PERSONAL help for a fellow geek - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 05:10:55 pm
content: Please help one of our own.A fellow nerd down on his luck.http://www.gofundme.com/en2nxs

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 07:14:46 pm
content: AUS $10k to fix a head gasket

author: Wilksey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 08:50:11 pm
content: He certainly is down on his luck if someone quoted him $10K to fix a head gasket! Also, getting ripped off.Some FREE advice...get another quote!

author: GEuser
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 01:05:30 am
content: Imo , one is a embarrassment to M SL4P .M , welcome the club , and grow some gonads .

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 01:52:25 am
content: I'm over 60, have diabetes and a limited retirement income. My vehicle also needs new brakes and tyres.Please send money, I promise not to spend it on wine, women and song - I can't sing.I accept that my situation is my own fault, poor lifestyle and badly planned financial strategy. I can't see the point whining that someone else should fix it.

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 03:24:06 pm
content: Quote from: WilkseyHmmm, a post seems to have been deleted - apparently it was only $3200 for the gasket.That's still a sizeable quote for a head gasket - this is because (he's been told) the engine needs to be removed.Now that probably is the official line from Subaru but googling around suggestsit might not be necessary. It still looks to be a bitch of a job but probably do-able in a day by a competant mechanic so I'd expect that you could do a lot better than $3200 for the job.I don't want to be unsympathetic - I was out of work myself for 18 months not long ago - butAt $3200 it's not economic when (perusing some Aus 2nd hand car websites) the car is worth $1600 - $2k at best. Even if he had the money he'd be better off scrapping the car anyway. As it is an economic price for repair might be at most $800-$1k (OK, I know there's no practical difference between $800 and $3200 when you don't even have $100).As Wilksey asks - has he explored all avenues to getting the car fixed (cheaper mechanics, mechanics who will do it without taking the engine out, friends with a good toolkit)?Why is he being taxed on $400/mo income? - Aussie income tax rates are 0% for the first $18200 of income.And, ..... why not be more honest in the funding campaign about what the money will be used for?

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2014, 04:42:49 am
content: Even though many people moan & whinge in Australia about Centrelink,(the Social Service people),I have always found them very helpful.At worst,he can get "New Start allowance" which is a lot better than $400 a month.If older people are plainly incapable of searching for work,or working full time in a paid job,they are often offered the option of Voluntary work ,while still getting the "dole".When my wife lost her job,as she was in her 60s,& had problems with her joints,Centrelink gave her this option.This isn't cleaning road verges,but working part time for a registered charity.NewStart will be reduced by the $400 a month,but he won't be any worse off than someone who doesn't have,or can't access any Superannuation.He might be able to get a "Disability Allowance",but they have tightened up on that.Most superannuation funds have ways of accessing the whole amount,(which is probably considerably greater than $10,000) if you can prove extreme hardship,so that's another possibility.