Anyone else need their car repaired.. might as well fix yours too

I am so over fixing vehicles! Every month since September (at least) we have had to put over $150 into one of our cars.  Some months it was as high as $500!! We only have a certain amount of money to live on and hundreds and hundreds of car repair bills over and over again is killing us. Then don't even mention the fact that we helped out my mom when her car broke down (to the tune of $1500) and basically that was half our income for the next 3 months and we were expecting to have it back by the time we needed it.. Well unfortunatly now we are looking another car repair in the face and it looks like we won't have that money back before we need it..

I don't know why I try to help people out and then get myself screwed in the process.  People always lay guilt-trips on me and make me feel like if I don't help them (even when it is obvious we can't afford to) then i'm somehow a terrible person/daughter.  So I shell out money i don't have to keep the peace and end up in a situation a few months later where we are short on money and no one is able to come to our rescue.  I should probably just start being mean and telling people too bad that I can't afford to help them but I keep clinging to the hope that one day they will actually appreciate the help.  I know i'm naive.

Here is hoping for a fast tax-return and a little extra money to help us get by.