Is there ANY way to keep my $14K car w/$3K car exemption?

[LostOne0069]

Another idea.... You could sell the car outright, and buy a reliable car for 3k...

I know this is really not relevant to this discussion, but I've seen this type of thing posted over and over in these forums.

My question is: Where do you find these "reliable" used cars for $3k? I mean, the only cars that I can find for that kind of price are 8-10 years old and have a t LEAST 150k miles on them. CAN you find reliable cars for this kind of money? Sure. Is it easy? no. After all, there's no way to KNOW if a car is going to be reliable until AFTER you buy it and start driving ti back and forth to work every day.

And before someone tells me "take it to a mechanic and get it looked over" yeah yeah, I know. but think about this for a second. Taking it to a mechanic does NOT get you a reliable car... it only gets you a car that doesn't have anything OBVIOUS wrong with it.

[SinkingFast]

I know this is really not relevant to this discussion, but I've seen this type of thing posted over and over in these forums.

My question is: Where do you find these "reliable" used cars for $3k? I mean, the only cars that I can find for that kind of price are 8-10 years old and have a t LEAST 150k miles on them. CAN you find reliable cars for this kind of money? Sure. Is it easy? no. After all, there's no way to KNOW if a car is going to be reliable until AFTER you buy it and start driving ti back and forth to work every day.

And before someone tells me "take it to a mechanic and get it looked over" yeah yeah, I know. but think about this for a second. Taking it to a mechanic does NOT get you a reliable car... it only gets you a car that doesn't have anything OBVIOUS wrong with it.

We have 2 cars like that, but it wasn't easy getting them in the first place.

We got darned lucky!! Being in the right place at the right time.

Both cars were one owner. Bought new. Been maintained their whole lives. And they weren't cheap either. Similar cars were bringing $2K-$2500. We paid $3K. I know it sounds like a bit of a premium, but not really. Especially when the original owner hands you all the maintenance and repair records for the life of the car.

Sure we have to work on them now and again. New brakes. New water pump. New belts. New hoses. It's just routine maintenance. Neither one of the old beaters has left anyone sitting on the side of the road. They always get us home. Better than I can say for the '99 Durango I used to own. Got stuck out more than a time or 2 in it and it was still under warranty.

You just have to wait and watch for the deal to come along. Don't jump on the first thing you find. Let other people know you're looking. They'll help you. There's an old cherry of a car sitting in a garage somewhere right now with your name written all over it. Maybe it has some miles on it. But the owner drove it with care. Loved it. And maintained it.

They are out there. You just gotta find 'em.

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[anonymuse]

Funny you should say that... I have already applied with some pharmaceutical companies, but no go. I have also been reading some books regarding copywriting and how to become a freelance writer. We're on the same page, Anony.

I'll try thinking up some other ideas with local resources for you when I get a chance this weekend.

[SinkingFast]

Different strokes for different folks. I choose not to wear leather, not to eat animal products, and not to put my animals down when they have a fighting chance. My ethics may be a bit different than yours, but I'm certainly not going to scrutinize you if you choose to have animals killed for food, clothing, or convenience. I would rather not put this to you so strongly, but perhaps now you will understand why it is best not to judge others.

Blu,..........

In my case, when I got the same sort of talk from the Vet about our beloved pet, I had one toddler on my hip and 2 more tikes at home. In that case, there was no choice. My children may have needed the medical resources. And as luck would have it, that did wind up being the case. I simply couldn't have afforded to spend that money on our pet.

You weren't in that same situation. You didn't have to decide between your children or your pet.

I never said what you did was the wrong choice for you. We aren't here to slam each other for what put us here. We are here to share information and support each other thru the process.

All I was trying to do was let you know that sometimes, expenses we feel are important aren't considered important by the Court.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Different strokes for different folks. I choose not to wear leather, not to eat animal products, and not to put my animals down when they have a fighting chance. My ethics may be a bit different than yours, but I'm certainly not going to scrutinize you if you choose to have animals killed for food, clothing, or convenience. I would rather not put this to you so strongly, but perhaps now you will understand why it is best not to judge others.

I didn't 'judge' you... Although you just now judged me. Now you're comparing livestock animals to household pets, and clothing, lol... All I said was that animals are not people. Theres millions of stray cats and dogs in florida where I live now. If I didn't have 10 grand to spend on my dying pet, why not humanely euthanize it and save a couple more of the strays from a lifetime of misery? Bottom line is, you spend 10 grand on a pet, think of what an animal rescue organization could have done for so many animals with that kind of money.

[Minnymouth]

SinkingFast is correct about the Court eliminating expenses that we might consider okay...... such as an animal.

I too have pets and the vet bills that go with them....... thought my Trustee did allow all food and vet bills when I filed.

If I had large vet bills, it may have been different ball game......

Courts will not allow certain things including what "they" consider unnecessary expenses....... but I can also guarantee you THAT if your pet was a breeding pet....... the Court would want the income off of the final sales to pay your credits. They have even been known to seize breeding dogs and sell them to pay creditors.

When I listed my vet bills my attorney said are these pets or assets??????
What is their monetary value??? Are they breeders???

No matter the fact that you spent a large amount on your pet for medical bills, that was your judgement call. We each make our own choices regarding this issue.

Our feelings for our pets range from "the ole dog" to "my babies"....... Remember Hemingway left "millions" and an island to his cats...........STUPID, maybe, but he made sure that the one thing in his life that brought him pleasure and peace of mind (his cats), would be taken care of after his death.... and to this day they still live on the island and are taken care of by a staff of people..... and are allowed to reproduce within reason according to his instructions.

Stupid - maybe - but his money, his choice......

[anonymuse]

When I was putting together expenses for my dog, I included her dog food (special kind for pancreatitis), bones, shots, at least one visit a year (something always happens), and baths w/nail cutting. I figure if she asks why I can't give her a bath myself, I'll have to explain how me giving the bath would probably result in 2-3 chiro visits so $20 for a bath every 2 months is actually better than $40-60 in copays.

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[brokemommy]

This thread borders on not being believable(that spelled right), almost sounds unreal. Tell us this is real and not a joke?