The financial hits keep coming! What was the previous score?
1. Four new tyres for Fiona, £779. Budgeted for, as all four tyres were worn and would have been replaced during the coming year anyway. Nevertheless a cost incurred months before expected.
2. Bodywork repair and a new headlamp for Fiona, after accidental damage, estimated at £2325 (so it could be a bit more or a bit less). NOT budgeted for.
But now two more big bills are looming.
3. I've started to get squealing noises from my brakes, and it seems to me - on a visual inspection with a torch - that the pads are getting rather thin, a bit sooner than I'd expected. I'll take Fiona to the dealer to discuss the matter. I'm anticipating new brake pads and discs - front and rear - for Fiona, which I estimate will set me back £800. It's budgeted for, but nevertheless this is another cost incurred months before expected.
4. I was looking out at my back garden today, and saw a fence post wafting in the breeze. Best to get it fixed asap. Maybe I'll need two new fence panels too. I'm guessing at least £250 all told. NOT budgeted for.
So a total of £4,154 to find from my easy-access savings accounts - I can just about do it, but it wipes out my Emergency Fund. If any more disasters hit me, then I'm into cash-flow problems! As it stands, I'll need to revisit my holiday plans up to July. I can see that at least one week away must be axed, maybe two.
And this is my 70th birthday year, when ideally I'd want to splash out a bit! I definitely won't be able to do that now.
It has of course crossed my mind that if I hadn't bought a new camera for £1,749 last August, I wouldn't be facing such serious cash flow problems now. But then I couldn't foresee the accidental bodywork damage, nor that wafting fence post.
There are silver linings. First, I'll begin 2022 with Fiona re-shod with new tyres and brakes, and a brand new front end and headlamp. She'll be super-safe to drive, and look good too. Second, once this lot is dealt with, there are really no big bills to come in the remainder of 2022; and so I can, to some extent, replenish my savings - the Emergency Fund at least. But my original 2022 savings target is now well out of reach. Sigh.
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