Randoms 1/2

KirstinH88

New Randoms thread for the week! What's randomly on your mind?

KirstinH88

DH and I went car shopping today which was quite the eye opening experience. We were wanting to trade in DH's truck (that I'm currently driving and still has a payment) to buy me my "mom car." I'm looking at a Honda Pilot, Toyota 4Runner, or Toyota Highlander (all with a third row cuz I have too many kids  ) I drove a Pilot and it was nice, but we definitely need to wait awhile. I really want a new (to me) car, but extending out payments for 7 years just to make the monthly affordable is not what I want. The truck could fit all 6 of us. It's not ideal, but it will work for now. Maybe after I return from maternity leave then we can reevaluate our situation.

Taylor72

@KirstinH88 WHY do car payments suck so bad? Like seriously, they are almost as expensive as some houses these days.  It's super annoying and I hate it. 

KirstinH88

@Taylor72 Agreed. They suck. But I really want a reliable car. Especially since my kids are relatively young. I'm hoping to hold onto this next car for MANY years. At least until the oldest starts driving...

Taylor72

@KirstinH88 Oh I totally agree, I have a buick lacrosse right now and while definitely reliable I would love something bigger with LO since it seems it would be easier but I just can't bring myself to do it yet

HappyAnjel

We were just talking about getting a new car today. DH has an Envoy that he drives back and forth to his work ( no joke 1 mile away) but It has 175000 miles, horrible on gas and is on its last leg.. I drive a Corolla.. so definitely will need something bigger when we have two kids a dog and I take my nephew a lot. Though I think we'll keep my Corolla as work car and get rid of the Envoy. Well probably put it off until we decide if I'm going back to work and my student loans are paid off in a few months.

bww_0331

We bought a Traverse about a month ago to replace my Equinox that was 11 years old. Not a fan of having a car payment again, but with all the driving we do we decided to go ahead and get a newer car that would last a long time. Third row seating so plenty of storage space now and will still work once we start having more kids. 

catem07

@kirstinh88 My friend who just had a baby bought a highlander and they really like it. We're a 1-car family right now (luckily we live in one of the very few cities in the US where that's possible--I'd argue those cities are Chicago, NYC, Boston, and DC) but we're hoping to move this summer and will need to buy another car. There's a possibility we could buy my mom's Subaru Forrester from her, but if not I like the CR-V. We aren't looking for a car with a third row, but we do want an SUV.  

cafedisco

Car shopping is the absolute worst!  I let DH shop for my last car entirely by himself - I didn't even test drive it because I hate the whole process so much. 

Good luck @KirstinH88!

KirstinH88

@catem07 We currently have an '04 Highlander, but it doesn't have a 3rd row. But it has been super reliable. We are holding onto that car because it's paid off and I don't want 2 car payments...

SnarkasaurusRex

I drive a smallish crossover SUV (Tucson) and I love it...it should fit nicely with 2 kiddos in car seats and our large dog. Up until a month ago, DH drove a tiny hatchback that barely fit DS's car seat on the passenger side, and it didn't fit at all behind DH because he's tall, so that's a no-go with two kids. We wound up selling that a leasing an Outback, mostly because he got a hell of a good deal due to the financial guy making an error (like, almost $100 a month less than he should have approved) and because DH changes his mind about what car he wants approximately every two years, and I'm sick of buying and selling for him, haha. In the 10 years we've been together, I've had 2 cars (including my one that I bought dirt cheap when I was in high school), and he's had 5. FIVE.

I don't know why, but I am very anti-minivan. Unless I somehow wind up with a third kid, there's no way I would even consider it (and even then I'd probably just go for a larger SUV with a third row, haha).

Koukonei

Just as an FYI for anyone looking for an SUV with a third row, very few of the more affordable ones (such as the highlander) can actually accommodate a carseat in the third row if it's needed. My friend has a new highlander and is very thankful she just has the 2 kids in it. We're eventually getting a subaru outback, no third row, but the trunk is huge and is can do 3 in a row seat installation (depending on your seats of course). 

schef070911

@catem07 We love our 2012 CR-V! Right now DH drives that car and I drive a 2004 Prius with about 235,000 miles on it.  We are planning on switching shortly before Nugget gets here as I feel a little anxious about the Prius breaking down any time now. 

When our Prius does break down I'm not sure if we will 1) buy my parent's 2010 Prius from them - mom has already offered, or 2) go new car shopping - right now we have no car payments and it's so nice.  I like the Mazda3 hatchbacks but not sure if the back seat is roomy enough. I could also do another small SUV similar to the CR-V.

twistsandturnsto2

We are going "all in" and looking at mini vans. Not the most stylish option, but with 2 car seats, 2 adults and 2 Dobermans, an SUV with a third row won't cut it for staorage space, IMHO. Not to mention another car seat(occasionally) or another adult. 

SnarkasaurusRex

@schef070911 The Mazda 3 Hatchback is what we had...unless you and DH are fairly short, it's not going to work well for RFing carseats.

teamla-2

I was against minivans until I got one (with two kids). I don't regret it at all because it's exactly what we need (especially with the third on the way) and I know it's a temporary thing. I also made sure to get all the features I wanted so I'd enjoy driving it. Someday, after car seats, I'll go back to an SUV!

KirstinH88

@SnarkasaurusRex I am also very anti minivan. The salesman at the car dealership showed me a few because he said they were roomier, but I just couldn't. 
@Koukonei Is right in regards to the small 3rd row in the SUVs. Thankfully, I already have one kid out of a car seat and my almost 6 year old is just in a booster, so it doesn't take up much space. Max and Samuel will be in the middle row (easier to buckle/unbuckle).

catem07

@schef070911 funny, we have a prius (v) now! It's a 2014 with about 68,000 miles on it, so hoping it lasts a while longer (especially since our payments last a while longer...) Glad to know yours is holding up past 200k. 

Blueberry85

New cars seem to be a theme here! We will be getting one after we move next month, as well. We had a Ford Edge that we sold this summer (large payment, can get by with one car for the moment) which was nice, but it was a bit too large for my liking. We're currently sharing our Honda Accord. It works for time being, but it would definitely be too small once the new baby arrives. It's a great little car, and I'll miss it when we sell it before we move. But, we will definitely only need one car after the move as DH will be working from home 100% of the time.

We're leaning towards a Subaru Outback or Forester just now. Possibly a Honda CR-V. Only requirements are 4WD or AWD (hello, Maine winters) and a decent size as it will be our only car.

pammasu0909

I need a new car as well.  We just replaced all the brakes in my mazda3, so hopefully no more maintenance until March.  We're planning to use our tax return as a down payment.  I'm going big and getting a minivan.  We'll have 3 under 4 so car seats for a long time.  Plus I anticipate needing to drive my parents more and more in the next few years so it would be nice to have a vehicle that's easy to get in and out of.  We're trying to figure out how much we can afford with 3 kids in daycare.  Thank goodness DH's car is almost paid off.

doozenberg

We just got the Mazda CX-5 in October as we wanted a larger car with more room. They do have the CX-9 which has the third row if you need more room. I love this mazda and am so happy with the purchase!

schef070911

SnarkasaurusRex said:

@schef070911 The Mazda 3 Hatchback is what we had...unless you and DH are fairly short, it's not going to work well for RFing carseats.

That's what I thought. Last time I was seriously looking at these I was not yet pregnant and not thinking at all about carseats! Thanks

HGRich

Some of you know we just got a new car last month. DH and I have been driving crappy but paid for cars to save up for another used car and pay for it in full too. It's a Hyundai Elantra so it actually has room for a car seat, unlike my old two-door. The plan is to drive it for two years and then sell it and buy a larger vehicle and also pay for it in full with money saved + whatever we can get for selling the prior car. I don't know if I want to just give in and do the minivan thing (we'd like to have four kids if possible), but even though they look super practical and roomy I don't wanna. I want to look into a good SUV then. 

Eta spelling 

cafedisco

Maybe an UO but I freakin love a good minivan and can't wait to be able to afford one.  I drove one in high school so maybe it's just a comfort level thing.

My random today is that DD seems to have picked up the phrase "Sh!t. Sh!t. Sh!t!" from somewhere.  She's been home with me for the past week or so and DH and I don't cuss around her so i have no clue where she got it from.  She's definitely using it appropriately though so at least there's that! 

pammasu0909

@schef070911 I agree to an extent.  I had 2 kids rear facing in a mazda3 sedan for over a year.  I'm 5 feet so I had plenty of room.  My husband is taller, but for short trips he made it work.  It's all about being fairly short and getting the "right" seats. (and never having leg room haha).  If it weren't for #3 I would consider getting another one.  I  my car

Virginialeigh

@cafedisco for a week I thought DS was saying f*ck and I could figure out where he had picked it up. Then last night I was reading to him and he point at  the picture and said it. Turns out he was saying fox all along.

teamla-2

Virginialeigh said:

@cafedisco for a week I thought DS was saying f*ck and I could figure out where he had picked it up. Then last night I was reading to him and he point at  the picture and said it. Turns out he was saying fox all along.

We had a whole phase where our twins said "f*ck" for "truck". It was a really weird substitution. They were really, really into trucks too so there was something hilarious pretty much on a daily basis.

Nolegirl1185

Since everyone is on the topic of cars, DH and I have discussed this a lot lately. We share a car and DH also has a motorcycle.  Once the baby is here, we will need two cars.  We cannot afford two car payments so luckily we have a friend who is holding a (old old) car for us until tax money comes in.  That will give DH a car, but the one I drive now seems to be always having issues.  It's a 2010 Dodge Avenger that we bought in 2013 when DH totaled my other car. If we try to trade it in now, we are upside down.  It will take away from what we can get financed for and will probably end up having to buy another used car.  We don't know if we should keep the Dodge and hopefully it lasts (still 3 more years to pay on it) or go to a dealership and see what they can do even though we will be upside down.  Anyone have any experience with being upside down and trading in?

KirstinH88

@Nolegirl1185 That was our issue with trading in DH's truck! We still have about $9k to pay on it and they only wanted to offer us $6500 (after pushing). The other $2500 would have been tacked on to our new car payment. I'm trying to see if DH will do a private sell on his truck. We can get much more for it through private sell then through trade in. And if we private sell before we are ready to buy another car, then I'll get to switch back to my Highlander and DH can drive his Mustang (fun car). But all 6 of us won't fit in one car if we get rid of the truck and then don't get another car relatively soon.....

HappyAnjel

@cafedisco when my daughter was 19 months I was taking a video of her when she knocked over a box of crayons and said "Oh come on.. what the F**k.. what the F*********CK." Then walked upstairs to my dad who was fixing something and clearly frustrated and said "papa, what the F**k is going on?"  My mom couldn't stop laughing.. but any reaction made her say it more.. and I was happy she used it properly.. but it was so hard to ignore it.

HappyAnjel

@teamla my god son used to say F**k instead of truck too.. so maybe not that weird a substitute.. him yelling "dum F*cks" instead of dump trucks was pretty funny. His mother was horrified.

KirstinH88

In regards to cussing kids, I do NOT hold my tongue around my kids. I'm sure they've heard every bad word in the book. They know they are bad words. And they know that if they say them, they will get in trouble. Do as I say, not as I do.  I'm such a great example. Sometimes, if I say a new word that DS doesn't know, he will ask me "Mommy, what does XYZ mean? Can I say it?" HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Nolegirl1185

@KirstinH88  Ugh!  Doesn't it suck?! lol  We still owe 8,700$.  We financed 14,000$ have paid 340$ a month for 37 months already and yet the balance is still that high! We've literally paid over 7,000$ in just interest over the last 3 years.  KBB says my car is only worth 2200-3000 so that would still leave 4-5k to tack onto our new payment.  A) we won't get enough financing for a new car and/or we will get financed, tack on the 4-5 k, which will put us in a payment range we can't afford.  Soooo I'm thinking we will just be stuck sticking this one out for a few more years. 

I hope you are able to sell your truck privately and get into a new car quickly!  It would definitely stink to have to drive two cars to get somewhere as a family. It would also be awful if God forbid something bad happen and you can't fit everyone in one car while DH has the other.  Totally not trying to be somber, just something to think about.

Keep us updated on what you end up doing!

KirstinH88

@Nolegirl1185 Your option B was exactly our situation. I've also thought about the car issue and not being able to fit everyone, but if DH is gone with one car, then I'm back down to 5 people and in an emergency my oldest (will be 10) can ride shotgun. But I really just want my new car. I kind of threw a hissy fit yesterday because I feel like I always budget and make sure that DH gets his wants (aka that damn Mustang!), but sometimes I feel like my wants are just thrown to the side. Sigh....

cafedisco

I'm lol'ing at all these potty mouthed kids.

Another funny language one...we were at the zoo yesterday.  At the elephants, DD asked if it was a boy or girl and I said girl.  She goes "Why? Is it because she has a vagina?"  

it wasn't quiet (it never is, is it?).  DH was horrified.  I was quite proud. 

And then we made lots of elephant-genitalia jokes under our breath. 

SnarkasaurusRex

@cafedisco We were hanging out with my SIL's and DS's cousins over the weekend. I had DS laid out so I could change him, and my 2.5 year old nephew comes over, points at his penis and shouts "MOMMY HE HAS A PENIS TOO! THAT MEANS HE'S A BOY LIKE DADDY!!!!!!" in front of a large number of extended family. He was so proud of himself, too and I could not stop laughing for the rest of the day. He also asked DH's 95 year old grandmother if she had a penis, to which she very politely said, "No sweetie, I do not."

mylittleirvz

On the car subject - we just bought a new to us (it's a 2011) Chrysler Town and Country for my driving and I absolutely love it. Even DH who was VERY anti mini van loves it and wants to drive it anytime I'll let him. The space is SO nice plus I love the automatic side doors! We drive CV a Vibe before which we loved and hated to get rid of but it would have sucked with two car seats. We decided to just move up to a third row just in case we decide we aren't done after two plus we frequently have people riding with us for one reason or another.

Nolegirl1185

@KirstinH88 girl, put your foot down!  I do the same, ALWAYS making sure DH is happy and getting what he wants.  I do all the budgeting and pay the bills. I honestly don't want for much, so little that DH will get upset with me because I never want anything for b-days, Christmas, anniversary etc.  When I actually do want something, DH knows I'm serious.  He already has plans for our tax return (after the car we are getting) and I'm like umm...yea straight to bills for when I didn't make money for maternity leave and so you can stay with me at the hopsital/home for more than 4 days!  He thinks there will be plenty to go around.  

KirstinH88

@Nolegirl1185 We must have the same husband. Or maybe it's just a husband thing. DH ALWAYS has plans for money and I'm like WTF? Are you aware that we have bills and our 4th kid on the way? Thank God I handle our finances, otherwise we would be in MAJOR debt.

Nolegirl1185

@KirstinH88 maybe since we do the budgeting, they don't have a clue what is spent on bills and what is leftover?!  DH will 100% admit if it weren't for me, we would be majorly screwed. 

lovelongdog06

I'd love to be able to afford a minivan! Someday, maybe. Student loans are in the way right now.

Does the bump app crash every single time you open it for anyone else? I can't even start a thread from my phone, and the regular site lags so bad I can barely type. Am I just unlucky or does it just suck?!