Brakes went out on my car 3 days ago. My parents refuse to help me, I have negative 35 dollars in the bank, I will prob be short on the rent, this is not so good… 
Do you need the car to get to work?
Okay, that sucks, but don’t panic. First off, let’s get some facts.
Do you have a job? If so, are you able to get there via Marta, walking, bumming a ride?
Why won’t your parents help you? Have they before? Is this tough love?
Why are you having a hard time? Did you lose a job? Are your expenses too high? Have you been short on the rent before? Where do you rent? Is it a place where you can talk with a human being instead of the bureaucrats in an office? Do you have other checks that might bounce?
Yes I have a job, yes I need a car to get to work, I don’t live in Atlanta.
My parents have helped me before but they haven’t really helped me for a while now. I don’t know if its tough love or not. My dad told me not to call him again. I’ve been employed for a while now, but I’m not really getting a lot of hours. I’ve been trying to look for full-time work. My expenses aren’t that great really, I can’t afford to spend much money.
I’ve never been short on rent before, I rent a bedroom in a house, I guess I’ll see if I can pay half rent now, and half when my next paycheck comes. I don’t have any other pending transactions that will bounce.
What part of Georgia? The Atlanta and Athens areas have great public transportation systems, although if you’re in the southern region then there’s nary a bus to be found. If you work, could you get a pay advance?
Edit: We simulposted, so half of my post is redundant.
Pool are you handy enough where if someone gave you instructions you could do your own brake job?
I’m in Augusta.
Maybe, but I don’t have any tools or anything, I’m not even sure what caused them to go out, I know virtually nothing of car mechanics.
We have quite a few mechanics here. People like Rick can give instructions. If you posted it I must have missed it but what model car do you have and is it front or rear brakes that are shot?
I know what it’s like to have difficulties. My parents are helping me where they can.
its a 97 toyota celica, and I think its the front brakes. The worst part is I had the pads, calipers, and rotors replaces just over a year ago, I’m going to call the place and see if they are under some sort of warranty, but I doubt it.
Is this a boarding house or a roommate situation? How are you getting to work, or are you not? When is your next paycheck, and do you have anything you can pawn? Do you have any way to get the car to the shop safely without having to have it towed?
Is there any way you can offer to do some extra work around the house in exchange for taking some off the rent? You know, offer to rake leaves or scrub the bathrooms or paint?
-
Also is this the first time you have gone negative in your bank? If so they may be willing to waive the fees if you ask nicely.
-
When is rent due?
-
How far do you drive to work
-
Can you stay with a coworker temporarily to reduce driving
-
When do you get paid again?
Roomie situation. Tomorrow I have to go to work at 2, not sure how I’ll get there, either walk or bum a ride. My next paycheck is tomorrow, and my rent is due the day after, but I won’t have enough, so I’ll see if I can pay half now, and half when I get my next check. I don’t really have anything I could pawn, maybe my laptop I guess. I really think the car will have to be towed, the brakes are pretty much non-functional at this point.
To explain my living situation a bit more, one of my roomies is my landlord, so thats why I’m hoping I can negotiate a half now, half at my next paycheck deal.
Do you or a friend have AAA or AAA plus?
I don’t, a friend of mine might actually, I’ll have to look into it tomorrow.
Check your email.
Tris
-
Get to work tomorrow somehow, and be on time. If you can’t get a ride, walk or borrow a bike(thank goodness the weather isn’t bad!) If you think he might be sympathetic, tell your boss your situation and see if he can give you more hours or help you work out a schedule around your situation.
-
Talk to your landlord, give him what you can afford and do offer to do some work around the place. Even if he won’t let you, at least he’s less likely to think you are a slacker.
-
Call that place and if the warranty has expired, see if they won’t work with you. Unless you’ve been putting a LOT of miles on your car, those brakes should have been good for more than a year. If they won’t, call around for best price from someone else.
-
If you are able-bodied and have the spare time, see if you can rake leaves for friends or neighbors. I know this is kind of humiliating and not fun, but cash would be very helpful.
-
Cut any other expenses that you can, like groceries, way back to the cheap. Peanut butter and jelly, bologna and grilled cheese can carry a body for a few weeks, even if it’s boring.
-
If you can’t find a full-time job soon, or get more hours, consider getting a part-time job close to home? Even a lousy fast food job, if nothing else.
-
Do you go to church? Your church might be willing to help you if you tell them you are in trouble. What other kind of help might you have? Friends? Siblings? Other relatives?
I know AAA will tow 10 miles or to the responding garage for free. AAA Plus can go 75 I believe. You may be able to use that to get your car to a shop.
I know
Agusta Tech has auto repair classes. Perhaps the school can work on your car. They must need cars for AUT 130 try contacting them