This never fails. Every time we start getting ahead everything breaks! First we were saving up to get the trucks windshield replaced so it could pass next months inspection. Well that money ended up being used on the Camry's brakes and axles. So we saved up again for the windshield, now the cv boot bolts on the Camry snapped off as H was driving down the freeway. I am so tired of repairs. Oh, there was the evap valve issue on the truck as well. H absolutely refuses to give up the truck because of the Camry's constant need of repairs. I refuse to give up the Camry because she can't ever be repoed and is cheaper to fix then buying a new car. Maybe. She's really starting to get expensive now. Luckily H can do most all repairs so just having to buy the parts is a lot cheaper than paying a mechanic. So now H is thinking of going back to OTR since he wouldn't have to use the Camry as much. I hate this idea because he will be gone 5 weeks at a time and home for 3 days, plus his checks will be even more erratic. But he would be less tired which might cut down on the amount of fighting over stupid things. I so wish he could find something else but around here there are more candidates then job openings. He wants to buy his own truck which would actually be significantly great- we are talking tripling his income great. I want to use the tax refund money to put the money down on said truck with a separate financing company and pay $600 give or take a month. H wants the income now and wants to do Swifts' leasing program which enables him to not put any money down but my problem is that the financing is tied to Swift so he could not go to another company and it would be give or take $600 a week AND there is a significant (like $40 grand) balloon payment at the end that will let him keep the truck and go to whatever company he wants. I think tying himself to Swift is the very worst idea because they don't pay like normal companies. Normal places pay based on a driver's experience (I.e. .46/loaded mile, and .26/empty mile-no matter the load), Swift does things screwy, the have different pay amounts .25-.55/ loaded mile and .26 per empty. They determine this pay based on which customer, distance, etc. . . Anyway that's all my H rant. Now I have a friend. She has treated me out to nails and dinner and what not. I was always careful to watch how much I order because I think you should be frugal when spending someone else's money. She is going through incredibly tough times and wanted a girls night so I offered to treat her to dinner. We went to Olive Garden and I ordered a sprite, salad, breadsticks, and the $9.99 pasta bowl thing. She, however, ordered a margarita-not cheap, an extra appetizer- on top of the salad and breadsticks, a $17 shrimp carbonara, and a freaking tiramisu. H says I should just let it go but I can't seem too. But, I was incredibly blessed, greatful, and thankful. While at the restaurant she ran into some old friends. While I'm bitching in my head about what she is ordering and wondering how I'm going to tell H that I blew that nights budget, the little old couple paid for our meal. I don't even have words to describe how touched I felt. Anyways, my rant is over and thank you all once again for letting me vent.
P.S. I feel so horribly guilty for how mad I was getting at her. I know I was being selfish.
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Re: Vent (Long)
Re. the truck lease to own thing, I know zip about that industry but I agree with your instinct that it sounds like a raw deal. I'd wait until you guys can buy straight up with a sizable DP, but it sounds like a great goal! I would trudge through paying off your other debts first though (if I'm remembering wrong I apologize).
Re. The Camry I think you're doing the right thing to keep fixing it. Hang in there! You're saving and then using the savings responsibly, and that's what it's for. I don't quite remember the details of your H's truck but I'd work on selling and buying a safe but cheaper car if it's doable.
Just remember you're heading in the right direction! Things WILL get better if you keep at it.
If you don't mind me asking where you are at. It's hard for me to think of a place with an over abundance of drivers. Right now the market for truck drivers is insanely in favor for the drivers with 1-2 years experience. Especially with all the new laws coming in, electronic logs is going to be the biggest one. We are near Baltimore, and H has companies calling him to come work for them. He has 2 years experience, but 10 in the army driving. He uses that to his advantage when he's up for a raise.
That was very nice of the older couple to pay! And at least you're saving and have money for repairs. Awesome your H can do the work himself! Just keep going, something will give soon. Everytime you can pay for repairs without using a credit care is a win!
About the friend thing, I would let it go. And just not offer again until you can afford it if she orders the most expensive thing on the menu. If you want I do something. In the meantime, invite her over for a bottle of wine and some take out or home cooking. That way you can completely control the cost, but it's still a fun girls night. (And I agree that was pretty crappy of her, especially if she knows your goals. I would have been ticked at the time too)
I know nothing about trucking. One thing though- where in N Texas are you? I know there are a ton of oil jobs up there somewhere right now. Would your dh be able to do something like that for a while until you save up the down payment so he can go back to trucking? It just seems based off your post that the lease deal is not really a good thing. The company knows you are tied to them and so they can screw with you, and that's not really fair or going to help you achieve your goals.
I work for an insurance company and see lots of individual drivers struggle with working for themselves. I'm not saying not to do it, but to check into the following things, if you already have, please disregard. This way you have checked into everything & know if the costs is worth the work compared to driving for someone else
If you decide to go out on your own for the business, I wish you the best of luck, it's not easy, but nothing worth having is