My car needed a $700 repair right before my vacation fund was full

Chose to fix the car and push the trip back 3 months, which sucked but at least I didn't go into debt. Anyone have tips for rebuilding a specific fund after a big, unexpected hit?

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3 Comments

finleybailey6mo ago

That $700 repair must have been a major system like the transmission. I've seen people get quotes for simple things like a sensor or a belt for under $300. Did you get a second opinion or was it a single quote from your usual shop? Sometimes what they call critical isn't always a trip stopping issue right away.

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hayden_rivera6mo ago

Got a second quote from a different shop down the street. They said the same thing, a bad wheel bearing. The first place wasn't lying, but their labor rate was way higher. It pays to shop around, even for stuff that sounds urgent.

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wright.taylor5mo ago

@hayden_rivera makes a good point about labor rates. Was the $700 quote from a dealership or an independent shop? I've found dealerships usually run 20-30% higher on labor for the exact same job, which can really make or break a vacation fund when you're trying to recover.

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