Many Americans spend a great deal of money when they purchase a car. Mainly this is because they finance their purchase.
When you borrow money to buy something that loses value, this is a bad idea. And nearly all cars do lose value over time.
A car is conveyance, meant to get you from place to place. And pretty much all cars depreciate. It’s not smart to pay interest on something that is worth less and less, you end up wasting money. Follow these rules instead to make a wise purchase the next time you need a car:
Don’t finance. You are probably going to want more car than you can afford. At car dealerships, there is a loan officer there ready to help us get this car anyhow.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense but it doesn’t have to. Buying a car is often an emotional thing. People get very attached to their cars, they get proud of their cars, and they want cars that are nice and shiny and new. Because of these emotional reactions, we can be talked into taking out loans with horrible terms and extreme interest rates. We pay much more for our cars as a result.
Never lease a car. Leasing a car is like renting an apartment. You are paying to use something but not toward owning it. Plus, dealerships figure you won’t take care of a car you aren’t going to own so they add more cost to the lease to cover damage.
It’s a bad bet. You pay top dollar, for a car and for damage you may not even do to it, and in the end you have nothing to show for your money.
Don’t get a new car. A car that is new sells for a hefty premium just by virtue of not being preowned. This value – the ‘newness’ – disappears the moment that you buy the car. It can never again be sold as new. This is why the car depreciates the very moment you drive it off the lot. You’re losing value before you even get your new purchase home.
See additional educational articles penned by this very author covering subject matters like blue jean shorts for men and white womens shorts.
