I can't afford a car then?

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I'm self employed, started my own business domestic cleaning 4 months ago. Has been doing really well, just gone up to 3 days a week.

My car is on its last legs, it has MOT due in March but it isn't worth saving as it's a 2006 model with a heap of problems.

I assumed I'd be able to get finance of some form but nope. Nowhere will accept me, being self employed without 6 months proof of earnings is working against me, plus I have bad credit from years ago.

This morning I decided to suck it up and ask my parents for a loan. They said no 🥴

Anyone been in a similar position? What did you do?
I'm worried that if I can't get a car sorted I won't be able to work and then I'll really be screwed.

Great! So if you could point me in the direction of a job that pays £16.50 per hour, is 9.30-3pm 3 days a week and requires no training that would be ideal. 🥴

Response meant for @pattihews

Why only 3 days a week?

Do you have scope to increase your clients?

In other words you can’t afford a reliable car, you need one that you will need to keep spending money on.

Is there an electric car scheme you would be suitable for, a friend of mine got one through the business they work for and got a tax break somehow as a result.

@kittensinthekitchen I have a 14m old. I'm working my way up but childcare is extremely expensive.

How far away are your cleaning clients? Could you cycle, for a few months at least?

Just ask your clients to use their vacuums,products etc, maybe try to bolster your income by getting extra clients even if just one offs, save as much as possible over the summer and maybe you'll be in a better position before winter to afford a car?

Hi OP

Your parents said no for a reason and you know what it is and I can guess and if I am wrong, sorry. IMO, they said no as you must be a dreamer and ahand to mouth type of person.

Carmoola ? Just seen it advertised - car loans. Maybe try them ?

Wow, judgmental and yet patronising. Well done.

Have to say that I agree with this. And it was cheeky asking your parents for money when your husband is able to finance you.

Try a few different garages. Not all mechanics are equal, some only want to simple jobs on new cars. Some will rely on fancy diagnostics, some will fleece you. Ours is fab, he is old school and always seems to be able to figure out a cheaper for things that the main dealership just want to replace for a fortune. Maybe ask at the local breakers yard, the mechanics who go there for old parts to patch up old vehicles are usually the best sort for this kind of thing.

Or leasing instead of buying - have you looked into that ?

Your DH can buy the car with credit, you can be insured as main driver. It’s no problem.

It sounded like you were a single parent family from your OP.

At the same time, you need to sort out your bad credit from years ago, so get your credit file from Experian and check how long before the defaults etc drop off (should be 6 years) and commit to saving some money in a credit union every month, which will give you access to a loan if you ever really need one.

I don't want to sound facetious, but what about a bike?

Moped for a few months?

Can you ask your parents to sort the finance side and you pay them each month?

You're an adult, you have to do that part yourself, OP.

I know you won't believe it, but I'm trying to find a way out for you that won't end up in disaster when you take out a three-year-loan to buy another secondhand car that packs up on you in 2 years' time. Or when you scrimp on insurance and then get faced with a litigious client who expects you to pay for the whole kitchen floor to be retiled when you drop a cast iron pan and break a couple of tiles. (This is a real-life example) Being self-employed is fraught with risks.

The way out is to find a job. People I know in your position have done things like evening work in supermarkets and bars or worked at the weekend when their partner is at home to cover childcare.

Thanks.
As a parent, we have given hundreds of thousands to our children. We did this as they had their own home and all have BTL's and on their own two feet. We even gave one of our kids 5k when at a young age he bought a lovely, nearly new big 7 seat SUV and he said he did it so we could go out in one car. Had he bought the car on hp, he would not have got a penny.
People need to learn to stand on their own two feet if they are able bodied and not beg parents for money,

How far away are the places you clean? Could you get a bike or moped?

If your DH has better credit, could he get a credit card and you buy an older car with that? If money is tight, getting a newer car in finance may not be a great idea

"Do I save all my money for a cheap car or do I save all my money for an auto electrician?"

If this is the actual question, then I think repairing your car is likely to be the cheapest way to get you back on the road. Start by getting another opinion or two from another garage. But IMO buying an old, cheap second hand car is a big throw of the dice and it is wise to expect it needs some money spent on it. People sell their car when they do for a reason - even if it's got a new MOT, they'll be thinking it probably won't get through the next one. Could be something big and expensive that's about to go.

If you had the cash to deal with it that would be fine, but in your situation I would be inclined to spend more than your car is worth to keep it going.

If your hard limit is £400 then I think it's probably an impossible problem. Even a service will be £200+ these days. But hopefully if DH can afford driving lessons and a car loan you have a bit more wiggle room.

Save as much as you can between now and the MOT
Put the car in for a test and see what it fails on
If it fails on lots then scrap cars still have a high value ATM then once you sell it for spares or repairs and take what you have saved you'll be able to find a cheap run about that will see you through a year or so
You don't need a brand new or nearly new car and there are plenty of second hand cars for sale
Car prices go up and down and personally I wouldn't have a brand new car on finance
Can your partner not do any of the repairs on your car?

If you really can't sort the car then you might have to limit your cleaning to local /reachable by public transport destinations and be the sort of cleaner who uses the clients hoover and cleaning products. This is what my cleaner used to do. Is that an option for the meantime or do you also need the car to get to your childcare?

Yes - this will work fine.

You just need to put both of you on the insurance.

If you started the business 4 months ago, have 2 months till you need a new car and will need 6 months proof of earnings then surely you'll meet that requirement by end of March?