Completely off topic

[shnikes17]

Okay, I know this doesn't have too much to do with fitness, but I'm going to make it relate. My husband and I just bought a new car. Well, it's a 1998, but it's new to us. I'm very nervous about this because he's starting law school in August, and I don't make a doctor's salary

Money will be tight, but I know it was the right thing to do. My car is 12 years (85,000 miles)old and his had 145,000 miles on it (both are paid off), so we're selling his and keeping my old one. I need some encouragement here. We figured it is better to buy one now before they both die on us and we have nothing reliable.

I bring this up because we figured out in our budget where we'd have to cut back to come up with the monthly payment. For one, I won't have a gym membership for the first time in 7 years

I can handle this only because of my new love for videos. But, I will only be able to buy a video about once every three months now. Someone please just reassure me that we will be better off for giving up the gym membership and video buying because we'll have a reliable, safe car. Okay, thanks. Sorry for this really random topic.

Emily

 

[LisaG]

Emily - everything will be okay...

First of all, I can tell you from personal experience not to worry about dropping the gym membership...I have NEVER in my life had a gym membership and I feel I am in better shape than several of the people I know who do have gym memberships. (The only time I've used gyms is at a hotel while on vacation or 3 or 4 times when I got a one-day guest pass to a friend's gym).

Secondly, if you already have a pretty high supply of exercise videos (and who among us doesn't?), you should have adequate workouts available on tape to get you through until your quarterly tape allowance is up...I often will not buy any tapes for 6 months or even a year and then buy several all at one time which in my lean years (money-wise) meant only getting 4-5 new exercise tapes per year...So, it can be done, believe me!

Also, don't forget about the VF exchange where you could swap with someone to get some of the tapes you want but can't afford.

Third and finally...Hey, you've got reliable transportation now and that's pretty darn important -OR- you could just walk or cycle everywhere and make that your workout and forget about the new car (well maybe not

).

Anyway, hope this helps...being a vidiot is a great way to exercise!!

Lisa

 

[shnikes17]

Thanks Lisa

I know things will be okay, it just helps to hear it. I really like these forums because I feel like I get such great advice and encouragement on them. Thanks again

 

[trevor]

in the same boat emily!

Hey Emily!
We just did the same thing. My wife's old honda just went up with the transmission going bad. It is 10 yrs old and transmission wouldve cost more than car is worth. So.....we sold it, kept my car which is 9 yrs old and bought a 98 ford explorer. We are used to not having car payments also so it will be an adjustment like anything else. Plus we have a baby coming in Jan. Things like these just require some adjusting that's all. Youll be fine girl! Dont get yourself in a knot over it. Perhaps theres someplace free yu can workout in place of the gym?? Like a workplace fitness center? That's what I do.

And even if there isn't i'm sure you'll be fine with doing yur tapes. Also...you may become more creative with yur workouts!!
I'll close by saying -- hang in there, others are going thru the same types of things. Just part of life.

Feel free to mail me if you'd like to! Always up for another email buddy.
Take care.
Trevor

 

[susan p]

Hi Emily!!

E-mail me anytime you need some fresh tapes. I can mail you something I have that you don't and you can mail me something you have that I don't. That seems to work, hehe!! Temporary trading!

Budgetary woes are truly frustrating. In a perfect world we would all have all the money we need for anything we want. But since we don't, we have to finagle a little bit. I'm a good finagler. . . Is finagle even a real word?? Anyway, e-mail me anytime you want something I have and that'll make your honey's law school years just a leetle bit easier!

 

[shnikes17]

Hi Trevor and Susan

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Susan, I'm sure I'll take you up on that offer. I think finagle is a real word because my husband used it plenty of times when we were trying to get a good deal on a car

I just kept my mouth shut and let him do the finagling. I think I'm just a little stressed because we are moving to Little Rock, Arkansas as well. That's 1000 miles away from us right now, and that's a huge ordeal. With all of you here for support, it makes me rest a little easier. Thanks

Emily

 

[DebbieH]

Leave it to Susan...

...to jump right in there and offer her videos on loan. (Thanks again Susan-I HOPE to be able to use CS&T and BB&A's starting next week. I had a set-back after surgery and I am truly hoping to get back to my w/o's after this week!!8 days off sooo far has been a real downer.) Hang in there Emily and like very one said, we are here if you need us.

 

[Debra]

good opportunity

Quitting the gym was one of the smartest things I've done. I was scheduling my life around gym classes & was often frustrated with the quality, the perpetual tardy starts, etc. Nothing beats a great instructor in a live class, but Cathe on video beats 98% of the live classes. I missed the weight machines & the comradery that a group provides, but I'm a much stronger hiker & cyclist now. My DH & I started doing a lot more fitness activities together.

Emily, it seems that it's the entire situation that's frightening. Grad school is a great bonding exercise. Your husband is entering an academic boot camp & the shared experience allows for some great friendships to develop. You'll probably find workout partners with his classmates or their spouses. You will have a support group.

Following up on Trevor's idea, have you checked out the recreational facilities at the school? Most are pretty good, & usually the fees are really low. Also look into recreational clubs: cycling, rowing, etc. Many are free & give you a chance to meet locals.

By the way, I love the security of a new car!

 

[kimz]

here's one for you

money, money, money and lack thereof. Don't I know it. We NEED a new car desparately as mine is 1991 and starting to fall apart. Hopefully, in the fall that will happen but I am not holding my breath.

Anyway, so times are tight and I really need to afford some new runners, Cathe's new tapes and just life things in general and what does my 7 (soon to be 8) year old son do. He breaks the picture window of the house shooting a rock with his hockey stick! He really has no concept of the $200 to $300 that will cost to repair and I was quite furious let me say. I just looked at him and said, "I guess you can forget about any kind of birthday present from us this year". Mean huh but I really don't think anything else will really get the point of dealing with one's actions and the consequences quite like that will. I mean it does not take a rocket scientist to know that you don't aim a rock anywhere near the house with your hockey stick regardless of what you WERE aiming at and obviously missed.

I guess this is really off the topic but hey, a vent is a vent. And, I am still going to find a way to buy Cathe's new tapes.

Kim

 

[ErinF]

Hang in there!

There seem to be lots of us in the same boat here!

We too just had to get a new ( to us ) vehicle after 5 years with no car payments at all, so I know what you're feeling! Something that I did since I HAD to have Cathe's new videos, is I went through my collection and sold on ebay some of the videos that were just taking up space. I made enough to pre-order both Cathe's and Christi's videos ( Oh happy day!

). The video exchange is also a good idea. You might also want to keep an eye out at Goodwill or whatever thrift stores you may have in your area for small items that you could make a profit on by selling at ebay, and then designating any profits your video mad money. As everyone else was saying, a tight budget is a bummer, but there are ways to adjust and to work within your limits without totally depriving yourself!

Hang in there!

Erin

 

[sabella]

also, libraries

Sometimes they have really good fitness vid selections (some people have found Cathe's at their libraries, though I've never been so lucky, but I've seen Charlene Prickett's, Karen Voight's, and assorted yoga). It can at least break up the monotony, even if they don't have anything great.

And you could always borrow some books for new weight routines if you don't get too distracted without a tape to follow. I can handle books for weights sometimes, and if I had to make a choice, I'd rather spend the small video budget on cardio.

Good luck with all the changes going on in your life! And take Susan up on that temporary trade offer! She's great with those. That's how I tried my first Cathe cardios (already had MIS at the time).

Karen

 

[Lezly]

You don't really appreciate reliable transportation . . .

. . .until you don't have it!

My husband & I went for the first 8 years of our marriage with only one car & the first 4 with a car that sometimes wouldn't start. (The garage could never figure out what the problem was!) We would have to back into our parking space in case the car wouldn't start, he could push it & I would pop the clutch to start it! I never want to go through that again!!!!!

Also, I'm one of the lucky people whose library has Cathe tapes - of course I have almost all of them myself now, but it can be a really good source! We also have inter-library loans, so if your library doesn't have something, maybe another one close to you does.

 

[honeybunch]

I can dig!!!!

First of all, being poor, and facing cancelling the gym membership! I belong to a local Y, and use the membership only to use the weight room and the running track. You can get along with your tapes and a few dumbbells, honest.

we've all been there, chick!!!! It'll pass.

 

[Teresa]

I'm with Susan

anytime you want to try a new video please feel free to e-mail me and I will be more than happy to let you borrow some.
Lord knows I can't use them all at once!!
But my e-mail address is different than what is shown here. guess I need to go fix it.

[email protected]

Sorry I don't have any words of encouragement other than this too shall pass. You will soon be able to purchase your tapes again. In the meantime, take your vf friends up on the offer to let us share our tapes with you.

Teresa

 

[sandra murphy]

car first, gym second

for you and your family a safe, reliably starting car is the First priority! You chose wisely and videos will get you thru. Murph

 

[shnikes17]

Hi Teresa

I'm not sure if you figured it out, I'm the same Emily who got CC1 and Stepping Zone from you. Thank you so much for the offer and to everyone else who has been so kind. I can't believe the nice people that I have met since I've posted on this forum, VF, and Cathe. Things always work out somehow, and I appreciate all of your offers

Thanks!!

Emily

 

[Amy Steppe]

to Emily

My family has had only one car for about 9 months. My husband and I are fortunate to live very close to where we work. I have to use a car a lot for my job, and on the days I work out of town, he cycles or walks to work.

Anyway, I think having one good car is far better than having two unreliable ones. You are going to be fine! Instead of gyms just do your videos and come here for moral support. It works for me! Good luck to you and your husband during his education. It will pay off for you both handsomely. Education is a great investment in yourself and well worth the struggle. I doubled my salary when I obtained my masters degree, so hang in there, study hard, and stay fit!