It Doesn't Make Cents
It Doesn't Make Cents
Let's Finance a New Car!
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Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -27:55
-27:55

Let's Finance a New Car!

We're ready to break the biggest rule in personal finance by buying a new car. With dealer financing.

One of the biggest rules in personal finance is to buy a used car with cash. You hear stories about how your car loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot. That used car has already seen its biggest depreciation and borrowing just makes it all worse.

But what if it makes sense to buy a new car with debt, as long as you acknowledge what you’re doing and you have other plans for your money?

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Miranda’s strategy for buying a car

We talk about how Miranda manages her vehicle purchases:

  • Buy a car with low-cost financing (60-month loan)

    • In 2001, 1.9% APR

    • In 2021, 2.49% APR

  • Keep the money she would have used to buy a depreciating asset in the stock market, where it earns more than what she’s paying on the debt

  • After 8 to 10 years, use the car as a trade-in for the “down payment” and finance the next car at a low rate

It’s important to note that this approach works best if you can get a good rate. However, in some cases, you need the car for work and might need to finance a used car at a higher rate just to get access to the transportation you need.

Sarah has also used a loan to get a car. It was more convenient and easier than getting a cashier’s check from the bank. Her approach was to pay off the loan within a few months. But she maintained flexibility to get the car and keep the loan if the money ended up being needed for something else.

Lifestyle factors

We talk about lifestyle factors that might influence how you buy your cars.

  • If you like getting cars more frequently, leasing might not be a bad option.

  • If you expect to drive the car for a short period of time but want to sell it, buying it with cash can make sense.

  • Think about how you use your cars: work, travel, family, etc., and make a plan that fits with your lifestyle.

  • Carefully evaluate whether financing a car works (or is required) in your situation.

Financial resources

We encourage people to check out the following resources before getting a vehicle:

Big thank you to Ashley Barnett for sharing her story! Check out her LinkedIn profile if you’re looking for a top-notch content director or check out her Hit Publish course for writing better content.

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Discussion about this podcast

It Doesn't Make Cents
It Doesn't Make Cents
Are you REALLY doing money wrong? Good news: you aren’t doomed to a lifetime of financial failure because you aren’t saving to buy a house, buy a TV with a credit card, or have student loan debt. Get away from all the “supposed-tos” and stop beating yourself up over perceived mistakes. Sarah Li-Cain, AFC® and Miranda Marquit, MBA, are ready to debunk prescriptive money rules and inject a little nuance into your financial life.
This season, we’re talking about the common misconception that debt is ALWAYS bad. We’ll dive into ALL THE THINGS. You don’t have to pay that mortgage off early. Go ahead and finance that car. We’ll also tackle the controversial aspects of debt. How much social debt are you carrying around? Are you really immoral if you have your student loan debt forgiven? We promise corny jokes alongside a whole lotta facts. We might even rant a little. Plus, we’ll show you how to use what you’ve learned to get your money to work best for YOU—no matter what some finance bro says.
Let’s talk about how money might not be what you think—and how you can use it to create the life you want.