For most people, ability and need to replace the vehicle is a much bigger determining factor on if one should carry comprehensive coverage than value of the vehicle covered.

If you only have 1 car and you cannot afford to replace that car if it were totaled or stolen and not recovered, then it doesn't matter if the car is worth $2000 or $200,000, you need comprehensive coverage.

Except if the car reaches the point where the $250 book value the insurance company will pay you for it after deducting the deductible is nowhere near what it would cost to replace it you're better off to save the extra premium and figure if it's totaled, you just have to get another car.

The people who need insurance the most are usually the ones who can afford it the least. I think that's generally true of all kinds of insurance. The people who can pay a high premium without thinking about are probably the ones who could replace the item on their own if they had to.

Digression. Sometimes charming, sometimes not.

That's not true. After buying my car I could not have afforded to replace it if it was totaled or stolen, otherwise I would have bought two. And the big premium was probably only $35 more than what it would have cost for liability only. The difference might be greater if I chose to carry only the minimum state requirement. Regardless, $400 or so a year was cheap compared to the alternative.

Many insurance companies offer a rider too if you
get comprehensive and the vehicle is totaled
they give you the value to get a vehicle that is
1, 2 or 3 years newer then your current vehicle.

*bad mood and posted something I probably shouldn't have.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2014 03:46AM by bgriffin.

$400 a year might be cheap if you have it. Many don't. I know a woman who had to sell her wheelchair to pay the electric bill once. You think she's worried about how she'll replace a car if it gets stolen? She's worried about how to feed herself and her adult handicapped daughter on $23 a week in food stamps. You think she's got an extra $35 a month for comprehensive insurance?

Come down and mingle with the common folk now and then. It might just alter your perspective a bit.

Why in the world would I want to do that?

We all have to live with our lifestyle choices. Living while on the road working can be incredibly expensive. Covering unexpected mishaps can eat into your cash reserves quick. I accepted a job to work out of town for a few weeks at a time for 2 years, I was paid a flat per day rate for the tech work I was doing, and all my expenses were my problem. I had my van breakdown on the highway, I had to call AAA and have it towed and repaired on my dime. Blew out a tire, same deal. Pick a motel that you decided you need to leave a few hours later do to the " transient" nature of the young ladies in the rooms adjacent, all my expense. Two motel bills for one night. I never slept in my van.
While it all sounds very footloose and free, it takes large cash reserves and a very dependable vehicle. Living in a Wal-Mart parking lot may be free,( you are only supposed to stay one night, not treat it like a campground.) Safety is a major risk. For any female on the road, she is open to any number of problems, some just because she is female.
There are major financial responsibilities that you have to accept. AAA or another type of towing service, great full coverage insurance, correct licensing, title for vehicle, all legitimate, a valid ID, and knowing some of the regulations of the state you are going into.( Using the great outdoors as a bathroom can get you a fine in some places). Have every little legal loophole closed. It is the gotchas that will get you. As a courier, if I work in IL, I have to pay a permit fee there to be legal. I choose not to accept any Il. work.
If you are broke, you need to stay rooted for a while in one place and build up cash reserves to cover all the unexpected money pits that you will eventually have. I accept that times are hard, the last time I looked, the Golden Goose has not made any deposits in my yard. I accept additional work every day, that I may not want to do, just for the privilege to keep living indoors with a toilet that flushes and the option to take a shower at my leisure.
I noticed in a previous posting that you felt $400 was acceptable cash reserves to hit the road with. For traveling for work away from home in my home state, I carry 2 high limit charge cards, a few hundred dollars in cash, plus two ATM cards for different financial institutions. Also every kind of insurance imaginable. Things happen, don't hit the road unless you are ready to cover all unexpected needs. What if one of the dogs gets sick? Ever hear of a cheap emergency vet? I don't know of one. What if you get sick?
Dreams are what makes life worth living, but to live them, you have to be prepared for the fact that they may become nightmares.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2014 05:31PM by cindy55.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> $400 a year might be cheap if you have it. Many
> don't. I know a woman who had to sell her
> wheelchair to pay the electric bill once. You
> think she's worried about how she'll replace a car
> if it gets stolen? She's worried about how to
> feed herself and her adult handicapped daughter on
> $23 a week in food stamps. You think she's got an
> extra $35 a month for comprehensive insurance?
>
> Come down and mingle with the common folk now and
> then. It might just alter your perspective a bit.

Really at this point aren't you just trying to be argumentative and hard to get along with?

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > however, I
> think she is a dynamic writer and should give up
> MSing and write about her travel and experiences.
>

We all may be chapters in Gypsy's upcoming best seller.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Come down and mingle with the common folk now and
> then. It might just alter your perspective a bit.


HUH?

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dspeakes Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Come down and mingle with the common folk now
> and then. It might just alter your perspective a bit.
> >>>>
> HUH?


She is upset that we have invited her to our private
1 percenter parties that you, me, LisaSTL and bgriffin
have on a bi-weekly basis.

They're great parties too! So good I never even remember them the next day.

There are parties that I'm not invited to????

Chix Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are parties that I'm not invited to????


Hey, no fair! Please invite me! I'll bring chips!!!

Shaking my head and leaving.

(heart)

techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AustinMom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dspeakes Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > > Come down and mingle with the common folk now
> > and then. It might just alter your perspective
> a bit.
> > >>>>
> > HUH?
>
>
> She is upset that we have invited her to our
> private
> 1 percenter parties that you, me, LisaSTL and
> bgriffin
> have on a bi-weekly basis.

Mert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Digression. Sometimes charming, sometimes not.


Passive Aggressiveness. Sometimes humorous. Sometimes not.

kamarkim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chix Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There are parties that I'm not invited to????
>
>
>
> Hey, no fair! Please invite me! I'll bring
> chips!!!


Chix and Kamarkim ~ They are not THAT kind of party.

The question is burning in my brain. But I don't have the nerve to ask......

What question? I cannot keep up anymore. What is the question?

She wants to know what kind of parties they are. And yet, at the same time she's scared to know what kind of parties they are.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> She wants to know what kind of parties they are.
> And yet, at the same time she's scared to know
> what kind of parties they are.


Maybe it's a Texas Tea Party. Yea!!

Uh, that would be no.

Drunken brawls would be my guess.


As for the response to my post about knowing people who don't have a pot to piss in and for whom an extra $400 hit on their insurance bill would be out of the question.... y'all don't choke on your silver spoons, okay?

The arrogance shown by some of the people on this forum is frankly shocking, to say the least.

Nice to know you all have tons of money, high limit credit cards, and a good safety net under you. But there are people who have to mystery shop just to survive, not to thrive, and I find your attitude nothing less than snobbish.

gypsymonkey is not on vacation, seeing America from her truck because this was on her bucket list. This is how she lives, because she doesn't need as much to survive in her truck as she would if she had a house and a mortgage and utility and insurance bills. I'm sure if she had a "high limit credit card" to fall back on this would all be just an amusing adventure to her. But this is how she survives. Maybe it was her choice, and maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was the only thing she could do.

I know my friend didn't sell her wheelchair to pay the electric bill because she was tired of the squeaking of the wheels. It was all she had that she could sell at the time. Her daughter also had a wheelchair, so now they share one between them.

Be grateful for what you have, and try not to look down your noses quite so much at those who have nothing and for whom daily survival is a struggle.

And yeah, I pointed out the snobbishness of assuming everyone can just come up with another $400 a year for insurance because I wanted to be argumentative and hard to get along with. Nice catch, bgriffin. I thought maybe nobody would be astute enough to notice that.

Well, this post has taken on a different more positive life. The life at the party is good. Unlike the "where are the men"" party, it has been closed down.

Well, now, that's a wee bit harsh and perhaps just a little over the top. I've been real poor, dspeakes, as in living in a gutted out school bus with white bread and miracle whip for two major food groups and no prospect of a better tomorrow. Don't you mess with me about silver spoons and such. Just because you're in a snit is no reason to get ugly and say such things as above.

I thought you were a mature woman but I was wrong. I for one have had enough of your nonsense. We're not interested in constant argument over nothing and getting a tongue lashing every time you get twisted. You may know some poor people but you're not really poor, you're just poor mouthing, and there's a real big difference. You don't give a rat's behind about Gypsy or anybody else. You're just here to fight. Have at it.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, now, that's a wee bit harsh and perhaps just
> a little over the top. I've been real poor,
> dspeakes, as in living in a gutted out school bus
> with white bread and miracle whip for two major
> food groups and no prospect of a better tomorrow.
> Don't you mess with me about silver spoons and
> such. Just because you're in a snit is no reason
> to get ugly and say such things as above.
>
> I thought you were a mature woman but I was wrong.
> I for one have had enough of your nonsense.
> We're not interested in constant argument over
> nothing and getting a tongue lashing every time
> you get twisted. You may know some poor people
> but you're not really poor, you're just poor
> mouthing, and there's a real big difference. You
> don't give a rat's behind about Gypsy or anybody
> else. You're just here to fight. Have at it.

Excuse me???? Have you actually read this thread? People were talking trash about gypsy, suggesting she was lying about things, and saying that her insurance should cover a rental car and pay for the stolen truck and when someone suggested she might not have comprehensive insurance the response was that of course she should have it, it's only $35 a month, as if anyone can pull $35 out of thin air just because some of the judgmental people here think they should tell her how to spend what little money she makes.

I sure didn't carry comprehensive when I was driving a $1600 14 year old Plymouth when I was on a tight budget. Some people just have to take the risk and hope they are lucky. Not because they're gamblers but because they don't have a choice.

I point out that $400 is a lot of money to some people, that not everyone has a high-limit credit card in their wallet, and you've got the nerve to say I don't give a rat's behind about Gypsy or anybody else??

And how dare you say I don't care about the poor. You don't know a damn thing about me or the extent of charitable work I do.

I am not here just to fight, but I will not stand by while someone gets beaten up by the clique on this forum who thinks they know everything. Someone has a bad day and is in trouble and bleeding and instead of showing some empathy it turns into a feeding frenzy of disbelief and accusations. Sorry, but I don't back down from bullies. I never have and I never will. But you just read back through this thread and see who was throwing the punches and who was defending the victim.

My "silver spoons" comment was directed primarily at Lisa, not at you. Lisa is the one who thinks $35 a month is nothing and anyone should be able to add that to their insurance premium to get the kind of insurance Lisa thinks everyone should have. I would think that if you have suffered poverty, you might be a little more sympathetic and a little more supportive of someone who stands up and defends someone who is obviously anything but wealthy.

There are a lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet in this country. I don't just know several of them, I actively help them. And I don't appreciate when they get mocked by people who think everyone should live like they do. Some people on this thread have shown gypsy no respect whatsoever. Pardon me for sticking up for her when others were too busy doubting her story to consider that maybe she might not have the resources others do.

Funny. Most of what I read throughout this thread was tons of compassion, well wishes and prayers towards GM, as well as legitimate offers of assistance.....

I'm with Mary on this. Have you read your posts? Read them again and try to think about HOW you are saying things to make your point. I have read the thread without making any comment. My comment now is not about people's life choices or about this thread or the political or "human interest" topics. My comment is about those who come here to judge and lecture and make every thread an argument. I'm hearing a total lack of respect for other posters, name calling, snippiness, and bullying. The condescending attitude is over the top. Like Mary, I think it's nonsense and I'm so over it.

I know how important it is to have the last word so spend the morning crafting that next argument. But surely there aren't just two of who are over the nonsense.