The best laid plans... · 2:18pm Dec 14th, 2017
...go to hell in the Winter. Thanks, Jon Snow. You warned me, but I didn't listen.
So the first big snowfall of the year in Michigan just happened last night, and the night before I was out to celebrate my GF's graduation from her MBA. (Congrats! So proud!) And although stuff wasn't ideal, things were manageable. For the last year I've had a decent job—it pays the bills, but that's roughly about it. I seldom have more than a few dollars left before the next month, and of course those are gone quickly enough. Going to BC, for example, took a LOT of planning and eating ramen and, in order to not have to do that, I recently started a finance plan that would get me comfortably in the black by April. And then cancer. And then unplanned emergencies. And then...
Guess what? My 15 yo car died on me on Monday, and no matter what it wouldn't restart. It had to be dragged to a shop, but obviously a quick repair is not going to cut it. I've been fixing the damn thing constantly for the last year, and if it wasn't for RobCakeran (yes! The dude that wrote MLD!) I'd been stranded several months back. Dude's a saint, don't tell him I said that.
Now I have to get a new car. There's no way around it. Renting is going to be much more expensive and I postponed it as much as I could, but I really need to get the down payment somehow. I'm not looking for anything fancy of course. I just needs to work, but with a kid who I have a very high probability that I'll end up having 100% custody of in the next year... I really can't risk not having something to ride.
So yeah. Here I am again, asking for help. I figure, 4k+ of you, if each donates a dollar? (Apparently 5 is the minimum for a gofundme, sorry!)
In any case, here's the GoFundMe page if you guys can help.
pre00.deviantart.net/a556/th/pre/i/2015/116/a/9/mlp___winter_is_coming_by_cabriolete-d8r6d7k.png
Sorry to hear that life is shitting on you, cant give any money but maybe I can give you a little smile and a tip for what your next car should be
I live in Michigan as well, lots of snow. I wish you the best of luck with your car.
I somehow was unaware you were a
breederfather... I think congrats are a bit late but congrats all the same.I'm worse off than you. I can't even afford ramen until next payday, although I still have oatmeal... Yes I'm crazy, thanks for asking.
I'm hoping people have the spare currency to send your way, 'tis the season after all.
P.S. I know how it feels when you have everything planned out, the future doesn't look bleak, then BAM right in the checkbook. I can't offer you anything other than well wishes... Sorry man
yeah i miss the snow im originally from derry new hampshire live in tennessee now
I've thrown in a couple bucks, sorry I can't give more.
Friday.
~Skeeter The Lurker
I'll be able to donate Saturday. Hope things improve for you soon, or at least enough to be manageable.
I have contributed. Everyone, help this lad out.
Bam. Did what I could
Five bucks. Best I can do.
You:
GoFundMe:
I think these two numbers don't match ;p
>checks personal finances
Well, well. That's interesting... lemme see what I can do. I'll get back to you later.
Edit: enjoy my
$20$15, dude. Best I can do after remembering I still owe rentGot your back, D
I'm sure ROB and Biscuit will give you advice, but I always say: Buy a used car that you have test driven, with a clean carfax report that's at least 8 years old (the price drops steeply at 8 years old because you can't typically get a loan from a bank for a car more than 7 years old).
You get the best deal by trading off years of life for low mileage. For example, a car 10 years old with 130,000 miles may cost the same as a car 14 years old with 80,000 miles, but the 14 year-old car is a better deal. IMHO you can find the best deals if you stick with at least 10 years old and less than 50,000 miles. IMHO this is a result of used cars being priced by Blue Book value, while the blue book is underpriced because it doesn't take into account that you can get a Carfax and a title investigation and avoid the cars that have been salvaged, or been in floods or accidents.
Used cars that are priced too good to be true are always too good to be true. They'll have a salvage title, flood damage, a bent frame, something. They may even be stolen, especially cars on ebay, and especially if the seller says the car must be sold out-of-state. Don't compare the price of a car you've inspected to the price of a car you haven't inspected.
Check online reviews of a car dealer before you visit them.
Open the hood and check the engine before and after your test drive. If there's oil on the engine, wipe it off before the test drive. You esp. want to see if it has an oil leak in a cylinder. Compare the car's VIN to the VIN on the Carfax or you might end up with a stolen car and have it taken away. You don't get your money back if you buy a stolen car and then the cops track it down.
Pick one model of car at home, on the internet, and then shop around for just that model, rather than wasting your time running around and looking at ten different models of car.
Used cars from north of the Mason Dixon line have rust damage, and should be avoided if possible.
When you settle on a car, ask the seller to hold it for a day and pay a local mechanic about $100 to haul it to their garage and do a full inspection. This is not something even ROB can do very well on the lot.
Sent 10. Best of luck.
I'm with bad horse on the recommendation of buying used. The only reason why I bought my last one new was logistics and the unreasonable market value for Geo Metros that are already uncommon to find under 300k odo.
Oh man, I only just read this
I'm just heading out for work now, but I'll donate a few dollars when I get back tonight (sorry it can't be more, I basically have nothing at the moment). I truly hope you manage to sort this out sooner rather than later.
Sent a bit your way. Sorry Ican't give more. Godspeed, man.
I lucked out a few months ago, my mom's mechanic will go to auctions and flip cars. He found a nice 2007 Ford Focus with 101,000 kilometers on it (a fourth of my previous car and probs about 60k miles) for 1700 bucks. He fixed it up, replaced the headlight that was broken, fixed the body damage, and replaced half of the underbody (good old salty roads up in Canadaland) for a final sale value of 3500. He let me do paymenta and I ended up getting it for 3400 and I had to play the 40 something to switch the plates over.
If you know a mechanic or a friend knows a mechanic, a case of beer goes a long way too. They can find fixem-ups and they'll do it for a lot cheaper than what you'll get from a dealer. Just an idea.
I'll see what my credit will allow me to send if anything. Best of luck my dude.
Adding a few bucks to the pot. Good luck.
Snow sucks it hard, I hated having to deal with car trouble in the winter, hope you get back behind the wheel soon. Have some bucks.
Good thoughts. Donation sent.
4748427, 4748435, 4748453, 4748467, 4748468, 4748491, 4748516, 4748525, 4748735, 4748803, 4748922, 4748925, 4748957, 4748964, 4749109, 4749169, 4749341, 4749377, 4749646, 4749845, 4750216, 4751547, 4751556, 4753185 Thank you all for your help. We're very close to the objective!
Gave what I can and hope you reach your goal. Tis the holiday so hopefully you will as a miracle.
4753215
Yay!
Signal-boosting.
Added my two bits to the pool. Good luck, sir!
Made my contribution scant seconds before the massive one that put you over the goal. Sorry I never put up a word-spreading blog.