Crappy car, crappy house, sacrifices

[gordi24]

My husband and I have went from a income of $35,000.00 per year to $20,000.00 all for a sacrifice I wanted to take to accomplish my dream of being a surgical nurse. I am attending a private college with the uglyest and loudest car in the parking lot, everyone stares at me when I pull in, and races from me when I pull out. I avoid making friends because I'm affraid they will want to come to my house that the siding is pressed board and is chipping off. I'm hoping that ugly car last me long enough to make it through college and plan on firing my landlord once I get a good job. I can't wait, and it's showing, I plan on loading up the classes in the spring and going full force until it's done.

Hope to turn that ugly Buick into a Cadillac upon graduation.

[researchrabbit]

I've been driving disposable cars for years now. Anyone who'd judge you by your home or car is not worth knowing. Drive with pride!

[RNbeach, ASN, RN]

Ditto to what researchrabbit said! If someone judges by the car you drive.... they are not even good enough to be a pimple on your orifice!

A Car is A Car! It is intended to get you from Point A to Point B! it sounds like your car is doing just that!

You will graduate soon enough my dear! I see a brand new purty car in your future!

Brenda

[Love-A-Nurse]

i agree with hanging in there and true friends understand scarifices are made to obtain goals.

[CountrifiedRN]

Gordi - Where a person lives or what they drive has nothing to do with what kind of person they are. Don't avoid making friends, be proud that you are going back to school, making sacrifices, to go after your dream. To me that says so much more about your character than how loud your car is.

I do understand where you are coming from, when I was a single mom on a tight budget, the only place I could afford was a duplex with carpet worn to the cement floor underneath, a bathroom that the shower leaked so badly the tile broke apart, and the landlord superglued plastic over it instead of fixing it correctly. I drove an old ford escort whose engine was pretty much held together by the dirt and grime in it, and the interior was falling apart. The drivers side seat back tilted at a crazy angle, and the passengers side seat back would unlock and fling any unfortunate passengers backwards if I hit a bump too hard. The inside door handles broke off so I would have to roll down the window to open the door. :chuckle

But honestly, those were some of the happiest times I ever had. I kept my sense of humor about it all, and I made a lot of good friends in the pre-req classes I was taking. No one cared what I drove, or where I lived. We all had a common goal, to get through our classes, and go on to our majors. Being in that situation just made me work harder, and after my gen ed classes and pre-reqs I graduated with an associates in general studies, with honors.

Don't worry about what others think, your circumstances will help you to stay focused on the goal. Best of luck in your classes!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

RN2bNC

What a picture...driving along with a buddy then...FLIP!

Damn, I HATE it when that happens.

[Rena RN 2003, RN]

:chuckle :chuckle I'm so glad i checked in tonight. gordi, you have just described my current financial situation (or lack thereof) to a perfect T.

and listening to the descriptions of some of the automobiles (:chuckle and i use the term "automobiles" loosely :chuckle ) has CMU!!!!

i have only owned one "nice" car in my life and that was destroyed by my father. cringed when the insurance money had to pay off that hunk of metal and plastic.

now, it's nothing but disposable for me. hey, if "disposable" is good enough for the medical community, it's good enough for me.

[tonicareer]

No people shouldn't judge by your car, house, posessions but many do. Even at school the profs first question is do you have reliable transportation? Apply for a job and they ask the same thing. No they know there is no public transportation or taxis here so they want to know if you can get there. Unfortunately cars and houses are a status symbol. Why most high school students drive a better (much better) car than me. The police are more likely to stop you if you drive an old car or blame the old car driver in an accident. Of course I live in a town that is very financially status conscious. Maybe you guys don't. My first goal is a car that is not 18 years old and rusted out.

[maire, ASN, RN]

Oh gordi24 (Gordon? 24? NASCAR fan by chance?) hang in there. I know exactly what you're going through. I personally am piss-poor with a huge childcare bill due to school (and driving a beatup minivan with a really tacky cartop) but in the end it will all be worth it and I can kiss these days goodbye.

[kimtab]

My current car is the first one I ever had where the air conditioning worked and all the windows rolled up and down. I am the former queen of $200 disposable cars:) It ain't what you drive, it's what's inside- and anybody worth making friends with knows that!

[Lausana]

Sure those things shouldn't matter, but I know they do. I drive a clunker too & it sounds awful, people are always telling me different things I should have checked out on it-as if it could really improve it, I smile and say thanks.

Hang in there, and long for the day you can go on a shopping spree to the Home Depot near you in your brand new car :chuckle

[NurseAngie]

Originally posted by memphispanda

Feeling your pain over here! My car is ok, but I am afraid my house will fall apart before I finish school!

People, People....I am so glad to know that somebody shares my PAIN!!! I hope this SHACK can stand for just 18 more months!!It's gonna be okay and y'all can come to my place anytime. Mi Casa Su Casa....That is the extent of my Spanish, but I wanted to lay it out there and embarrass myself once again!

~Angie

[CANRN, MSN, RN]

When I was in nursing school, I drove a 1984 Buick Estate wagon. It was all most ten years old when I started school. I had sold my nice new full sized van to get rid of the payments to get this car with no payments. We had four children at home, the youngest was 2. We owned our home but all renovations and decorating improvements were put on hold while I was in school.

That Buick made it when newer cars would not start. I remember one cold winter jumping other cars with mine!!! It looked like the a heap, the kids called it the hoopty wagon. When I graduated, other things took priority and I drove that car for two more years! It finally died one morning after work and had to be towed home. I felt like I had lost my best friend! It had 186, 000 miles on it!

I now have a nice Chevy Blazer with all the bells and whistles....I still miss the old Buick.

Hang in there, you will get your pay off for all your sacrifices!!!

Cindy