Hate Being Broke

Well - I say look at the bright side - at least you have a '32 to look at - better than waiting for the coffee can to get empty so you can affix it to the back of a _______(left blank on purpose)

 

I just spent big money on my caddy. I got a fuel pump for 35 dollars. That is the most I have spent or been able to spend this year. Last year I got pneumonia and lost my job in december. I was out for a month. I was able to get fulltime hours at that job too. Just got a new job early this month, but so far only part time hours. Trying to finish up school so I can get in the RN program and get a good paying job. Last year my car got repoed because I couldn't keep up the payments.

At 35 I had to move back in with Mom. On the plus side she insists I keep my 68 caddy in the basement garage. She doesn't want the neighbors to see it as it sits now. Mom had open heart surgery last year and for about 3-4 weeks after I cared for her 24/7. But at least I still have family. My brother in law pulled my caddy over here on his trailer and wouldn't even let me pay for his gas. Also borrowed his battery charger for awhile. I had pawned mine awhile back when I needed the money. Down to about 2 guns because I had to sell stuff off to pay bills. And one of those guns is at the pawn store till my tax refund comes in.


If I have been able to put 20 dollars towards my car a month I have been lucky. Fortunately elbow grease is free and I had some sand paper, steel wool, and various spray cans laying around the basement. Unfortunately most of those cans ain't working worth crap if they are paint. I have been able to paint my steel wheels with the rustoleum metal finish. I had some bondo lying around so I was able to work with some of the imperfections on the trunk and rear fenders. Last month I was able to get the wiring fixed to the point it would crank. Bought a new positive battery cable, that 9 dollars was worth it just to hear it crank.

I have been broke a bunch lately, but I ain't poor. Broke is a state of finances, poor is a state of mind. I made some bad choices to get here and it ain't going to change unless I make better choices. Never pray to be humbled unless you are ready to take it good and hard. But you know life is ok, or if not ok I know it will get better. My car is getting closer to being done, even though I have not been able to put hardly any money in it. I am working on getting a better career. Life will get better.

 

This weekend we just got hit by a tornado in North Carolina

The power just came back on,

I don't mine just sitting and looking at my mess ,

I feel blessed !

Broke but alive.......

 

folks are in dire straights these days and i can say having health issues really makes it near impossible for a person to make a honest living . i beat cancer 18 years ago and have 2 wonderful grandkids (great son also) no mortage,it's not raining today and have been broke,out of gas, out of food before and somehow pulled through.

 

$42,000. Tuition.

 

No damn kids! No money problems! Life is great.

 

Hey OLDSCHOOLHAMER,
Does that make you feel good to run someone down. If you do not have something nice to say they don't say anything!!!!!!!

sp1ke

 

Just had my 26 year old Daughter move back in with no job, or unemployment. She took the room I needed to rent out to make ends meet. Money for the Hot Rod??? What's that??? I'm having a hell of a time just putting gas in the car to make it to work. Guess I shouldn't bitch... at least I've got a job.....
But Bonneville is probably not going to happen this year for me.

 

It gets to a point where you wonder should I fix her up or sell her...because I can't enjoy her like I want too....Still feel lucky, a lot of people out there in worst shape than me....Keep the Faith!

 

Not having money is not that big a deal. Instead of being able to run down to your local chrome shop and being able to buy the lastest Sammy Sackswinger chrome billet fashion piece you get to use your brain and figure out how to make it. Slightly OT but I saw an aloy motorcycle seat being advertised for $140 (free postage). Two bends amd a bit of welding. I had to go to my local metal suppliers to pick up some offcuts. That seat had me curious so I bought an offcut the same size as the seat. $6.50. I had some leftover .050. About 35 minutes and two bends and I had the $140 seat for about $7 in material. Granted getting it tigged would add $20 to it but still cheap by comparison.

I've never had money but I can make most anything I need. Not as pretty as a CNC but ask me if I care. My avatar cost a little less than 2K to build. It has two records at Bonneville and two at El Mirage. $500 a record. You can't beat that.

 

Then why are you posting here making all the other guys feel even worse?

 

yup, lost my job 3 weeks ago, so broke i cant do anything to my 54, it suxs balls!

 

I am selling off one of my collection's to try and fund my build. seems things are not selling very fast. so I feel the money issue's for sure.

 

I can't afford to pay attention

 

Been there done that like most of us. Where do I start, sold my car to buy my 1st house and then once I had a mortgage got back into cars. Then came the kids, school and a few more house moves; onwards and upwards so they say. Had to keep up with the Jones's. Ex had an affair and moved out when I caught her, leaving the kids here. I then put the kids through college, sold my car again and did another, finally got divorced, paid out the ex and watched the mortgage go through the roof as I bought her out, OUCH that hurt. Kids moved out, I kept the cars and house. Now time to down size and move into a smaller place with a bigger shed and smaller mortgage. My son is getting married in next year or so and I offered to help finance his wedding. Like everyone again you make sacrifices to give them a helping hand
I need to finish the car to keep my sanity. No good just sitting there when there are things to be done, however it needs $$ spent on it. Yep, those damn bills keep coming in. Would love to travel to US one day and drive around. I'll keep dreaming. Off my soapbox now.

 

Your last line---someone raised you up right. Thanks for that.

 

Yeah brother


Poverty leaves an impression

 

Being broke is a temporary financial situation, being poor is an attitude.

I can relate though, Got the income tax back and bought a 30mpg box with wheels so I could park the 10mpg truck. now I'm driving the truck again because the box with wheels needs a transmission.
Lawn mower crapped out an it's 150 for the part on top of 75 for belts. two cats the vet in three weeks adds up to about what I was going to pay for the frame for the boat tail roadster that I almost have enough parts gathered up to put together.
At least I have about everything I need to get the rolling chassis for the 48 up and rolling around the driveway so I can work on that for a few weekends if the weather cooperates.

 

Exactly..word for word

 

Re roof the house may 2010, water softner Sept 2010, Water heater Dec 2010, Dryer Jan 2010, remodeling the third bedroom into a sewing room for Mrs Jalopy - priceless. For everything else there is Hotrod parts. See you in Jefferson Swap meet next week with no money.

 

You guys are Heros. I'm just a little frustrated, but some of you have really pulled through some tough times with a good attitude.

 

Watch out with that $500 state title bill. Those Boostiards like to slather on interest and penalties. They some how feel that it is their moola that you have. Don't ask me how I know this. I have a file cabinet dedicated to love letters from them. Such a poetic start to a love letter" YOU HAVE TEN DAYS TO COMPLY OR......what?........testicular freezur? .........seizure?... Ahhh love.

 

I got three kids, three cats, a mortgage a wife in school forever who cant find a job in her field as a teacher, a polara that is always almost done and gas for it thats $8 a gallon, a 50 shoebox that ive been workin on for 7 years and still havent got the floors done in , a hemi that I just pulled out of a barn this spring for a song,but can't afford machining on, almost all the tools i need to do my own work yet no money for supplies and I am Grateful to have it all. Everyone is healthy and except for my house , I own everything. Yah , being broke sucks. It sucks alot worse for alot of folks out there. I used to know what it was like to have nothing . Knew it for a long time. I'm in a good spot. I think your blessed too.. Sometimes we have to focus on the good things in order to see how much worse it could be..it 'll get better.

 

I feel everyones pain. working for yourself now days stinks. I never can hit a homerun in the money area. Everytime I make alittle the government takes it and I have to survive on the rest. My youngest daughter is 2 and makes about one trip a month to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital so gas and DR. co-pays add up. I am lucky enough for my wife to have awesome insurance. I scavenge here and there for mad money and parts. Its not easy but the dreams live on. Someday Ill get it done. Family and bills first. The hamb is my fix and it is greeat. I must ad I am very blessed.

 

Thank you, Mr48chev. Gonna memorize that one (also similarly stated by SilentPoet).

 

I'm with you on this, seems like I get paid & the money is soon gone, with nothing to show. As of now I have no garage or shop to work in, only a Costco 10x20. Save a little money, then something comes along to take it. All I do is pay bills it seems...

 

One of the things I've done to minimize my income to debt ratio is assess my monthly bills. After reading Your Money or Your Life I cut out using vending machines or convenience stores and I looked at all the bills to see where I could cut the amounts being paid.

I did this on everything, cable/Internet, car insurance, heat/lights, etc. Some things could be reduced, like those mentioned and others I kept an eye on. I evaluated it month to month until I got my spending down to a minimum.

Now I keep an eye on it but some bills like my cable/Internet, is set at a fixed price for six months. It'd shock you to know how little I negotiated it to. If it weren't for places lke the HAMB, I probably wouldn't value the Internet too much. But, to me, I'd rather sit in the dark or keep the heat 5 degrees cooler than be without the HAMB, hahaha.

When it comes down to it, a lot of us throw money away by not being diligent and educated about our spending. If we don't keep a watchful eye on things we're bound to be taken advantage of.

As far as hot rods, I feel like it's all about being patient. Impulse buying will never get your project done.

 

I am with you guys. I sure hate being down and out myself.Until we get ride of the liars we got running country I don't see much hope for the future.This must be the Dumbest President we have ever had.

sp1ke

 

Well, it is still the land of opportunity. It is what you make it.

 

I spend more time at work and on 3-4 car boards then I spend working on driving cars right now. I co-own a recruiting firm and I am working, gosh, 3 times as hard to keep us busy. I also am doing some online marketing for a big performance company, and get a little from that.

I think it's important to keep busy, even if it's cleaning the house, painting, etc. Have to stay active.

We Americans don't really know how to save anymore. Heck I feel pretty out of touch with it myself.

I dropped a bunch of money on my Merc when I bought it and for the body resto. Had I been able to roll the clock back I would not have bought it. 2009 was the worst year for our business.

But stuff happens, and we live with it. In turn I'll be driving the Merc soonish, bad interior in it, but it will feed my inner gear head heart.

Stay positive folks, and when you can't afford to do stuff, look for ways to make more money or just manage your expectations.