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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:00 am Subject: Just need to vent

I hope no one minds but I just need to vent. I finally got my debts under control for the most part. I have set up payment plans and am making some (even if little dents in it). So, I am going along, following my very tight budget and making everything work when all of a sudden, bam - my washing machine breaks down once again.
This is the third time. First time, I replaced, second time had a warranty so they replaced, third time I had to fight the company because the part they replaced was faulty but they did not want to fix it.

So, I believe it is the same part but unfortunately it has been a couple of years. This part is not cheap and will cost as much as a new washer.

I will not be fixing it - I will be buying a new machine.

There goes my tight budget. I guesss sh!t happens but can't I chatch a break.

Thank goodness I am getting some money from my income taxes. Of course, that was going to go to pay down debt.

Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better already.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:05 am Subject:

I am sorry to hear about that...I hated going to the laundromat which I had to do for 1 year and a half until my husband and I could afford one...he didn't seem to be a big hurry as he wasn't the one having to go to the laundromat...it's amazing how dependent we have all become on things like that...and how much we take for granted the simple things...trust me in the last 8 years we have not lived in the best of circumstances financely but have slowing climbed out of it...so it wil get better I just hang in there.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:06 am Subject:

I have had things like that happen myself. Seems like things happen at the worst times. A possible solution if things are real tight, have you gone to some place like Aarons, Colortyme, Rent a Center? Sometimes they will have new stuff there and if you pay it off in 90 days it doesn't cost any more than buying it new at the store. We have had to do that a few times and some things we have had to streatch due to budgets. Just a thought that might help.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:05 pm Subject:

Just watch the prices at those rental places!

Read the contract carefully, too. I just got back from service call for a lady who has a PC from Rent-a-Center. It was a hrdware issue that RAC should, by rights, have made good under warranty. They couldn't figure it out, so they said it wasn't their problem.

These places are a little more expensive that a regular retailer if you do the accelerated payoff. Where they shove it in you and break it off is on the longer-term rent-to-own. That can run into several times the value of the item. Again, read the contract carefully!

Good luck!

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:39 pm Subject:

I hate it when that happens....I really do. We've had that happen to us and its hard to be prepared for emegergencies.

Take your tight budgeting as an accomplishment! and I hope it works out with the washer.

Vent anytime! Very Happy

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:35 pm Subject:

Yes you do have to watch some of those places. Guess we have been lucky dealing with the guy we deal with. Most things we have gotten paid off in 90 days, so that has helped.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:03 pm Subject:

Thanks everyone. Right now we are doing our wash at my moms so it isn't costing us anything. I am going to use some of my tax refund to buy a new machine. I will not deal with any of the rent to owns around here. But thanks for the ideas.

I feel better just knowing that someone knows how it is.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:11 pm Subject:

Also, I am comparing prices with Maytag, GE, and Amana. Anyone have any advice. I will not buy a kenmore ever again so that is out of the question.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:21 pm Subject:

When we bought our washer and dryer 8 years ago, we really wanted Maytag but didnt have the $$ for it...we were buying our first house at the time so we had to be sensible. We've had our "Home Depot" special GE washer and dryer ever since, with no issues.

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:44 pm Subject:

I am sorry to hear about your troubles and believe me, I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes it just seems life aint worth doing....but I guess things will get better

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:36 am Subject:

I know how you feel--about the time you think you can breath--something breaks down! One time all of our vehicles broke down at once with no way to work!

Hang in there!! This is a good time--if there is such a thing-- for buying appliances--they are getting in their "08 models and several around here are on sale, so check around!!..KAren

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:11 pm Subject:

Have you tried looking on Craigslist for a slightly used one? I am a craigslist junkie, you wouldn't believe the deals you can find on there if you spend the time looking. I've seen 1 month old high end kitchen appliances go for 25% of retail, they were installed, rich lady don't like them so they get replaced, see it with all kinds of things on there.

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:48 am Subject:

I ended up getting a kitchen table with 4 chairs (solid wood) for $50 there and this weekend ended up getting a dishwasher for $40. Not quite as big as the one we had but it isn't bad. Have seen a lot of things on there, plus some people will even offer things for free, but just watch those because sometime they don't work or are total junk. I did have a friend that got a dishwasher that worked and looked pretty good for free. Guy got another one and just did not want to mess with it trying to sell it, so he just gave it away. Think it was only like 4 years old. Some of those things you also have to watch the price because some people on there are trying to sell used for the price you can get the same item new, but if you watch, you can get some really good deals. I am always on there looking!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:25 pm Subject:

Just goes to show the quality of machines these days. My dad bought a Montgomery Ward washer and dryer back in 1980. He's had them both out in the garage many times changing the belts and such, but to this day both machines still run fine. Same with his fridge - it's from the 70s and still works, albeit he's had to change the fan motor a few times and a new compressor.

Nowadays you buy something and it's dead within 5 years.

Then again, my dad has always been a very good handy man. My dad used to take us "garbage-picking" on Sundays, and he would look for appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, lawnmowers, etc) that looked 'newer'. He knew that most likely it was thrown out because it was broken and the owner would just rather buy a new one than pay to repair it. So my dad would fix these things up and then resell them at garage sales.

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:58 pm Subject:

Taking your clothes to your moms sounds so familiar.
Just a year ago Me and my wife had to lugg our wash to
my mother's house to dry them.The place we lived was an old dumpy mobile home, with the floors falling inn
and it could not support a dryer because of the outlet
was faulty.It could have caused a fire.But we managed
to move to a new place and get a dryer hooked up.My
mother however still misses us coming over to dry clothes,so we have to make other "excuses"to come over.

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:30 pm Subject:

Thanks for the great ideas. I will be checking out craig's list. Also, where I live we have 2 different papers where people can sell items they no longer want. Until I read your posts I never thought to look in there. Oh and I just remembered there is a guy up the road that sells used appliances with a 1 year warranty. You people are really good. Joggged my memory and may have saved me some money.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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