Move or Buy A Car?

United States
January 29, 2009 10:06am CST
Both are necessities for us at this point. We should be getting our tax forms soon, and then it will only be a matter of a couple weeks until we have our tax returns, which for us is usually around $5,000. We HAVE to move, there is no question about it. We cannot stay in this house any longer, most of you know why. But my husband's car is dying, and needs a lot of repairs. At the moment the biggest issue with it is it needs a gas tank. That can be a $500 repair, but it has other problems too and honestly just needs to be replaced. But how to afford both? The house we're currently looking at will need new carpeting and a few other minor repairs, then we have to figure in the cost of moving, renting a van, etc etc. What a dilemma! It seems we always have this sort of dilemma around tax season. We have too many bills and need too many things, but there just isn't enough money for everything we need. Any suggestions? Do you have any dilemmas about what to do with your tax returns?
2 people like this
9 responses
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Well, I know you really want to move but do you NEED the car for your husband to be able to work? Right now my husband and I are considering going to 1 car in order to keep our house. If you have to have this vehicle then I would do what it takes to at least get it so it is some what reliable....then take the difference for the house. Right now would be a great time to get into a house if you are going to finance. I feel for you because we are in such a similiar situation. I don't work, I can't work, we need our house (because of our large family...like you) plus we love our house. We have so many things that need to be done to the house....every bathroom leaks!! One right now is half redone but the master bath is horrible!!!!The tiles on the floor squish after you shower the leak is so bad. I always tell my husband as long as we have our truck that can get all of us together from one place to another and get him to work then it always gets repaired. The house comes second. I know this isn't an answer to your question but I hope it helps a little. At least you know your not alone.
• United States
29 Jan 09
We more or less NEED to move. We have 2 vehicles, although I don't want to go back to having only 1. But moving really has to be our top priority right now, and it's not just because the house is falling apart. It's more or less because his parents are driving me insane! They control every aspect of our lives, and seem to think they have the right to do so because they own the house. We have to get out from under their control and live our own lives.
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I kind of figured that that was the reason, from reading your previous posts. If you know the well being of your family would be to move then I would say move. If something were to happen to one of your vehicles you do have a back up. I think that you would feel much better in every aspect especially knowing you are not dependent on his parents anymore. That in itself would be worth the move and any sacrifice you would have to make. Remember!!!!Everything is temporary, it won't be like this forever!
• United States
30 Jan 09
I'd say if you absolutely NEED to leave your house, just stay with a friend/relative for a bit. I believe the car is more essential, for your husbands job and such.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
29 Jan 09
If I had to choose, I guess it would be move, and do it as cheaply as you can. Perhaps you could move and do the carpet later, and maybe just clean it if it isn't that bad. Then, save your money to get new. Have his car fixed with what is left after you move. I think you need to get out from under his parents so you can have freedom. I wouldn't have lived there this long, even if I had to move in a 2 BR apartment! Couples don't need the hassle you've gone through for so long.
• United States
29 Jan 09
The carpet in the place we're looking at has already been ripped up, so we have no choice but to get new carpeting, and at the moment that place looks like our only option.
• United States
30 Jan 09
We're keeping our eyes and mind open. It's just that with our credit and our income, it doesn't appear we can do much better than the place we're looking at, and there's a chance we won't even get that due to credit.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Well, I can see the need for carpet, then. Didn't realize it was already gone.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
29 Jan 09
Well if I were in your situation I would move. I would rather struggle with a broken down car then be near my inlaws. atleast if they were inlaws like yours lol. I would love to move farther away from my in laws too. I don't see them that much luckily but i would love to move to break the hold they have on my husband. They don't seem to care if they don't see their grandkids as long as they see my husband. My daughter got her hair cut, it was a month and a half till they saw it. The actually babysat for us Jan 2nd so we could go see a comedian. That was the last time they saw the kids. They live 10 min away. It's pathetic. If my parents were like that I don't know what I would do. So anyways, sorry to go off topic. I think moving would be the better choice. We are still deciding where our refund money is going. We have a lowes card we want to pay off and then if we can swing it we want to take out the gross old clawfoot tub in our bathroom and put it a nice new tub shower combo. Then we are sinking a chunk into a separate savings account that we can't access as easily and saving for disney.
• United States
29 Jan 09
Sounds like some good options. You might want to offer to sell your clawfoot tub, list it on craigslist or something and see what sort of offers you get. Some people are interested in antiques like that and you might get a bit of money to offset the new tub.
@meggan79 (436)
• United States
6 Feb 09
Are you planning on buying the house or renting one. If you are planning on buying a house you should hold off on purchasing a car. Alot of creditors will deny you for a home loan if you purchase a big item.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
30 Jan 09
Hey kats! It's really a shame that all this stuff is coming up at the same time, but isn't that always the way it seems to happen? I know how important it is for you to move so I guess that has to be a priority, but then again so is the car. It really is too bad that they are both major money items and there isn't one that can wait. I hope that you can find a way to be able to afford them both since I know that you do need to get out of that house and the sooner the better!
• United States
30 Jan 09
That's for certain. You have no idea how great I feel just knowing that we are moving soon. I already feel so much calmer and at peace with the whole situation.
• China
30 Jan 09
if its me i will choose to buy a car.have a car ,just go anywhere you like,at any time,so good isnt it?
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
30 Jan 09
I do understand where you are coming from. As for me, I think I would figure up the cheapest way to move, and then see how much you had left over to spend on fixing his car or getting another vehicle. I'm not having dilemmas, I know exactly where it's going. lol First, I'll be getting a new set of tires for my vehicle. The rest will be going into savings for my up coming move. The cost of my move will only be the tank to tank and half of gas it will take for the drive. Anything and everything I'm taking with me will be packed into my vehicle. Since most of the furniture was his before I came into the picture, I mainly have boxes, except for my computer desk, which I will take apart and pack back into the box it came in. Hmmmm, guess I was keeping that box for a reason.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
29 Jan 09
I am in the same situation. I want to use my tax money to buy a small trailer to get out on my own, but my car is falling apart. So i may end up using the majority of my money to get a car instead. Looks like another year at home instead.
• United States
30 Jan 09
We're in the same situation, car or move. We have awful landlords and even worse neighbors! We also need a bigger vehicle as we are now a family of four! It's hard to do both. You have to have a running car to get to and from work to pay for bills, but I definately get the moving part. It'd be nice if we could count on a decent stimulus package to help with this situation, to bad it's not that great, but that's another discussion!