Since my last entry, I’ve had some financial obligation *dumped* on me by a family member (dad). No, I did not pay! I felt bad for a while, but it was for the best. I would rather feel guilty getting out of doing something I don’t want to do, than hate myself (and the other person) while doing whatever it is I didn’t want to do in the first place.

I kept his van here for 2 weeks. I spoke with my mom about the matter and she said that it was a crime to hide a car that is about to be repossessed. I was always on edge driving that thing. I was afraid I’d get in an accident or get pulled over & I would have to show proof of insurance – because it had none! I can’t believe someone just dumped this on me. He never even mailed me back the receipt – the agreement we both wrote up and signed, which told me that he never had any intentions of paying me back! I had to drive the car back to my grandparents where he had it towed.

In two weeks, I ended up using the money – money that would have been used to bail him out – to buy a vehicle of my own. Now all my financial stuff is separated from my parents. No one can take this away from me (unless I get behind on my payments). I already knew what kind of car I wanted and did all the research. I think I got a pretty good deal. I emailed all these local dealers for quotes, then I took the lowest one and took it to two more dealers. One was able to take the quote & minus $50 but they wouldn’t budge on the APR (5.7%). So I took that quote to another dealer, they matched it and I got them to lower the APR to 4.9%.

I’ve had the car for almost 3 weeks now and I’m happy with it. If only I can get my insurance premiums down.

This weekend, I haven’t spent any money except for dinner with friends Friday night which was like $4.50. Saturday day was my no drive day. I went jogging around the neighborhood and I even made it all the way to the beach! Atleast I got some sunshine and some color on me. I’m getting bored with the gym anyway – running on the treadmill, staring at the walls, clock, TV, etc. I should cancel this since there’s already a gym here in my apt complex.

I am getting angrier by the day. I need to vent.

On Monday my dad called cell phone and left several messages saying that he was coming to visit that night and that he had something to give me. I was at work the whole day. I thought, what the hell could this possibly be about? I got home Monday at about 2030; at about 2100 I hear a knock on the door. Surprise - it was my brother. He wanted to me to come downstairs because my dad was parked outside. We get outside and I see his van, and then he comes out. He tells me that he cannot afford the payments on this vehicle so he wanted to switch vehicles with me.

We go inside my apartment and my dad starts going off about my mom … she is such an evil person, how can she do this to him, she has done so many bad things, etc. She hadn’t paid the bill on the van (his vehicle that he drives that’s under his name) in three months. He needs help paying the last three months or they will repossess the van. He shows me the statement – they owe $1500.00, not including this month’s payment of $465.00 + a late fee of 23.00.

We sit in my dining room for an hour while he begs, he says just consider this a loan and that he will pay me back when he gets money from their divorce. He says that they have a hearing sometime this month and ensures me that he will pay me back my money.

I told him (these were my terms):

1.) I will only do this for the month of April

2.) After April, he must come and pick this vehicle up and give me back my money.

I am not: going to continue paying May, June, July…etc. Who knows how long this process will stretch out? I will leave this thing in the middle of the freeway, beach, whatever if he doesn’t come and get it. There’s probably three months worth of back insurance that hasn’t been paid on this thing – will I have to pay that too? If I should get into a car accident now, I am totally, f-ing, SCREWED. We wrote up a contract, both signed it & he was going to show it to his lawyers. I swear to god, if he doesn’t pay me back, I will be the next to sue.

What is the point?

I scrimp and save and sacrifice and work my ass off only for some entitlement-minded jerk to come & help himself to my money. He has the nerve to say, “Oh you’re single, you work, you can afford it.” Such bullsh!t!!!! So the fact that I have a JOB must mean that I’m swimming in money every night and that I must sh!t gold coins! He even suggested that I charge it to my credit card!!! I have so many anger issues tied to this person. I am just an inch away – just an inch – from cutting this person from my life. I can do just fine without them. I know this is my family and I should help, but everyone makes choices in life & he chose not to work. He is not accepting responsibility for anything.

I worked for this money; I earned it. This is putting up with people’s personality problems, aggravation & stress. This is discipline. This is not going out every weekend & staying inside this apartment. This is not having my hair cut in six damn months. I felt like someone just came along and threw a monkey wrench into my plans and my dreams.

This is the plan: I will have another vehicle by the end of April for me. At this time, he will come pick up this van & drop off my money. Then after the last tie is cut, I will wipe my hands clean. It’s painful enough for me to watch my parents going through a divorce, but to have to be dragged into this unwillingly..... A friend suggested that I move far, far away. If they don’t leave me alone I will do just that.

I figure this whole car mess has cost me about $10, 000 in payments & lost interest. In addition, about $1900 + interest that could be earning! This is money that I could have put into my house fund or at least a car that would still be mine. After this I have to tell them, if they want to hear from me again, to not even think about asking me for money.