by Hope
Over the month of July I plan to layout where the house proceeds went…this is part 1.
Leading up the sale of the house, I was preparing for my move to Texas. That meant a major house purge, lots of things to donation, storage, and the trash. But it also meant taking inventory of what I was taking with me. And how I was getting there and living once the house was no more.
Outside of my parents’ house, I planned to spend some time car camping. In the future. Ok, that being said, I knew my car needed to be in good shape.
Recent Texas Experience
Since Gymnast has lived in Texas the last two years, we’ve had some experience with local car dealers. And I’ve been involved, well, because I’m his mom, and have a bit more experience dealing with mechanics.
That being said, it quickly became apparent that the level of service and cost of things in Texas versus our small town is very, very different. For instance, to get an issue with his A/C diagnosed cost a $300 diagnostic fee plus a week with no car. Ugh! And that’s with having a bumper to bumper warranty to cover mechanical issues.
Readying my Car
That being said, I spent $2,143 of the house proceeds on my car. She got new tires. And I had a slow leak in my A/C fixed. I had known of the A/C issue, the dealer where we get all service completed had diagnosed it for free some time back. But it wasn’t a deal breaker living in Georgia.
My beloved Honda CRV
Living in Texas without optimal operating A/C is a big NO! It’s HOT! So got that fixed. And have a year warranty on the work.
And after lots and lots roadtrips over the last 4ish years, it was time for new shoes for my baby car. This time, I wisened up and bought them at Discount Tire rather than our local dealership. This was maintenance and repairs will be covered across the country at their many locations. (When I purchased them at the dealership, I thought they would be covered at any Honda dealership, but in fact, they only offered the free maintenance at the dealership where I purchased the tires. Lesson learned.)
And and best of all, this was all done in 1 day! I was able to wait and work in their waiting rooms. In Texas, this would have taken upwards of a week+ to get all this accomplished.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
It seems you need a realistic Auto Maintenance budget line item. Even allowing for the AC being deferred maintenance (vs current maintenance), sounds like your budget line item needs to increase by at least $1,200 per year from whatever it is now. You can use one of those handy Ally “buckets” if it motivates you.
I feel like the $4K I have designated for annual car maintenance is sufficient. I just spent the first $2K right as I sold my house vs having saved it in a sinking fund already. And the car maintenance sinking fund is separate from the 4 year savings goal toward a new car. And yes, both are tracked in Ally buckets.