Allstate called yesterday morning with the verdict. My car is unrepairable; it is totaled. I thought that was probably the case, but I will admit I was hoping not.
They will give me $6,552, plus, when I buy a new car, they will reimburse me for taxes (maximum of $705), and transfer fees of $135. But all I will have in hand to buy is the $6,552. That will not buy much. It definitely will not replace the car I had.
I have $3,000 to spare in savings. Plus, based on my last car-buying experience, I can charge $2,000 and pay the balance in cash, and thus avoid financing. (I don't want to finance, because a car payment would put me right back in the misery I experienced in gap year.)
So, my buying power is a maximum of $11,552, which puts me in a better range of vehicles. I did some looking online yesterday, but didn't find anything that excited me. I don't have the money yet anyway, so I can't do anything.
I had to go to the repair shop and clean out my car, which was not easy. I had to take the train there because DIL was working frantically on the biggest event of her company's year, and thus unavailable. I filled two IKEA bags. I also had to shoulder a heavy foldable chair, that at least had a strap, but it was still hard to manage. I took the stuff home on the train. It was an exhausting walk home (about six blocks).
I really didn't have a lot of junk in my car, though it sounds like it! I had a big bag of snacks for the boys, some emergency car supplies, a blanket, a bleacher chair (in addition to the folding chair), an umbrella, and the small stuff like the transponder, baseball hat, phone holder, headphones, sunglasses and contents of the glove box.
Because I neglected to bring my title I had to go back a second time. This time I took the bus, which was much easier. It was actually a direct route to where I had to go, though there were a lot of stops. I was kind of glad to learn how to take the bus and where it would go. (I'll take it to the library today.) Both the train and bus are free for me; it is a senior benefit.
By the time I got home the second time, I was beat, but it was time to take care of the boys. I went over there to wait for them to walk home from school, but to my surprise DS was there! He was getting ready for the event, and hung around for about an hour, waiting for his ride. He ordered pizza for us, and I was grateful, because I didn't feel like cooking after my big day.
I was sprung around 10 pm. Came home and slept like a log.
So, the money hasn't hit my bank account yet. I'll keep checking throughout the day. My understanding was that it would be immediate, but maybe it won't happen until the agent has his hands on the title, which is sitting in my wrecked car now.
After all that, I can honestly report it was a no-spend day!
The Decision
October 25th, 2019 at 02:37 pm
October 25th, 2019 at 03:04 pm 1572015890
October 25th, 2019 at 03:29 pm 1572017396
October 25th, 2019 at 03:55 pm 1572018948
October 25th, 2019 at 04:49 pm 1572022199
What do you mean by you can "charge $2,000 and pay the balance in cash"? Are you talking about financing $2,000 of the car cost?
October 25th, 2019 at 05:22 pm 1572024120
October 25th, 2019 at 05:23 pm 1572024203
October 25th, 2019 at 11:35 pm 1572046511
October 26th, 2019 at 12:35 pm 1572093313
Thank you for your kind words, Butterscotch! I do try to always look forward. I haven't always been like that, but I have learned!
October 26th, 2019 at 01:09 pm 1572095344
October 26th, 2019 at 01:51 pm 1572097876
October 26th, 2019 at 07:59 pm 1572119980