I spent most of my late teens and twenties in debt to credit cards and loans - not everybody's idea of prudent financial management but it sure as heck meant that I always had a car and could always pay for repairs, tax, registration etc. It's only in the past 3 or 4 years that i've earned enough money to not really 'need' to use credit.

On the other hand my best mate has never owned a credit card and only ever had his own car for about 4 months until it needed fixing and he decided he'd rather spend his money on CDs and a sampler. The guy's never been in debt and as long as he has his ipod on the bus, he's a happy man!

The third alternative is to be really tight, controlled, anal retentive even and save and set aside and plan every penny. (an ex-flatmate of mine never bought any toilet roll - always stole it from his work, for instance!)

For me you're either like that or you're not. By all means you can become more prudent and careful if you try but I think some folks just aren't built that way.

I'm not like that and from my reading of tiny's past posts, it doesn't seem to me that he is either.

Tiny - have a good think about what's important to you - any car, mini or not will cost money for rego and repairs - it seems, like most of us here, that cars are important to you - that, along with working far from home, means that in practical terms you still need a car.

Seriously sit down and work out how much you'd get for a car that needs work done, remember that it'll be nowhere near how much you paid or have spent on it. Then figure out if that money would get you another vehicle that would be reliable and roadworthy enough to commute to work. Bear in mind that any car you buy still needs rego, insurance etc.

If you can live without a car, then it might not be a bad idea to store the mini until you can get it fixed properly - and get aquainted with the following websites -
http://www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/index.jsp
http://www.131500.info/realtime/default.asp

If it were me, i'd try borrowing money from a) Parents, b) Credit Card c) Loan.

Good Luck

Being an apprentice may mean he has no money to start off with?????

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

i agree with weevel on this one
good luck mate

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00' Forester GT

In NSW some bikes and scooters can cost as much as a mini to register & insure - less running costs though, I'll grant you.

I also think the quick patch up for rego option is required here - fix properly down the line when you can afford to take it off the road and rebuild it at your leisure. Dare I say it, without inspecting your car beyond the cursory glance I gave it on the night, that it looked like it would pass a pink slip at most garages - How bad is the rust really? post some pics of your conerns. Even weld a few patches in if necessary and touch it up with house paint in lieu of a respray! Ask Weevel what they do in the UK for MOT (ministry of transport annual road-worthy inspections). It's not unusual to find three layers of sill panel welded one on top of the other!

I guess the bit you forgot to tell people is that effectively you are running two cars at the moment aren't you?
KB

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what metal work needs to be done?

if doesnt need to look flash and not structural. I would be happy to weld some patches in the rusty areas so you can get it regoed - it woud be alot safer than bog.

You cost would be the metal for patches and the wedling wire and beer and some more beer and maybe some vodka..oh I forgot some beer

how much beer do you need to weld???

tiny, avoid a credit card at all costs. i had to get one, now i cant pay it off and you'll be worse that where you started...

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

if your ganna bog it sell it got any pics

Pretty much any household job (including welding, basic construction, landscaping, etc) can be accurately quoted based on the amount of beer needed to get the job done.

I offered to pave my inlaws backyard a couple of years back, and agreed (with the bargaining assistance of my two brother-in-laws) to a carton/day.

It took three weekends .

Back on topic, it's quite simple. If you need the money you get from selling -- and I mean need, not want -- then sell it. If you can afford to live with it sitting unregistered in a shed somewhere, then park it. The latter is going to be way better in the long run. It won't cost you a red-cent unless you work on it, and you can go back to it when your cash situation gets a little more positive.

I'm in a similar kind of situation at the moment -- we have two cars, but only one income (maternity leave), and my clubbie is up for rego in January. Strictly speaking, we won't need the car for at least the next 12 months -- plenty of family's get by with one. Do I spend >$500 registering it, plus maintenance, plus insurance, when that money could be better spent elsewhere? Is the luxury of two cars worth enough to potentially struggle? There's no right or wrong answer; every situation is different.

We all have these kind of moments through life.. in your case, it's store-or-sell. I'd choose store..

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Gareth.

You want to keep the rego! so bog it, prime it and get it through. then worry about fixing it properly later. Good luck dude.

PS: on second thoughts. I can remember what it was like 25 years ago when we first had kids and my cooper had to go because of finances and other stuff. Its a hard decision. maybe you should store it and then in a few years time when things look better and you can afford it you can work on it then. at least youll still have the car.

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I live with fear everyday. but sometimes she lets me race.

Ah yes, being an apprentice - I remember it well. Trying to live on $107 per week as a first year boilermaker in the mid '80's - tough!

I used to get paid, fill my car up (GTR XU1 back then), then pay the rent (lived in a share house with two other apprentices, one a 2nd year plumber, one a 2nd year mechanic) then spend the rest on beer - dont remember how we paid for food!

Anyway, another option open to you Tiny - take one or two weeks annual leave, and get another job during this time. A friend of mine's wife, got a job filling Crisco orders over Xmas time, 12 hour shifts, $35 per hour, 7 days - $2100 in the hand per week. Do that for two weeks, plus the money you get from your annual leave and pay someone to repair your car (or do it yourself) then rego your car - problem solved!!

Cheers,
Tricky

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"Not Speeding Officer..........Qualifying"

Geez thats not bad for the 80's!

I was on $160 clear as a 1st year back in 97....... Per week was: $100 to my bank loan, $30 beer, the other $30 was for Fuel and misc.....

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Dont sell mate, get a bit of bog out as an option or take up BIAM offer.

Has anybody noticed that Tiny hasnt shown up to his own post - I hope he has good excuse

Maybe his internet bill arrived, which he couldnt afford, so he sold his PC?

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

So who in the sydney minihood is goin to help tiny out and help with repairs?
Advise is good, but what is really needed here is some bloody practical help.

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.