Extra $ for cars/parts

Thought this might be an interesting subject...

How do you raise extra money for cars/car parts? SWMBO has basically instilled a no paycheck money allowed for car stuffs. I know this sounds crazy, but we're on a tight budget trying to claw our way out of debt. With my Miata, I basically told anyone that bought gifts for me to give me money. I then took that and bought junkyard parts to clean and re-sale. It's crazy what spray paint can do to the value of junk parts. It's a little harder to do here in western PA due to the distance of the pick'n'pull type lots from my house. In Raleigh, I had two that were less than 30 minutes from my house with a steady supply of new cars.

I know it sounds like it would take a long time to get anything, but I somehow dumped over $3k into my old Miata in just over two years. Was able to do some really fun mods to the car as well. It was really rewarding knowing that I wasn't dipping into our spending to have so much fun.

What else have you guys done?

Man whorin'.

Not as lucritive as it sounds.

Also, not as fun...

Male prostitution.

It solved multiple issues.

Or it will in theory.

I seriously have no frickin' clue, I scrape $20 together sometimes so I can buy cutoff wheels instead of using rocks. I had an awesome donation by way of my build thread once, so that's an option. Other than selling your time (vehicle repairs, etc) I really don't know.

I knew that response wouldn't take long to get. And two within 1 minute apart!

ScreaminE wrote: I knew that response wouldn't take long to get. And two within 1 minute apart!

At least my example was only in theory!

Forget the SWMBO's order and do it anyways, as long as it doesn't break the bank?

Easier to ask for forgiveness then permission.

Or never go home and work until you are stiff and room temperature.

We've got a fairly locked-down budget, so any $100+ purchases that aren't already accounted for (which, other than normal recurring bills, would be groceries and entertainment) are something that we talk through together and decide on and those are almost always "family" things.

For other stuff, though, we give ourselves a small weekly "allowance" in the form of cash where we each get the same amount of money every week to do with as we please, no consultation required. So we've each got a little envelope of money at home that we can break out at any time to do whatever with, and that's how I fund buying car parts, entry fees, and whatever else. When I sell parts or cars, that money goes back into my envelope.

Stay with the budget. Your Uncle Dave would be proud.
The reward at the end of the journey IS worth it.

We are on a tight budget too so I've imposed a "projects must fund themselves" mentality that makes for really slow progress and lots of daydreaming. I've been fortunate enough to part out or sell previous projects to fund current projects. Not having a lot of room to work on or store stuff helps too.

Some of you are probably sick of hearing it, but I had some good opportunities for extra work. Two extra jobs. One is in my hands to make extra cash via sales, the other brings in about 200 extra a month. Its worth it.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Stay with the budget. Your Uncle Dave would be proud. The reward at the end of the journey IS worth it.

I like 70% of what Dave says. If I listened to everything he said, I'd be living with my in-laws and eating bread sammiches for the next 5 years.

ScreaminE wrote: I'd be living with my in-laws and eating bread sammichesfor the next 5 years.

Um... what else would you be making sandwiches with?

PB&J, Turkey, Ham, Tuna. I could go on.

When I said bread sammiches, I mean two pieces of bread. Maybe I should have said Jam Sammiches which involves jamming two pieces of break together and eating.

In reply to ScreaminE:

MMMMM, PB&J......tastes like oppression.

I'm basically on the same, "no household money for toys" budget. It helps that I dont have alot of free time for projects right now anyway, but I used to repair computers on the side to make extra money.

The trick is to do jobs that dont pull you away from the house for too long. Otherwise, the projects AND the side jobs become a source of resentment.

I make enough to keep going to work and drink myself to sleep every night. I save the booze money and spend it on cars instead.

GameboyRMH wrote: I make enough to keep going to work and drink myself to sleep every night. I save the booze money and spend it on cars instead.

say what?

Have more kids, that way there is no time -or- money

I use my cars to fund my cars. You were on the right track with the junkyard parts. You can keep doing that, but also look for cheap whole cars to fix and sell.

Beware of curbstomper laws, though.

I do some tech side work for friends and neighbors, sell unused car parts on craigslist, and make money doing focus groups on tools.

It's definitely piggy bank funds when it comes to the cost of racecar parts. I did manage to save up enough to buy some r-comps and XXR wheels for this last season of auto-x. Took about 18 months to get the $1300 I needed. Now I'll need another $700 for new tires sometime next season.

Conquest351 wrote: Man whorin'. Not as lucritive as it sounds. Also, not as fun...

Don't think you're doing it right.

ScreaminE wrote: PB&J, Turkey, Ham, Tuna. I could go on. When I said bread sammiches, I mean two pieces of bread. Maybe I should have said Jam Sammiches which involves jamming two pieces of break together and eating.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyBZE0kBtE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjYyBZE0kBtE

Also known as a "wish sandwich."
Ba, Ba, Ba...

I write about cars in my spare time...

It doesn't pay exceptionally well, but it helps. When tax time comes around, I certainly have lots to write off.

Conquest351 wrote: Man whorin'. Not as lucritive as it sounds. Also, not as fun...

You're not doing it right!

Cone_Junkie wrote: and make money doing focus groups on tools.

How'd you get into that? Looks like a slow winter is coming and I'll need to find other ways to pay for race car parts.