So the blower on our air conditioning at home appears to be out... I hate this A/C unit, it never cools. If you read back, we replaced the outside unit a couple of years ago after Hurricane Ike but the upstairs unit is probably 10 years old by now.
Options:
1 - Replace upstairs unit, add $2,500 new debt?
2 - Fix upstairs unit, live miserably through the upcoming Texas summer?
3 - Do nothing and hope something happens (new job, sell house etc).
So that's how my day is going... the 85 degree weather is not helping.
Thoughts?
HS
Hump Day
2 hours ago
19 comments:
You don't have any emergency savings? Because is that sort of thing you'd use it for.
Hi Mutant,
YES! but somehow its down to $1000! sad...
HS
I'd probably do nothing for now until you know what your job situation will be like.
If you start stockpiling cash to prepare for a potential layoff and then it doesn't happen, you can use the cash for the AC unit; if it does, you can use it for other expenses.
Win win!
I am with you. Houston is too hot to not have air conditioning. Murphy is hitting people too hard this year - clearing out emergency funds and adding to debt.
I say add to debt and cut back this summer on something. We went through out house and selling via Craigslist to pay for ours.
May the cool breeze of air conditioning pass over you!
HS.. your emergency savings is down to $1000.00 - Gee, I wonder why?
Save up to replace entire unit, but buy a window ac to use in bedroom so you can sleep in the mean time. Do not add debt.
You make more than you need for bills, so spend next few months paying bills, paying OFF debt and building new emergency and ac fund.
You can do it!!!
Buy a fan?
I am thinking cut back majorly. You seem to do a lot of alcohol, nice bag, shopping charging. I hate the heat so I'd save what you can until you can't take the heat anymore and replace it.
I agree with Becky R. Get a small unit for your bedroom and save up for the larger expense.
I think Becky R and Mysti have the right idea: use some of your $1000 EF to buy a decent window/room style A/C, and save up for the replacement. Since the downstairs unit is decent, you should be able to make it through this summer without having to spend the full $2500 - plenty of time to save by next summer, and then you can sell your slightly used room model for some return.
The neighborhoods do not allow window units in our neck of the woods. You cannot do summer here without air conditioning. This is not a spoiled thing - people die regularly. It is HOT and the air is difficult to breath. No, not a great place to live, but very inexpensive.
Maybe the unit can just be repaired and the cost be under the $1,000 you have in savings.
Jennifer is right, we can't do wall units unless the compressor is hidden and not visible on a wall- we definately cannot do window unit- our windows are too big!
HS
They sell an ac unit (my brother has one) that does not go in window, but in room and just vents out window (you don't even see it.) It is about $400, then you can sell it used when you save up for replacing your entire unit.)
I think though based on your income and expenses that if you only bought needs for 1-2 months and pay minimum on debt you would have the entire $2,500 for new unit?
My hot water heater was broken for over a year (worked sometimes) and then not at all last two months, but I saved until I had cash to replace. Yes, it sucked, but I was trying to have no debt besides my mortgage (still have about $500 in other debt, but working on it.)
I can not imagine people living through a Texas summer without AC.
Sorry, I hate to hear that you're having AC problems. Been through that before and had to suck it up and go into a little more debt myself. People DIE in Texas without AC. LOL
Can you get prices from other places? Maybe someone else is slightly cheaper? Perhaps they have a payment plan? Just throwing out ideas. Is it something that you could fix yourself?
I thought the window unit seemed like the best idea too, but beyond that, I'm not sure...Regardless, I hope you figure this out quickly because I lived in TX..and I remember how hot it was all summer. =(
you know what , i cant read your blog anymore. i told you in one of my comments I tell it like it is and here it goes. I do not feel sorry for you , i live in Texas its hot as hell in the summer. Your job is in jeopardy , your wife is spending $300 on a purse, your spending $100 on alcohol , and you have no money to fix your AC and you have had this "Debt" blog for HOW Long 'trying" to fix your debt ? You are not serious about getting out of debt. Your serious about keeping up w/ the Jones'. What is about to happen to you is what happened to us and that is your in danger of losing EVERYTHING ! I suggest you sell that $300 purse your wife just bought and EVERYTHING ELSE the 2 of you probably have in your closets that probably have the tags still on them and get an AC and probably some emergency money so you do not lose your home , your cars and the money to pay your electric bill to RUN the AC you have ! Your blog is borderline comical. One post your talking about losing your job the next your talking about how cute your wife is and not being able to say no to her. Seriously ? You BOTH need to grow up and deal with your money issues !
Mindy,
It's life! it may sound ridiculous but that's the way it is...
HS
No its NOT LIFE ... $300 for purses is not LIFE ! Paying your house, cars, electric , food , and living expenses is LIFE . Buying the latest gadget and everything else that everyone around you has so you can be socially accepted is NOT LIFE , its what is going to get you in the poor house and on the streets ! And honestly its not comical its sad that you cant go back and read your blog and see what is happening or about to happen to you . You cant read your blog as someone looking on the outside and think " WTF am I doing " If you cant do that you need to get into counseling. Honestly . Debt counseling, and counseling in general. I am not being mean, but You have control issues , impulse buying issues and I am not telling you anything you do not know ,because YOU Say it yourself. You just chose to not do anything about it.
Which is why you truly are on the verge of losing everything.
I really am trying to help because you guys are going down the same destructive path my husband and I went down. This message board really really helped us AFTER we had to file chapter 7. http://www.creditboards.com/mambo/ There are people who really know their stuff on here. I warn you though, you think Im rough , they can be rough on there, but they tell you what you need to hear and will help you ALOT !
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