The Four D's

FootyFanDan

@alt80, Ideally I would like to keep and get repaired, though I do need to be sensible I don't wanna be sinking money into the car, although if I am going to need to spend something to get a run around for now I would feel better putting into the car I have. In reality up to now its not really let me down mechanically. There was no plan to buy a new(er) car for a few years.

Hope you are keeping well mate

FootyFanDan

Evening All, 

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping safe. Not much major to report budget wise, everything running along as expected. I have dipped into the car maintenance fund to try resolve the smaller issues with the car. I bought a basic diagnostic reader to see if that flagged anything up which it did flag up a sensor issue which could be causing the issues with emissions. I have also been researching the air filter / oil filter / oil change and I have purchased the things to do that over next few days. I must admit I looked at Air filter today and it was gross! Again the error I am having with sensor indicates fuel mix not running right which could be due to air filter. All the bits cost me £70 but doing it myself will save on what the garage were going to charge me nearly double for. In order to get it through MOT it is defo going to need the exhaust looking at or replacing, this is leaking massively which again will contribute to the crap emissions, which I have had quoted for being done. It looks like if I am lucky and these fix the issue then I will get it well under the original 1.2k repair bill by about 600 hundred quid!!!. I don't understand how a car can need so much doing within a year of passing an MOT with a clean bill of health. The garage I took it too for exhaust looking at seem adamant the cat isn't the issue though and reckon that making sure car is warm and doing the bits will get it through MOT. The car does need front brake pads doing and this looks simple enough to do on my car but would rather be safe and pay a little extra for fitting. I also need to fit the original wheels back on to car tomorrow as due to changing size the car was lower and put the headlights out of sync

In other news we have the little one's birthday coming up which she is excited for but it's a little different this year we normally do cinema/family meal and let her go to soft play. This year will be a family zoom party for her so that should hopefully be nice. Its been such a tough year all round so hopefully we can get this year ended on an high.  

Stay safe all  

alt80

@FootyFanDan
I’m ok mate thanks. 

Re the car seems like best option to fix and keep - if buying a runaround it’ll be an unknown quantity. Fantastic news bringing that bill down by half though. 

We did similar with son’s birthday, he really enjoyed it so hope your little one will too. 

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

@FootyFanDan
I’m ok mate thanks. 

Re the car seems like best option to fix and keep - if buying a runaround it’ll be an unknown quantity. Fantastic news bringing that bill down by half though. 

We did similar with son’s birthday, he really enjoyed it so hope your little one will too. 

Yeah that is what I am thinking tbh mate, I am doing the few jobs I can over next few days then put old wheels back on. The pads need fitting and then the sensor and exhaust. If i can get away with that sorting the issues and I can get another few years out of it then I will be happy. 

Sounds like the cat was the major job on it so signs seem to be both from garage and research this is not likely the reason for high emissions especially given the fault code...which now has disappeared lol. 

I am hopeful she will enjoy it, she's quite aware of what is going off so knows why we are doing it this way and it will be something different although pretty sure she is ready for world to go back to normal like rest of us lol

alt80

@FootyFanDan
Finger crossed, mate. Should be in a very different position in a few years time with the finances too.

Yeah my son def ready for life to go back to normal, aren’t we all? Mind not sure I need my ‘old normal’ ha. Think I asked before but isn’t she same age as my son (7)?

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

@FootyFanDan
Finger crossed, mate. Should be in a very different position in a few years time with the finances too.

Yeah my son def ready for life to go back to normal, aren’t we all? Mind not sure I need my ‘old normal’ ha. Think I asked before but isn’t she same age as my son (7)?

Haha yeah the new you is winning....no offence intended to the old you 😂

She is 6 so growing up very quickly! Seeing old photos of when she was a baby seen so long ago. 

Yeah, I’m hoping to be in a better place financial wise, this year as done me okay for finances and made some real positive steps so can’t grumble too much I guess. The debt is nearly gone so that’s positive, the car hiccup got me feeling a bit crappy other day but got over it now.

FootyFanDan

Morning MSE world, I hope everyone’s doing okay and staying safe. The lockdown Birthday for daughter was pretty successful despite the technology gremlins doing there best  to ruin it 😂. Her school friend made her a nice card and her school made a fuss of her so she enjoyed that lol. She also got to see alot of the family she hasn’t seen for awhile despite my dad decided he wasn’t going to make an appearance. 

We also got emailed by our local newspaper who has seen video of my daughter reading to her ‘audience’ 🤣 She decided she wanted to raise money to help other families get fed over Christmas so wanted to raise money for the trussel trust by reading every night to her family and friends up to Christmas Eve, not sure she understands how amazing that is...so young but has such a kind heart. They wanted to run a story on her and put her link out there to get to her target

In my wisdom I decided I would do my own oil change this time.... that was a great idea! Despite the filter been a bit tighter than I thought it would be it was quite straight forward, also changed air filter, usually I would have just paid someone to do it so I have saved a bit of money there. I currently have car in garage to have someone do a proper diagnosis on what needs sorting with car,  I did put code reader on and it seems to suggest it’s a faulty sensor before the cat so should avoid that cost but there is a bit to be done, so gotta decide what best to do if they can give a deffo this is x amount and will fix issues and get through MOT providing it’s not a crazy amount I will do it - failing that there’s a reliable local dealer that has a few cars that are cheap enough that I can pick up and get moneys worth, but next year saving goal is to get a decent used car.

 Today is a nice 12 hour overtime shift til 7pm, then I’m hoping to watch boxing tonight, but having not slept well and been up at 4am this morning I’m probably been optimistic I also ache from been under car lol, I’m falling to bits 😂

i hope everyone has a fab weekend

alt80

@FootyFanDan Mate the 'old me' was a **** know that much ha.

Thought your daughter was a similar age to my son, got a feeling you're a fair bit younger than me though lol. You sound like a brilliant dad so not surprised your daughter is so kind. Never fails to amaze me how kind hearted my son is to others (gets it from the wife before you say anything lol).

You're doing more than ok mate. Not gonna lie your diary has 100 been a bit of an inspiration to me.

Hope all sorted with car now too.

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

@FootyFanDan Mate the 'old me' was a **** know that much ha.

Thought your daughter was a similar age to my son, got a feeling you're a fair bit younger than me though lol. You sound like a brilliant dad so not surprised your daughter is so kind. Never fails to amaze me how kind hearted my son is to others (gets it from the wife before you say anything lol).

You're doing more than ok mate. Not gonna lie your diary has 100 been a bit of an inspiration to me.

Hope all sorted with car now too.

Thank you mate, that is kind of you to say. I think we just try keep her well grounded, we aren't well off by any stretch but I also know we are in a better position than some. I would say she gets her kindness from her mum more than me ha! And I am not far behind you in the age ranks mate..I am 35 this time birthday on 21st, where does time go?

The car is still just causing me frustration coz i like the car but the reality is that I could just be chucking money at it. I always said the minute it costs more to repair than it cost I wouldn't get it done. The car has done 110,000 miles too so its not like its not done its time. If I had plenty of time to sort then i wouldn't mind but I need it for work so can't afford to wait around and fault find if that makes sense, and the issue is if the exhaust replacement and other bits sort it then great - if it doesn't I am £600 quid in and still not back on the road lol, I spent nearly £600 getting it through last MOT. My heart says keep it fix it but my head/financial brain is saying pick up a decent run around car for now then save for a newer one to get later in the year. I paid £1400 for mine 2 years ago so its done me okay

FootyFanDan

Evening...well morning haha. Good old night shifts can not wait for these to disappear. 

Well it's early payday and the one most dread and the longest month in the world to next payday begins. I need to do a proper month review of how budget has gone overall and look at where needs to improve. Tier 3 here so not really too much in terms of un-needed spends although a few extra spends that were not in the budget have occurred, I really need to get a get a better grip of that. 

A lot of my wage will go to buying new(er) car which I plan to do tomorrow after days of putting it off and deliberating, I think I just maybe over worry that something will go wrong so over analyse stuff - I would never have done that before but now I always seem to. I think partner sometimes wished I was a bit more proactive lol. Car in mind is an old but does have full service history, all the receipts of work and same owner for 12 years and 65000 miles so actually think this one would be ideal. I am hopeful this can last me a bit to enable me to save more funds but I really need a car quick so this is the better option for me to get one now and long term save for a newer one (hopefully a few years down the line)

The little one this week reached her target for the Trussel trust fund raising she has been doing so she was super happy. The link was put online and a stranger donated £20 and then Hermes saw her fund-raising and gave her a £100 toy shop gift card and donated the final £40 to get her to her £200 target. We did plan on making up what she was short but since she isn't now short the money we were going to donate I think we are going to buy food to donate to a local food bank.

Stuff To Do
- SORN broken car and prep ready to be shipped off to scrap 
- Go purchase new car (later today task)
- Complete month budget
- Meal plan for week
- Year Review of finances

Hope ever doing okay, will pop on later to update figures and other stuff