Time to 'grow up' - the slippery slope to 30.

immoral_angeluk

Evening all.
I did do a loong post last night but my computer decided to turn itself off before I'd posted or saved. I've had a really cr*ppy couple of days and am not a happy bunny atm, so have set up basecamp in bed with a bottle of wine.
Yesterday everything was going wrong, from the trains to the course to just everything. On the plus side I did £145 worth of xmas shopping and got a fair amount, including bits which were higher budget so I'm doing pretty well on the xmas present front. Reckon I could finish off the rest for £200 which would bring me well under budget...

BUT...

Here's another part of the cr*ppy couple of days. Yesterday morning I made the mistake of running my wiper blades with ice on the windscreen, and it's broken the wipers so the driver's side wiper doesn't work properly now and it's illegal/unsafe to drive in the rain/snow and I also can't wash the window while driving which isn't good in winter! :eek:

So first thing this morning before work I took it to get it fixed, thinking it was just a bent wiper arm and would be something quick/easy to do.

Took it to kwikfit, they refused to even look at it, saying it's a main dealer job and were just downright rude as I'd turned up 2 minutes before they were open and I wasn't booked in with an appointment...
Took it to nationwide autocentres who initially tried to fix it and couldn't, so had to do a full inspection and was quoted £400 :eek: for a new wiper linkage assembly which apparently is a whole part on the new corsa including motor, and you can't just buy the linkage. Either way I nearly died at being quoted £400.I also had to pay £50 for the privilege of them taking it apart and testing it, and to put it back together so I could take it away :mad: So I'm down £50 and it's still broken...

Got a quote from Vauxhall, part is £180ish, and it'd be £308 all in inc VAT/labour. :eek:

Went to an indie mechanic recommended by my boss who drove me there, and he's said if I buy the part off ebay etc they'll fit it for £50 as it's a straight forward job which takes no more than an hour and a half. Alternatively they could order the part in but it would cost more (he estimated £120-£150) Obviously this is my best option and I've been totally put off national chain garages/main dealers for life. Rip of merchants.

Trouble is now finding the right part as I've never bought parts to be fitted before, and I've found some on ebay but I'm not sure if they're right. The price varies from £80 second hand to £180 brand new! :eek: Course until I've got the part it's stil unsafe and illegal to drive, so I'm not happy but I'm not going to pay nearly £300 more for the priviledge of having it done sooner!! I haven't even GOT that kind of money just spare, not even on the CC's!!!
Thankfully DP has said I can put it on his CC and pay it off, but it's not the point really, as I'm pee'd off that something so stupid and an action from not even thinking is costing so much money that I really could do without having to pay.

So, I'm going to have to redo my budgets. I'm already £50 down and still need to pay potentially another £150 depending on whether I can get the part. I'm really cheesed off as it's money that WAS going to be spent on my girls' xmas presents.

I'm considering selling the car and getting on of these.



Back in a bit to update once I've done my budgets. *sigh*

immoral_angeluk

New budgets done. I've had to cut them right down but it's looking inevitable that I'm going to owe more on the credit card because of the stupid car and the stupid ice meaning I'm not able to clear off what I spent on presents on it like I'd originally planned. I know these things happen but it just seems so disproportionate considering all I did was put the wipers on to clear the window and it's ending up costing me at least £200!!
If the car costs £150 to fix as I'd expect, I'd be theoretically able to afford £290 the remainder of the presents if I can save what I intended (£70pw plus £150 wages allowing £150 for car repair). BUT I don't want to be owing on the credit card so I've considered cutting my budget down to £200 to finish off everyone, leaving £90 to pay off the credit card and pay off some of the presents I'd bought. It just means I've had to cut my budgets right down for presents now.

It's so demotivational when you work it all out to the last penny, and have a big plan, only for something to come along quick as anything and screw it up.

ZTD

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Evening all.
I did do a loong post last night but my computer decided to turn itself off before I'd posted or saved. I've had a really cr*ppy couple of days and am not a happy bunny atm, so have set up basecamp in bed with a bottle of wine.
Yesterday everything was going wrong, from the trains to the course to just everything.

:grouphug:

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Took it to kwikfit, they refused to even look at it, saying it's a main dealer job and were just downright rude as I'd turned up 2 minutes before they were open and I wasn't booked in with an appointment...

Somewhere you don't need to bother with again. That's a long-term time-saver.

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Thankfully DP has said I can put it on his CC and pay it off, but it's not the point really, as I'm pee'd off that something so stupid and an action from not even thinking is costing so much money that I really could do without having to pay.

Cars are like that. A moment's inattention can cost thousands. Just be thankful you didn't splat it into a tree.

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I'm considering selling the car and getting on of these.

It would really improve your roses...

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Back in a bit to update once I've done my budgets. *sigh*

:grouphug:

immoral_angeluk

RIGHT. Today is a new day and thankfully, I've got the day off, so I've got the opportunity to sort some stuff out with a clear head that isn't still festering in emotion from yesterday..
Have a busy day ahead but it's raining so looks like I'm going to be walking everywhere in it. Bum.

immoral_angeluk

After the stress of yesterday things are much calmer now. I haven't yet sorted the car, and haven't been able to go anywhere today as it's been raining so couldn't use the car. Hey, least I'm saving petrol eh?
I've gotten a few quotes for the parts, but haven't yet ordered anything. What I'm planning on doing is getting DP to get me a Haynes Manual as I've heard from a few people that's a straight forward job which just involved taking off some plastic, unbolting the old one, removing it, and bolting on a new one so COULD be something that I might be able to do myself.

My plan is to get a Haynes manual, see how 'easy' or not it looks and have a look at it on the car before either ordering a part online or getting one from a scrapyard and attempting to fit it myself before committing to spending £50 at a garage for someone to do the same job. Yes a Haynes manual is £20, and yes I'll have to buy tools, BUT those will at least be an investment in case there's other jobs that need doing that I might be able to do myself and possibly be able to save myself hundreds in the process.

Only problem I have in the meantime is that I'm stranded :rotfl: DP is able to give me lifts to/from work but I also need to do my food shopping etc which is going to be awkward as he's out tonight/tomorrow night and saturday will be spent trying to sort my car out..

Should be interesting!

vandanfc

What year is your Corsa ?

immoral_angeluk

vandanfc wrote: »

What year is your Corsa ?

2008 Corsa D.

vandanfc

Were are you planning on getting the haynes manual from ? If it whsmith there is voucher for 35 off £20 spend floating around. If you can't find it, pm your email addy and I will send you the pdf. Also found on ebay for £15, but obviously will take longer to get to you.

immoral_angeluk

vandanfc wrote: »

Were are you planning on getting the haynes manual from ? If it whsmith there is voucher for 35 off £20 spend floating around. If you can't find it, pm your email addy and I will send you the pdf. Also found on ebay for £15, but obviously will take longer to get to you.

Was going to be halfords as it's the only place round here that would do it. The joy of living rural! lol
Could do with one ASAP so I have time to have a look over the weekend, so if spending an extra fiver will help me save £50 in labour I think it's worth it
Thanks though, appreciate your help!

vandanfc

Can't find any codes, but you can get cashback from TCB for reserve and collect - 3.03 %.

Showing as in stock at your local for r & c - pay in store.