tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post5654084451923970851..comments2023-10-01T07:59:30.295-07:00Comments on Grad Money Matters: Car Trouble and Musings about Not Spending Becoming an ObsessionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-49711879257624453402007-07-25T20:44:00.000-07:002007-07-25T20:44:00.000-07:00Golbguru: Wow, your experience does sound very har...Golbguru: Wow, your experience does sound very harrowing. <BR/><BR/>After the repairs, our car seems to be running smoothly again. The better half drives it these days though since I have absolutely no car sense and panic even for the simplest of problems :) <BR/><BR/>We have just realized that we may have to deal with some really high unplanned expenses in the near future ... so for now, the new car plans are on the back burner...ispfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928097981905476759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-36142900368552068032007-07-24T20:48:00.000-07:002007-07-24T20:48:00.000-07:00Ispf: Get a better car asap if you are using this ...Ispf: Get a better car asap if you are using this one to go to work. If you were just driving around with this junk for leisure then it would have been a different advice. <BR/><BR/>Being stranded is not just about irate commuters honking - it's also about safety. When my car broke down, we were extremely lucky to get out of that situation unhurt - you can imagine: no brake lights, no hazard lights, no turn signals, power windows were not coming down - all this while it decelerated from 70 to 0 mph on a free way! within a matter of a few seconds :)<BR/><BR/>Make sure you don't land up in such a situation.<BR/><BR/>Since you have already spent on the repairs thats worth almost equal to one car payment (if you get a newer one), I guess you can drive it for couple of more months. But keep in mind that you are just postponing the inevitable. Plus, right now (when the car is still working) you might be able to sell it for some value. If you wait till it acts up next time, you won't be able to do that.. so keep that in mind.<BR/><BR/>Btw, what is your husband driving? you should probably switch cars and let me have a feel of this one and see if he changes his mind after that. :)<BR/><BR/>Get something cheap. Pay cash. By used. Switch insurances. There are ways to avoid painful monthly payments. Give it a thought.<BR/><BR/>10 mile biking? I don't think some people have been to Texas ever. :)<BR/><BR/>I sound a bit paranoid, but that's how it is. Plus, I don't mind putting a high price on reliability. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-25976760237140174072007-07-24T20:18:00.000-07:002007-07-24T20:18:00.000-07:00Icefox: Biking 10 miles to work will be tiring - I...Icefox: Biking 10 miles to work will be tiring - I will probably be asleep at my desk for the rest of the day :) Given the option between biking and my old car, I will pick my old car - I think it's in a better shape than I will be after a 10 mile bike ride :)ispfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928097981905476759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-9425275168497513392007-07-24T07:31:00.000-07:002007-07-24T07:31:00.000-07:00The carnival is up at http://la-va.blogspot.com/20...The carnival is up at http://la-va.blogspot.com/2007/07/carnival-of-twenty-something-finances.html so please remember to link back.LAVAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17335170787420533313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-64526040808509968272007-07-23T21:27:00.000-07:002007-07-23T21:27:00.000-07:0010 miles might be short enough to ride a bike to w...10 miles might be short enough to ride a bike to work. I know someone who has a similar commute and they bike to work a few days a week. The office has a small gym/shower facility which works out really well. They get a nice little workout and don't have to pay for gas. Another option is to only bike one way and get picked up for the ride home and just put the bike on a rack. If there is any bus system in your area check if they have bike racks or allow bikes to be brought on board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-23321369683720066822007-07-23T20:15:00.000-07:002007-07-23T20:15:00.000-07:00Icefox: I wish we could do that! Even getting rid ...Icefox: I wish we could do that! Even getting rid of one car would be great! But both our workplaces are about a 10 mile commute each way, in two opposite directions, and there is no real "public" transportation infrastructure in my town :(<BR/><BR/>Bellalinda: Yeah, I do see my husband's point too and I prefer to avoid car payments too. But the anxiety about getting stranded on a heavily congested road and facing the wrath of a gazillion irate commuters makes me wonder if it is really worth it.... Anyway, the good news is we have decided to put off the decision until the next time the car acts up - so no new cars for now :)ispfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928097981905476759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-5598810286092371112007-07-23T18:31:00.000-07:002007-07-23T18:31:00.000-07:00I am with your husband. It costs relatively littl...I am with your husband. It costs relatively little to properly maintain your car, and in my experience at least there is a peace of mind to be had by having the title free & clear and not having to worry about a car payment. I don't see how taking care of what you have is being a cheapskate. If you were continuing to drive a deathtrap, that'd be another matter, but if the car you have is safe and works reasonably well, why spend the money on a new one?Sabrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13746486966764162127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37697766.post-9092954896023911732007-07-23T10:09:00.000-07:002007-07-23T10:09:00.000-07:00Have you thought about getting rid of your car? I...Have you thought about getting rid of your car? I sold both my cars two years ago. It was weird at first, I walk a lot and the amount saved doesn't hurt either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com