Hard times on the horizon....

It seems it’s time for me to get a grip on reality and start making plans for the prospect of being out of work with very little money coming in next year! Quite what this means for the coupe I don’t know yet.

It looks as though I could be out of work come the end of March and there is very little else out there at present. To add to that my wife is not coping with working full time with our 1 year old to deal with as well, plus she is making very little money after childcare and travel costs, so we’re planning to pull her out and hopefully into part time work closer to home. Still very little earnings profit, but hopefully a happier wife and less tired child.

Obviously I’ll be focusing on finding new employment, but in the meantime we’re looking at how we can tighten our belts considerably so that we can pay the vital bills.

At present we have three cars in the household, including the coupe. This may not be sustainable. If wifey is working close to home there’s a chance we could do away with one that way, but that would leave her and the little’un stuck if I do find work which needs me to drive. Might the coupe have to go? I don’t know, but certainly not if I can help it.

To think, just a week or so ago I was getting excited at the prospect of buying another coupe, or spending money to increase the power on mine. This certainly isn’t going to happening now. I’m going to sorn the coupe over the winter and hopefully finish a few jobs on it, whilst giving me time to consider what is to do.

So I’ll be taking the usual steps to ensure the coupe remains in good order over a winter of no use. It does need a couple of specialist jobs doing, but this will have to wait for now. I’ll try to motivate myself to complete the few tasks I have already committed to doing myself. I don’t want this ending up being a long term lay-up though. I also don’t want to have to sell up.

Who knows where this will end up.....

Chin up mate.... Lots of lifes peaks and troughs.... Friendly advice and banter always free and on offer here...

Yes I hope things change for the better in the New year and you can continue running the Coupe as a 3rd car

Life is never easy, a crystal ball would aid so many including myself but what ever your choices I wish you the best

Best of luck, Nello is right and safe to say we have all been there at least one point in our life's.

Hope all works out okay

If Wifey has a full-time job that she's struggling with because of your child, why don't YOU become a house-husband (possibly with a part-time job) and let Wifey become the bread-winner?

I think Nigel was meaning well but that came over as a little harsh

Hope things work out for you, but at the worst its only a car. Try and have a good Christmas and see what next year brings.

I was just thinking the same thought as Nigel. You could use this as an opportunity to make some change, do what you want to do, exploit the benefit system to the full and have a happier more manageable family life. Find out what benefits you are entilted to (if any) and take some time out to do something you really want to do. I wish i had done this years ago. When I was made redundant I immediately looked for work everywhere and moved into a similar kind of job. As I've always had a job that could be described as, well, if not cushy, always within my comfort zone, that's never been any great motivator for change

Thanks for the comments guys. Nigel's suggestion is an option we have talked about and might work for a short while. I'm confident that with some work now to shuffle money around and change a few things we can make significant reductions to our regular outgoings, which will help. Of course I may find something else in good time and avoid too much financial stress. Time will tell.

If the coupe has to go, then so be it. If it does, then I will buy another when means permit. They do get under your skin these cars!

They do indeed, good luck, I hope everything works out...things generally do given time

I don't think Nigel was harsh and makes a valid point but its one that boils down to numbers and expected income.
Becoming redundant, although bloody scary for us both was one of the better things to happen to my other half. She has a job thats actually going places now and is not just "comfi"

Good luck you and your family for 2013, it's going to be a very tough year for many people.

I can only echo what others have said already. Been there far too many times myself, lost the last job due to a long standing disability and it's honestly the best thing to have happened to me. Chin up, there's often a silver lining waiting to be discovered.

Sorry to hear this news Pete, but wish you good luck with whatever you decide in the future

if you do have to sell up you can always come back to the coupe fold.

good luck with whatever you decide mate

Pete, good luck with whatever you decide....

Coupes are for , but feeding the family has to come first. There will always be iijits on here like me to give advice,

Tim

The answer is staring you in thre face.

Sell the wife and one year old and keep the coupe !!!!

Just a suggestion

Life always has a way of throwing a curve ball at you unfortunately. It may sound silly, but is there anything else in life that you've wanted to do? Going by what's said above, if the wife works full time, you could be the house hubby but go back into education and learn something new? I know a few people who have been unhappy in their role, or wanted to do something different but the thought of quitting and starting afresh was too daunting. But when the decision is taken out of their hands and starting afresh is the best option, they've ended up happier than before!

Good luck in whatever decision you make, at the end of the day, family always come first.