The Ramblings Of Jenn Shuey

Normally I talk to my mom on a daily basis, but last week we had a huge fight. I was so angry I just couldn’t talk to her. Last night she called me to apologize, and after a very short apology she fell back into her typical pattern of things.

I got the 15 minute rundown on the gossip going around at work (although she knows I don’t care), then she had to tell me all about the 5 car pile up that happened yesterday afternoon even though I’d already heard all about it. Then I listened to about 10 minutes of how great my sister is before she got down to what she really wanted. As usual the main reason of her phone call was to get me to look something up for her.

My mom won’t even consider using a computer. I showed her how to check her email once, but she never grasped the concept. Normally she calls me and asks “Have you heard of Daniel Neumeister? Will you look him up for me?” or stuff like that.

Last night she wanted me to find her a new car.  I guess after pouring tons of cash into a Grand Am that’s falling apart she finally decided it’s time to get rid of it.  It’s going to cost way too much to fix the electrical problems.

Unfortunately you can tell it’s been a loooooong time since my mom went car shopping.  She asked me to find her something BRAND NEW in the $6,000 range.  Riiiighhhhtt!

Of course I told her a Kia was going to be her best bet if she wanted something both new and cheap, but even then she’s looking at around $14,000 for a base model automatic Kia Rio.  She could get one for closer to $11,000 if she could drive a manual, but she won’t even attempt to learn.  Buy used?  She won’t hear of it.  She believes all used cars are someone else’s problem, but she still couldn’t get it through her head that there’s no way she’ll find a brand new car for $6,000.

Affording it isn’t the issue.  She could probably pay cash for a $15,000 car right now, she’s just too much of a spend thrift to want to shell out the cash.  When I started going over the costs of the car with her, taxes and tags, she freaked out.  She’ll have to pay $300 in sales tax because she lives in SC?  Well that won’t happen.  She’ll just buy one in Georgia.

What?  Since she doesn’t pay sales tax in Georgia she’ll have to pay the sales tax in SC when she registers the car?  Well then she’ll just carpool with my aunt until September, then she’ll buy a car during tax free weekend just so she can save $300.

I understand being a thrifty shopper.  I’m one, too, but sometimes you have to break down and buy something because you need it, not because you want to.  My aunt doesn’t want to haul my mom around for the next 2 months just because my mom doesn’t want to come off the $300 for the taxes.