Immediately, I asked what happened and when.  While on my way into my building, lugging my suitcase, I had passed my car, and while I didn’t stop to inspect it, it didn’t look like it had been hit.  Apparently it had happened earlier that afternoon.  An elderly woman had confused her brakes with her gas pedal and backed into my car and another car.  I went back outside to examine my car.  Two small scuffs.  Not a big deal, considering that my car lives in a parking lot and has gotten pretty beaten up out there, being hit by wawyard shopping carts and idiots who either back into it, smack it while opening their car doors, or scrape it while pulling out.   (These things used to frustrate me.  Now it’s just a way of life.)  I was surprised and pleased that this woman reported it.

I debated whether or not to file an insurance claim, but decided to try it out and see what happened.  I figured that if they would give me $20 towards repairs, that was better than nothing.  Last week, I took my car to be inspected, which took all of five minutes, and I got an estimate.  They’re sending me a check for $80 to get the scuffs buffed and polished.  The insurance adjustor told me that I could get the repairs done when and where I wanted them, but was sure to note that the check was being made out to me, so I could decide what I wanted to do with it.

Given the other damage to my car, I’m probably not going to get these scuffs fixed.  They’re really minor as compared to the dings in the doors.  I could just put this money towards a full repair of all the problems – but the car still lives in a parking lot.  It’s going to continue to get damaged.  And while additional dings don’t bother me now, after I pay a boatload of money to get them fixed and then two days later have a new ding?  I will be angry and frustrated.

So I’m thinking that this $80 is now part of a new fund.  That’s right, Megan’s new car fund.  No, I don’t plan on buying a new car anytime soon.   Not until my current car completely falls apart.  And if nothing else, this money goes into my car maintenance/repair fund.  But it might be fun to set up a new ING subaccount, drop in the $80, and see what happens. 

All in all, it was worth getting the car inspected.  I definitely wasn’t expecting to get $80.  And learning that two little scuffs will cost $80 to repair means that I’m that much less likely to get the other damage fixed.  That would cost a small fortune!

Then I drove past this alleged store.  First off, the tire shop didn’t seem to advertise that they were part of this chain at all, and it looked beyond sketchy.  I was not comfortable taking my car there.  Or sitting there and waiting.

So I came home and went on Yelp to look for reviews of local tire places.  I simply entered “tires” and “my town” and one store came up with a number of excellent reviews.  It seemed like a much better option.  So I got back in the car and headed out.  I heard the place was busy on weekends, but I hoped that since it was Friday, it wouldn’t be bad.  I got there at 8:55 (they opened at 9) and there was a line of about eight cars already!  To me, that was a very good sign.  Plus, among the cars in the line were some very nice cars that were obviously well taken care of.  Another good sign.

I waited almost 45 minutes to get to talk to someone, but I had a book, so that wasn’t a big deal.  I told the guy I wanted all new tires, and he told me that I had another 6 months on my back tires and that I could just replace the front ones.  He was trying to talk me out of buying tires!  Yet another good sign!  But I decided to buy all four new tires.  This way, they’re all the same age and I don’t have to worry about going back in 6 months.  Plus I’m ready for the winter.  Which seems a silly thing to say in July.

I waited to see what tires he recommended, and he suggested the tires that I wanted.  And the best part?  They were $30 less (each) than the chain store.  Awesome.  I didn’t get out of there until around 11:15, so it wasn’t a short trip, but I’m definitely happy.

I should have just checked out Yelp in the first place, since I wasn’t going to go to the exact branch of the chain that my co-workers had used.  I would have been much better off, but it all worked out in the end.  And I have shiny new tires.

Next up?  Oil change.

In previous years, I went to the dealership in my hometown, owned by a high school classmate of my mother’s.  I knew and trusted the staff there, so I went with their recommendations on tires and service, because I knew that they weren’t trying to upsell me for no reason.  But I’m too far away for that to work.  I’ve got a recommendation of a chain that’s good in the area, and conveniently, there’s one within walking distance of my place, so even if I have to leave the car there a few hours, no big deal. 

So who knows things about tires?

Also, what’s everyone’s opinion of online reviews?  This tire place has great reviews for tires, but the reviews do have some negative comments about oil changes (two – one where a filter was replaced incorrectly and one where there was a pizza crust left on an engine – ick).  I also need an oil change, but can’t decide if I want to have that done there or go elsewhere.  Thoughts?  I feel like two negative opinions isn’t that bad – if there were a ton of them, I would be more worried.  There aren’t any positive opinions of their oil change services – but really, I’ve never posted a positive review of an oil change before, and I’ve been happy with the places I’ve gone, so I figure other people are doing the same.  For the most part, people review when they’re unhappy or when they’re ecstatic.  People don’t often write reviews when they’re just satisfied with the service.

Help me out here, smart people!

Now, I live in D.C. and I take public transportation to and from work, and fairly often on the weekends as well.  During choir season, I drive to and from choir practice as it’s accessible by public transportation, but it would involve a long walk to a bus stop at 10:00 at night in not the safest of areas, and would take an hour or more to get home instead of the fifteen minute drive.  I live very close to a major grocery store, but drive when I want to go to the mall or to Target or Trader Joe’s.  I also drive when I have to take my cats to the vet and when I go to the doctor.   I also took two road trips this year, one longer than the other, and I occasionally use my car to go visit friends, depending on where I’m going and how difficult it would be to use public transportation.

I’m afraid to sit down and figure out how much I spend on my car per mile.  My insurance is reasonable, as I’ve got a great driving record, and except for the issues a few months back while in Pennsylvania, the car has been very reliable.  I get my oil changed two or three times a year, and that’s not horribly expensive.   I will probably have to buy new tires sometime in the next year or so, so I’m starting to sock away money for that, but it’s not an immediate need.  But given the amount I drive, that money adds up. 

Does that mean that I’m planning to give up my car?  Absolutely not.  Sure, there was a fleeting thought about joining a car sharing service, but I decided that wasn’t the direction I wanted to go.  I like being able to jump in my car and go.  I like that if a friend calls with an emergency, I can get there.  I like being able to run to Trader Joe’s on a Saturday afternoon, and I like not having to worry about calling a cab to get to the doctor or take my cats to the vet. 

I suppose its a product of my upbringing.  I have a friend who has never had a driver’s license and has no plans to get one and has never had any sort of problem with this.  Of course, this does mean some reliance on friends to get her places, but for the most part, she’s self sufficient, and doesn’t have to worry about all the expenses that come with car ownership.  But I grew up in an area where if you didn’t have a car, you weren’t going anywhere.  We didn’t have public transportation or cabs.   If you wanted to go somewhere, you drove or you got someone to drive you.  So the idea of no longer having that freedom makes me cringe a little bit.

Clearly, I have reasons to keep my car, and don’t plan to give it up anytime soon.  And no, I still don’t plan to calculate how much I spend on my car per mile.  I prefer to remain blissfully ignorant on that point.

That doesn’t mean that keeping my car is cheap. I’m still paying to insure it in the D.C. Metro area, which is not inexpensive. I have a number of friends who have given up their cars, but that’s not a step I’m ready to take, especially since I don’t know where I’ll be living in two years. Besides, for part of the year, I need my car every week. And well, I like it.

My friend was debating whether to buy the car she had been leasing or lease a new car, and I realized just how lucky I was to not have car payments. It’s entirely due to my parents. They bought me a used Jeep when I was in college to get me back and forth for holidays and for my use while at school. When I graduated, they told me it was mine to keep. I lived at home for the year after graduation and worked prior to grad school. My parents refused to let me pay rent, so I helped out where I could, and I earned enough money that I was able to trade in my Jeep and buy a brand new car. I purposely bought a mid-size sedan, knowing full well that I could have this car for the next ten years. Sure, something cute and sporty was appealing to my 23-year-old self, but I knew that there was at least a chance I would someday be dealing with a car seat in that vehicle, and I wanted something spacious. Plus it’s been nice during all my moves.

I don’t plan to ever have a car loan. Ever. I hope to keep my car for a good long time, and when I buy a new car (be it “new” or “new-to-me”), I plan to pay for it entirely in cash. No financing. No monthly car payments.

I was raised to believe that there are only two things you should ever go into debt for – a house and an education. Any other debt just isn’t worth it. (Of course, there is always the debt you can’t prevent – medical bills, etc. Obviously, that’s not the kind of debt I’m talking about.)

My parents have really lived a financially responsible life, and they’ve helped me out in more ways than I can count, both in being able to provide for me, and in showing me the importance of managing my money. Thanks to them, I’ve never had a car payment and thanks to them, I never will.