I am poor

[highlander]

Hello,

Well the bank balance took a bit of a knock today with the repair work done to the Coupe...

£440

This was for the supply and fitting of:

- N/S/F anti-roll bar droplink
- O/S/R tie-bar
- alternator belt tensioner (this was knackered and making a hell of a racket)
- alternator belt (because the tensioner was knackered, it ruined a fairly new belt)
- fuel cap wiring harness (including the sensor that used to say "fuel cap open" all the time)

and the fitting of these parts (which I bought elsewhere):

- EBC GreenStuff front brake pads (bought off eBay last week for £50 delivered)
- Goodrich braided stainless steel brake hoses (bought from HimBigChief some time last year, after he decided to scrap his car)

The cost of labour was £180 and the VAT was around £70. I seriously wasn't expecting the cost of this lot of repairs to be anything like as high as this.

That bloody car better not break again any time soon, between this and the new PC parts I bought this month, I'm seriously screwed until payday

[Busman]

I know it's costly, but you are doing the right things and adding extra goodness to the mighty pug. I always think it's worth treating cars right if you plan to keep it for the long term. And with a superb example of the coupe, why wouldn't you keep it?

[grasmere59]

I've got the insurance due for my BMW and the 406 within a day of each other at the end of the month,good planning or what!!! I think i'll be looking round the garage and house to see what i can bung on ebay

[Busman]

- Goodrich braided stainless steel brake hoses [/quote]

Goodrich uk ehh? I used to work for the lovely Stuart Goodrich, a really nice man, when he was in Totnes, Devon in the 1980s. I was Making break hoses for all sorts of exotic stuff. But its ok, all the stuff I Made will be long gone, so you'll be safe. .

[Welly]

I always put big bills on the credit card if I can't pay outright, then pay it off over 3 months or something (or 3 years in my case sometimes) sure you pay a bit of interest but you can play about with the cards to get 0% etc.

I've got £800.00 sat on my credit card and a third of my monthly wages in overdraft each month. I'm hoping that when my car is paid off in March I can start to bring the debt down, having said that the Eastbourne ExpressTM is going in for major surgery on Monday - new wishbones, new top mounts, discs & pads, new rear control arms and an MOT I've been lucky enough to get the parts paid for through work (disguised as bits for the Vans) but I've got to pay the Labour.

Oh, happy new year

[Bailes1992]

Welly, don't get me wrong but you just pin pointed the fact I'd never have a car on finance, a credit card or an overdraft. Would much rather save little over time so if a time comes where I need money I have access to it. Got to the age now where I'm eligable for an overdraft/credit cars etc, I get the bak phoning me up every few weeks offering. But I'd rather just spend what I earn? Of course motgage is a different kettle of fish.

Also as a general reply to the thread, the mechanic I use is self employed, worked from a massive double garage and takes cash, and still gives reicepts

[Welly]

I used to be same mate....until we got married and had 2 kids, a mortgage, 2 cars............

[trem1]

I used to be same mate....until we got married and had 2 kids, a mortgage, 2 cars............

yep same here...oh to be young again.4 kids for us tho

[STALLED]

Credit cards are fine as long as you are firm with paying them off within the interest free period.

Leaves you to put money in the bank to earn interest off, as opposed to spending it!

[waue1978]

Credit cards are fine as long as you are firm with paying them off within the interest free period.

Leaves you to put money in the bank to earn interest off, as opposed to spending it!

That's exactly what I do with my Tesco one. Separate bank account for everything I spend on the credit card & the money is there waiting when the bill arrives. Only reason I use it is because I get an extra £30 in clubcard vouchers everytime they come.

[sirwiggum]

It's all money, but I find that if I have to budget and knuckle down, I can do it.

Even if it means cutting out luxuries like takeaways, scouring the reduced aisle for bargains for dinners, nearly reduced bread (1 for now and 1 to freeze), own-brand lager etc., not going out for lunches is a huge moneysaver. Couple of pound on a bit of bread, meat, maybe a tin of soup, fruit vs. £5 on something from a shop.

Not easy though when everything comes at once. January is a melt of a month.

[Welly]

own-brand lager

Don't ever let me hear you say that again, you should be ashamed

[sirwiggum]

own-brand lager

Don't ever let me hear you say that again, you should be ashamed

Sorry Welly, but as the rhyme goes:

Money's tight, drink is dear
Here's yer feckin, own brand beer

It's either that or sobriety. And we all know what that's like

[scotty73]

own-brand lager

Don't ever let me hear you say that again, you should be ashamed

Sorry Welly, but as the rhyme goes:

Money's tight, drink is dear
Here's yer feckin, own brand beer

It's either that or sobriety. And we all know what that's like

Do what i do, buy own brand apple juice and turn into a very refreshing cider.

[sirwiggum]

I'm too impatient to brew beer or cider.

Might be worth getting a few from the shops and keeping under the stairs for a while though