Debt Dumpers - 2019

[Jen and Ashwin]

I agree, I really want to maximize this opportunity and Switzerland is right up there with Japan and New Zealand on my bucket list of places to visit! What parts of the country did you visit?

We went to Zurich and Lucerne. I loved Lucerne so much. It is a lake surrounded by mountains. We took a cable car up into the mountains and the view was stunning. It was just so picturesque. And Switzerland is so clean and natural. I want to go back and take time to do some hiking there one day.

 

[Dentam]

We went to Zurich and Lucerne. I loved Lucerne so much. It is a lake surrounded by mountains. We took a cable car up into the mountains and the view was stunning. It was just so picturesque. And Switzerland is so clean and natural. I want to go back and take time to do some hiking there one day.

I'm going to look into Lucerne - that sounds amazing!!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm going to look into Lucerne - that sounds amazing!!

Pretty sure this is the cable car that we took. It is called Mount Pilatus. https://www.pilatus.ch/en/

 

[barkley]

My mother in law gave me Nutrisystem for Christmas one year. It was awful. So very gross

a friend did it, and her father in law commented after taking a taste of one of the breakfasts 'so that's what became of all those ww2 military rations we refused to eat'

 

[piccolopat]

Is it true that fruits are zero points on WW? As in, you can eat any amount?

I'm doing WW now and can confirm that fruits (and many other foods) are zero points. This doesn't mean that you can eat an unlimited amount and expect to be successful. All food has calories. For example, white meat chicken is also a zero point food but if you eat 10 pounds of it every day, you will not have the results you are looking for. I usually have 4 or 5 pieces of fruit every day (same for vegetables - also zero points) and have been steadily losing 1-2 pounds a week since I started in late September. Reducing carbs and sugars is the biggest change for me as I now limit myself to about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes or a cup of pasta. It's all about eating more healthful foods but also learning what portion sizes should be.

 

[Dentam]

Pretty sure this is the cable car that we took. It is called Mount Pilatus. https://www.pilatus.ch/en/

Thanks for the link! That wildflower hike looks like something that would be right up my alley!

I just got more details about the conference this morning, so the trip planning part of me is getting even more excited now that I know more specifics!

 

[Eureka]

Is it true that fruits are zero points on WW? As in, you can eat any amount?

Yes, except for dried fruit and avocado, I believe.

 

[Shughart]

I'm doing WW now and can confirm that fruits (and many other foods) are zero points. This doesn't mean that you can eat an unlimited amount and expect to be successful. All food has calories. For example, white meat chicken is also a zero point food but if you eat 10 pounds of it every day, you will not have the results you are looking for. I usually have 4 or 5 pieces of fruit every day (same for vegetables - also zero points) and have been steadily losing 1-2 pounds a week since I started in late September. Reducing carbs and sugars is the biggest change for me as I now limit myself to about 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes or a cup of pasta. It's all about eating more healthful foods but also learning what portion sizes should be.

It sounds like quite a lot has changed since I did it last. Although to be fair, I had to quit in 2008 because I got pregnant. It ended in a miscarriage, but when I was finally starting to think about going back (a few months later) I was pregnant again. I remember when veggies and fruit all had point values. I really should go back, I have always done really well on it.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Tax return in, and tax return right back out.

Just paid off our furniture lease! $2,000 gone!

Next up is the $1500 to the car lawyers to make that $7000 disaster go away.

 

[Dentam]

Tax return in, and tax return right back out.

Just paid off our furniture lease! $2,000 gone!

Next up is the $1500 to the car lawyers to make that $7000 disaster go away.

I'm sure that's an amazing feeling - congratulations!!

 

[seb65]

I'm going to look into Lucerne - that sounds amazing!!

My son just came back from Europe (high school trip. A budget buster, for sure, but my husband worked overtime to make it happen as you are only young in high school once). Anyway, they went to London, Paris, Lucerne, and Munich. He said by far, Switzerland was the most amazing in his opinion. I know it is a high schooler's opinion, but I found it interesting that he chose that as his favorite.

 

[Shughart]

Question for you guys, because I've never been in this situation.

My car has been at the dealership since 2/4 of this year. It's brand new 2019, we bought it October 2018. I took it for the first scheduled maintenance (oil change) 2/4 and was told my drive axle was leaking grease and to have the dealership check it out ASAP, because it was a warranty fix. I stopped at my husband's work on the way to let him know, then went to the dealership. They confirmed yes it's bad and yes it's a warranty fix. The service dept manager told me to go ahead and run my errands and head home to wait for them to call that there was a rental. He said if he could guarantee the part in 2 days, he'd just have me keep it because there was grease left in it and it was not a fast thing.

So fast forward to now, I am in a rental. Have been for 23 days. They called me 2/18 to let me know, that tentatively, my part is set to ship 3/8. I feel like it would be smart to call Monday 3/4 just to check in, and ask if that still looks to be the ship date.

We have made a payment on it while it's there, obviously.

I honestly have never had this happen, and it's not happened to anyone I know.

Is there anything more I should be doing?

It just burns my *** that we saved, planned, and researched, and I am stuck in the vehicle I junked several months ago (a Dodge grand caravan, it was the best option for us with size).

While I'm grateful to have the rental, should they be doing anything else for me in terms of compensation?

 

[Dentam]

My son just came back from Europe (high school trip. A budget buster, for sure, but my husband worked overtime to make it happen as you are only young in high school once). Anyway, they went to London, Paris, Lucerne, and Munich. He said by far, Switzerland was the most amazing in his opinion. I know it is a high schooler's opinion, but I found it interesting that he chose that as his favorite.

Just from the pics I've seen, it definitely looks like it will be an amazing place to visit! Can't wait!

 

[jen7233]

Closing out February tomorrow and looking at how it went budget-wise, my only surprise was my high vet bill and helping DD with a childcare payment. I underbudgeted groceries this month purposely to try and force myself to shop cheaper, somehow I only went over $30. Maybe it was the short month, or making simpler dinners, or combination of both.

Tax return in, and tax return right back out.

Just paid off our furniture lease! $2,000 gone!

Next up is the $1500 to the car lawyers to make that $7000 disaster go away.

Congrats on the payoff!

 

[jen7233]

Question for you guys, because I've never been in this situation.

My car has been at the dealership since 2/4 of this year. It's brand new 2019, we bought it October 2018. I took it for the first scheduled maintenance (oil change) 2/4 and was told my drive axle was leaking grease and to have the dealership check it out ASAP, because it was a warranty fix. I stopped at my husband's work on the way to let him know, then went to the dealership. They confirmed yes it's bad and yes it's a warranty fix. The service dept manager told me to go ahead and run my errands and head home to wait for them to call that there was a rental. He said if he could guarantee the part in 2 days, he'd just have me keep it because there was grease left in it and it was not a fast thing.

So fast forward to now, I am in a rental. Have been for 23 days. They called me 2/18 to let me know, that tentatively, my part is set to ship 3/8. I feel like it would be smart to call Monday 3/4 just to check in, and ask if that still looks to be the ship date.

We have made a payment on it while it's there, obviously.

I honestly have never had this happen, and it's not happened to anyone I know.

Is there anything more I should be doing?

It just burns my *** that we saved, planned, and researched, and I am stuck in the vehicle I junked several months ago (a Dodge grand caravan, it was the best option for us with size).

While I'm grateful to have the rental, should they be doing anything else for me in terms of compensation?

I've never been in that situation, but I have some similarities in that I also purchased a car in Oct 2018 and also need to take it in this month for it's first scheduled maintenance. So what would I do if they said it needs repair and it's in the shop that long? I hope you aren't paying for the rental, first of all. Is it a rental or a loaner car? I know I'd be mad if there were something wrong with my car this early in the game and would try and keep an extended loaner car from the dealership and make my grievance known with management. Ask for your next service like oil change free, something like that? I wonder if it's too far fetched to have an exchange of the car? Probably. Beyond that, I suppose you could ask for compensation on the payment or extended grace period on the payment if you like, if that is what you want to do. Not sure though, as there is the auto contract and it probably has no mention of these types of things happening in it. Could also report/file your grievance with the motor company, whether it be Ford, Honda, whatever. I did that with our GMC once, of course got no response except the typical we appreciate our customers, etc.

 

[SirDuff]

I agree, I really want to maximize this opportunity and Switzerland is right up there with Japan and New Zealand on my bucket list of places to visit! What parts of the country did you visit?

I live in Geneva and have traveled around a bit (I've been here about 18 months). I love this country (though it is VERY expensive). Many great places to visit - depends on your interests - hiking? museums? food?

 

[Shughart]

I've never been in that situation, but I have some similarities in that I also purchased a car in Oct 2018 and also need to take it in this month for it's first scheduled maintenance. So what would I do if they said it needs repair and it's in the shop that long? I hope you aren't paying for the rental, first of all. Is it a rental or a loaner car? I know I'd be mad if there were something wrong with my car this early in the game and would try and keep an extended loaner car from the dealership and make my grievance known with management. Ask for your next service like oil change free, something like that? I wonder if it's too far fetched to have an exchange of the car? Probably. Beyond that, I suppose you could ask for compensation on the payment or extended grace period on the payment if you like, if that is what you want to do. Not sure though, as there is the auto contract and it probably has no mention of these types of things happening in it. Could also report/file your grievance with the motor company, whether it be Ford, Honda, whatever. I did that with our GMC once, of course got no response except the typical we appreciate our customers, etc.

I am in a rental, and other than the $50 refundable deposit, I am not paying for it. The deposit never even posted, just dropped off it was pending for so long. Which considering I am still making the payments, I would expect to be put up in a vehicle while waiting. So I feel like yes even though they are paying for my rental, I am paying my car, so it's a wash.

I assumed at this point in the game, an exchange of the vehicle is not even on the table. I did put 3K on my vehicle. However, the service manager said they had a vehicle since July waiting for an engine, and that scenario makes me wonder at what point a vehicle exchange is likely an option.

My financing is not through Kia, but through a credit union. It didn't feel right to me to withhold payments this early, as the financier is not at fault. If my financing was directly through Kia, I might have a little more of a bargaining chip, not sure. I asked if this was an issue that could reccur and force repeated repairs and he said no. Though I am wary. This likely was leaking from the moment I drove it off the lot. This particular part of the vehicle is warrantied up to 60k miles. I know a lemon law requires a part to have to be repaired so many times, but does it require me to be the one paying for it, or can it be counted if it's repaired under warranty multiple times too?

Asking for my next service/oil change free is a good suggestion! I feel like for this hassle, I should be given SOMETHING. I chose them for a reason, and now I am doubting my choice.

 

[pblack]

End of the month budget update: I was able to pay all of our normal bills without having to dip into the rent money our roommate will give me. (That's a win for me!) Once my auto transfers happen tomorrow, we will be back over $1000 in our emergency savings. I had to dip into it a few months ago to lend my dad some money which he may or may not pay back. (He wants to pay it back, I told him not to worry about it because I know he needs it more than we do.) Once my roommate gives me his rent money, I will put all $600 of it towards our last credit card. Currently it's sitting at $2200 and after I make the payment we will owe $1600. That last $1600 should be paid off in the next 4 months. It would be 3 months, but I think we're flying out to see my pregnant best friend over memorial day weekend and if so I will use the rent money to pay for our flights. A decision i'm totally ok with since I haven't seen her since labor day weekend last year.

 

[wdwfan51]

Question for you guys, because I've never been in this situation.

My car has been at the dealership since 2/4 of this year. It's brand new 2019, we bought it October 2018. I took it for the first scheduled maintenance (oil change) 2/4 and was told my drive axle was leaking grease and to have the dealership check it out ASAP, because it was a warranty fix. I stopped at my husband's work on the way to let him know, then went to the dealership. They confirmed yes it's bad and yes it's a warranty fix. The service dept manager told me to go ahead and run my errands and head home to wait for them to call that there was a rental. He said if he could guarantee the part in 2 days, he'd just have me keep it because there was grease left in it and it was not a fast



I don’t have an answer for you but am hoping someone here may have an answer. Very frustrating situation. I know there are Lemon Laws in most, if not all states, for new cars. Maybe that is something you will need to look into. It has been 24 days already for something they seemed to imply would be a quick fix. Good luck!

 

[braysmommy]

I am in a rental, and other than the $50 refundable deposit, I am not paying for it. The deposit never even posted, just dropped off it was pending for so long. Which considering I am still making the payments, I would expect to be put up in a vehicle while waiting. So I feel like yes even though they are paying for my rental, I am paying my car, so it's a wash.

I assumed at this point in the game, an exchange of the vehicle is not even on the table. I did put 3K on my vehicle. However, the service manager said they had a vehicle since July waiting for an engine, and that scenario makes me wonder at what point a vehicle exchange is likely an option.

My financing is not through Kia, but through a credit union. It didn't feel right to me to withhold payments this early, as the financier is not at fault. If my financing was directly through Kia, I might have a little more of a bargaining chip, not sure. I asked if this was an issue that could reccur and force repeated repairs and he said no. Though I am wary. This likely was leaking from the moment I drove it off the lot. This particular part of the vehicle is warrantied up to 60k miles. I know a lemon law requires a part to have to be repaired so many times, but does it require me to be the one paying for it, or can it be counted if it's repaired under warranty multiple times too?

Asking for my next service/oil change free is a good suggestion! I feel like for this hassle, I should be given SOMETHING. I chose them for a reason, and now I am doubting my choice.

I don't remember all the details but this happened to a colleague. Bought a new truck and when in for oil change they checked for recalls and yep there was one. It was something huge that one assembly line had messed up on, needed a new under carriage or something, needless to say it took around 9 months for her to get her truck back. Hopefully for you it is not this long!