Being a grown-up sucks

[KYSportsWriter]

i racked up a few thousand on my credit card when i lived in lexington. had to pay for a bunch of my books because the grant i had wasn't enough. it covered a year of tuition and a book. that was nearly 1K for two semesters of books/supplies.

then i had a couple car expenses come up. had 2 bearings go bad, my radiator busted, had to replace 2 struts, had to replace tires and get 4 rims, and had to get my heating/ac repaired. spent almost 4k total in less than a year.

 

[WildBillyCrazyCat]

It doesn't sound like this is an option for RHCP, but one thing I'd love to do would be to, instead of getting a reliable car, ditch the car entirely.

Payment = $380 per month.
Insurance = $120 per month.
Gas @ $2.50 per gallon = $150 per month.
Repairs, sock away $100/month just in case = $100.
Parking. $80 / month (which is a bargain compared to a lot of places).

Total: $830 for the privilege of driving my car.

If I paid $200 more in mortgage to live closer to a downtown area with public transportation, and $120 for a monthly transit pass, I'd still save more than $500 a month. Hell, even if I needed to rent a car twice a month for the day to get somewhere, I'd still save $400.

For those of you who can, ditch the cars. They're nothing but drains on your finances.

 

[RickStain]

my pep talk is that we didn't suddenly "fail" anything. the biz has failed us.

Absolutely. Debt is not a personal failing.

If a person in debt has a realistic plan for getting out, great. If it's just a story of "I refuse to compromise on XXX" while falling further and further, it's just going to make things worse in the long run.

Debt is rarely the problem. Debt is either the symptom of a deeper problem or a temporary setback.

 

[zebracoy]

It doesn't sound like this is an option for RHCP, but one thing I'd love to do would be to, instead of getting a reliable car, ditch the car entirely.

Payment = $380 per month.
Insurance = $120 per month.
Gas @ $2.50 per gallon = $150 per month.
Repairs, sock away $100/month just in case = $100.
Parking. $80 / month (which is a bargain compared to a lot of places).

Total: $830 for the privilege of driving my car.

If I paid $200 more in mortgage to live closer to a downtown area with public transportation, and $120 for a monthly transit pass, I'd still save more than $500 a month. Hell, even if I needed to rent a car twice a month for the day to get somewhere, I'd still save $400.

For those of you who can, ditch the cars. They're nothing but drains on your finances.

The only problem with that, though, is when you need to get 40 miles away for one thing or another and really don't have the means to do so.

It's ideal when living in a big city when all of your family and friends live there and your job doesn't require you to travel. When you're the only one there, though, living in the suburbs in a place like Nashville or Indianapolis - well, that's a little bit more difficult.

 

[RickStain]

Being a reporter without a car is darn near impossible outside of the heart of urban areas.

If you just need it to get out of town once every couple of months, renting is better, though.

 

[trifectarich]

Don't mean to be crass or uncaring, but at 26 you're still learning about a lot of things. If you think your list of troubles has been long at this point in your life, wait until you have a wife, a mortgage, youngsters to feed and your list of responsibilities also includes insurance, retirement and health care.

Get some reliable transportation and do your best to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

Good luck.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

RHCP, my condolences. I'm a little older, and I've been a massive failure the last two years, only it hasn't been a financial issue.

At some point, one has to come to the realization that the vehicle isn't worth repairing, that it's throwing good money after bad. Great mechanics should be regarded as near-family. If you find one or a good group of folks, don't let them get away and make sure to never hassle them in the process.

I'm sorry for what you're going through ... wish I had something better, more inspirational or more constructive. But my communication skills fail me at this point.

Take care.

 

[RossLT]

It doesn't sound like this is an option for RHCP, but one thing I'd love to do would be to, instead of getting a reliable car, ditch the car entirely.

Payment = $380 per month.
Insurance = $120 per month.
Gas @ $2.50 per gallon = $150 per month.
Repairs, sock away $100/month just in case = $100.
Parking. $80 / month (which is a bargain compared to a lot of places).

Total: $830 for the privilege of driving my car.

If I paid $200 more in mortgage to live closer to a downtown area with public transportation, and $120 for a monthly transit pass, I'd still save more than $500 a month. Hell, even if I needed to rent a car twice a month for the day to get somewhere, I'd still save $400.

For those of you who can, ditch the cars. They're nothing but drains on your finances.

I will never be without a car again. I went from 19 to 27 without one and never again. I hate having to rely on the bus schedule to do EVERYTHING in my life.

 

[The No. 7]

I will never be without a car again. I went from 19 to 27 without one and never again. I hate having to rely on the bus schedule to do EVERYTHING in my life.

I didn't learn to drive until I was well into my 20s. I still don't drive very often, but that will change soon, hopefully. Buses don't go everywhere in this city (they'll go even fewer places when schedule changes take effect in the fall), and they certainly don't run long enough. They're great for getting me to work - when they're on time, that is. But when I'm done for the night, they've long stopped running, so my S.O. picks me up. Their schedule is much more limited here than in many urban areas, and their rates are going up AGAIN. It's already cheaper for me to buy a tank of gas than to use the bus each month. Discount passes only work if you commute on a 9-5 schedule.

Also, in some cases, not owning a car - let alone not having a license - can keep you from getting a job. I was just lucky to not be a reporter.

 

[EStreetJoe]

Look at the bright side - you could be like a friend of mine - 39, single, unemployed and living in his parents' basement.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Look at the bright side - you could be like a friend of mine - 39, single, unemployed and living in his parents' basement.

But at least he has his BLOG! ;)

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I'm sure it's been pointed out elsewhere, but along the lines of looking for clothing sales, if you coupon clip, hang on to them for a few weeks until those items go on sale (10 for $10 Campbells soup, for instance) you can make a killing. It's not too hard, but you have to pay attention and stock up when the right items is on sale. Over a few months you can save a ton on grocery stuff this way.

A quality plan, for those with a head for numbers . . . but the other piece of advice here
which MUST be heeded . .. NEVER buy anything using a coupon that you wouldn't buy, anyway.

The other useful side codicil is: among roughly-comparable products, exercising brand
loyalty is a gross exercise in stupidity.

 

[TrooperBari]

For those of you who can, ditch the cars. They're nothing but drains on your finances.

I'll give you that Amen you're looking for. Ditching cars was liberating, especially financially.

It's not for everyone, of course. It helps when you live in a city with good mass transit and/or nowhere you want to go.

 

[sportschick]

I'm sure it's been pointed out elsewhere, but along the lines of looking for clothing sales, if you coupon clip, hang on to them for a few weeks until those items go on sale (10 for $10 Campbells soup, for instance) you can make a killing. It's not too hard, but you have to pay attention and stock up when the right items is on sale. Over a few months you can save a ton on grocery stuff this way.

A quality plan, for those with a head for numbers . . . but the other piece of advice here
which MUST be heeded . .. NEVER buy anything using a coupon that you wouldn't buy, anyway.

The other useful side codicil is: among roughly-comparable products, exercising brand
loyalty is a gross exercise in stupidity.

I'm a coupon clipper. 1) I only clip them for things I actually buy or a new product I want to try (like this cat hair remover, looks awesome). 2) The coupon has to make it cheaper than the store brand. Otherwise, I'm not really saving money.

Not that there aren't brands I'm very loyal too, like my shampoo and laundry detergent (yea, I'm allergic to Cheer and most of the cheaper stuff, not going there). But I saved $20 last week when Target had a bunch of stuff I use on sale. Stock up time!

 

[Sam Mills 51]

A quality plan, for those with a head for numbers . . . but the other piece of advice here
which MUST be heeded . .. NEVER buy anything using a coupon that you wouldn't buy, anyway.

Yup. No point in spending money on something you wouldn't normally buy just to brag that you saved money. What's the point?

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I'm sure it's been pointed out elsewhere, but along the lines of looking for clothing sales, if you coupon clip, hang on to them for a few weeks until those items go on sale (10 for $10 Campbells soup, for instance) you can make a killing. It's not too hard, but you have to pay attention and stock up when the right items is on sale. Over a few months you can save a ton on grocery stuff this way.

A quality plan, for those with a head for numbers . . . but the other piece of advice here
which MUST be heeded . .. NEVER buy anything using a coupon that you wouldn't buy, anyway.

The other useful side codicil is: among roughly-comparable products, exercising brand
loyalty is a gross exercise in stupidity.

I'm a coupon clipper. 1) I only clip them for things I actually buy or a new product I want to try (like this cat hair remover, looks awesome). 2) The coupon has to make it cheaper than the store brand. Otherwise, I'm not really saving money.

Not that there aren't brands I'm very loyal too, like my shampoo and laundry detergent (yea, I'm allergic to Cheer and most of the cheaper stuff, not going there). But I saved $20 last week when Target had a bunch of stuff I use on sale. Stock up time!

I'll make isolated exceptions re brand loyalty. Baked beans come immediately to mind . . . nothing comes
close to B&M, and there are enough in-store sales and coupons floating around to make them viable --
especially if you've experienced the horror which is Van Camp's.

 

[mustangj17]

I'm sure it's been pointed out elsewhere, but along the lines of looking for clothing sales, if you coupon clip, hang on to them for a few weeks until those items go on sale (10 for $10 Campbells soup, for instance) you can make a killing. It's not too hard, but you have to pay attention and stock up when the right items is on sale. Over a few months you can save a ton on grocery stuff this way.

Mustangs Money Saving Advice...

BUY AND SELL EVERYTHING ON EBAY.

A week ago, my phone cracked out. Needed to buy a new battery. ATT wanted to charge me $49.99 for a new blackberry battery. Went on Ebay, found it for $5.99 with free shipping. Then I sold my broken one and after shipping/fees, made $3. So my new phone battery ended up costing me $47 less.

Did the same thing with a laptop power source a few months ago.

I think just about everything is cheaper on Ebay, DVDs, books, CDs, electronics -- and the items are even cheaper if you buy used.

 

[mustangj17]

It doesn't sound like this is an option for RHCP, but one thing I'd love to do would be to, instead of getting a reliable car, ditch the car entirely.

Payment = $380 per month.
Insurance = $120 per month.
Gas @ $2.50 per gallon = $150 per month.
Repairs, sock away $100/month just in case = $100.
Parking. $80 / month (which is a bargain compared to a lot of places).

Total: $830 for the privilege of driving my car.

If I paid $200 more in mortgage to live closer to a downtown area with public transportation, and $120 for a monthly transit pass, I'd still save more than $500 a month. Hell, even if I needed to rent a car twice a month for the day to get somewhere, I'd still save $400.

For those of you who can, ditch the cars. They're nothing but drains on your finances.

For myself, a car is a nice luxury that I would never give up unless I had to choose between that and a roof over my head. I like knowing I can go where I want, when I want.

 

[Det. Jimmy McNulty]

My income/housing ratio was way better when I was living in the Midwest compared to DC, but now that I have ridden myself of that albatross known as an unreliable car, it more than results in my favor. Sure, I passed up my own 1BR and had to take shelter in a 4BR group home with three the laziest, most anti-social and biggest slob douchebags in metro Washington, but I don't have a car and can live happy hours to their fullest. And my rent isn't $1100/month and I don't live in Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan or metro U St., three great trendy places to get capped.

Rack me and the District!