So for as long as I can remember I have driven older and somewhat dodgy cars, usually they are hanging onto life by a thread by the time I get them - and they don't take long before they require major costly repairs, or just die and I am forced to have to buy another terrible car.
So I am beyond thrilled to be able to say that thanks to Steemit @ausbitbank and I have finally been able to purchase a new car, it is still a second hand car - but far newer than anything I've ever been able to afford.
Our new car was an investment for our family, we needed a larger car to be able to easily transport our children and all their therapy equipment and now we can - we needed a reliable car that could ensure they are able to keep their routine, rather than the constant breakdowns they have had to endure.
Just before we bought this car we had several major issues with the old one, not only did we have to urgently replace two tyres (another perfect example of how awesome steemit is) on separate occasions - just as recently as three weeks ago we were forced to buy a $200 battery for the car.
On top of all of this the old car just had the engine mounts go, the hand brake doesn't work at all (it's auto so we got by), the driver's seat was literally crumbling and had metal poking through the fabric (in Australia exposed metal burns/brands you), the roof lining was collapsed and you get showered with foam, the CV joints needed replacing, there was a dent on the front left that gouged the tyre when you hit bumps so that needed to be fixed, plus a whole range of more serious engine issues we couldn't justify paying to fix.
We did not want to spend any more money on this car, it has been a money pit and a major pain in the ass in general - but just to keep us mobile and on the road while we found the perfect car, cost us several hundred dollars.
Our cars have been money pits, we knew it was worth investing more money in a new car then continually replacing old ones - but until steemit we were not in a position to even consider this move.
I cannot explain how difficult life has been financially with two children with special needs, Steemit has changed our ability to be able to provide them a new level of stability and even comfort.
@ausbitbank and I are so grateful for all the assistance and support we have received from the community, without your constant generosity we would not be in this position - we owe it to all of you and can't begin to explain just what this means for our little family.
We have been a part of this amazing community for over a year now, @ausbitbank is now a witness and developer, I write fiction and am an Open Mic Judge - we have put in a lot of hard work and we saved all we could and now we have a new car, that really shouldn't break down anytime soon.
I am just so unbelievably happy, I never thought I would be in this position - let alone getting here by doing what I love, writing!
Steemit has given my family so many opportunities that never would have occurred if we hadn't joined, it has been a massive turning point in our lives - we decided early on we were here to stay, I have never been so glad of any decision we've ever made.
I just don't know how to explain how truly grateful we are, we don't live a lavish lifestyle and our family faces many restrictions with our childrens special needs - but this opens up whole worlds of possibilities for us.
As a sign of respect for the platform and appreciation for the fact we only have this car thanks to steemit, @ausbitbank and I have decided we will buy a magnetic decal advertising steemit for our new car - this is just our little way of saying thank you and trying to raise awareness of the platform.
So here it is our new car a 2011 Mazda CX-9, it's a seven seater this gives us some awesome options with the kids and their equipment - plus the leather seats have already made cleaning a much easier task!
It is what I would consider a luxury car, it has a really large reversing camera, built in sat nav, bluetooth phone integration, it even has voice integration (I haven't even tried to figure this out yet), factory sound system with built in sub in the boot, climate control and even heated front seats.
I can't even remember all of the features and I have a feeling this car is going to be a massive learning curve for me, but I just can't believe it we have needed this for so long and now to have it - it feels surreal.
I just can't say how thankful I am to each and every person who has supported both myself and @ausbitbank, we love this community and appreciate all it has done for us - thank you.
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