The Year of Mechanical Failures
Donation protected
If you know either of us well, you know that Chad and I stubbornly try to be self-reliant. I'm not that comfortable asking for help in this way...but sometimes you need a helping hand. (Please don't give if you do business with me professionally.) Lately we're starting to feel like we're barely treading through this money mess. I won't go into the details of why we have horrible credit. So even if we can get a loan with 20% interest, we don't have a budget for extra payments. We don't have secret money funds and we live pretty simply check to check.
With great risk of sounding like a pity party, it all started with the dryer in Feb 2017 (thank goodness for Habitat Restore). Then the hvac system and the washer died in May. Yep we went a month without AC and ran 8 fans (felt like we were living in a tornado; thanks to Timmy for pointing us to Brian to save some $$$). The truck has had problems off and on as well this past year. Luckily we both had jobs at the time, Chad could fix most of our car issues to save on labor and I was able to borrow from my 401K with a little extra cushion; I thought. Then Chad got laid off in June and hasn't been able to find full time work. He got some extra hours with his pizza delivery job but still not full time (he's hoping to find something above minimum wage, preferably in a warehouse and not customer service related). Yes he's been applying and had 3 interviews that didn't pan out. So the extra cushion has slowly been used up. Minor stuff like our microwave (thanks to April for giving us one to use) and now my car and the dishwasher has died too! Seriously we might be cursed. Thankfully with both vehicles not working I'm grateful to my friends (Marty and Amanda and Marcia) for loaning us their cars while we try to figure this all out. Add to that we're a little behind on our mortgage to try and fix this on our own as well as Chad's back pain has returned (probably due to all the stress and working on these mechanical contraptions). So far his recent epidural seems to be helping.
We plan to see if we can sell the truck and get a used but reliable vehicle. I'm sure our credit union will continue to work with us until our financial situation gets better for the mortgage. We're doing the best we can.
We have an amazing 9 yr old so we've always made time with him a priority.
I know with all these disasters going on there are many humans in greater need than our family. This appeal is only to those who can afford to spare it. If it be a choice between us or those folks, please choose them, as they need it more. But if you can afford both, we will be forever grateful. We appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts,
The Hartup Family
With great risk of sounding like a pity party, it all started with the dryer in Feb 2017 (thank goodness for Habitat Restore). Then the hvac system and the washer died in May. Yep we went a month without AC and ran 8 fans (felt like we were living in a tornado; thanks to Timmy for pointing us to Brian to save some $$$). The truck has had problems off and on as well this past year. Luckily we both had jobs at the time, Chad could fix most of our car issues to save on labor and I was able to borrow from my 401K with a little extra cushion; I thought. Then Chad got laid off in June and hasn't been able to find full time work. He got some extra hours with his pizza delivery job but still not full time (he's hoping to find something above minimum wage, preferably in a warehouse and not customer service related). Yes he's been applying and had 3 interviews that didn't pan out. So the extra cushion has slowly been used up. Minor stuff like our microwave (thanks to April for giving us one to use) and now my car and the dishwasher has died too! Seriously we might be cursed. Thankfully with both vehicles not working I'm grateful to my friends (Marty and Amanda and Marcia) for loaning us their cars while we try to figure this all out. Add to that we're a little behind on our mortgage to try and fix this on our own as well as Chad's back pain has returned (probably due to all the stress and working on these mechanical contraptions). So far his recent epidural seems to be helping.
We plan to see if we can sell the truck and get a used but reliable vehicle. I'm sure our credit union will continue to work with us until our financial situation gets better for the mortgage. We're doing the best we can.
We have an amazing 9 yr old so we've always made time with him a priority.
I know with all these disasters going on there are many humans in greater need than our family. This appeal is only to those who can afford to spare it. If it be a choice between us or those folks, please choose them, as they need it more. But if you can afford both, we will be forever grateful. We appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts,
The Hartup Family
Organizer
Wendi Winter Hartup
Organizer
Winston-Salem, NC
