We took out SUV in for a routine oil change last week. We mentioned that the brake light was intermittently coming on and that we probably needed a little brake fluid added. Kevin worked from the Monroe we get our work done at while he waited for them to drop the bomb…
The car needs all new brakes and rotors. On every wheel.
But don’t worry, it will only cost you a mere $900!!!!! Ummm… WHAT!!!! After I hyperventilated at work, I told Kevin to finish the oil change and we will call pappy, who was a mechanic and see what he things, as I was 110% positive we really didn’t need the work done.
Long story short, Pappy said the brakes were actually worse than what Monroe told us and they needed done immediately, along with new rotors. G-R-E-A-T. So Saturday was spend shopping for auto parts (instead of shopping for new boots like I would have rather been doing). Thankfully, the $250 I spent was no where near what Monroe was going to charge us, but it was still a tough blow at Christmas.
I was pretty down in the dumps as this means that Kevin and I will not get to exchange gifts this year. I already had Lily finished so the big stuff was done, but this was going to be the first year since we got married where we were actually going to exchange! I budgeted and saved for this, and I was downright bummed about it.
Then I stopped and really thought about it. Sure, there were things that I wanted (like the final season of 7th Heaven on DVD) that I wouldn’t buy myself because that money could go toward something we really needed, but there is nothing we really need! And on top of it all, we are leaving for Disney two weeks after Christmas! I have nothing to be sad about!! In fact, we are blessed that it happened this year, because if this was a year ago we wouldn’t have gotten new brakes, there would be no way we could have afforded it! So I worked really hard to turn a not-so-awesome thing into a good thing!
And Kevin and I still get to “exchange” gifts — I got him new brakes and he got me our tickets for Disney!