One car repair down, another and 2 tires to go

Good news! As of today, we have one car repair done. Hubby and I picked up the PT Cruiser from the shop today and the price was close to the estimate. Originally, we were given a pre-tax estimate of $720. They adjusted a fee so today's payout was $768. The original quote with tax would have been about $792.

It's too soon to shout for joy. Tires and both front bearings need to be done as soon as possible. However, getting this much done is a big relief.

The impact the car repair has on the debt reduction plan is serious. We just dropped most of Hubby's paycheck on the car and our meager savings. Both tires must be replaced but one tire has almost been ripped to shreds.

To raise the money without going into debt I'll be writing as much as possible. All extra income is going to the tires and car repair right now. I received $30 from a client today and expect another client to pay by Friday. That'll put me about $60 closer to the $190 we need. We will still have to replace wheel bearings but at least it's a start.

It's tempting to grab a credit card for the car repair. The sad truth is that a credit card won't pay for a car repair or anything else. I've said before that fee and interest only add to the car repair debt problem. The cards prolong the payment pain and add salt to the wounds.

Midas is working with us to perform the repairs on a rough schedule. Right now, our plans are to stay the course, continue with our debt reduction plan and try to write my fingers off. If you're following us on our journey my advice is to hold on. Fastening your seat belt won't hurt. This may be a bumpy ride.