I have a student worker job where the maximum I can make is $1k a month. My expenses are only ~$400 though, being generous, so I budget ~$600 in savings each month.
Here‘s the problem, my credit is dying because I have a debt of $3800. If I started paying that off now, it would be settled in ~8 months if I cut down on savings a bit.
However, my car is a disaster. I bought it used. It’s super old. I’ve only had it for a few months and have already had to take it to the shop and pay for a tow like 3x. The transmission is messed up which forces me to spend twice the amount I should on gas. This car is holding together with duct tape and prayers.
Ubers to work are not cost effective (again, only $1k/mo doesn’t support the $25-$30/day on Ubers) so I need a car. But this one is becoming more expensive than its worth.
I don’t know if it’s better to help my credit first (by paying off my debt) or to buy a car that isn’t literally falling apart so that I can at least get to work every day. I could probably find something for around the same cost as my debt that would be in good shape, so you see my dilemma…which is best to take care of first?