Discount shopping!

I went to the auto shop yesterday... for those who weren't in the loop earlier, my timing belt was declared shot during a smog check, so I needed to get it replaced. Estimated time, including a smog re-testing: between four and five hours. Estimated cost: $421.41. So I arrive at 8am, armed with parental permission to drain the credit account and a good chunk of homework to keep me busy. I drop off the car, head off to the nearest quiet place with tables (a McDonald's), and blow through my Japanese assignments in about two and a half hours. Then I decide to see how the car's doing. As soon as I come within eyesight, the mechanic starts waving me over, and I start thinking "Oh great, what now?" ...And it turns out that the timing belt wasn't in as nearly bad shape as they initially thought, and they just had to readjust it. They'd already finished both that and the re-test. Total cost: $48.65. *silent thanks*