A GoFundMe for $13,000 to replace your car?
By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
January 13, 2018 3:21pm CST
Okay...one of my nieces had her car stolen today. It was recovered, but the thief wrecked it into a tree trying to get away from the police.
Now, I'm not quite sure if they didn't have insurance or what...but she and her husband started a GoFundMe drive...to replace the car...because they are short on money. (Just found out they did have insurance, but it's not enough to pay for the car they decided to buy)
But $13,000.00?
I don't get it.
You can buy a damn good used car for way less than that.
Don't know if they have to keep up 'appearances' or what, exactly.
Maybe it's just me...I always thought something like GoFundMe is for things you really need, not for what you want.
But I'm a grumpy old man. 
32 people like this
34 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85296)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Jan 18
Feel so bad for them, that's an awful situation. =( A vehicle is needed now a days, but maybe not an expensive one.
6 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85296)
• Valdosta, Georgia
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake I know, I did say not such an expensive one. 
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (47181)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake But people don't have to fund the gofundme account. They can refuse.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
Yeah, a vehicle is needed, but just a working one...asking people for $13,000 to buy a car is just wrong on so many levels
6 people like this
@rebelann (114273)
• El Paso, Texas
13 Jan 18
Heyyy there ya go @JolietJake
I can't believe people actually give others money to go to college or buy appliances, hmmm, maybe I could take some classes on building computers, that's one of those types of classes not granted to senior citizens, I guess they fear we'd become millionaires 
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (164672)
• United States
14 Jan 18
And I shall join you in the land of grumpiness. I believe "gofundme" is terribly abused and misused.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (100339)
• United States
13 Jan 18
That's downright crazy. You can get a nice, used one with a reasonable amount of miles on it for less than half that.
Being a pastor doesn't exactly pay well, so to make ends meet my dad would find good used cars for people and they would pay him a little to do it (he started doing it for free, and then people just started to give him a couple hundred dollars each time) I've got a 2002 Honda CRV with 30,000 miles on it.
And if you are a grumpy old man you are an adorable one.
4 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
I don't understand what they are doing...a $13,000 car is not a necessity
2 people like this
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
13 Jan 18
Sounds like they expect it handed to them. Now yes insurance wont cover half of the cost. But they will get a few thousand and buy a car. Example if my car was destroyed today then i would buy a few thousand $2,000 from insurane even $5,000 loan. But many who start these accounts tend to have bad credit and noone will cosign. I wouldnt even blink an eye as i need a car to get to work.
3 people like this
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake Exactly! My view is if you get one you cant payoff reasonable and someone hit you or steals it then you have to still pay it.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
Exactly, I would be buying something that was serviceable for my needs, not trying to get something more than what I need.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49980)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Jan 18
Not as grumpy or as old as I am, and I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
Myself, I'd take the insurance money, pay off what I still owed on the wrecked car, and buy something relatively inexpensive for now.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49980)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake But that makes too much sense for some people.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102107)
• India
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake True, but donors would not know how much another person donated. So it should be obligatory on part of the one receiving to pay as much over a period, to different persons, clearing the entire debt. That way others also receive help, and these people would also have got what they want, and the chain would continue. What I am saying is, if A gets 100 then over a period he pays to B, C, D, E 25 each and clears the debt. Those B C D E would also get from others. Effectively, they would get more than what they need, and continue the chain.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
@vandana7 You have the option to make your donation anonymous although many allow their names to show.
I personally don't think they will get much, because they aren't trying to get something they need but something they simply want.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
I just think it is ridiculous that they are starting one to pay for a car that costs that much. They could have got a perfectly good car for $5,000 or less, and I would have donated for that
3 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
14 Jan 18
Isn't a car something you really need? I think you are a grumpy old man.
2 people like this
@Srbageldog (7716)
• United States
14 Jan 18
Yeah, you can find used cars for way cheaper than that...although a lot of people ask for that crazy amount for their used (not even in good condition) vehicles out here. You just have to look around a bit to find a good deal and then jump on it before it's gone (at least here, in my town, anyway.)
People seem to feel liberal in the amounts they ask for on GoFundMe, and they often start campaigns for non-essential things. (Cars, family vacations, weddings, etc.) Some seem to view it as a means to get rich quick, even.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (358110)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 18
@JolietJake I would NEVER ask for funds from something like GoFundMe for anything for myself. The only reason might be if an immediate family member needed help with medical issues but I can't really imagine doing that either.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
Hell, I drive a 32 year old van I paid $500 for...been driving it since 2013 at least. I'd love to have something nicer, but if I can't afford it...and I don't really need it...I sure am not gonna embarrass myself asking people to help me get it.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
I've seen it work here (in the USA) but for people that actually needed help for something important. Having a car is important, having a $13,000 car is not important.
@MikesAngel317 (355)
• United States
13 Jan 18
I agree that a GoFundMe should be used for things that you really need, such as medical expenses for a surgery that you have to have.
And yes, 13,000? I think they are asking for a bit too much. You should be able to find a good working used vehicle for less than 6,000.
2 people like this
@cttolledo (5451)
• Legaspi, Philippines
14 Jan 18
I agree. My pride can't take it if I were in their shoes. I can't beg money for a car because I can live without it.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (47181)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Jan 18
Is the $13,000 to fix their current car or to buy a new one?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (47181)
• Staten Island, New York
13 Jan 18
@JolietJake Oh. Here's what I think.... If you can't afford to get a certain car then you don't get it. That's it! Get what you can afford or nothing at all. To start a gofundme campaign for this is crazy. Wonder how many people will be crazy enough to donate, unless maybe they are close family.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
13 Jan 18
@lovebuglena She's my niece but no way am I going to. If they were being reasonable and just trying to get a decent car, I would help.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118743)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Jan 18
I got a 2011 kia soul for $2800 and Tony got a Ford Ranger for $2600, For $13,000 I could buy a new car.
No way I would donate, I got better sense.
2 people like this
@thedevilinme (4318)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 18
they aint going to get 13 grand
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
14 Jan 18
No, they probably won't, and I should hope they don't.
They have $35.00 so far.
@thedevilinme (4318)
• Northampton, England
14 Jan 18
@JolietJake they can buy your car then
1 person likes this
@taciaelisepeace (1808)
• United States
14 Jan 18
The reasons people use gofundme are rediculous. I had a some family members, 3 working adults and 1 kids in a household. One person got let go due to physically not being able to perform the job. They offered to continue to pay her for the next month. She raised a huge stink on social media bashing the company's name and everything. So of course they withdrew the offer to continue to pay her. So they started a gofundme for $10000 to pay for "a month's worth of basic bills". Mind you the other two have jobs, they live in the cheapest apartment you can possibly find, and had a month to figure it out. So they are not that much in need.
2 people like this
