Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Crud, cars, and vacation....

Anyone who has had this crud that we have had attests to the fact that the cough just won't go away.  And that it takes awhile to regain your energy.  I will agree with both of these.  I am fighting hard to get back to pre-illness status.  But it tough!!!  I was watching a show the other night with G-man, and it was particularly funny.....I started coughing and couldn't stop.  So now I am laughing and coughing, and couldn't breathe.  I actually strained a muscle from coughing.  Good times....

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We had G-man's car in the shop on Friday, and total came to just under $1700, with the diagnostics from the previous week.  UGH.  Almost $200 more.   This did include an oil change, but an oil change isn't $200.  They had trouble with the O2 sensors and required more labor.

I had planned on having my tires done this weekend, but it didn't work out.  Next weekend seems to be better.

Both cars need a good vacuuming and wash.  I am so glad that the weather will be turning warmer soon.....even with the strange snow storm we had yesterday morning that dumped several inches of snow in about 2 hrs.  My office actually closed until noon.  It didn't effect me, as I was already on my way to the office when the boss closed, so I didn't know about it until AFTER I got to the office.

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Our new discussion is summer "vacation."  I use the term for lack of a better one.  We have never taken a real vacation....but that is on the agenda once we are debt free.  Hey, it gives us something to look forward to.  But in the meantime, it has been several years since we have been to my mother-in-laws (the kids and G-man went for a long weekend 2 years ago, but I stayed home).  I think it has been 4 years now.

We are probably going to go for 4-5 days.  It is a 7-8 hr drive (we have done it so many times we can do it with our eyes closed).  My brother lives 20 minutes from my MIL, so we will see him as well.

Gas and tolls will probably be $300.  UGH.  I swear, driving from CT to VA is a rip off!!!  Once we get there, our expenses are minimal, since we stay at Nannie's and most of the food is provided by Nannie.  Of course we will run to the store to help out, and there will probably be one night we will go out with the "party people" of the family.

My bigger issue is my lack of a paycheck for that week.  We are entering into April, and I have had ONE full paycheck this year.  We aren't in a place to be able to save up the full amount before August.  So a small paycheck and the expense seems too high for us to pull it off.  Alot of it would depend on WHAT days we actually go.  If we left on a Wednesday, and came back over the weekend, I would only miss 3 days.

We saw her at Christmas, so it isn't like we haven't seen her.  Even if G-man went by himself, the gas and tolls wouldn't change.  The only variable would be my paycheck.  The kids really wouldn't have much to do there.  Add in all of the hassle for a trip that really isn't relaxing.....And I would rather not go.  None of it is decided, but the more I think about it, the more I lean towards NO.
But the snafu....it is G-man's mom.....I am sure he wants to go.  *sigh*

I wish all of this wasn't an issue....but it is.  I really do look forward to the day when we can actually take a VACATION.

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13 comments:

  1. Do you not earn vacation time at work?

    $1700 in repairs....ouch!!! Hopefully that is the last of repairs for a while.

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    1. No..I do not earn vacation pay. I only get paid for hours worked. I should be working 36 to 40 hrs a week...but winter really screwed with that.

      As for cars....hopefully my tires will be the last of the repairs for awhile.

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  2. When I first drove to IL, I couldnt believe I didnt count for toll charges. I spent over $120! Big mistake on my part not to count for that. It would've definitely tipped the scale on the flying vs driving dilemma.

    I too plan vacations around utilizing the most of the weekend or holidays, as we only get 2wks of PTO total at work (no sick, personal, emergency days!). Though I know you're looking at this vacation as a hassle, work the math entirely and see whether it can be done or not. If it cant, then you have the documentation why not (include G-man on the work too if possible). If it can, even if it's sucky and not the perfect vacation, maybe take it with a grain of salt and go for it. It may be fun at the end.

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    1. Last time we went....I think the tolls were $80....maybe a little higher. Crazy.

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    2. So glad that Ontario has no tolls. $80 is crazy!

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  3. Why not go on a Thursday after work? You would be there by midnight and only miss Friday of work. You could leave around noon on Sunday. 2 1/2 days is better than nothing.

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    1. I have a hard time justifying a minimum of $300, 600 miles in the car, and the hassle for 2 days. Especially since the kids will be bored the entire time....and we would have to deal with 16 hrs in the car to boot

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  4. My travels rarely include tolls, eeek! But plenty of gas. I hope you'll find a way to go!

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    1. I am totally fine not going! But I am sure that G-man wants to go.

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  5. Don't go. At the very least, don't YOU go. Sure, tolls, gas are the same, but as you said, you will still get paid because you won't miss work. You are not at a point where you should be even contemplating trips, least of all ones that exact an emotional cost as well as financial. Maybe another time.

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    1. I think that people have the impression that we are destitute....which we aren't. We have resources to pull from to do the trip....I just don't think that the trip is "worthy" of using the resources. And as much as I would like to say to G-man to go with the kids....that wouldn't be fair to him. I would get a mini-vacay with everyone gone...and he would be on "vacay" with no vacay! Plus...we are still talking about the travel expenses!

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  6. I think I would probably let G-Man go with the kids if he has vacation time to use. It would give you some time to fly solo & give DH & the kids a chance to catch up with Mom/Grandma. Could you not sign the kids up for camp that week and save some $ that way?

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    1. He has plenty of vacation time....that isn't even a consideration. Actually, he will probably HAVE to use some vacation before the end of the year or he will lose it.

      As for Camp...the kids are signed up for 5 weeks of camp. They will be home during the weeks they aren't in camp. Signing them up for camp is irrelevant for that time.

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