Some folks like to dig the hole deeper...

**dianne9106** · 12-26-2007, 05:53 PM

I found a mini van advertised locally and decided to take a look at it. It was a '98 Dodge Caravan. It was in pretty good shape, needed about a $150 detail clean performed, but otherwise in good condition. The girl selling it wanted only $2,198 for it, she said that was the pay off on it. We were thinking of paying cash for it at the first of the year. She said she had not driven it since FEB when they bought their Expedition. I said "Wow, you have been making payments all this time on it and haven't been driving it!" She said "no - I haven't been paying on it". So, basically, they bought a '99 Expedition with their tax money in FEB and got the payments so they are reasonable and just quit paying on the mini van! They needed something big for their 3 kids and she had wanted an Expedition for a long time. The mini van had been paid for at one point but they borrowed money along the way and used it for collateral and decided to quit paying the loan.
So, okay - I am just shocked at this point! Her husband is deployed - so they are making more money, so she should be able to pay it off. I asked her if they were going to repo it and she said "no - the company hasn't really bothered to worry her about it yet." She mainly wanted to get it off of her credit and it wasn't registered as it was.
I was kind of iffy at that point about paying a company and I may never see the title and then having a load of trouble getting it registered in TN. My DH test drove it and said it was fine, but we decided we didn't really need it and we would spend the money getting my DS his first ride. I am sure I could clean it up and make some money off it - but it could also be a money pit in the end. We mainly wanted something larger to drive for a little traveling when MIL visits next year.
Bottom line - we might be frugal here - but there are still people out there that are making life harder on themselves by digging their debt hole bigger and flushing their money down the toliet and then further abusing the system. Sorry - I just had to rant.

**ilovechocolate** · 12-26-2007, 06:00 PM

I think that's how most people live nowadays. They see it, they want it, they buy it.

**wulong32** · 12-26-2007, 06:11 PM

wow, thats crazy...

**jamie79** · 12-26-2007, 06:47 PM

I see alot of military wives do that sort of thing when their dh is deployed. Its their way of getting even with their dh cuz he "left" them alone. Trust me when I tell you I have seen this time and time again

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-26-2007, 08:58 PM

What a lousy idea--spend even MORE money!

**dianne9106** · 12-26-2007, 09:48 PM

jamie79, that was also another reason why my husband was a little leary too. Even though she had his POA, he was concerned that when he redeployed he might be a little upset. Part of me felt sorry for her, as she had 3 kids age 1,2,3 and I wanted to help a fellow spouse out. But we are not the Gates and don't have money to get ourselves into further trouble.
Dianne

**McD** · 12-26-2007, 10:01 PM

In cases like this I feel horrendous for the soldier. This type of thing happens too often and to too many soldiers, incuding my brother.

They come home thinking they are going to have a TON of $ banked and they have nothing b/c their spouse (s.o., poa, etc.)has mismanaged their money.

This is why Zac and I had a budget in place beforehand. We kept using the budget based upon the original amount of money earned. When he deployed, we could save all that extra money he earned. By the time he comes home he will have at least 15K in the bank.

**wanderlusting** · 12-27-2007, 03:24 AM

Omigoodness! Her poor DH-he could get in trouble w/ the military if she doesn't start making payments or pay that loan off!

**latierra84** · 12-27-2007, 10:39 AM

wow. i am just shocked. i just dont understand how people can be perfectly ok everyday knowing that they are not paying on their vehicle. oh, want a new one! wow.

**Jamauk** · 12-27-2007, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by ilovechocolate

I think that's how most people live nowadays. They see it, they want it, they buy it.

Its sad, but true. We live in an area that loses power - a lot for days at a time! So, this year we decided to buy a generator. We checked craigslist first and were amazed at how many were listed from the "wealthy" side of town. They buy them for a power outage, then decide they don't want them taking up space in the garage so they sell it - only to go out and buy a new one next time.

Same thing happend when we bought DH's chainsaw - literally hundreds of them listed as "used only once" - they just throw their money away over and over.....I don't get it!

toile · 12-27-2007, 11:56 AM

I suppose this is rude to say...
but if the Fair Tax is implemented....
all of us frugal people will be buying all our stuff from people who waste $.

Because, we wont pay tax on used stuff.
My hubby and I have already said we need to watch out for wealthy people who flip through cars, because we normally buy new and drive 15 years etc..

Sometimes I think our country needs a huge change to keep some folks from digging holes for themselves.
Easy Credit is just too...well easy! LOL

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 12-27-2007, 02:54 PM

Good grief! That's just scary...why on earth would you intentionally stop paying on something...seems dishonest/underhanded...

I could understand if she didn't have enough money to cover it and bought food for her kids instead of paying for a car...that would be logical...but...well...what's wrong with people??

**imforpeace** · 12-28-2007, 01:53 PM

I can't even imagine how someone can do this. If you owe someone, you should pay. You should sell the vehicle you have before you get another.

As for the posts on waste- I have a friend who buys or receives as a gift, very expensive things she can't live without. Then every spring, she sells these things in a yard sale for a major fraction of the retail price. You can imagine my surprise to see gifts I've given her in her yard sale never even opened. {things she asked for} Then she'll go out and buy an exact duplicate of what she just sold for pennies! Weird

toile · 12-28-2007, 02:47 PM

There was a lady on tv this year that did that?
She would buy nice quality stuff that would have lasted, then she would yard sale it all right away?
When she showed her closets they were empty.
She even had all new furniture that she wanted to see to get something else?

I must be like hoarding except you purge too.
Poor lady