Bingles Cost Bucks

So, I was in a little car prang today.  Nothing at all serious, it was in a car park.  Took on a concrete pole and came off second best.  It's surprising how much damage you can do to your car travelling all of 3km an hour!

Anyway, after I did a little yelling at myself for not judging the entry corridor properly, followed by a brief 'why me' moment, I went about calling RACQ and my insurer.

The RACQ man determined straight away that my car wasn't drivable.  I think the fact that I couldn't open the drivers side car door and that there was a sharp metal piece of something rubbing against my tyre gave it away.

Pole 1 - Kevin 0

I relayed this information to the insurance company and organised a tow truck.  Then, the lady on the phone advised me that I would be up for a $600 excess, plus I would need to have $200 available on my credit card in order to pick up a rental car.  My heart sank.  Sadly (and somewhat embarrassingly for an 'independent' young lady), I don't have a spare $600. Until last pay day, I didn't even have a spare $200.  I have literally been living pay cheque to pay cheque, just praying that nothing goes wrong, and if it does, then praying that they have a 14 day payment policy.

Lucky for me, I have very supportive parents who get me out of trouble when I need it.  And while I know they are happy to help, the point is that they shouldn't have to.  That familiar sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I felt today when I realised I didn't have enough in my account to cover it by myself is something I don't want to feel again.  In a way, Kevin's (Kevin the Kia is my car) bingle with the pole acted as a huge incentive, a kick up the butt if you will, to keep my eyes on this goal to save enough money to buy a house.  The goal scares the s*#$t out of me, but it excites me even more.

Last pay I saved $100.  I know it's not much, but it's a start!  And it's a massive improvement on what has happened with previous pay packets.  Really, that's all that matters, I'm on the right path!

Moral of the story, go me on the saving front.
Not go me on the driving front.
Can't win 'em all, right?!