Ok, so in my reality bad luck seems to cycle in large waves. I'm not really much of a "magical thinker", so I don't really believe in luck, but times like this make me wonder. After reading this short tale, let me know what you would do - I'm still in shock or at least stumped for now - didn't get much sleep either, so that doesn't help.
Last night a huge limb from a very large oak tree in our yard fell onto my family minivan, my 19y.o. daughter's old BMW, and my daughter's older Honda. The van took the brunt of the blow, is completely crushed through the middle (read: roof is now nearly touching the van floor) and I assume is totaled. The BMW is still buried under the tree with at least a broken windshield and crushed convertible top. The Honda may have gotten by with just a smashed windshield. Some facts:
1 year into the MMM cult :), worked very hard to pay off consumer/medical debt over the last 12 months. Down to mortgage and 14k student loans. Plan to sell the house to dump the mortgage and use the profit to pay off student loans. Am currently fixing up a paid in cash house to move to. Still have lots to do to build capital/savings/net worth, but have a good plan, I think.
Cars are paid for. Comprehensive insurance only on the van (9 yrs old, 200k miles, value ~ 4k).
The Honda was recently purchased to replace the BMW, which was a poor choice made by SO and daughter despite my warnings and turned out to be a money pit (the BMW, not the Honda). Daughter borrowed ~4k from me to buy the Honda and was going to sell the BMW this weekend to pay me back (along with part time job income). Not happening now.
4k to take down the rest of the tree and clean up the debris.
4.5k due on 8/19 to mileage CC that we pay off every month (includes ~ 3k of the 4k to buy daughter's car)
2k cash currently in hand, 6k in savings.
Only transportation left is SO's stick shift Mustang - very impractical I know :(
So, now that I have just my legs and my bike (which I do use often) - what to do about getting a car? I'd rather not have one, but we're not in a position to be without a family vehicle as we're still in process of moving to a more walkable neighborhood. The house there I'm currently renovating, but won't be livable until spring or so, when we will sell the house we're in now and then be completely mortgage free.
What would you do?