the van at the shop & walk the mile back to our house to retreive the rest of the money - wiping out the entire EF fund. & on the way back to the house in the blazing hot sun, some lady wasn't paying attention as she was waiting to pull into traffic from the parking lot we were crossing...she nearly hit me with her car!.....She wasn't even looking in my direction! It was only when I brought my fist down on the front of her car that she noticed that I was just 2 inches away from her! I hope that I put a dent in her car for her being so stupid - shook her up though - she deserved it.GGGRRR.
.....Now if this isn't bad enough.....the front brakes are going to have to be done next month for $630......& gas jumped to 3.95 a gal

I am just mad at the world right now....GGGRRR.i hate the thought of trying to refill that EF fund GGGRRR....but at least we didn't have to whip out the plastic.

**nodmicks** · 06-30-2008, 08:46 PM

I've sure been in your shoes so I know how infuriating it can be. Just tell yourself "thank heavens we didn't need to go in debt!"
Hang in there!!
As far as the dumb lady goes~ GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

**Greebo** · 06-30-2008, 09:02 PM

Hey, CONGRATS on being able to pay cash! Yeah, it sucks that the EF was wiped out, but at least you won't be paying for that for the next 10 years in "easy monthly payments"!

**Mom23boys** · 06-30-2008, 09:03 PM

I feel your pain. I had to take a huge chunk out of mine today too! I needed new tires so the car could pass inspection. The tires ended up costing $468!!!!! I almost died. That isn't all. Now it needs struts and an alignment. UGH!!

I guess we can challenge each other to rebuild that EF!! I am so thankful that we both had one so neither of us had to use that dreaded word - credit!!

**JustMegan79** · 06-30-2008, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by many houseapes

It has taken us a little over a year to fully fund our EF...& trying to keep it at 1K has been a constant struggle.....now it has been TOTALLY OBLITERATED!! GGGRRR

We had to get the brakes fixed on the backend of the van(our ONLY vehicle)...I had brought some money to cover it...thinking that it wasn't going to be too bad.................it turned out to be $850 ....AACCKK!!
So...dh & I had to leave the van at the shop & walk the mile back to our house to retreive the rest of the money - wiping out the entire EF fund. & on the way back to the house in the blazing hot sun, some lady wasn't paying attention as she was waiting to pull into traffic from the parking lot we were crossing...she nearly hit me with her car!.....She wasn't even looking in my direction! It was only when I brought my fist down on the front of her car that she noticed that I was just 2 inches away from her! I hope that I put a dent in her car for her being so stupid - shook her up though - she deserved it.GGGRRR.
.....Now if this isn't bad enough.....the front brakes are going to have to be done next month for $630......& gas jumped to 3.95 a gal

I am just mad at the world right now....GGGRRR.i hate the thought of trying to refill that EF fund GGGRRR....but at least we didn't have to whip out the plastic.

Ugh this is horrible!! I am so sorry you are going thorugh this crap!! First off, let me commend you for not screaming expletives at the vehicle you slammed your fist upon.

I would not have maintained such ettiquite.

Secondly, on a logical level, $630 sounds absurdly high for a brake job. Usually there is a Meineke or Merchants or SomePLACE which has a brake deal for $129 or there abouts....please call your local places in the phone book, check for Val Pack coupons, check your local, Sunday paper for tire/lube places...short of that I would call my local community college or vocational school and ask about fee's.

Look into your options...all of them, before you let go of that hard earned money!!

**Jamauk** · 06-30-2008, 09:17 PM

ugh, that's disappointing, but at least you had the EF. Afterall, that's what its there for, right?

**Marie78** · 06-30-2008, 09:25 PM

I am so sorry your EF had to go towards your car, that's where mine has been going lately too. As for that dumb lady that almost hit you, I hope you did put a dent in her car! Some people are so oblivious!

**momof2joys** · 06-30-2008, 09:36 PM

I can't believe some people!!! Cars are the one thing that I hate to have to fix, because they cost so much to do so. Thankfully for me and my dh, he can fix most things, so we only have to buy the parts, if he can't fix it, then my dad can or my fil. So, that is good for us, otherwise we would up you know what creek!!

**Michelle68** · 06-30-2008, 09:46 PM

That's such a bummer about your brakes, but I know you're glad that at least you had an EF to cover it. I agree with JustMegan about the price. Where did you take it to have it fixed?

--Michelle

**suki** · 06-30-2008, 09:57 PM

That sounds extraordinarily high.

I recently got an estimate to have front and back anti-lock brake system with new rotors... $750. I thought that was absurd. We brought the car home and did it ourselves, except we didn't really need new rotors (had a car expert double check us - he also confirmed the quote was too high as did 2 other shops). We spent less than $75 on new brake pads and a couple of hours (because we're not mechanically inclined) getting the entire job done all the way around. We found the instructions with tutorials specific to our make and model online.

Maybe you can do this for the front brakes and save some money.

**dolphin** · 06-30-2008, 10:00 PM

I agree that the price you had to pay for your brakes is outrageous! It seems awefully high to me and I would sure get some other estimates before letting the same place do the front brakes and anything else!

Sorry you will now have to re-fund your EF but thank God you had it! Just remember, that's exactly what it's there for.

Sorry the lady almost hit you. I can imagine you were really upset at that too!

Here's lots of good vibes coming your way. Hang in there. You'll have that EF going again very soon.

**PB&J** · 06-30-2008, 10:11 PM

What did you have done to your brakes? DH recently replaced the the rotors and brakes shoes on my van. He did it himself and all of it was less than $100. Get a Chilton guide for your car/van from the library the next time you need a repair and see if you can do it yourself. It wasn't difficult, just a bit dirty. lol

With his car, we took it to a shop once and they did the same thing and it was over $500. That is when we decided to do car repairs ourselves.

**emily_hope** · 06-30-2008, 10:18 PM

I know you hate having to re-fund your EF, but I also know you were relieved that you had the money to pay for the brake job and not have to go into debt to do it and that is EXACTLY why we build the emergency fund to begin with. It may be slow go, but you will get it built back up and be glad that you did. (((HUGS)))

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 07-01-2008, 02:17 AM

I'm SO sorry you had to use up your EF...but very glad you had it! That seems like an awful lot for brake work, but know that it usually costs an arm and a leg!

I feel your pain...we just had to have some car repairs done...we've gone through about $700 in the last few weeks getting things fixed.

I'm to the point I wish I lived where I could ride a bike year-round. I'm not willing to do that in -25*, on ice, with no sidewalks cleared of snow, while in traffic. So, will have to keep driving...

Maybe you could get one of those manuals and do the front at home?

**Russ** · 07-01-2008, 06:55 AM

It does suck that the fund is gone but as someone said, thats what it is for. As for the price... whats done is done, but that seems a little high. Maybe next time call around before authorizing the repair. And while you do read a lot of bad things about dealers,ask them as well. The service dept is stepping up to try to carry the financial load for car dealers right now and customer service is at an all time high.