Mariel Needs a Driver's License
Donation protected
Short Story:
I currently use Uber and a free bus pass to get to/from work in another town. That's about $400 per month.
In order to get a Driver's License in North Carolina, you need insurance. In order to get insurance, you need a license (with some companies), or insurance history.
The only offer I've gotten while shopping around is about $1150 for six months, up front.
Because of other obligations, I don't know when I'll be able to save that much, but I could definitely replace my Uber budget with an insurance, car payment, gas and maintenance budget of the same amount!
It's demoralizing to know that I'm nearly 30 and finally have a "professional" job but, due to my old job forcing me to work as an independent contractor (still paying the taxes), student loans, medical bills and "young and dumb" debt, I still can't do this simple thing that most 18 year olds have the opportunity to do ... get from A to B in my own car and stop asking my friends for rides.
People have been making fun of me since I was 18 and I need those repetitive jokes and "good-natured" jabs at my self-esteem to stop.
So why didn't I take care of all of this at 18? That's the long story. It boils down to a chronically ill single parent who was unable to do many things that most consider "basic" in raising a teenager and having to start supporting myself at 18, (finally) putting myself through college at 22. Figuring out car ownership on my own while treading those waters just didn't seem possible.
It's possible that my car ownership expenses will be even less than my current transportation expenses, I just don't have the spare money to save up.
This is too big to ask of my close friends, alone. If just 23 people throw me $50, BAM, I'll have the mobility I've been missing for my entire adult life.
When do I need it?
I'd love to stop throwing money away on Ubers as soon as possible. I'd planned to get a license this weekend, expecting a $200/mo insurance payment, but that $1150 up-front stopped me in my tracks.
So at the very least it'll be a Christmas present (12/23).
It'd be a lovely Birthday present (10/6).
Ideally, though, I'd be on the road in September (9/1).
I can't even say how grateful I'll be.
Being without a car in NC is very inconvenient. We don't have the worst public transportation, but, here are a few snapshots of my car-free life:
My job is about 30 minutes away by car but 1 hour on the "express" bus.
I was kicked out of Primary Care practices because I missed the bus and was 30 minutes late due to a 2-bus, 1.5 hour trip that would have been 15 minutes by car.
My gross pay at my old job was more than the current one, but I couldn't take the pressure of trying to pay those income taxes on top of a $600/mo Uber budget, because the job was nowhere near a bus stop.
I want to be able to pick up my neice and nephews for "Auntie Weekends" or just help out my family ... or go to family functions without getting stranded in another town. Or visit my grandmother in Alabama (without being stranded if there's a family argument) before it's too late. I want to deliver homemade pies to my friends.
If you contribute to this gofundme, you'll be making a huge and lasting difference in my quality of life. I might name my car after you. I will definitely cry (happily).
I currently use Uber and a free bus pass to get to/from work in another town. That's about $400 per month.
In order to get a Driver's License in North Carolina, you need insurance. In order to get insurance, you need a license (with some companies), or insurance history.
The only offer I've gotten while shopping around is about $1150 for six months, up front.
Because of other obligations, I don't know when I'll be able to save that much, but I could definitely replace my Uber budget with an insurance, car payment, gas and maintenance budget of the same amount!
It's demoralizing to know that I'm nearly 30 and finally have a "professional" job but, due to my old job forcing me to work as an independent contractor (still paying the taxes), student loans, medical bills and "young and dumb" debt, I still can't do this simple thing that most 18 year olds have the opportunity to do ... get from A to B in my own car and stop asking my friends for rides.
People have been making fun of me since I was 18 and I need those repetitive jokes and "good-natured" jabs at my self-esteem to stop.
So why didn't I take care of all of this at 18? That's the long story. It boils down to a chronically ill single parent who was unable to do many things that most consider "basic" in raising a teenager and having to start supporting myself at 18, (finally) putting myself through college at 22. Figuring out car ownership on my own while treading those waters just didn't seem possible.
It's possible that my car ownership expenses will be even less than my current transportation expenses, I just don't have the spare money to save up.
This is too big to ask of my close friends, alone. If just 23 people throw me $50, BAM, I'll have the mobility I've been missing for my entire adult life.
When do I need it?
I'd love to stop throwing money away on Ubers as soon as possible. I'd planned to get a license this weekend, expecting a $200/mo insurance payment, but that $1150 up-front stopped me in my tracks.
So at the very least it'll be a Christmas present (12/23).
It'd be a lovely Birthday present (10/6).
Ideally, though, I'd be on the road in September (9/1).
I can't even say how grateful I'll be.
Being without a car in NC is very inconvenient. We don't have the worst public transportation, but, here are a few snapshots of my car-free life:
My job is about 30 minutes away by car but 1 hour on the "express" bus.
I was kicked out of Primary Care practices because I missed the bus and was 30 minutes late due to a 2-bus, 1.5 hour trip that would have been 15 minutes by car.
My gross pay at my old job was more than the current one, but I couldn't take the pressure of trying to pay those income taxes on top of a $600/mo Uber budget, because the job was nowhere near a bus stop.
I want to be able to pick up my neice and nephews for "Auntie Weekends" or just help out my family ... or go to family functions without getting stranded in another town. Or visit my grandmother in Alabama (without being stranded if there's a family argument) before it's too late. I want to deliver homemade pies to my friends.
If you contribute to this gofundme, you'll be making a huge and lasting difference in my quality of life. I might name my car after you. I will definitely cry (happily).
Organizer
Mariel Ubuntu Eaves
Organizer
Raleigh, NC
