Paying to get a car fixed sucks. Of course, it beats the alternative of not having a car or we wouldn't pay to get them fixed, right?
In reality, the suckiness has nothing to do with the car, but everything to do with money. We, as Americans especially, tend to think differently about money. We look at it as something that defines who we are, what we stand for and how we fit into our social groups. Remember... It's just paper and metal.
The sooner we realize that money is just a tool, the better off we'll be. It's no different than a shovel. We could get creative and dig a hole with just about anything if we had to, but if we have a shovel it makes things easier. If we really need to dig a hole, we'll find a way no matter what. However, if we run short on money, we panic. Instead of panicking, we really just need to be creative and find another way. Remember... it's just paper and metal.
Live your life looking at money as a tool, not as a definition of who you are. When you start defining yourself by the amount of money you have, rest assured that everyone else already has their definition of you. And theirs is probably more accurate than yours.
You're so much more than the money your make. Define yourself by your passions, not by your checking account. The person you are means so much more than the money you have.
[Just to be clear, a person's tendency to define themselves by the amount of money they have has absolutely nothing to do with how much money they have. "Poor" people define themselves by the amount of money that they have (or don't have) just as often as the "rich" do.]