Car repairs!

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
Car repairs!
6
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 11:33am
I had to take my car in for repairs and the bill is $765, which doesn't even include the regular maintenance that it needs which would have been and extra $300 and I have to put that off for now. I don't have any savings so my boyfriend is going to charge it for me but I have to start making payments back to him immediately.
The worst part is, I live in the city and NEVER drive my car. I mean never. I just don't need it. The logical question would be why don't I sell the car?? Well I can't because I owe too much on it to sell it. I bought it right before I decided to move to a major city.
So I am stuck and now I have to use my whole bonus to pay him back and once again not be able to buy any new clothes. I've now been wearing the same out of style work clothes for over 5 years and look very unprofessional... So frustrating.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: cherfer
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 12:01pm

That is SO frustrating for you. I'm so sorry! Any chance it would make sense to sell the car and pay the difference in what you owe with a personal loan or a credit card? Of course, if you have no credit left, that doesn't work...

Can you turn the tags in and let it sit, thereby avoiding at least the repair costs and insurance costs and so forth? I know you'd still have to have some insurance, since you owe on the car, but you'll probably get a discount for not driving it.

I know how frustrating it is, too, to not have money for clothes, especially when you need to look professional.

I know this is probably counter-intuitive, and many here may not agree with me, but I think the clothes should probably be a pretty high priority. I really believe that having professional and attractive clothes makes a difference not only in how you feel, but in how people react to you, and in how well you do professionally. Sad but true--people are influenced in their decisions about people by how those people look.

So, I recommend to start setting aside even a small amount of money to spend on your wardrobe. Then take that money to consignment shops, yard sales, and thrift stores. You may be amazed at the nice quality, attractive clothes you can purchase second hand for next to nothing at these type outlets.

I have to have only a small professional wardrobe, as I work mostly from home, so I've purchased nearly my entire wardrobe at yard sales. I've found lovely almost-new blouses for a dollar or two (or less on occasion--sometimes a quarter or fifty cents), as well as slacks that fit nice and look good. It's all very stylish and flattering--I get compliments on my wardrobe on a regular basis. I've got a gorgeous (slightly too large, but only noticeable if you look closely enough to see that the cuffs reach just below my wrist and the waist reaches my hips), practically brand-new, 100% wool dress coat that I bought for $5. For $3-5 per item, thrift stores will have a wider selection of the same sort of thing all in one place (instead of driving from yard sale to yard sale). If you can spend a bit more (think $5-10 per item), mid-scale consignment stores usually have an even wider selection of high-quality like-new dress clothes, and you won't have to pick through junk to find what you're looking for. For $30-$50 (and up, for the really extravagant stuff) per item, you can probably get top-of-the-line designer outfits worn only once or twice at the upscale consignment boutiques. Just be sure to look for things that can be machine-washed, as dry-cleaning bills can easily outstrip the original cost of the clothing.

I've also purchased nearly all my non-dress clothes at yard sales, which is even easier to do. It helps that I'm a fairly average size. But even unusual sizes can be found at thrift and consignment stores. My latest find was late in the morning at a yard sale. The lady, who was about my size, just wanted to be rid of the clothes, and let me take home several boxes of clothes for free, provided I would take *all* of the clothes. So I did, and picked out what I wanted, and took the rest to Goodwill. Of that lot, I got two very nice pairs of black dress slacks--one in stretch velvet, one in a lighter-weight stretch fabric--and about six pairs of casual slacks--two cords, and a couple others. They were all in a style that I like and find flattering, and I love having a drawer stuffed full of flattering clothes! LOL

Anyway, I know how frustrating the early days of debt-repayment can be. Just seems like every time you turn around there's some new something conspiring to keep you down. But you *can* do this, and you will. It just takes time and determination.

Good luck with the car, and I hope you find something that works out for you soon.

Blessings,

Heather

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: cherfer
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 12:58pm

Hi Cher - I am really sorry that the car is costing you so much.

All my best,
Danni

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
In reply to: cherfer
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 10:07am

Turn in the tags!!! Oh no! In Chicago, I would get a ticket everyday, I'd probably go to jail if they found out it was my car! No, that's not possible. My insurance is pretty cheap, only $80 a month, and I definitely cannot cancel it but I did tell them I only drive a few miles a month, which gave me a discount.

I got the car fixed and it's running better now, which is good. If I ever want to sell it once it's paid off, I guess I have to keep it in good running order.

Also, on the clothes issue, I've been to plenty of consignment and thrift stores because my boyfriend likes vintage t shirts. I have never found one thing for myself that was in nice shape or that would fit me. Most things I've found are larger sizes and I'm a 6. So I feel like that's kind of a waste of time... you're not going to find many contemporary clothes that a 29 year old woman would wear, especially since most cool clothes at thrift stores are purchased by more expensive vintage stores in major cities and sold for more. But I will start putting aside money, not like I have any, but I'll try! I only have about $60 spending money per week, which isn't much if I go out even one night on the weekend.

Thanks for the ideas!!

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
In reply to: cherfer
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 10:08am

I actually did look into that last year. The reason I can't get a loan is because I owe more on the car than it is worth. It's going to take at least another year of payments before I get equal to what it's worth.

Plus I'm still working on credit problems. :-(

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: cherfer
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 10:26am

Oh, wow--in Charlotte, you can turn in the tags on your car any time and as long as you're not driving it, they stop charging you taxes and everything else. It's not only legal, it's actually suggested by county employees in answer to problems like a car that won't pass inspection (we had one that repeatedly failed despite all our best repair efforts, and this was finally the city's answer). Sorry that's not an option for you!

As for clothes--do you have a Plato's Closet, or other midscale consignment store? I also wouldn't expect to find good clothes for myself in a vintage store, but there are consignment stores around here that cater specifically to the professional crowd and that carry recent fashions and almost-new business clothes. These are not thrift stores or vintage stores, they are women's (and some of them men's) professional business attire consignments.

Another option is to contact dry cleaners in the area and ask if you can purchase unclaimed items from them. They usually sell them by the box (for a couple bucks a box), and you might not get what you're looking for, but it might be worth a shot. I haven't tried this myself, but I once bought a formal gown from a lady who had done this and then held a yard sale to sell off what she couldn't or wouldn't wear herself. I would think size 6 would be reasonably common--I wear a size 7/8, and have no trouble finding clothes.

But then, I may just live in an easier city for this type of shopping. Good luck anyway, and keep your chin up.

Blessings,

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
In reply to: cherfer
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 10:35am

As far as thrift and consignment shopping, I've found that you simply have to do it every week in order to find the good stuff. You won't find stuff every week but it really ups your chances. My mother shops thrift stores all the time and has a closet full of nice clothes so she's going to show me the ropes again.

I myself am still in desperate need of work clothes even though I got some for Christmas and as much as I hate the thought, I'm going to have to break down and buy some. I do plan on picking up most of them at Thrift stores though, it's just going to be every weekend spent at the thrift store. I'm not looking forward to it but at least there I know I only buy what I need since so much of the stuff is just not for me.

The other thing I'm going to do is clean out my closet and get rid of anything that is too old or doesn't fit any more. It's much easier to get a picture of where you are with clothes when you don't have a bunch of stuff that you don't wear. I found last time I did that I came across stuff I had forgotten I had that got thrown back into the mix again.