November 2010 = Financial crunch = lessons learned

I need this...

Money can't buy you happiness... Well it can buy you allot of stress relief which makes it allot easier to be happy. lol.

November 2010 was the toughest financial month I have had since 2005. I learned allot from it, and in the end I think it was a good thing over-all as crazy as that sounds.

What I am now calling "Financial crisis Nov 2010" was crazy. I didn't realize that a series of unfortunate issues coming up all at once could lead to a catastrophic failure of nearly every aspect of how I function daily.

YEAH FOUND IT!!!!

What started it all:
I went into November with no issues. Actually things were looking up. The engagement ring that was lost a few weeks earlier turned up in my boot in the closet. By some miracle it was in the boot. So I returned it and got my money back. The funny thing was the ring we replaced it with was much nicer. So it ended up being a good thing it was lost. At any rate I ended up with $1000. dollars that was now in my savings account thanks to the miracle of finding that ring.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8

How it all started
My fiancée Holly and I were out one evening around the 2nd of November 2010 and we went over a small curb and heard a bit of a scraping sound. We didn't think much of it and went home. The next evening  as I pulled out to head to the store I noticed a suspicious fluid on my garage floor. I got out of the car and sure enough it was an oil like substance.
I though hmm.. maybe the oil place I get my oil changed at didn't tighten something. So I checked the oil and it was fine and then I was really confused. I took the car less than a mile away to the place I have my oil changed and they said "umm.. your transmission pan is made out of plastic by the way and guess what.. umm. it's cracked and leaking pretty bad and you better not drive it."

SO I then felt the sinking feeling of impeding doom and the vision of dollar signs flying out of my wallet.
I called the number on the side of my car that said " call to have the car towed in the event of an emergency." They would only tow the car to a Hyundai dealership of course. I had them tow the car to the Town and Country Hyundai at the dealership I bought the car at the next morning.

I called around to find out what the damage would be and no one would give me a quote since the transmission pan was so new there were no after market parts available for the car.

The following day I finally got a quote from the dealership services dept. Apparently that plastic plan costs $700.00 dollars and the transmission fluid costs $75 dollars a quart. Total damage = $1238.00. The feeling of being taken advantage of flooded over me the instant I heard that quote. This PLASTIC PART was not covered under the warranty? Nope. So I called around and still no one would else could even give me a quote. I agreed to the amount with more anger than I could express.

So it would take 2 weeks to fix unless I paid $75 dollars to have the part shipped overnight. I said why not.. I don't need to eat this month. lol.

Wait thats not it. On the way home during that week driving Holly's car I got a ticket for running a yellow light. Yes a yellow light. I was turning on a yellow and the traffic slowed in front of me a bit and I was over 1/2 way through the light and it turned red. I was out of the intersection but the King City Tactual unit officer thought it would help the public to give me a ticket amounting to $217 dollars. Could I fight it. YES. Do i think it would be worth it. NO. Needless to say this would add more pain to the month.

Not only that for the 1st time ever apparently AT had a major malfunction and auto billed me $191 dollars instead of the usual $78 dollars they usually take out. ARGG THIS MONTH SUCKS> I couldn't believe this was happening. Of all the months this could have happened it had to happen this month.

Savings = $1000
Extra expenses this month = $568

Observations during this difficult time

1. Holly my fiancée is awesome: 
   She let me borrow her car, helped me with groceries and provided me with love and support during a real difficult time. I have no way to express how much I love this woman.
2. I spend allot of money on little things: 
   After watching my budget so closely in November I realized that all the small trips to the store to get wine or snacks or whatever really add up fast.
3. Safeway is EXPENSIVE and overpriced: 
   Still have to eat so I decided to go to the local Grocery Outlet store and get just meat and basics to make it through and man I saved a ton. The food wasn't too bad and it was much cheaper. I decided to not shop at Safeway unless they have something specific that I have to have. 
4. Store cards are good in emergencies: 
   My good ole Target card really helped when I ran out of money to spend on basic food items. Which by the end of the month I was so low that I couldn't get any food. This was a life saver even though it is something I will have to pay back. Better than starving. 
5. I missed my boys so much it made me physical ill many times: 
   I have joint custody of my boys and during the month of November I was not able to see them as I couldn't afford to feed them or pick them up due to no gas or money. I called them but it wasn't the same. I was so sick on my stomach and had some real rough weekends missing them. 
6. I had to miss Church due to illness and lack of gas money: 
   I hated missing church as I need it, and I missed my church family but I really couldn't make it out and had to make sure that I had enough gas to get to work. 

What I learned
It was really rough. I found myself checking my bank account daily and watching every penny. I realized that I  could do better on watching my money. I also learned that in a pinch I could make it and that those who really love you will always be there in your time of need. In addition to consider when things are going well that it could always be worse. I feel much more thankful that I do as well as I do during times when things are considered "normal".

I did ask myself "why did God allow this to happen and what can I learn from this". As a Christian this is a question we always ask ourselves during times of trouble. I think he showed me that I need him. That everything I have is a gift from him and that I need to be a better steward of these gifts. I should support his church with more conviction.

 I leaned on him heavily during this time expressing my absolute dependence on him. I continually heard this bible verse  in my head that entire month:
"Romans 8:28. All things work for the good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose". 

I also was reminded of this:
"When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone. - James 1:13

On this account I say to YOU: Stop being anxious about YOUR souls as to what YOU will eat or what YOU will drink, or about YOUR bodies as to what YOU will wear. Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are?"

These were great sources of strength for me. Did I still complain in November? yes. lol. But I did try to keep it at a minimum. The key message I learned was it is so good to have a god that loves us and is there with us in our difficult times. He lifts us up and teaches us important lessons that if we listen can really change our lives for the better.
Thanks for reading this long post. I hope it gives you hope in your difficult times.


Regards
Steve