Just a ventalating rant about how much my life sucks

My Duster is not what you would call reliable so I decided to try and depend on a newer car. So my dad decides he is going to help me and throw some money at a 91 ford tempo that would get about 22 mpg so it sounds great!!
But today, wouldn't you know it, we find more problems with the car that we decided that are not worth fixing, we are going to try to trade it in and get a dependable ride that I can drive to and from college.. we are now out $1000. I am starting to think I should have just fixed the transmission in the Duster.