Upside Down

I will never forget the moment the hubster and I knew we were wrong.

We were those people – the ones who said we would never own a minivan.  Yes, we planned on having four children.  But surely this could be done without a minivan!  We had an extended truck when I was pregnant with the fourth child.  That would be plenty of room, right?

I will never forget the first time we bought a minivan.  I had stopped at a dealership just to drive one and see what the fuss was about.  From the moment I sat down I noticed how this vehicle was built for a family.  I called the hubster from the dealership lot and let him know that we were definitely going to become a minivan family.  He was sad.  Until he sat in the minivan, then he knew it was the right move also.

Years go by and vehicles change.  My last vehicle purchase was made solely for my job.  The car is all wheel drive, it gets good mileage, and I got an awesome deal on it!  It technically seats five people.  So, the kids and I could go places in it and we would be fine.  Everything would work out!  The hubster drives the family vehicle now.  So this would work!

I did my research.  I called around.  I got the dealership that I bought the car from to take $1500 off the price before I even got in my car to drive there for a test drive!  I was so excited!  It was the newest vehicle that I had ever owned.  And I drove it off the lot paying less than it was worth!

Then I took the kids out in it.  It drives differently.  My car-sicky child does not do well in this car.  This is a problem.  So, we only take my car on short trips.  Not a long-term solution, but a solution nonetheless.

Although the car seats 5 people, 3 kids in the backseat with backpacks and jackets has them sitting so they are touching each other at all times.  Now we are busting out winter coats that take even more room.  Every morning on the five-minute drive to school, they are arguing.  Every afternoon coming home, they are arguing.

We were going to sell this car to our oldest for her first car.  But in the two years time it will take her to be a legal driver, these four children will only be getting bigger.  I can’t even imagine the arguing that will occur at that time trying to stuff them in to the car to get to school!!

Our last minivan did not support weight well.  For a bit I thought it was because the kids were getting bigger.  I’ve done some reading on weight limits.  I believe the last van had some suspension problems!  A minivan should still work well for our family.

We have made the decision that this is just not the time in our lives to have a car.  We are a family of six people.  We will have two teenage people in a couple short months.  In a few short years, we will have four teenage people.  We just aren’t a car family right now.

Here is a big positive – thanks to our budgeting, Dave Ramsey ways, the car is owned free and clear.  Which means that we can sell it and buy a minivan with no lien.  I am meeting with a dealership tomorrow morning that is interested in buying the car out-right.  I have three vans listed for sale by private owners up on my screen right now.  I have a feeling they will negotiate well with a cash buyer!  “Cash is King”!

Tonight I am thankful first of all for the realization that we need to change our vehicle situation.  I am also thankful for the freedom to be able to make changes because the car is paid for.  It was this side of ten years ago that we owed loans on two vehicles – and both loans were for more than the vehicles were worth!  We may have a long way still to go.  But, we’ve come a long way!