Running the Red Queen's Race
Oct. 15th, 2007 03:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pegkerrCar repairs. I had some overtime this month, and so I hoped that I would be able to tuck some more into savings to help when the unemployment runs out. (Since learning that Rob was losing his job, I've squirreled away everything I can, and what I've saved so far would tide us over about another three months when there's nothing coming in anymore.)
But no such luck. I have an old Jeep that I can't replace right now with Rob out of a job. It's been a good car, but of course, it's getting old. I already spent $166 this month for car maintenance (new battery, oil change, routine maintenance, etc.) They told me to bring it back in two weeks because they needed to re-check differential and transfer case fluid levels. They also thought there was something going on with the front axle. [btw: this is a mechanic I've used for years, and I'm satisfied with their pricing and honesty.]
Today report: pinpoint fluid leaks are very slow and can probably be dealt with by just re-checking all fluid levels and refilling every time I do an oil change. But the front axle joints do need to be replaced. That's a safety issue (part of the four-wheel drive system) that I can't ignore with winter coming on. It's going to be $300 to fix.
As it happens, I do happen to have the money, because of that overtime. But damn it, damn it, damn it. I really wanted to put that money into savings.
But no such luck. I have an old Jeep that I can't replace right now with Rob out of a job. It's been a good car, but of course, it's getting old. I already spent $166 this month for car maintenance (new battery, oil change, routine maintenance, etc.) They told me to bring it back in two weeks because they needed to re-check differential and transfer case fluid levels. They also thought there was something going on with the front axle. [btw: this is a mechanic I've used for years, and I'm satisfied with their pricing and honesty.]
Today report: pinpoint fluid leaks are very slow and can probably be dealt with by just re-checking all fluid levels and refilling every time I do an oil change. But the front axle joints do need to be replaced. That's a safety issue (part of the four-wheel drive system) that I can't ignore with winter coming on. It's going to be $300 to fix.
As it happens, I do happen to have the money, because of that overtime. But damn it, damn it, damn it. I really wanted to put that money into savings.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-15 08:48 pm (UTC)Damned Mercury retrograde.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-16 05:43 am (UTC)OTOH, it's as if the money is provided somehow. I shudder to think how bad it might be if "extra" money didn't come in just before something broke.
It's gotten now so that we don't get much excited about "extra", we don't make happy plans about buying a new computer or having a vacation or going out to eat. We just look around and wonder what's going to break this time.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-16 02:42 pm (UTC)