Help! $3k in cc debt, need to reduce interest and need a new car!

[NRB525]

Thanks for sharing, that's important details that you seem fully aware of.

Still, go meet with a local CU, they may be able to help with a lower APR on your current CC balance. 

A rebuilt transmission may last longer than you expect. As noted by others, keep up with the maintenance and see how it goes. 

[CreditBones]

I would suggest you to Google the Discover Pre-Qual website link, and see if you get an offer with a solid APR % rate (instead of a range of APR%) If so, apply for it.
If approved, you can then balance xfer at 0% for 12 months.

Pay for the tranny repair with your savings.

In the course of the 12 mo., realocate the $150 pymt towards the bal xfer, join a cred union, add your direct deposit with them, deposit you tips, and add them as income on next year's taxes (do the same for 2021. It will help you down the road with DTI% when req'ing the car loan).

As soon as direct dep processes, ask about a 1 yr small secured personal loan ($250 -$500) to establish a good cred relationship with them.

As soon as your bal xfer gets close to the 12 mo, pay off the remaining of your small secured pers loan, and request a 2 to 5 yrs. unsecured pers loan for the remaining of the bal xfer, and pay off the Discover.

At that time, you can also req a cred limit increase on both, Discover and Cap1.

You will end up with 2 unsecured CCs in good standing, 1 closed secured pers loan paid as agreed, and 1 open personal loan being paid as agreed. Those are 4 accounts in good standing at the end of 12 months.

6 months down the road you can req auto loan pre-qual with the cred union. Now you have cred hist with them, steady income, and tax documents to support a better DTI%. If approved, sell your car, use the money as dwn pymt, and jump into a better ride.

[Shooting-For-800]

Reward yourself with a car AFTER you pay off all your credit cards.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others about paying down/off this debt before worrying about replacing your car, don't put the cart before the horse. Tackle those problems as they arrise and hope that they don't until much later when your situation improves. 

Aside from the Credit Union advice, another option might be to look into banking SUBS. That's more of an out of the box solution that may or may not be for you. However, if you have access to direct deposit through your Employer and can meet the minimum requirements I think it's something to look into. That's the quickest way to raise Money aside from a second job, which you may have to get given the industry you're in and teh uncertainty of it. An extra $200-300 is nothing to sneaze at if you can reasonably meet the SUB requirements specified. 

[satio]

I am unsure what you do for a living, you overall income/living expense scenario, and what spare time you have but 3k debt is not too great of a hurdle.

As some before me have suggested,  I would probably maintain the 2k savings buffer if that is all you have, maybe toss 500-1000 at Cap1 balance but maintain the rest.

Are there extra shifts you can take on at work or perhaps a second part time gig you might undertake to boost income to tackle this?

In my own personal recovery, my path to success included doing odd handyman jobs which now has developed into an extra 30-40k per annum in side jobs. I cleared 3k alone in the last few months just in mowing 5 lawns on regular basis though we are about to enter winter.

"handyman" may not be your cup of tea but there are other part time gigs.

Where are you located?