Excuse me while I complain & have an internal debate with myself

This has not been an easy week.  Some of the reasons why have been documented here and others have not.  I really don't want this to turn into a whinny blog but I do post what is on my mind. 

Yesterday I posted this on FB...

 Yesterday at 8:16am · KerriF
What else?! My car is demanding that I fix it ASAP! And I think one of the cats (Remi??) has bloody diarrhea...gross, I know (I had to clean it up).

The cat situation is still up in the air.  I haven't had any more clean ups so I have no idea if there is still a problem or if there ever was one.  I'm monitoring the litter box as best I can and watching the cats for signs of not feeling well.  I don't know what else to do.  I don't have the funds to be an over cautious parent and take everyone in for a check up.

My car, however, is still demanding that I fix it ASAP!  All week all I've done is pray while driving.  My car acts like it'll stall at any moment, especially when I'm accelerating.  I've known for a while that my car needed to have work done.  I've been trying to limp it along until I could save up some more money and find someone who would fix it below shop prices. 

Now that I've done that I need to figure out if I can actually afford fixing my car and still be able to go to Disneyland next month for one of my BFF's weddings to my other BFF's brother (who is in turn my "adopted" family).  Considering the wedding is for family I feel it's super important to go.  Plus, I don't get to go on vacations very often.  And it's DISNEYLAND!  I was basically gifted money for the 3 Day Park Hopper admission into Disneyland (in Disney GC's) so all I have to pay for is hotel (1/2) and food (I don't eat much, especially now).  I'm driving up (also staying with) my BFF & family so gas isn't a big deal either.  See I've got really good excuses to GO to Disneyland.  I can talk myself into anything I REALLY want to do.  It's a gift!

So with 'the break-up" changing my duel income living situation into a single income living situation my monthly funds are a bit stretched to the limit.  At least, for the next month since there are stupid apartment complex rules like '30 day notices' and stuff.  Even if it's only for a stupid garage/storage unit.  I even get to re-qualify for my apartment, even though I qualified for it BY MYSELF prior to Will moving in & adding his name.  Sorry, it's a sore subject...that is another story, one that I will not mention in length.  Anyway, coming up with the money to fix my car AND to go to Disneyland next month will pretty much eat up my savings. 

I guess I'm just complaining.  I know it.  And, again, I'm sorry for it but I need an outlet and lucky for you THIS is it.  The cats, while good listeners good at hearing the words you say to them, aren't great at giving the feedback.  

I have a quote from a friend ("of a friend") of $350.00 to fix the spark plugs on my car.  I was quoted from a shop (non-dealer) of $592.00 so that's a pretty good difference.  The only better option I heard is one that isn't really an option anymore because of the break-up.  We never really finished talking about that option so I have no idea the end results but it was basically just paying for parts. 

According to the quote I got from the shop parts go like this...
Plugs $120.00
Wires $137.00
Intake Manifest Gasket $15.00
Total $272.00
(The mark up with labor is horrendous, isn't it?!)

I may, also, need:
Cylinder 6 Coil Pack $360
Both the shop & the friend aren't sure I actually need this so it's not in the $350.00 price.  It's a we'll worry about it when we need to kind of thing. 

And if you are keeping track adding the coil pack to the shop quote we're up to $1038.00 with parts & labor now.

Oh, and it was suggested that I replace my Timing Belt $485.00 total (shop). 

Which, per the shop, brings my grand total to $1,517.00

See why I ignored the suggestions and limped along for as long as I have?!  My car isn't even worth the $350.00 it looks like I'll be paying to fix it.  Having a working car is worth $350.00 though, right??  Yes, I guess it is, considering I don't live in a cute little quaint town.  I living in a sprawling suburbia.  I work in two different cities.  The public transit options are nowhere near where I live...or work.  Carpooling is out of the question too. 

Okay, see how I did that.  I just talked myself into liking the price of $350.00 for repairs.  Luckily, I haven't had much of an appetite lately because after paying for my car I won't have much in the way of grocery money.  At least, not this month. 

Oh, and I won't even get into my upcoming family reunion over the July 4th weekend.  It's up in Utah and while I won't need to have money for a place to stay I will need a way to get there.  Did you hear that?  I'm pretty sure it was the ring of a cash register.  But, again, that is another story and worry for another day.