$4000 Grant From Centerlink

[luckytiger]

Hi all I was thinking that with my $4000 grant form centerlink I would use about half maybe a little more to buy a car so I can get my bub around.

Do you think that is a good idea or do you think I should keep the money for the baby?

I have got most things that my DP and I need basically all but a car seat.
but that would defenatly come before the bub does

The reaso behind me getting or wanting to get a car is the simple fact of if I need to get somewhere it is almost impossible from public transport we live about a 15-20min drive to the earest for of public transport, and it will be way too hard to get around

[Mum&bubs]

I say go for it! If its helping you & bub out then thats great. And if you've got all the baby stuff covered even more of a reason to spend it on a car! Good luck :fingerscrossed:

[Lila]

hmmm
i don´t know how others think, but IMHO the money you would want to invest only would buy you a lemon.....sorry.
you probably would end up investing lots of money for repairs....

if you can get a good one for 4000, then i would rather do that, than having a lemon. IYKWIM :D

you can still save money for bubby from the money you get every fortnight from family ***. (if you get that).
but if you need a car, then this would probably be also a good investment for your bubby.

all the best

[blessedmummy]

yeah why not! i would! anyhow... it does go up though in 2008 to $5000!!!:smiliedance: yay!!! hmmmmm:detective:

[SamanthaJane]

If i needed a car, i'd get the car :yes:

My money is going into an account for the baby, but thats only because i don't need it... but it'll be sorta like "emergency money" aswell... so i can access it if i really really need it (then replace it of course :p )

My parents brought my first car for $3,500 and it's actually worth $8,000. If you look around you can get a really great deal. The people we got my car off had plenty of money and basically just wanted to get rid of it :D

[Amberlea]

I agree with Lilly sorry... I wouldnt buy a car for $2000 just to be able to drive bubs around.
I paid $1000 for mine and have now spent $3000 on it to keep it going, it now needs another $1000 work.
Also had another one that cost me $2500 .. spent $2000 on that in all the times it broke down .. until I wrote it off.
(I was lucky in that a friend of mine paid for most of it and/or got me credit at his mechanics so I could pay it all off)

If you want to get a car - spend the whole $4000 and get a car from a registered racv seocondhand dealer.
My friend just got a good magna for $4000 through racv and its pretty good considering the age.

Bubs will cost you less than a decent car in the long run.. just go to sales etc and get baby things for as cheap as you can. Theres always great baby bargains to be found - cars are another matter.

[JorBai]

I say go for it too! You will find life a lot easier if you have a car when you have your bub! As for buying a lemon, I suggest getting a mechanic to check it over before you buy it. It might cost you but worth it in the end for an honest opinion!

Good Luck! Enjoy your car shopping!

[*Chels*]

I think as long as bubs has what it needs-who cares what u spend the bonus on?
A car isnt exactly a luxury-its a neccesity

[mum2bubba]

As long as you're not buying drugs and what not I don't have a problem with anyone buying a car with their baby bonus. Its your money to do what you want with and if you already have all you need then why not buy a car? I'm not sure what I will be doing with mine just yet, but it will probably go towards either bills, debt or things for the house OR maybe put it away for a house deposite.

[Pixie]

It's your money, do with it what you will! :D

[Little Gorilla]

I say get the car.

I didn't have a car for the first 10 months of having bub and it sucked. At least if you have a car you can get out to playgroups, bubhub meet ups, mother groups...you won't feel so isolated.

[FourAngelKisses]

I say go for it. Mine will be going on an extra seat in the car so that all 6 of us will fit in it.

[merlottes]

:wave: Well i say go for it coz thats what i'm doing i need to up grade a bit i have a small car it will do for the first few months while i look around

[SalTheGal]

I think a car is a fantastic investment for your $4000.

And sometimes it is more worthwhile to spend it all on something big and necessary than to put it in the bank where it eventually gets frittered away and absorbed into other costs so you don't really notice you had any extra money- if that makes sense:confused: ?!?!

[rainbowbaby]

I do not mean to be a spoilsport but be careful, we found that with our first all the money went into paying extra hospital bills as I needed to have a emergency c/section, anaesthetists are not cheap that is for sure and by the time we paid the bills there was not alot left.

Sorry I don't mean to be negative at all just carefu,l as we were thinking of things to do with the money but in the end didn't have much however then it was $3000 not $4000 and we had and have private health cover???

But if you think you are right go for it it is your money

[FourAngelKisses]

I do not mean to be a spoilsport but be careful, we found that with our first all the money went into paying extra hospital bills as I needed to have a emergency c/section, anaesthetists are not cheap that is for sure and by the time we paid the bills there was not alot left.

Don't medicare cover that?? Or is it because you went private??




I don't have private health insurance, so I dunno how it works.

[luckytiger]

Don't medicare cover that?? Or is it because you went private??




I don't have private health insurance, so I dunno how it works.

That is whatthought aswell. I am going through public s I am already on a centerlink pension so medicare does cover almost everything except antenatal classes

[oleander]

Remember when you buy a car theres stamp duty, registration, petrol and maintenance like repairs, tyres and servicing. They can end up costing alot more than you think.

Good luck with your descision.

[AVR]

That is whatthought aswell. I am going through public s I am already on a centerlink pension so medicare does cover almost everything except antenatal classes


:eek: I thought that my healthcover paid for that!! Why am I paying this ridiculous amount for it per month ?:banghead:

[oleander]

:eek: I thought that my healthcover paid for that!! Why am I paying this ridiculous amount for it per month ?:banghead:

So you can have your private doctor and go to a private hospital.

[Pippi Longstocking]

If you only spend $2000 on a car, a wise thing to do would be to spend a little bit more and get RACQ/NRMA etc because cheap bombs break down! My fist two cars were cheapies (first was $6000, second was $3000) and I was forever standing on the side of the road with a cranky baby while waiting for roadside assistance :o

I love having a decent car now. :yes:

[suemp]

the most we have ever spent on cars is 3 grand and no they have not been lemons. just look around second hand (private as car yards are rip offs) we recently bought a vs commodore for 2500 and it has a brand new motor in it. just have someone with you who knows about cars. we PLAN to save 3000 of our money. the other 1000 will go towards xmas, rego and getting a couple of teeth fixed
as for paying for c/sections....only if you go to private hospital. i had emergency thru public and it did not cost a cent

[Pippi Longstocking]

A VS with a brand new motor you say eh...? I suspect it would have had to have broken down in order to get the motor replaced....see my point?

[FourAngelKisses]

Yes, but the new motor would last a lot longer than an old motor.

[suemp]

it actually had a new motor in it as the people who owned it did alot of kms for business travel (over 300000) and wanted to replace it. my dp is a mechanic as well as my fil so im lucky to not get stuck with a **** car but we all know someone who knows someone that could help.

[jessgray]

we are in the market for a car our current one is on the way out. DP is going up to ballarat monday to see the one his friend is selling its a VR commodore or something i dunno. i know jack all about cars lol DP tried to explain to the difference between our current car and the VR his friend is selling but i tuned him out once he started talking car jargon lol the car has just been done up and DP hasnt seen it since it was done up so if DP likes it the baby bonus will be going towards the car lol coz we need a new one. our current one is not reliable and there is so much wrong with it.

[Mum&bubs]

If you have a good look around & dont rush out and buy the first thing you see, you might get a bargain. Once we brought a car for $3000 and found out later it was worth $6000 and only ever had one small problem with it which was easily fixed. Good luck :hugs:

[Hokey Pokey]

Car sounds like a good idea, my sister did that too.

[Briannabear]

In my opinion the bonus is there to help your family out with any expenses related to your expanding family. I would definately say that includes a car for you.:yes:
I say use it for whatever you feel you need! :D

[wannabemum]

I think you are being sensible by buying a car with that money, I would spend the majority of the $4000 on a car however just so you can get a safe and reliable one, make sure you have a look around to see whats on offer, cheap on fuel, cost for parts etc! You will want your own car one bub comes along, if its raining, too hot etc you dont want to be lugging yourself and the pram all the way to public transport. You also need to think about if there is an emergency (god forbid)! I say go the car! it will benefit your baby as well as you!!!!!!!!!!!!