The cars in the pictures above are certainly nice looking. When they are new, shiny, and have that outgassing vinyl smell, they are fun to acquire. But, there is also the unseen part of leaving the car in the parking lot all day while you work to pay it off. The insurance for a new car like that is generally higher, too. So, it looks sexy. Modestly priced? - not in my book. It will take 5 years of high monthly payments to get near paying it off. Then, it's 5 years old - time for a newer, sexier car. So, the cycle starts again. It's even difficult to get the loan in the first place unless you have a well paying job. Sorry to rain on the parade here. We've got to come to the conclusion that shiny sheet metal does not a car make. A car is a necessity in todays commuter world. But, a 10 year old Toyota Corolla will get you to work and sit in that parking lot the same way. The dashboard may have a few cracks and the muffler may have a leak in it, but, you get it for a few thousand dollars and you're done with the payments. Nobody steals it - so insurance is cheap. You use the tool to get to work and accumulate money for something else that's fun. Why else work? Who do you know that owns a maserati grantourismo? Is he so much more happy?
We watch the ads, get brainwashed into wanting it, try to find a job with which to pay for it, get so upset if someone touches it in the parking lot, go home and watch TV along with the commercials to relax. We also read the car magazines with the ads for these very powerful cars in the doctor's and dentist's waiting rooms - while we worry whether that root canal will be necessary. The dreams of having these cars fills the time with happier thoughts. Isn't marketing fun? Are you the rock star when you drive one of these cars? It's like being in the NFL, making the millions, while trying to keep your knee from cracking. I could be that guy if I just could gain the 100 lbs of muscle. Dream on, fellow bloggers. I'm sure it's all worth it.
It's only a car. There are millions of them on the streets. The ones that stand out are the ones that get stolen and have high insurance premiums. You do pay a lot of money for the sexy part. It makes you feel cool. But, in fact you are working you ass off to make the payments. What's cool about that? After you get used to driving it to work every day, you start reconsidering if it was worth it. OK, TechGuy likes his sports car and having people notice him at the stop light. He has luckily paid for it before he ran out of money. Is he working now? Can he afford to drive the car across the country?
Buy what you want. Don't buy what you think you need before you get into the driving commuter mentality. You will still have bosses to deal with and the things that make work stressful. You sexy car won't fix that.
Nothing is quite the same as one imagines it to be. Do you remember all the facts and situations that happened at the prom? Was it that important in the rest of your life? Cars, stereos with big speakers, those nifty ski bindings, the painting you did in high school, the song you wrote with your garage band. The money you make and spend on toys is OK if you've covered your other expenses. How many of us have all those expenses covered until retirement. That's if you plan your retirement well. Oh yeah, what about the economy in the tank?
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We also read the car magazines with the ads for these very powerful cars in the doctor's and dentist's waiting rooms - while we worry whether that root canal will be necessary. The dreams of having these cars fills the time with happier thoughts. Isn't marketing fun? Are you the rock star when you drive one of these cars? It's like being in the NFL, making the millions, while trying to keep your knee from cracking. I could be that guy if I just could gain the 100 lbs of muscle. Dream on, fellow bloggers. I'm sure it's all worth it.
Buy what you want. Don't buy what you think you need before you get into the driving commuter mentality. You will still have bosses to deal with and the things that make work stressful. You sexy car won't fix that.
Just give me money - that's what I want.
Cars, stereos with big speakers, those nifty ski bindings, the painting you did in high school, the song you wrote with your garage band. The money you make and spend on toys is OK
if you've covered your other expenses. How many of us have all those expenses covered until retirement. That's if you plan your retirement well. Oh yeah, what about the economy in the tank?