Looking for words of encouragement

Sarahcuzz

Hi all,

I had my LBM in the summer and have been working really hard. Got my SOA in order, got everything down, really focusing on my spending, have started paying extra amounts off my debt and I've become addicted to YNAB. Everything has been going great and I've been so much more positive. I've been doing extra shifts at work to increase my income and this extra money was going to be needed as we need various house repairs done (which my brother in law will do at a discounted price). However today when out for work I have crashed into a low wall (which I couldn't see), and it has done quite a bit of damage to the front of my car. Locally no one is hurt and at least it was a wall and not another car. But I just can't shake off how I feel about it. The excess will be £300 and I'm so annoyed at myself, when just as I'm being so careful to look after even very small amounts of money this massive in comparison sum of money comes out of the blue because of my stupidity!

I do have a small emergency fund (which I think should be fairly accessible, if not I'll move some money around and it should be ok), but it's just that money had other plans, and I feel so annoyed at myself.

Thank you for listening to my rant, and I guess I needed to write this to get it off my chest, but some words of support would be great.

Many thanks
SC

stormpassing

Hi SC,

Totally get how you must be feeling but these things happen to us all. At least you have savings you can draw on and as you've had your light bulb moment I'm guessing that you are in a better position to deal with this than you would have been just 12 months ago. I guess it's going to gnaw at you for a few days but then you'll dust yourself off and get back to business as usual.

Well done on all the hard work you've already put in to clear your debts so far. Keep at it :T

Take care
SP x

National_Debtline

Hi Sarahcuzz


On a personal level I can empathise with the nuisances that are low walls - one was responsible for my very first mishap as a driver... Of course it is infuriating, but how much worse it would be if you hadn't put yourself in a position to absorb this shock with your recent efforts.


Keep up the good debt-clearing work :T


Dennis
@natdebtline

Sarahcuzz

Thank you for your kind words

Bobarella

What a pain Sarah. Can see why you are hacked off.

andyfromotley

the DF journey, like life, is full of ups and downs.

The good point is that you won't have to add to your debt in order to get over this. That is real progress.

Chin up.

northerner999

As has been said, try and look at it that because you have got yourself sorted financially you are able to cope with these inevitable accidents. You have planned for the unplannable, so to speak - at least that's what I told myself when I needed to spend around £2.5k this year on various car and house repairs! Means I still have a c-card to get rid of, but my car still gets me about and getting a new boiler means I won't freeze this winter...

patman99

Could you not get some parts to repair your car from the scrapyard?. much cheaper than the £300 excess on your insurance and no claim to mess up your NCD.

Mind you, depending on the damage, shoving duck tape over the cracks and holes would surffice.

FinallyGettingFree

Don't beat yourself up about it! Things like this are BOUND to happen during life, stupid self-inflicted expenses, annoying unforeseen events etc - the main thing is to be in a position to deal with them. And you are! Rather than sticking it on a credit card you can use your emergency fund... and this is exactly the sort of event an emergency fund is for. It shows your budget is working!

Ebe_Scrooge

patman99 wrote: »

Could you not get some parts to repair your car from the scrapyard?. much cheaper than the £300 excess on your insurance and no claim to mess up your NCD.

Mind you, depending on the damage, shoving duck tape over the cracks and holes would surffice.

I'd second this completely. It obviously depends on the nature of the damage, and the state of the car. If it's a shiny new car that's otherwise immaculate then of course you want to get it repaired professionally. But if it's an older car that's already got a few scuffs and scrapes, then you can do a very reasonable job of repairing cosmetic damage yourself, with a few bits from a scrapyard, some filler and paint. You won't get it perfect, but if you'll be saving the £300 excess plus loss of NCB then it may be well worth it.

glass_half_full

Hi SC,


I really feel for you, something very similar happened to me some time ago, took me a while to get over it. Probably lots of people have driven into the same wall, bad design. I too really like YNAB, this is kind of rule 3, roll with the punches. For me this means giving yourself permission to pick yourself up after set backs like this. Good luck and keep on going!