Yep. When their kids tell you about leaving a tooth for the Tooth Fairy, be sure to tell them that $20.00 is what the Tooth Fairy always leaves. And all the kids, in your neighborhood have i-phones by the time they are 5.
Tell her you have been approved for 8 $10,000 limit credit cards that you will use and after the wedding you will declare bankruptcy and lose everything and of COURSE she understands you,your wife,and her loving sisters will need to move in with THEM( the newly weds). Only thing car related I would sell are the mufflers for the week-end when they are trying to sleep late and you need to do some early morning power timing!
I went through a 14 year saga with my last car, many times I thought I was making progress only to get screwed over because of my limited wrenching ability. A "Buick" mechanic that left my convertible which just had the body work done outside in Maine all winter and was hit in the fender by a plow truck. Then I stuck with him for another eight months paying him over $2k to install a motor and tranny into the car. I eventually came and towed it out with only the motor and tranny bolted in with the motor mounts welded in crooked. The story went on and on I eventually got the car to a point that it looked and ran great. There was so much negative history with the car I eventually sold it and bought the car I have now. I dumped all the baggage and haven't looked back. I say do what needs to be done. Follow your heart, the wedding is about their lives together it can be very nice without breaking the bank, or sending folks in debt. Good luck, my daughter is only 12 so I have a way to go before I am in similar shoes.
While a life threatening accident is nothing to sneeze at, this has the potential of ripping your family apart ~ perhaps even permanently. Don't play down your predicament because there is more to this story than money, and I'm not talking about the Buick either. I would immediately get off the treadmill of life and throw myself at this problem.
Man... I really feel left out! I outlived my whole family except a half sister and half brother whom I both dis-owned 30 years ago. We put the fun in dysfunctional. KIDS? YIKES!! No way, I always share the prize LOL. The common law wife treats me better than anyone of the previous 3 ever had a chance to and a couple of deadbeat step kids at 30+ are easy to say no to. LG. ws
No wedding is worth $80k. The wedding business is a rip-off racket. Have a small wedding with close family only, then throw a large and to notch "party" for $10-20k - just don't call it a wedding!
$70,000 too much. Talk to any decent financial planner and he/she will tell you that if you have the choice between paying for your child's college education and adequately funding your own retirement account, fund your retirement account. Do you really think that a wedding ceremony is more important then a college education? I don't know you, and I honestly wish you well, but unless you can write a check for this $80,000 wedding and not miss it, you have forfeited the right to complain about your financial situation for the rest of your life. This comment is meant as tough love.
Do keep us posted with the outcome here. Others may be able to benefit from all that is shared here in these posts.
Short story: my daughter attempted one of these surprise attack big dollar weddings on me. I told her I was good for $17,000. And that her mother, her husband-to-be's family, and herself should all put in the same amount that I was willing to do. After I paid $3600 for the wedding dress and agreed to the venue, I was out of money. She said that I should give her whatever she wanted. I told her that I could not. She uninvited me to the wedding. I later heard that she and her husband and the rest of that side of the family went through with the wedding and probably spent only about $5000. My daughter and myself remain estranged which only says to me, it was all about the money! But in my opinion, I think it all turned out great.
That's too bad. I have a daughter who thought she was entitled because of an exwife who couldn't say "NO" and stick to her guns. It never got past a few pissing contests with me, but I stuck to my limitations. After daughter's divorce, Mommy couldn't/wouldn't go to KY to watch her kids, at her house, when she went to the hospital. She offered to take them back to Michigan and have them at her home. Daughter had a fit and didn't speak to her mom, even though I told her she was wrong, for several years. Mommy received "Assbite 101" class.
Damn it..... Thought it might turn out better after all the quality advice. Yes, from me... but many others were reading from the same book and plenty were on the same page. .... GL to Scuba, hope all turns out well for you and yours. Jim
My daughter just got engaged. They are looking at venues. That's well and good. My family knows better than to look at what I built with blood sweat and tears over 20 years to pay for a one day event. I'll hock the house if need be but not to the tune of 80k that's nuts. Yes they are just cars but they are not replaceable my eyes are not what the once were and the body isn't either. Doubt I could do another restoration . Guess I'm a selfish bastard. I'll give both my girls a day they won't ever forget but it won't involve selling my dream cars restored by my own hands.
