If you borrow to buy one of those things, you may eventually get a return on investment.
But every single car loses significant value and keeps losing it as time goes by.
Solution: spend as little on your car as possible.
Of course, in order to spend as little as possible over the life of the vehicle, you need to get a well-made, fuel-efficient car, rather than the one with the lowest price on the windshield.
But a pickup truck, SUV, sports car, or “luxury” model is a guaranteed money-loser.
Don’t worry about what other people will think. Think about it: when was the last time you saw an expensive automobile and thought, "I really like and respect whoever owns that!"
The best buy? Many economists actually recommend buying a used car that's a year or two old.
That way you can actually benefit from the fact that cars only drop in value.
Even a car that’s just six months old may offer you a substantial savings.
Just have it inspected thoroughly so you don't lose what you've saved on maintenance payments.
Hidden Car Loans Danger: Dangerously High Monthly Payments
Unfortunately, most people never figure out the total cost before signing on the dotted line.
They end up staying up late at night trying to figure out how to make ends meet.
They live in smaller houses. They skip going out at night. They don’t go on vacation.
All that sacrifice to have a brand-new SUV in the driveway!
Take a hard look at your finances, and figure out how much you can pay total each month for your car.
Be sure to take into account insurance, tax, maintenance, and fuel.
Usually, when people actually do calculate the total monthly cost of the car they’re considering buying, they’re amazed by how high it is.
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Looking to buy that new car you've been dreaming about? Apply Now to find the best rate for your new or used car loan. Fill out our quick and easy application and receive up to 4 free quotes from our Premier Lender Network.
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How Much Car Debt Can You Afford?
1) Make a list of your average monthly non-car expenses, and subtract them from your earnings.
_____ your monthly after-income-tax income
- ____ any other taxes
- ____ housing (including any fees and property taxes, and utilities)
- ____ food
- ____ health insurance or HMO
- ____ life insurance
- ____ debt payments
- ____ 401 (k), IRA, or other long-term savings
- ____ short-term savings
- ____ telephone, cellular phone, cable, internet, etc.
- ____ entertainment and fun stuff (be honest!)
- ____ cost of yearly vacation(s) divided by 12
- ____ other expenses
= ____what you can spend on a car
2) Subtract your monthly car-related expenses from the amount you have left over from your other expenses.
_____ What you can spend on a car (from above)
- ____ Amount you’re spending per month on gas (raise or lower this figure depending on whether you are getting a car with higher or lower gas mileage).
- ____ Monthly maintenance (remember: your new car won’t stay new long, so maintenance will be an issue).
- ____ Monthly insurance (remember that for a new car, your insurance premiums may go up).
- ____ Tax.
= ____ Maximum monthly loan payment.
Now plug the number above into a vehicle loan rate calculator to figure out big of a car loan, and how much interest you can afford.
Final Hidden Auto Loan Danger: Unnecessarily High Rates
If you simply take the first loan the dealer offers you, you are probably paying too much. Do some comparison shopping on the internet, and bring a list of the best loans with you when you negotiate loan terms with the dealer.
Don’t let the dealer cheat you by shifting the cost from the car loan to the car price to the deal on your trade-in. Make sure you get a good deal overall.
Congratulations! You now are far better prepared to stay out of an auto loan money pit than the vast majority of car buyers. Now you’re ready to go shopping for a loan.
About the Author: Joel Walsh
Joel Walsh is a regular contributor to cars-auto-loans.com.
Read his other articles, with even more information on getting the best car loan:
http://cars-auto-loans.com
Article Source:
ISnare.com
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Looking to buy that new car you've been dreaming about? Apply Now to find the best rate for your new or used car loan. Fill out our quick and easy application and receive up to 4 free quotes from our Premier Lender Network.
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