Irony

Buy-Nothing Challenge Drop-Out

Just before the beginning of the month, a mere 22 days ago, I was determined to participate in Crunchy Chicken's Buy Nothing Challenge for August. It looked like I could do it. My truck and husband had other ideas. I'll take partial credit for the husband spending. I asked him to join me at the Ocean Grove Bath Avenue House because it was so simple and restful there and he was working himself into a tizzy. That was a good investment in our mental health and well-being as a couple, and most likely the last chance we'll have to get away together until next summer. The truck, however, was unplanned.

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It is impossible to live without a vehicle where we live. Public transit does not deliver you to school in Hellertown at 7:30 or to the farm, then home afterward. If you only travel to the mall or stay within the confines of the city, you're good to go, but we don't, and don't want to. Carlessness is not an option.

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Read yesterday's entry for the other reasons a replacement car was necessary. Factor in the following criteria: less that 10K, low mileage, good MPG, manual transmission, front wheel drive. Add the following circumstances: we live 5 minutes from Allentown's "Auto Mile", and web searches for sensible cars (Subarus, Volvos, etc.) with the above criteria were fruitless. Peter picks up the newspaper and there was the Miata (our dream car: zoom-zoom) for 9K. All criteria met. Still impractical and overly luxurious for two schlumps that usually smell a little goaty by the end of the day. Oh well. We bought it.

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I'll send my regrets to Crunchy Chicken. I failed the challenge. But this is one car payment I just might enjoy making. Two good things: the mpg has to be better than the truck's was, and Peter looks great in it! We'll probably repair the truck and sell it, which will give us a leg up on the loan. And boy, do I feel snazzy.