Murphy Visiting? update

[patchwork150]

Anyone want to comiserate with me today? This week, I've been hit by murphy BIG TIME.

DH's truck- the clutch finnally gave it's last. We need to replace the entire clutch, plus the slave cylinder and perhaps the master cylinder. Clutch kit- ~$350, Slave Cylinder & Master Cylinder- ~$200, Work to put it in (drop the transmission, etc): ~$300. $850

My Car- don't even KNOW what is wrong with it yet. It revv's up even parked, doesn't want to shift down (automatic), and will drive at 40MPH without me ever touching the gas pedal. It's awaiting estimate.

The 3rd Vehicle- dug it out of the snow yesterday, registered/put on the road/new plates- $284, plus an extra $64 a month in insurance. Now I drove it to work this morning, and it won't start back up again (Probably the starter, since the battery and alternator seem fine).

I have overspent what I budgeted for gas this week by over $170. I filled up my car the day it broke down- $50. I filled up the 3rd truck- $75. I had to fill up my dad's car that he let me borrow- $45. And I still don't have a damn car.

So, the total of unexpected spending this month is over 1k, and still more to come.

Oh, and when I got home last night, the Furnace was dead. It was in the negative temperatures last night, I have no heat, and my house is around 40 degrees right now and dropping. The high today is around 18. The landlord is in South Carolina, and the emergency guy didn't show up last night.

So, I was late to work this morning, have no way home tonight at 7pm, have no lunch, no cash, and no way to get to anywhere to buy food and no way home. I had to shower this morning with no heat. I got home late last night and got no homework done so if I can make it to college tomorrow I may not have anything to turn in. And the DH and I had a mini fight last night, and we never fight. Rant off.

And it really pisses me off that I am going to be so far behind in my savings goals thanks to all of this.

How do you people cope with things going wrong- both financially and emotionally?

[constanz22]

I know it's frustrating and happens to all of us...
Do you/did you have an EF or other savings to cover the car repairs? If so, at least you have the money to take care of it, even though it definitely sux to put out that much money at once. When things like this happen to me now, I really do try to look on the bright side (that I usually have $1000 EF) and can take care of it. Even 5 years ago, this would be a major, major crisis. Not only wouldn't I have had an EF, but probably wouldn't have a CC that wasn't maxed out either.

It sounds like the clutch issue could've been somewhat planned for and hopefully you were saving/planning for it's eventual repair.

I know it's probably not helpful now, and when in crisis, it's hard to think straight, but, it probably would've been cheaper and easier to rent a car for a few days til one or both car repairs were completed.

Sorry about the furnace...that happens to me at least once a winter, always during the coldest/most inappropriate time (Christmas Eve?!). Hope it's an easy fix. I'd be on the phone with the landlord and give the repair guy a couple hours to show up, if he doesn't, then would call my own and let the landlord know he will be getting the bill.

[patchwork150]

Mar 3, 2011 8:13:57 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

When things like this happen to me now, I really do try to look on the bright side (that I usually have $1000 EF) and can take care of it. Even 5 years ago, this would be a major, major crisis. Not only wouldn't I have had an EF, but probably wouldn't have a CC that wasn't maxed out either.

I know it's probably not helpful now, and when in crisis, it's hard to think straight, but, it probably would've been cheaper and easier to rent a car for a few days til one or both car repairs were completed.

Sorry about the furnace...that happens to me at least once a winter, always during the coldest/most inappropriate time (Christmas Eve?!). Hope it's an easy fix. I'd be on the phone with the landlord and give the repair guy a couple hours to show up, if he doesn't, then would call my own and let the landlord know he will be getting the bill.

lol- you hit the nail on the head.

I thought this morning that I probably should have rented a car instead, but I honestly didn't expect the 3rd car to give us trouble. DH has been asking to get it registered for a month, on two points- he wanted something else for us to fall on for car emergencies, and he wanted to maybe sell his truck and use the 3rd one instead. So hopefully we won't lose out too much by registering it. My DH was saving to fix his truck and has bought the clutch kit, but I have been earning much less than we anticipated since I returned to school, so it has been more difficult for us.

As for an EF, thank god that yes on all counts. Had this happened to me last year this time, I would have been maxxed out in the CC, no savings, and in much worse shape. I have enough to take care of this deal, but it still is going to set me back in savings goals.

As for the furnace- I guess I'm afraid of pissing off the landlord, but if they don't take care of it today I think I'll take care of it your way. good idea. This is the 5th time this winter that the furnace has died- the landlord has been REALLY lax on taking care of the problem obviously.

[Jake 48]

Call the landlord, tell him the emergency guy didn't show, is there someone else? at least landlord did have someone but needs to evaluate if this is the guy to have for emergencies. You don't want to piss him off but 5x there have been issues. good for you having an EF. I agree w/ the rental car idea for a couple of days rather than digging a car out, registering etc.. Long term, do you need 3 cars and the expense or will you sell DH's truck and put the money into the remaining 2

[isabella]

Patchwork .... "How do you people cope with things going wrong- both financially and emotionally? "

sorry to hear you are having one of those "when it rains it pours" day/week.
If my furnace went out I would probably check into a hotel for the night or two while landlord fixed and present the landlord with the hotel bill.
as far as how I cope with these ... I don't let any of it get the best of me especially on the stuff that I have no control over. Stuff just happens sometimes and fix one at a time in order of importance.

[bean29]

Sorry to hear of your issues - glad to hear you planned ahead and have an EF.

On the landlord issue. By all means call and let him know his guy didn't show. You might want to contact them yourself. My DH called in December to have a new garage door put on our rental property. He called the tenant and told them it was going to be replaced. We did not know it was not done until I drove past on my way to pay the tax bill. We got it done within 2 days of the discovery...but sometimes if you just follow up things might get done a little sooner.

We have had a when it rains it pours year with the cars too. DS got in an accident with one car, the next week I got rear-ended. The next month I got T-boned by an uninsured driver. We have been juggling cars and even had rentals for a few days in between.

The heat is a building code issue. They have to fix it. also if it is 40 degrees in your house your pipes could freeze. Call the city building inspector and see what your options are. You probably could justifiably break your lease if they refuse to repair - but then you would have to have somewhere else to go.

[newsmaker]

Sorry to hear about your cars. About the landlord, I agree that if the guy didn't show up, you need to contact him ASAP. Also, take a look at your rental contract and see what it says about fixing/repairing stuff. I had this happen to me when I was a single mom but with a water issue in my bathroom. Contract specified that I had to call them and they would arrange for such service. They never did and I got fed up & ended up paying ($180) to get it repaired . Landlord didn't even split the cost with me. When the refrigerator broke down, I called them and never got it repaired. Thank God my lease was up and I was about to leave. I later learned that they had to buy a new one for the new tenant.
As for cars, when it rain it pours. We had this happen to us plenty of times. My best advice is to find a good/reliable mechanic who can come every once in a while and take a look at the cars for a flat fee. Mine charges $35 for a house visit and will come and look at our cars, even if they are working perfectly. He has detected little problems at the root-thus preventing a larger expense.

Good luck!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I cope with these sorts of things by praying for wisdom and calmness, then coming to places like this for some solid advice and encouragement.

[patchwork150]

first- thank you everyone for the encouragement.

Mar 3, 2011 14:37:04 GMT -5 newsmaker said:

My best advice is to find a good/reliable mechanic who can come every once in a while and take a look at the cars for a flat fee. Mine charges $35 for a house visit and will come and look at our cars, even if they are working perfectly. He has detected little problems at the root-thus preventing a larger expense.

Good luck!

I think you have a good system for yourself. I drive around 500 miles a week, so I get my oil changed every 6 weeks. I ask my mechanic to check my car over well every time he sees it. However, the stupid thing is that I JUST FIXED my car. I had to do a tune up- $283 for a 4-cylinder (plugs and wires only) which was waay overpriced. This was just last friday. This new issue started Tuesday morning. I brought it to a different mechanic.

I'm not suprised that my car has been having issues. It has 250,000 miles on it....

[busymom]

So sorry, patchwork. Been there! I can only tell you sometimes murphy brings luggage when he comes to visit. Hopefully, next month there will be no expensive surprises.

[blackcard]

In the past I felt like Murphy moved in permanently. Then I got married. When Murphy visits these days, we just pay him off. But, I understand your anguish.

Sorry to hear about all that, maybe Murphy will take a long vacation away from you. Don't send him our way though. Thanks in advance.

[Deleted]

That darned Murphy! Apparently nobody told him that fish and company stink after three days

[tiredboomer]

I have this theory that all of our cars and appliances are able to communicate with each other, and, that, now and then, they get together and say, "Let's create havoc!!!".

[patchwork150]

OK so, apparently Murphy does like extending his visits.

The black truck finally is running, right? On the way from college to work it rains. I put on the windsheild wipers. Suddenly, they stop working. I was 1/2 way to work.Oh, and when I step on the breaks more and more the truck is pulling hard to the right.

My car- no word on it getting fixed, they are still 'looking at it'

I am so frustrated I want to cry!

[patchwork150]

Mar 4, 2011 14:48:19 GMT -5 @tiredboomer said:

I have this theory that all of our cars and appliances are able to communicate with each other, and, that, now and then, they get together and say, "Let's create havoc!!!".

you got a chuckle out of me, karma to you

[Apple]

I definitely have those weeks (years sometimes) too! I cope by venting here IRL, sometimes I don't cope super well and end up moody for a day or two, even if I can pay for it, it's still frustrating.

Oh, and I watch funny clips on youtube to make me laugh. The "richard simmons on who's line is it anyway" always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I've watched it!

[patchwork150]

thank you everyone for the encouragment ;D

I am doing my best to get in a more positive spirit. Since I've come across all these unexpected expenses, I am going to do my best to majorly cut expenses in other areas this month to try to make up for it.

First off the menu is my $75/month personal allowance. Bye bye! I also am entering unfamiliar territory by MEAL PLANNING so I can try to reduce grociery costs and eating out. Wish me luck! I'll think of other ways to save. I have another thread open about saving (proir to this mess that just happened to me), and they are all giving me great ideas. I will feel better if I can recouperate enough this month to at least still be able to put away a little $ in savings.