Crazy week

So this week was just insane. It started on Saturday when my car pooped out. My 5-year-old, completely paid for, nice new-ish car. I already knew it was due for a timing belt and a water pump, but this was completely unexpected. The car had to be towed. DH was going out of town.

Turns out the problem was the fuel pump. It is covered under the 5-year/60,000 mile warranty. I still have a month before I hit the 5 year mark. However, my mileage was at 61,300 miles. I almost literally said "are you kidding me?" to the service guy on the phone. He said something like, "It is just a fluke." And I said, "Some would argue it isn't."

A colleague, though, gave the suggestion to appeal to the service manager and start marching up the chain of command. 1,300 miles? Seems like they could cover something like that for me since I was just over the warranty limit. So one call to the service manager and his email to Kia Parts made it possible for me to save $400. WOOHOO!

I still have that timing belt and water pump to replace, but, like all periodic expenses such as car repair, I save monthly to make sure I have the money available when I need it. I am not going to stress over paying for that maintenance since I have the savings available.

In the meantime, things are going swimmingly with my spending plan! No extraneous purchases so far, our fridge and freezer are still fully stocked, and there is no desperate need to buy anything...yet. I really am starting to realize the amount of marketing and temptation there is out there to be a consumer, though. Now that I have to block it out, it seems even louder than before. No amount of coupons will persuade me to stray! ;-)

An update on our meals: we ended up having pancakes and fruit for dinner last night. Easy, yummy, and we ate up the nectarines that were starting to get overripe. Today is much more relaxed...we only have one activity today instead of 3!!!! Spaghetti and meatballs is on the menu tonight.

--Katie