It is a ridiculously balmy day in Colorado when I set out to finish a project that I’ve been working on for awhile. In fact, it’s actually the day before Thanksgiving and I’m sitting in a car about to take my driver’s test.
I Can Drive Y’all!
Legally. Ahem. Let’s go back in time (to last fall) when I told you that I was buying a car cash from a friend of mine who was moving. It wasn’t my best plan and, in fact, there were a number of issues with this decision:
- I was working for myself and didn’t have the cash to pay it out right. I was planning on paying it in installments.
- I was making o.k. money…but I didn’t realize that I would hit a money crunch right after I decided to buy the car…from a friend. Yep, you see where this is going. Yes, we’re still friends. Yep, I did piss her off briefly because my payments were delayed. And, she had every right to be pissed.
- Oh…did I mention that I couldn’t drive at the time?
Basically, this was an incredibly crazy purchase to make with all of those headwinds hitting me. I put down a nice amount of cash and began coercing (read: begging and pleading) for my friends to drive around town with me while I practiced driving.
The car drove like a dream.
But, I didn’t count on a couple of things like the fact that I was filled with anxiety every first Wednesday of the month when I had to move the car for street sweeping and my palms would sweat…what if I bumped someone during that one block move while not having my license?
Or, the fact that I wanted to REALLY know how to drive before taking my test. Let’s be clear, I could have taken it last year after a 2-hour lesson. The instructor was like, you can take the test this week and I was like…no.
Or, that I would end up replacing the battery twice because the battery died from lack of use.
Or, that I would end up getting tickets because I couldn’t move the car and that I had no idea about the ins and outs of what it meant to own a car. Like this emissions test thing. And, the freaking tags for the car.
So, I kept learning. Slowly. And, then I would lose motivation because I live by the light rail and can UBER or LYFT it around town so easily. Did I really need this life skill?
Yes.
So, I kept working on my mindset which was the issue. Until one day I thought about the fact that I actually have a freaking car in the front of my house that I could be using. That there were places to be explored and events to participate in and a level of access to life in my town that I was resisting, blocking, or just afraid to embrace.
Then, I had a wake-up call. It doesn’t matter what it was. But, I realized that it was time to embrace my fears. Of driving, of being debt-free, of living a life that is sweetly, exquisitely not safe and boring.
I, who had taken so many risks in my life found myself baffled by my inability to do this one thing.
Finally, I got it done. Finally. And, even though I’m still a bit timid (and will be for awhile-Colorado people drive like maniacs) I feel so proud and I’m so excited each time I do something new like finding the emissions testing center, being the designated driver, going to the mountains for the weekend, or driving to a Starbucks at night so that I can work on this post.
Umm…I will still take a few more lessons for highway and mountain driving. I have to be honest.
The Damage
Well, let’s talk about the amount that I spent (including the tickets).
- $1500 for the car
- $500 tickets (they added up more than fruit flies during the summer)
- $50 in gas. Yes, you read that right. I’m pretty sure that in a year that’s all I paid. And $15 of that was today.
- $60 Driver’s test
- $75 driver’s ed
- $25 for the emissions test
- $156 tags and such (my fault I missed the deadline)
- $128 Battery
- $50 Battery (am guessing)
- $1500 Insurance (I think this is high?) Since I’ve owned it.
Total: $4,019
Would I do it again? Yes, BUT, I would pay it in full instead of installments. My goal is to begin putting money into an account for my next car.
I am an environmentalist so I do have some earth friendly guidelines that I follow in order to be nice to the earth and save money on gas.
What I didn’t count on was how excited I am and then I thought about being debt freedom. This is the first time since I began my money journey where I could equate an actual feeling with what I dreamed it would feel like to have no more debt. Just, to have it DONE. What a delicious feeling.
I used to be scared of paying off my debt for so many reasons:
- What if I couldn’t?
- What if I needed something?
- Could I ever learn financial self-control? You could argue that I should have waited to purchase the car and you’re probably right, but I didn’t so-moving on.
- I just couldn’t imagine what it would actually feel like.
The topsy-turvy journey with the car, working for myself, and the last 2 years has taught me a lot about what I think I can do.
- I can make my own money!
- I LOVE paying cash for things. Once it’s done, it’s done.
- It has taken awhile but I’m finally convinced that I can “get it done.”
I didn’t realize that I’ve been dealing with a SERIOUS lack of confidence for a long time. It has taken me longer than I ever expected to regain that confidence. But, now that I have it-watch out.
I’ve slowly but surely worked through my list of things to get done. When I first started blogging the list was so overwhelming and so freaking long. I had a lot that I was dealing with. For those of you who are struggling to gain traction on your goals-keep at it. Each day is a new day. Be kind to yourself. It will take time to regain your confidence, to eliminate self-doubt, to get in the groove. But, it will happen. And, one day you will be amazed at how far you’ve come.
I’m very thankful for my friend who sold me the Little Green Driving machine, for all the friends who drove me around for so many years, for you wonderful readers, and my FinCon peeps. I needed your positive vibes, your faith in me, and your encouragement.
Now, it’s time to do the last three things on my list.
- Fall in love
- Lose the weight-seriously, I’m having a hard time getting in and out of the car LOL!!
- Pay off the debt.
I can’t believe that’s all that’s left. My list was soooo long when I started. If you are wanting to change your life start now. It will take awhile…but, it’s worth it.
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Is that the car? It’s awesome! Congrats on getting your license! I used to get those parking tickets but I built in a system of reminders and once you get in the habit it’s a lot easier to avoid. Parking tickets suck!
No, that’s a stock picture LOL!! I have a Mazda Protege-I love it.
Go you! May it serve you well (and longer than my first car, which cost the same amount and about the same in insurance…). I dont’ really drive and get very anxious too – had to drive twice this week, including on the motorway (which I never do) not to mention at night, with a little bit of rain. SOOO stressful.
I will continue taking lessons that will focus on the areas that I’m nervous about: driving in snow, mountain driving, and highways. Those three things account for a lot of my future driving so I will take lessons once or twice a month until I feel really comfortable. And, I have friends who are willing to drive around with me. The car only has 137,500 miles which is pretty good for a 16 year old car.
Congrats on getting your license. I get small anxiety from time to time (due to a couple situations), but it gets better the more you drive. Tickets, emission and registration all suck. I’m currently trying to pass my emissions test now, but the check engine light keeps coming one.
Thanks Jason! I actually feel a bit better hearing this because I know you’ve been driving for awhile. I am working on practicing daily and will still take lessons with a driving instructor for specific skills that I want to focus on more.