Current bondage

So that is £300 for my car insurance renewal this month. Held a license since 2002 with 5 years of no claims with Elephant.co.uk and still have to pay £300 for insurance! It's terrible! In the middle of May I had engine problems which resulted in a three-figure sum to fix along with a Service. Last Saturday I picked up another parking ticket. £30 down the drain!! And next month my MOT is due as well which I expect can cost around another £30, if no repairs are required that is. So as you can see the car has taken up a lot of my money in the past couple of weeks. These are the negatives of owning a car that not many people talk about. Most people things owning a car is quite cool, quite glam, especially those who pimp up their cars with new alloys, spoilers, a really noisy exhaust etc etc. What's the point? It's just a waste of money. Hard-earned money. But then again, most of the people who pimp cars are young and probably don't work cos they live off their parents. Aye, a lot of Chinese youths drive around in flash cars, but the cars aren't even paid for by them. Parent-funded cars which they use to show off to friends and to pick up girls etc. What's the point? My word of advice for them is, wait till you earn your own money one day. Then you'll appreciate the value of money and how it should be spent! :)

Yes, I bet I sound 'old' here, talking about the value of money etc. But boy do I know it. I mean, money. You can't live without it. It's a fact. I mean, it is a real shame, but everything costs money. I don't love money. As the Bible says, "The love of money, is the root of all evil." I don't like relying on money. But I can't help but see how difficult life can get if you are really tight. Like some people I know whose wage is 'spent' almost instantly each month on bills alone - rent, council tax, the car, utility bills and food. They have to budget hard in order to get by. It's sad, it really is. I mean, I'm not that bad, but I find it really tough to be able to set aside for my future property each month as well as leave money for socialising, and for crazy-ass unexpected costs. Man, I can't wait till I get qualified as an instructor, where I will get a brand new Ford Focus 1.6 every six months. And my expenditure for that will just be my weekly franchise fee and my petrol costs. My road tax, breakdown recovery, insurance, 24hr replacement car and everything else will be covered within that franchise fee. Complete piece of mind. I'll be selling my current Ford Focus once I get that new car and so that money will also go towards my future property.

Until that day, I will live humbly. No extravagant living (not that I have had before), but definitely need to think twice for where I park my car, think twice before going out socialising as more times than not it will involve money. And always think of the cheaper option for things. For now I will spend money on petrol as I need it for my practice sessions and for getting me to the gym and cinema - both of which have already been pre-paid each month. But besides that I will hope to save my money to pay stuff off. In order to achieve my goals, I am willing to make sacrifices. Saving money might mean not going out to play, but if I use that time for my AA stuff, then it's a win-win situation. I will also need money for my final exam as well. Aye, imagine having to PAY for exams! Lol! I just want to qualify as soon as possible. I am sure this will help me break free from this financial bondage.

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