Gregory H. in Henry County, GA

I am a college student. I consider myself pretty smart, but it’s only in the books. I’m not really world-smart. When things started to go south, I kept thinking I could just endure and it would go away, and every solution I ever came up with failed and made it worse.

I don’t qualify for any financial aid, and I only have enough money saved up for one more semester. My problem isn’t cash. I can make money. I can look for work and I’m confident that I will find it. But to have a job and to get to school requires what I don’t have: transportation. I’m too far from MARTA stations, and I don’t have a bike to get to them anyway. The two campuses at which I attend are 25 and 45 minutes away by car.

I sold the car that I had because it could not pass emissions and the parts needed were not longer manufactured. I never saw that coming, it was a 1996 Toyota. It shouldn’t have been too old for parts. What I bought, I admit is my mistake. It’s an even older Dodge Conquest, and it was the first car offered to me for my price. This is because I needed transportation immediately. I’d been looking for 6 weeks for a new car while still enrolled in school. I jumped on the first deal I could find. It’s been screwing me over since.

This car is even worse. It’s now a piece of junk in my front lawn.

I’m not asking for money to fix it. I think it’s beyond help. I’m not asking for money for school either. What I need is a car. Maybe you have a car that you plan to get rid of. Maybe it’s just fine except for a repair cost on one thing that’s, say, 800 or so bucks. I could fix that car if I sold mine.

I’m just looking for something reliable. Not perfect, but not so bad that I’m afraid to drive it or that it’s on the verge of something critically failing.

I am trying not to sound desperate, but I am. Though I have kept up with all my work this fall, I am failing a course, I withdrew from a course earlier this fall, and the other two are not looking good because of attendance. I am scared. School is really all I know. I am in a hole that I don’t know how to get out of, and I’m afraid that every time I try a “last resort” it will backfire and dig me even deeper, even when things couldn’t seemingly be worse.

If I could just get a car, or the money to pay for one (2000 at the most for something I know will work and last), then I can seek out work, continue school, and be okay. And, if I get the help I need, and it turns out down the road that I don’t have any need for my Conquest or the money I get from selling it, then I will put every dollar I get from it into MFIN.com

Please, it’s November. I literally have only weeks to find a solution. I have to attend class. I’ve gotten a light amount of grace from my teachers, but it won’t last. I’m digging into my college fund to pay for this listing.

A reliable car, or enough money to pay for one.

I’m giving out an alternate email address to handle contacts. If you wish to donate a car rather than money, it would mean the world to hear from you directly. Please contact cliche.jam@gmail.com to arrange details, and God bless you.