A brand new car?
My dad called me this weekend asking if I would like to buy his car as he will be purchasing a new car in the next week or two. We have been talking about this off and on for the last couple of months but last time I heard, my parents were planning on waiting until the summer to buy a new car, so you can imagine that the phone call took me by surprise.
Since then, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do. I REALLY want to sell my car. There are multiple reasons really: It's 6 years old, it's ugly, it's a VAN, people often ask me if I'm married with children because of it... the list goes on and on. So I've been half-heartedly (mostly because I'm NEVER comfortable handing over a wad of cash or durable goods to anyone) trying to figure out what my vehicle is worth, what kind of car I want, and what kind of payments I can afford.
What my vehicle is worth: Bluebook places it between $5K and $6K.
What I want: a new Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta, or Ford Fusion
What I can afford: This is the tricky one... I'd like to save money for a down payment on a house (must save money), I'd like to be a teacher next year (less disposable income), and if I don't buy a house when my lease is up, I'd like to find a 2br in a small building so I have a distractionless room for practicing/yoga (quite a bit more $$ than I'm spending now on sharing my current 2br apt). If I compromise on one or more of these goals then I could afford payments on a new car... if I don't (and I don't think I will) then I'll have to settle for something preowned.
Then there's the buy/lease question.
In the end, I'm completely overwhelmed. I need to set some time aside to visit some dealerships to see what a good certified used car goes for. I'd really like to spend between $10-14K at the most and finance over 2 years (3 max). I'm picky, I'll admit it. I don't want to drive a grannyvan anymore... nor do I want an junker. I'd like something that speaks of my personality while being safe stylish and no so damn big. It goes to show that I really put more thought into the material things than I'd like to admit.
I must make a plan... *shrug* maybe tomorrow (it's late).
In other news... one of my students gave me a birthday balloon today (her birthday is on Sat, mine on Sun)... it seems as though she is having a circus themed party complete with oversized monkey balloon. I'm SURE it will be a production. Back to my birthday balloon... I thought that it was quite nice... I'm trying to decide if I should bring it into work or just leave it in my house for a while.
Emily (musicology) has asked me to transcribe musical samples from hip hop songs for her master's thesis. I don't mind hip hop... but come on... I have 45 songs that I'm going to be listening to over the next couple of weeks. It ought to be interesting. I'm looking forward to reading her thesis... she's studying queer hip hop.
I'm trying to decide if I'm going to let one of my students go tomorrow. Our last few lessons it's been obvious that he hasn't been practicing... I will often look away if there is a no-practice week here and there, but this is 4 in a row, and he's not too shy to hide it. Last week he actually told me, "I didn't practice at all this week". I told his father that I'd like to see him practice more this week and he just chuckled a little bit and said "you don't have children do you?". That was the end of it for him. I think if this week is like the last I'll talk to his mom and give him the good ol' chuck-er-roo.
Concerts for Exultate were last week... they were a lot of fun. I was quite dissapointed with myself at the Sunday concert (I chipped a couple notes and missed one completely... ugh), but Friday and Saturday's were great! Liz came to the Saturday concert... I didn't see her after the thing (apparently she was still in the concert hall when I was looking for her in the lobby), so I left, and I got a little flack for that later. *shrug* We have a recording session this thursday and then we're all done. I'll be dissapointed to be done... hopefully they ask me back next year.
I've been on a eat out every meal kick for the last couple of weeks. I'm trying to get out of that mode quickly. I'm feeling unhealthy because of the lack of veggies and the surplus of grease and red meat... hopefully I can get myself on a cooking kick so I can a) save money b) eat healthily c) feel good. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Mom and Dad are coming to Minneapolis in just a couple weeks. I never know what to do with them when they are here... my friends and I just go out for dinner, see movies, see plays/concerts, and stay in. I don't know the minneapolis destinations of note, and last time I let my parents pick what we did we ended up seeing a TERRIBLE musical called "Don't Hug Me, I'm Minnesotan". I told them that I would choose this time, I sincerely hope I do a better job.
Now that it's too late to be up, I'm going to bed.
g'night y'all
Since then, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do. I REALLY want to sell my car. There are multiple reasons really: It's 6 years old, it's ugly, it's a VAN, people often ask me if I'm married with children because of it... the list goes on and on. So I've been half-heartedly (mostly because I'm NEVER comfortable handing over a wad of cash or durable goods to anyone) trying to figure out what my vehicle is worth, what kind of car I want, and what kind of payments I can afford.
What my vehicle is worth: Bluebook places it between $5K and $6K.
What I want: a new Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta, or Ford Fusion
What I can afford: This is the tricky one... I'd like to save money for a down payment on a house (must save money), I'd like to be a teacher next year (less disposable income), and if I don't buy a house when my lease is up, I'd like to find a 2br in a small building so I have a distractionless room for practicing/yoga (quite a bit more $$ than I'm spending now on sharing my current 2br apt). If I compromise on one or more of these goals then I could afford payments on a new car... if I don't (and I don't think I will) then I'll have to settle for something preowned.
Then there's the buy/lease question.
In the end, I'm completely overwhelmed. I need to set some time aside to visit some dealerships to see what a good certified used car goes for. I'd really like to spend between $10-14K at the most and finance over 2 years (3 max). I'm picky, I'll admit it. I don't want to drive a grannyvan anymore... nor do I want an junker. I'd like something that speaks of my personality while being safe stylish and no so damn big. It goes to show that I really put more thought into the material things than I'd like to admit.
I must make a plan... *shrug* maybe tomorrow (it's late).
In other news... one of my students gave me a birthday balloon today (her birthday is on Sat, mine on Sun)... it seems as though she is having a circus themed party complete with oversized monkey balloon. I'm SURE it will be a production. Back to my birthday balloon... I thought that it was quite nice... I'm trying to decide if I should bring it into work or just leave it in my house for a while.
Emily (musicology) has asked me to transcribe musical samples from hip hop songs for her master's thesis. I don't mind hip hop... but come on... I have 45 songs that I'm going to be listening to over the next couple of weeks. It ought to be interesting. I'm looking forward to reading her thesis... she's studying queer hip hop.
I'm trying to decide if I'm going to let one of my students go tomorrow. Our last few lessons it's been obvious that he hasn't been practicing... I will often look away if there is a no-practice week here and there, but this is 4 in a row, and he's not too shy to hide it. Last week he actually told me, "I didn't practice at all this week". I told his father that I'd like to see him practice more this week and he just chuckled a little bit and said "you don't have children do you?". That was the end of it for him. I think if this week is like the last I'll talk to his mom and give him the good ol' chuck-er-roo.
Concerts for Exultate were last week... they were a lot of fun. I was quite dissapointed with myself at the Sunday concert (I chipped a couple notes and missed one completely... ugh), but Friday and Saturday's were great! Liz came to the Saturday concert... I didn't see her after the thing (apparently she was still in the concert hall when I was looking for her in the lobby), so I left, and I got a little flack for that later. *shrug* We have a recording session this thursday and then we're all done. I'll be dissapointed to be done... hopefully they ask me back next year.
I've been on a eat out every meal kick for the last couple of weeks. I'm trying to get out of that mode quickly. I'm feeling unhealthy because of the lack of veggies and the surplus of grease and red meat... hopefully I can get myself on a cooking kick so I can a) save money b) eat healthily c) feel good. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Mom and Dad are coming to Minneapolis in just a couple weeks. I never know what to do with them when they are here... my friends and I just go out for dinner, see movies, see plays/concerts, and stay in. I don't know the minneapolis destinations of note, and last time I let my parents pick what we did we ended up seeing a TERRIBLE musical called "Don't Hug Me, I'm Minnesotan". I told them that I would choose this time, I sincerely hope I do a better job.
Now that it's too late to be up, I'm going to bed.
g'night y'all