When Life Gives You Lemons...

...Make Lemonade!

Well, we have definitely had a few lemons these past few days. It seems that just when everything is going well financially the bomb drops. Dennis and I had been doing so well saving and not over spending and then BAM! Slapped in the face with not one by two car repair bills back to back.

The G6 went in for the annual inspection on Saturday, which turned out to be anything but routine. Just to pass inspection, the G6 needs quite a bit of work done to it and is costing us a pretty penny. Plus in a month or so it will need a few hundred dollars worth of more repairs. Say what? Anyone want to G6 because I'm sure not feeling fly like one anymore!

Then, feeling grateful that it was a weekend and that we could manage with one car for the time being, Dennis and I went on our merry way. On my way home from church on Sunday in the new Elantra, I noticed that something was not right. When I got home, I got my answer. A flat tire! Can you believe it? Another one bites the dust within 24 hours. 

Now you might be saying to yourself...a flat tire...that's nothing. Well, it's not nothing when your brand new car does not come with a spare and roadside assistance says it can only go to the dealer. Well, goodbye new, safety net car. Now we are about to start the work week with no cars! What a debacle?! Well, thanks to Dennis' mom, we borrowed a car and managed to get though Monday until picking up the Elantra.

We were so optimistic that the Elantra would be covered under warranty. Why? We only purchased the car in January. The mileage was still very low and it had to be a defect for a brand new tire to just blow. Wrong! Why would anything go in our favor in terms of cars? No problem, here's the money. Thanks for nothing brand new tire.

So obviously it has been a trying few days. Thankfully we have the Elantra back and by the time we return from our trip (yes, in the midst of all this we are leaving for Indianapolis in the morning) the G6 will be ready. I replaced my weekend tears with weekday smiles. It could have been worse. We are both safe. It was just repairs not an accident and the cars will drive again.

Lessons to be learned from this little adventure...

Build that rainy day fund because this is exactly why you need it...for unforeseen expenses. I budgeted for the inspection but definitely not for all those other repairs.

Stay away from potholes. They are killers. Apparently that's why we have a flat tire according to the dealer although neither of us remembers hitting one in that car.

Don't sweat the small stuff. OK, it's not small in terms of finances but life goes on and cars are not as important as friends, family, home, life.

Smile. Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it.