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 For those who don’t know me, I’m Tracee Michelle Porter. I’ve been driving a cab in Los Angeles for almost 20 years. And for those of you who do know me, you know asking for help is not exactly my favorite activity.
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 I’m a Black female Gen Xer. I know how to make a way out of no way and keep it moving. That’s usually me. Apparently my taxi, which I depend on to make my living, didn’t get the memo.
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 On Friday, September 4, I spent just over $900 getting my taxi back in shape. That included a planned strut repair, plus an alignment, an oil change, and an additional filter. The total came to $904.41.
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 And in true Gen X fashion, I started looking around to see where I could cut some of those costs. Thank God for Groupon. I love my mechanic, and I’m loyal to a fault, but he charges around $80 for an oil change, and I found one for less. I also found a deal on the alignment. Look, loyalty is loyalty, but when I can save a few bucks? Bump that. Every little bit counts.
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 That first repair was already a stretch, but I had a game plan. I used some Visa gift cards I received for my birthday, put some cash toward it, and charged the rest. I knew what I had to do to get the taxi taken care of and keep working.
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 I really thought I was good.
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 Then, no lie, exactly one week later, on Friday, September 11, my transmission went out.
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 Since my taxi is how I work, getting it repaired wasn’t optional. The transmission repair came to $2,800, and I had to spread it across three credit cards just to get back on the road.
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 When I picked up my taxi on Tuesday, my mechanic also told me I need all four motor mounts replaced. He’s giving me a huge break and replacing all four for just $100. From what I understand, that’s a pretty damn good break. But it’s still another $100 I really don’t have room for right now.
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 My taxi was down Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and most of Tuesday. I got it back Tuesday and was able to earn a little that day, but nowhere near what I normally would have earned over those five days.
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 I did drive Lyft while the taxi was down because I was trying to bring in something. And to add insult to injury, that was an education all by itself.
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 As a cab driver, I know what these rides are worth. In my taxi, I earn roughly $3 a mile. Lyft offered me around $30 or $35 to drive about 35 miles from the Valley to Oxnard. Are you kidding me? I know what a ride like that is worth, and that’s before you even start talking about gas, wear and tear, and getting yourself back from Oxnard.
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 And then there were the tips, or lack thereof. Over all the Lyft rides I did during those days, I think I received maybe four tips.
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 The next time you take a Lyft, Uber, taxi, order delivery, or use any service where someone is doing the work that makes your day easier, please tip them. Even a couple of bucks matters.
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 I’m raising $4,500. A little over $3,800 covers the repairs and maintenance I’ve had to handle over these two weeks, and the rest will help make up for some of the income I lost while my taxi was off the road.
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 And in true Gen X fashion, I have the repair receipts.
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 I’m not expecting anyone to cover all of this for me. Anything helps, and I truly mean that. Every contribution helps me lower those credit-card balances, make up for some of what I lost while I couldn’t work normally, and get back on steadier ground.
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 Asking for help is really hard for me. But when I mentioned maybe doing a GoFundMe, several friends and family members basically told me, “Girl, people got you. They love you. But the only way they can help you is if you ask.”
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 One of the hardest parts about asking for help is hearing no, getting no response at all, or sitting in that awkward “let me think about it” space. This way, I can put the ask out there once, and people can help if they’re able, share it if they’re not, and I don’t have to keep working up the nerve to ask over and over again.
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 And like my grandmother used to say, a closed mouth don’t get fed.
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 So here I am, opening my mouth, asking for help, and learning to accept it.
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 If you’re able to help, thank you in advance. And if you can’t, I completely understand. Share this within your community, send a little good energy my way, and know that I appreciate you taking the time to read this. ❤️
</div><img alt="" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/108069687_1789593469222906_r.jpg" width="100%">
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Help Tracee Recover From Back-to-Back Car Repairs

Help Tracee Recover From Back-to-Back Car Repairs

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