Am I in a trial?

[evangelist6589]

I never seem to escape the financial trial I am in with debt. Today I take my car in for a oil change and they discover some problems, and I am having to fork out $930 to my wonderful CC. Under the circumstances I have no choice, as I have no way to get to work, church, or what not without a car, and no one can drive me to these places. It seems like I am always having to charge things due to the car and I can never escape it. In April my Nissan blew the engine and it was cheaper to buy a used car, so I bought a Nice Buick for $3,000 and had to put some of it on a loan. I charged the remaining amount to a Credit Card saving me much in interest charges.

I do have savings, however everytime I deplete it due to car repairs, medical or something, something always happens. So this time I think I am just gonna leave it on the CC and pay it that way, because using my savings has brought me nothing but bad luck! So my savings will stay intact.

I do have a job, but only make about $420 or so a week, so I dont have all the money in the world, as I also have bills to payoff. Erwin Lutzer & James MacDonald have preached sermons on trials and when life is hard. Neither of them assure their audience that they will live lives free from debt and problems. I am a conservative spender, so the big issue in my case is income. So am I in a never ending trial, or am I just having to face facts that life is indeed hard? Some people can live lives free from debt, but not many. Most people are in debt. Those that are not have higher incomes, or not as much bad luck.


John

 

[preacher4truth]

I never seem to escape the financial trial I am in with debt. Today I take my car in for a oil change and they discover some problems, and I am having to fork out $930 to my wonderful CC. Under the circumstances I have no choice, as I have no way to get to work, church, or what not without a car, and no one can drive me to these places. It seems like I am always having to charge things due to the car and I can never escape it. In April my Nissan blew the engine and it was cheaper to buy a used car, so I bought a Nice Buick for $3,000 and had to put some of it on a loan. I charged the remaining amount to a Credit Card saving me much in interest charges.

I do have savings, however everytime I deplete it due to car repairs, medical or something, something always happens. So this time I think I am just gonna leave it on the CC and pay it that way, because using my savings has brought me nothing but bad luck! So my savings will stay intact.

I do have a job, but only make about $420 or so a week, so I dont have all the money in the world, as I also have bills to payoff. Erwin Lutzer & James MacDonald have preached sermons on trials and when life is hard. Neither of them assure their audience that they will live lives free from debt and problems. I am a conservative spender, so the big issue in my case is income. So am I in a never ending trial, or am I just having to face facts that life is indeed hard? Some people can live lives free from debt, but not many. Most people are in debt. Those that are not have higher incomes, or not as much bad luck.


John

I'd say what is happening here is nothing out of the extraordinary, and that this happens to the believer and unbeliever alike.

The clinchers are that the believer trusts in God through it, thanks God through it, and prays for guidance and thanks Him in advance for providing for all of our needs.

It could be a trial if it is your faith that is being tried. If that is the case, I am certan you know enough Scripture to realize your position in this situation.

Will pray for you.

- Peace

 

[evangelist6589]

After spending some time reading and in prayer I am content that I need to spend more time in prayer over this. I also am not gonna buy a book on trials so I can micro analyze my trials. The sermons I have are good enough and no need to buy a 200 page book on trials.

I also am not listening to self help authors that preach it is always possible to be debt free, because this is not found in scripture. We are never promised to have a life free of hardship. That teaching is from the self help, & prosperity gospel that has influenced me in some areas. It would be wonderful if I could be debt free, but it has not happened. I am not promised freedom from hardship in this life.

I'd say what is happening here is nothing out of the extraordinary, and that this happens to the believer and unbeliever alike.

The clinchers are that the believer trusts in God through it, thanks God through it, and prays for guidance and thanks Him in advance for providing for all of our needs.

It could be a trial if it is your faith that is being tried. If that is the case, I am certan you know enough Scripture to realize your position in this situation.

Will pray for you.

- Peace

 

[preacher4truth]

After spending some time reading and in prayer I am content that I need to spend more time in prayer over this. I also am not gonna buy a book on trials so I can micro analyze my trials. The sermons I have are good enough and no need to buy a 200 page book on trials.

I also am not listening to self help authors that preach it is always possible to be debt free, because this is not found in scripture. We are never promised to have a life free of hardship. That teaching is from the self help, & prosperity gospel that has influenced me in some areas. It would be wonderful if I could be debt free, but it has not happened. I am not promised freedom from hardship in this life.

Exactly brother. You stick with the Word of God on this.

Most of us have been where you are. I'm reminded of Psalm 62:8.

 

[Arbo]

Hang in there Evangelist. You are not the first to experience tight times.

 

[Benjamin]

I have a suggestion for you because of my experience:

For many years I too struggled with keeping up my vehicles which were always breaking down at the worst possible times, and yes there were more than a few times that I was asking, “why me!”. I also spent a ton of time learning how and doing my own repairs. Personally, I would only buy used vehicles and didn’t want to commit to payments on a new one.

BUT, let me tell you something that I found out about my situation which sounds very similar to yours: I came to realize that used cars very often were NOT cheaper at all, besides causing a lot of heart ache because of being unreliable. (Oh, the hard luck stories I could tell about the grief I experienced with vehicles breaking down!)

Consider that you have spent $3000 for a used Buick, after having an engine blow in another used car, and in less than a year having to spend to another $1000 on repairs and this may very well not be the end. Man! Do I know those stories! That is so similar to how it went for me. Now think about that $4000 is about a year or better of car payments on a brand new modest vehicle (most likely problem free). Honestly, I was so relieved after FINALLY, I bought a brand new vehicle and I’ll tell you what: it was SOOO nice to not have to worry about anything except turning that key to get to where I wanted to go for 4 years in a row. (At that point I traded it in for another new one.) I also noticed right from the get go that I was actually saving money, I started off with brand new tires, lower gas usage and absolutely NO repair bills. I knew exactly what I would be spending on my transportation each month, no surprises.

I’ll bet you could find some small very economical brand new warrantied car to get you where you want to go for less than you are spending on these used ones. Personally, I found that the STRESS relief ALONE would have been worth paying half again more.

 

[HAMel]

In my lifetime I've only owned two new cars. Have always had good luck with used cars but used today..., usually mean "used up".

I was car shopping a while back with my grandaughter and spotted a small Honda that had 121,000 miles on it. The guy wanted $6200 for it. What a joke!

The last new car I looked at the guy was telling me that I would need "Gap Insurance". For those of you who don't know, Gap Insurance is to cover the difference between what the vehicle is worth and what you owe on it. I told the salesman that if there was that much of a "gap" then the vehicle was overly priced to begin with. I didn't buy it.

As for debt..., I can tell you about that. Sometimes it just happens and there's not much one can do to prevent it. In your case it could be a learning experience rather that a trial.

 

[preacher4truth]

In my lifetime I've only owned two new cars. Have always had good luck with used cars but used today..., usually mean "used up".

I was car shopping a while back with my grandaughter and spotted a small Honda that had 121,000 miles on it. The guy wanted $6200 for it. What a joke!

The last new car I looked at the guy was telling me that I would need "Gap Insurance". For those of you who don't know, Gap Insurance is to cover the difference between what the vehicle is worth and what you owe on it. I told the salesman that if there was that much of a "gap" then the vehicle was overly priced to begin with. I didn't buy it.

As for debt..., I can tell you about that. Sometimes it just happens and there's not much one can do to prevent it. In your case it could be a learning experience rather that a trial.

You've owned only 2 cars so your buying knowledge is sorely deficient.


GAP insurance is a good idea in most circumstances. When a person buys a car, adds fees, taxes, finance charges, (factored into the loan) and depreciation is accounted for when it is driven off the lot, it is a great idea to have it. As a matter of fact, some insurance companies factor it into their policies.

Most people who finance a car owe more on the car than what it is worth at trade in. I'm ceratin though that most on the BB are not in that category.

Some people will buy an SUV, then a year later think they can trade it in and lower their payment on a small car. This is pretending their vehicle has appreciated: it has not. Most are buried in their current vehicle.

How do I know? I was a finance manager.

A piece of advice: If you trade your car in every 2-3, maybe 4 years, it's a good idea to lease. The argument is "But I want to own my car!" Well, you've never owned it if you trade it in and still owe on it. You might as well lease. Payments are cheaper, and the allowances for damage are beyond what you think, you don't have negative equity when you bring it back, and the vehicle is typically always under warranty while you drive it. That, and the company producing your vehicle will entice you to bring your leased vehicle back early with special deals on a new vehicle.

It's not that a person was over-charged for the car and thus wants to sell you GAP. That's just paranoia and fear kicking in. Banks only loan certain amounts on vehicles, and they are limited to certain amounts only, and look at year of car, mileage.

Most people who have ever bought GAP and needed it are very thankful they did get it.

 

[joey]

Hi evangelist, you said every time that you save money you get a major expense.
That sounds like God is looking after you and providing for your needs very well.

 

[menageriekeeper]

We buy new and drive them to death. Once we got a lemon. I'm still driving it, 8 years old, 104,000 miles. Why was it a lemon? Had to have the transmission rebuilt ($1500) at 88,000. It'll get me at least 2 more years before I give it up for all the little agravating things that are wrong with (broken hatch strap, a speed sensor in one hub that can't be fixed because the real problem is somewhere within the wiring harness (best guess after two complete replacements failed to correct the problem), a gas guage that lies (tells you have more gas than you do, that was "fixed" once too) plus about a dozen other minor issues that have nothing to do with the car's drivability)

This was the most expensive car I've owned. So lets do the math $30,000 divided by 104,000 miles = $0.29 a mile. (I had a zero interest loan)

Now take your $3000 car and the repair costs. Divide that by how many miles you've driven it since you've bought it. How are you doing? (don't forget interest on your loan and credit card)

That'll give you some idea on where your driving dollars are going.

As far as financial problems go, we've all suffered from them. Life is hard. I'm not sure why we expect it to be different. It's all part of living in a fallen world. So keep the faith, the next world is where the treasure is at!

 

[evangelist6589]

I paid for a full vehicle inspection and they said the car was in excellent condition 6 months ago. I did have to replace the tires (but they were from 2004) and the battery. But besides that, and a blown blinker bulb, the car has been reliable.

Well you may be right. However I am already in allot of debt as it is an dont want to get a new car and go into more debt. But maybe it may be a better choice, I am not sure. But for know the Buic is in great shape. It was well maintained by the original owner.

I have a suggestion for you because of my experience:

For many years I too struggled with keeping up my vehicles which were always breaking down at the worst possible times, and yes there were more than a few times that I was asking, “why me!”. I also spent a ton of time learning how and doing my own repairs. Personally, I would only buy used vehicles and didn’t want to commit to payments on a new one.

BUT, let me tell you something that I found out about my situation which sounds very similar to yours: I came to realize that used cars very often were NOT cheaper at all, besides causing a lot of heart ache because of being unreliable. (Oh, the hard luck stories I could tell about the grief I experienced with vehicles breaking down!)

Consider that you have spent $3000 for a used Buick, after having an engine blow in another used car, and in less than a year having to spend to another $1000 on repairs and this may very well not be the end. Man! Do I know those stories! That is so similar to how it went for me. Now think about that $4000 is about a year or better of car payments on a brand new modest vehicle (most likely problem free). Honestly, I was so relieved after FINALLY, I bought a brand new vehicle and I’ll tell you what: it was SOOO nice to not have to worry about anything except turning that key to get to where I wanted to go for 4 years in a row. (At that point I traded it in for another new one.) I also noticed right from the get go that I was actually saving money, I started off with brand new tires, lower gas usage and absolutely NO repair bills. I knew exactly what I would be spending on my transportation each month, no surprises.

I’ll bet you could find some small very economical brand new warrantied car to get you where you want to go for less than you are spending on these used ones. Personally, I found that the STRESS relief ALONE would have been worth paying half again more.

 

[evangelist6589]

In my lifetime I've only owned two new cars. Have always had good luck with used cars but used today..., usually mean "used up".

I was car shopping a while back with my grandaughter and spotted a small Honda that had 121,000 miles on it. The guy wanted $6200 for it. What a joke!

The last new car I looked at the guy was telling me that I would need "Gap Insurance". For those of you who don't know, Gap Insurance is to cover the difference between what the vehicle is worth and what you owe on it. I told the salesman that if there was that much of a "gap" then the vehicle was overly priced to begin with. I didn't buy it.

As for debt..., I can tell you about that. Sometimes it just happens and there's not much one can do to prevent it. In your case it could be a learning experience rather that a trial.

The car had 100K miles and I paid 3K for it. It was much better maintained than my Nissan Sentra was in 1998 when I paid 6K for that one for the same miles.

I am trying to prevent as much debt as possible, but its not always possible. I have a bulk of Student Loan payments and all I can do is make a min payment on some of them. The bigger portion the bank and or the government says I am not required to pay due to my income. I did have only about $6500 in CC debt, but after today it went up.

 

[evangelist6589]

Hi evangelist, you said every time that you save money you get a major expense.
That sounds like God is looking after you and providing for your needs very well.

I am afraid to wipe out this Credit Card debt with my emergency fund, because I am afraid I am gonna get hit again. Or should I? Wait a minute, yes I think the Lord is providing. Good idea, I did not think of that.

 

[evangelist6589]

We buy new and drive them to death. Once we got a lemon. I'm still driving it, 8 years old, 104,000 miles. Why was it a lemon? Had to have the transmission rebuilt ($1500) at 88,000. It'll get me at least 2 more years before I give it up for all the little agravating things that are wrong with (broken hatch strap, a speed sensor in one hub that can't be fixed because the real problem is somewhere within the wiring harness (best guess after two complete replacements failed to correct the problem), a gas guage that lies (tells you have more gas than you do, that was "fixed" once too) plus about a dozen other minor issues that have nothing to do with the car's drivability)

This was the most expensive car I've owned. So lets do the math $30,000 divided by 104,000 miles = $0.29 a mile. (I had a zero interest loan)

Now take your $3000 car and the repair costs. Divide that by how many miles you've driven it since you've bought it. How are you doing? (don't forget interest on your loan and credit card)

That'll give you some idea on where your driving dollars are going.

As far as financial problems go, we've all suffered from them. Life is hard. I'm not sure why we expect it to be different. It's all part of living in a fallen world. So keep the faith, the next world is where the treasure is at!

Yes I am glad you are a down to earth person and not a extremist like a Dave Ramsey fanatic. Those people can be so obsessed with paying off debt that some of them will give you advice to not go to church to take on a second job, to not spend time with the family (so you can work) and on and on. I was finding their advice a little too extreme and the values were incorrect. If I had to choose between debt and the Lord, no question I would choose the Lord for He is who I serve. If I take away my time from him, when I die He wont be too happy with me. He will say I have wasted my time on earth.

The Ramsey fanatics were telling me to compromise my testimony so I can save money. I asked them about my car problem 6 months ago, and they told me to get a ride with a certain female and ride with her to work each day. This would have compromised my testimony, and besides this female really likes me, and no wonder she wanted to drive me home each day. NO way!!! My testimony is far more important than the debt.

 

[menageriekeeper]

The other option is that the garage took you for repairs that weren't exactly needed right this moment.

I cant tell you how many times I've had to say no to the mechanics at the quik lube who notice my dashboard full of lights (we can fix that for you), or that my windshield fluid container leaks (we can replace that for you! Sure you can,NOT!). If you don't know much about cars, its easy for a mechanic to talk you into to things you don't really need.

"well you don't want your car to leak oil." "yeah well, $1000 can buy an awful lot of oil"

Yep, most mechanics hate me before I leave. I was my father's second son, and he never paid to have something fixed he could fix for himself. And mechanics just don't run into many women who can tell them explicitly what she wants done and what she doesn't.

 

[evangelist6589]

The other option is that the garage took you for repairs that weren't exactly needed right this moment.

I cant tell you how many times I've had to say no to the mechanics at the quik lube who notice my dashboard full of lights (we can fix that for you), or that my windshield fluid container leaks (we can replace that for you! Sure you can,NOT!). If you don't know much about cars, its easy for a mechanic to talk you into to things you don't really need.

"well you don't want your car to leak oil." "yeah well, $1000 can buy an awful lot of oil"

Yep, most mechanics hate me before I leave. I was my father's second son, and he never paid to have something fixed he could fix for himself. And mechanics just don't run into many women who can tell them explicitly what she wants done and what she doesn't.

It was not a major problem as the oil engine lights never came on. However they told me it could turn in to a major problem as the intake manifold, and the gasket were leaking. If you had a fax machine I could fax you the invoice. But they did flush the brake and power steering systems, replaced a blown bulb, an changed my oil.

 

[Arbo]

The other option is that the garage took you for repairs that weren't exactly needed right this moment.

I cant tell you how many times I've had to say no to the mechanics at the quik lube who notice my dashboard full of lights (we can fix that for you), or that my windshield fluid container leaks (we can replace that for you! Sure you can,NOT!). If you don't know much about cars, its easy for a mechanic to talk you into to things you don't really need.

"well you don't want your car to leak oil." "yeah well, $1000 can buy an awful lot of oil"

Yep, most mechanics hate me before I leave. I was my father's second son, and he never paid to have something fixed he could fix for himself. And mechanics just don't run into many women who can tell them explicitly what she wants done and what she doesn't.

Reminds me of the time I took my pickup in for a new muffler and was told I needed new shocks for the back end. They were supposedly leaking. I told the mech. to show me, which he did. What I saw was some fresh oil that obviously had been squirted there five minutes earlier. They tried to sucker me out of a couple hundred dollars.

 

[menageriekeeper]

well, it wouldn't be unheard of for a car with 100k miles on it to have a leaky intake manifold, but there would be some symptoms, namely you'd adding coolant regularly and you might be seeing steam rising off your engine. Or you might be idling rough if it were one of the gaskets leading into.

So yeah, it can cause problems (you certainly don't want to overheat your car and crack or warp your head) but it makes me wonder how they diagnosed the problem. But then, I'm always a skeptic! If something is going to be major than it will usually present in a major way.

imo (and the men here may disagree) power steering and brake systems don't need flushing under normal usage (even at that many miles) (oh and both systems likely use the same fluid).

Here's a good article on intake manifolds:

http://www.intakemanifoldhelp.com/

 

[righteousdude2]

Hang in There and Keep the Fatih!

Like others have already said, it seems like many of us are experiencing similar trial and tribulations.

I can only offer a few verses that have helped me to remain sane in the teeth of financial, personal, medical trials.

1 Cor. 10:13 13For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [a]adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

Romans 8:28- We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Both verses are from the Amplified Bible.

I honestly believe more of these trials are coming down the road, so prepare yourself in order to stand strong when they hit! America and the world, are undergoing tough financial times which I believe will continue to be tight and trying. Your faith needs to grow to the place where you can look upon these trials as just another day at the office.

God will not let you be tempted or tried beyond your ability. So, count it a blessing when it seems like the trial is more than you can handle, because that means God knows and sees something about and within your inner constitution that you are not yet able to see or appreciate.

I can honestly look back, at the times I was about to crack under pressure, and see how God really did have the situation in full control. Being able to look back at the trial in a year of two, shows you something you didn't see or know at that time.

Count it ALL joy when you are tried, because that means a blessing is just around the corner or down the road.

May God bless you, and may His unconditional favor continue to keep and bless you as you serve and follow Him. As the Word commands, when another is blessed, we rejoice with them. When they are tried and tested, we pray for them and hurt right along with them. You are in the thoughts and prayers of a great many wonderful people on this forum. raying:

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[menageriekeeper]

Arbo, I can't tell you the number of times someone told me something needed fixed on one of my cars. It happened here not long ago at the quik lube place I use most of the time to get my oil changed. They had gotten a new bunch of guys in since I'd been in there last (because I have 2 sons to change my oil now lol) and it had been quite some time since I'd had them change it:

"well we need to check this, this and this. you really should change your oil more often" (this after I told them that just because they hadn't changed it didn't mean it hadn't been changed)

"Oh but not changing your oil can lead to...."

JUST CHANGE THE OIL!



Honestly, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I don't know when my oil needs changing.