When does the bad luck end??

Wellyboots6

Well...

After posting my SOA a couple of months ago and getting some very sound advice off the lovely people on this board, I managed to get my finances in order.

I set myself a budget for each month, and for 2 months I have stuck to it and managed to get a little way in to paying off my debts.

And then today...

A pigeon pooed on me.

It wouldn't have been as bad if it hadn't happened when I was on my way to taking the car to the garage for what I thought was a badly needed new tyre.

Turns out the car is actually beyond repair and would cost more to fix than it is worth. It is also too dangerous to drive.

I need my car for work (9am tomorrow), have no money to get it fixed and no money to get another car.

What do I do?

I have been looking at getting a car on finance so I can pay monthly and incorporate it in to my budget. That just seems like borrowing again though when I have only just started paying things off.

I also wouldn't know what companies to trust and who would charge me the earth for a lot of stress.

Please help!!

I was doing so well until the bird poo

danzx2

I'd get a 2nd opinion on your car before thinking about another.

What did they advise was the problem? Did the last MOT flag anything up?

InsertWittyName

It's supposed to be lucky when a bird poos on you!

Public transport tomorrow, or ask a friend/relative for a lift?

Any chance you can afford a few hundred for a cheap runabout?

I'd try and avoid more finance if you can.

poppasmurf_bewdley

It's the bird poo that does it!

I had it happen to me once and then my fiancee chucked me and went off with a millionaire she met on a cruise.

It wears off eventually.

Wellyboots6

Nothing flagged up on the MOT, but then I have a feeling it wasn't entirely legit, as there is no way the tyres on the car would have passed the MOT the state they are in. I have only had the car a few months and there are so many problems with it. Only paid a couple of hundred for it though so its to be expected.

I will get a second opinion tomorrow, but the noise it is making it is definitely something sinister! They said the brakes have totally seized up at the back. The piston has popped out of where it should go and the calipers are warped. Its basically a bump or a sharp break away from disintegrating.

I live quite a distance away from friends and family and live out in the sticks, and so public transport and getting a lift are not really an option. I also have to drive round to 5 or 6 different towns in a day for work and so wouldn't manage in a taxi as it would cost me the earth.

Really struggling to think of options. I am going to see if work will let me take some emergency holiday to give me some time to think.

I thought bird poo was supposed to be good luck too! Or maybe it is good luck, at least I know the brakes are dodgy rather than finding out when I really needed to use them!

newfoundglory

If your car is crucial to your ability to work (and therefore earn money), you should definitely factor this into your budget from now on.

Wellyboots6

It was factored in to my shiny new budget as I feared something like this would happen. Having only been on the new budget for 2 months I have only got about £45 in my car 'pot' though

Loobeyloop

The garage you went to wasn't the one that fixes it "quick" was it? Hope things start to pick up...Totally understand how you are feeling, life always seems to kick you when you are down doesn't it xx

katsu

Can you get say £500 together - maybe a credit union loan even? Just to get a new runabout whilst you save a bit more for the replacement car.

Wellyboots6

It was a garage that had good reviews on the internet. I have no reason not to trust what they say, other than not wanting to trust what they say as it is stupidly expensive!!

I am getting a second opinion tomorrow but not holding out much hope that it will be any cheaper. Even if it is half what I got quoted today I still cant afford it. I also need a new windscreen when I can afford it too, so this is going to be an ongoing problem even if the fairies come in the night and fix my brakes

Wellyboots6

Katsu, I have thought of that but it would take me a couple of months to get £500 together. That was the idea of this car anyway, a cheap runaround to give me chance to save up for something decent!!