beergut
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Post by beergut on Dec 14, 2015 3:48:25 GMT -5
long to keep cars? I'm a believer in 'buy used and drive it into the ground', GF believes you buy used or as close to new as possible, drive it for a few years, and then trade it in for another car before it loses its value. GF is currently looking for a car, and this has caused some consternation, because every car I suggest for her is unacceptable, and she feels I'm not 'helping her' because I point out why some of the cars she wants are unattainable or a bad deal. We're also far apart on the financial end, as I don't believe in paying more than $10k for a car, while she thinks going over that amount is fine. 17 yr old totaled her car, so GF went out and bought her a replacement with the insurance money. The transmission just went out on the replacement car, and GF says she is tired of having to drive 17 year old everywhere, so she needs to get another car. I disagree that getting a car for the 17 year old is a 'need', it is more of a 'want', and I think if the 17 year old believes she 'needs' a car, she can get a job and start earning money to buy one. GF disagrees. She also thinks it is okay to use a 60 or 72 month financing plan to get the car she wants. When I pointed out that the car deal she was looking at would cause her to pay $36k for a car that is being sold for $20k, she still wouldn't budge. She also doesn't understand that what she needs right now is four wheels that move, not exactly a car that she wants. She is of the opinion that if she is going to make payments, she can be picky about what car she buys. She wants to buy a car, and give her current day-driver to the 17 yr old. Problem is that the inspection on that car is coming up soon, and it probably needs around $1k in work to make it pass inspection. GF doesn't have it. When/if that car breaks down, she is going to be up a creek. When I pointed out that she can't afford to fix her current car, and financing another car is just her digging a deeper hole, she became angry and blamed me. Some time back when her car needed work done on it, I told her, "You car, your problem". I had already paid for repairs on her car, and wanted her to step up and save the money to fix her own car. She said since I made that statement, I have no right to tell her what she should do when she buys another car to 'fix' the 'problem'. So, we disagree on how long to keep a car, how much to pay for a car, and how much to pay if you are financing a car. This has 'great success' written all over it, doesn't it? We're going to look at a car that I picked out in the morning. It meets most of her specifications. Wish me luck. (And I know some of y'all were waiting on an update on the GF. Merry Christmas!!  
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Dec 14, 2015 4:13:03 GMT -5
Well, despite numerous attempts, your financial views certainly haven't rubbed off on her, have they? I think she also knows she has an EF ... i.e. you.
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Dec 14, 2015 4:30:00 GMT -5
As long as she has you to bail her out she won't learn anything. I like a new car then keep it until I don't trust it. I am still driving my new 1997 dodge dakota and my new 2007 Sebring. Sebring has almost 50K miles on it now, new tires, no reason to think it won't last another decade or even two more. Truck has about 140K miles but they last longer. It just got new tires, brakes and shocks nothing else seems wrong with it. I hate talking to salesmen so will keep them until I really am afraid I will need to tow them more than once in a great while or deal with many repairs. The sebring has free lifetime oil changes so hate not to use them all might have to keep for a lifetime.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Dec 14, 2015 5:06:18 GMT -5
My wife and I do... But we just work it out really. Right now she really wants me to get a new car and after going car browsing when I came back home I am set: no desire to spend $1,000/month on car payments between her car and whatever car I get.
She suggested lease... Been there, done that... Not interested!
She prefers leasing because payments are lower ; ex : 2015 Mini Cooper Countryman at $199/month vs the $479/month she is paying for hers now but 2013 model.
She feels we could be leasing 2 cars for the price of her car; the added bonus of a new car every 3 years.
Yeah... Not interested! I am driving my current car to the ground before I get a new one and she will have to do the same!
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 14, 2015 7:00:39 GMT -5
Some of her points have validity so I don't think you should dismiss her approach out of hand. We can all argue whether it makes more "sense" to buy used versus new, etc. But, really what makes sense is to not buy a car you can't afford and get yourself in a lot of debt you can't afford be it new or used. I see nothing wrong in particular about paying for a car over 60 months, especially if you are going to keep it for several years past that. With low and no interest financing, I dont' see an issue. I have purchased cars with loans (though for 3 years, not 5) and I have also paid cash for a car. I will never pay cash for a car again. I see NO advantage to doing that whatsoever. For me, it makes far more sense to use that money to pay down the mortgage. Own your home, finance your car. Own the valuable asset and finance the depreciating asset. That makes the most sense to me. If here 17 yr old needs a car, then giving her her current car and then getting one for herself seems logical. That is in fact what we are going to do for our son. However, i would hope she makes smart decisions based on what she can truly afford. You are awfully involved in her finances though. You either think it is "her car , her problem" or you don't. If you are comingling finances, then isn't just her problem. If you aren't, then she gets to make her own decisions.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 14, 2015 7:13:40 GMT -5
I buy new and drive it into the ground. I also drive at least 30k miles per year. I have zero desire to buy something used and have to replace vehicles more frequently due to my high mileage. That being said I paid $20k for a brand new 2014 Mazda 6 in late February 2014. Even their base models have Bluetooth and back up cameras. I definitely do not buy top of the line stuff though.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Dec 14, 2015 7:18:24 GMT -5
Yep- we are having the car struggle in my house too. We've both been driving our paid off cars 15 years and they both still work fine. I drive a 98 sedan that I paid cash for, he drives a '00 sedan that he paid cash for. The problem is, we're having our third baby. I'm ready to go ahead and buy something a little more roomy. A minivan is probably the right decision. He keeps trying to convince me to buy an 8-10 year old one. No thanks, if I'm going through the trouble of buying a new car, I'd like it to be at least a 2012 or newer. All the 2-3 year old cars are almost as expensive as new cars, so he goes right back to looking at the 8-10 year old car. I figure, great, let's just buy a new car and I'll drive it for at least 15 years. There are 350 under 5 year olds running around at the daycare and over 500 kids at the elementary school. And the whole neightborhood is crawling with kids. If I'm driving a bigger car, it had better have back-up cameras and everything to keep me from running over a kid. He thinks I'm being a "princess," and it's really starting to piss me off. I wish he would be more supportive. I saved up the money a long time ago and I don't care what he decides to buy. We both work hard for our money and are good with it. Currently, I'm googling how to configure three car seats in my backseat because I don't see us figuring this out in the next 3 months if it's been a huge debate for the past year.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 14, 2015 7:46:48 GMT -5
I'm actually being really serious here...have the two of you considered counseling to work on your communication/negotiation/boundary skills? This is where I would start if you intend to marry her.
I would also explore her desire to not really behave like a partner.
Right before DH and I got married, he came into some money and chose to buy a brand new car. But, since we weren't married yet (the wedding was 2-3 weeks away), and we kept ALL our money separate, I felt I couldn't tell him how to spend his windfall.
I WAS mad at him because I thought his choice was foolish. We needed an EF, and he wasn't going to be bringing meaningful income in (starting grad school)..we didn't need a brand new car.
DH and went ahead and bought the new car anyway.
Later on, when we really talked about his reasoning why (he didn't want to buy an 8-10 yo subcompact car if we were going to have a family in a few years)...I softened a lot, actually. Because, it meant he was invested in our family and really thinking ahead..something he doesn't always do well.
I'm sure you've left out details, and I'm hoping in those details, you've left out the discussion about how that new car she's insistent on purchasing affects you guys as a whole...because all I hear from your posting is it's all about her.
She's also defensive (your words) and quick to blame you. This means there's work she needs to do on herself. Course, to be fair, I've never seen that behavior in healthy relationships...only dysfunctional ones..and so this observation could just be my lens and me projecting..
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 14, 2015 7:54:23 GMT -5
I'm actually being really serious here...have the two of you considered counseling to work on your communication/negotiation/boundary skills? This is where I would start if you intend to marry her. I would also explore her desire to not really behave like a partner. Right before DH and I got married, he came into some money and chose to buy a brand new car. But, since we weren't married yet (the wedding was 2-3 weeks away), and we kept ALL our money separate, I felt I couldn't tell him how to spend his windfall. I WAS mad at him because I thought his choice was foolish. We needed an EF, and he wasn't going to be bringing meaningful income in (starting grad school)..we didn't need a brand new car. DH and went ahead and bought the new car anyway. Later on, when we really talked about his reasoning why (he didn't want to buy an 8-10 yo subcompact car if we were going to have a family in a few years)...I softened a lot, actually. Because, it meant he was invested in our family and really thinking ahead..something he doesn't always do well. I'm sure you've left out details, and I'm hoping in those details, you've left out the discussion about how that new car she's insistent on purchasing affects you guys as a whole...because all I hear from your posting is it's all about her. She's also defensive (your words) and quick to blame you. This means there's work she needs to do on herself. Course, to be fair, I've never seen that behavior in healthy relationships...only dysfunctional ones..and so this observation could just be my lens and me projecting.. I agree with that. If you want to be equal partners in life, it sounds like there is some work to do. From your post, you seem to be acting more as someone lecturing her about all the rights and wrongs of the situation. But, as a partner, you need to try to see this a bit from her perspective and you need to validate her point of view on some level as well. Personally, I think it is a bad idea to get involved in another person's financial business if you are not married to them. And, if i was not married, I would not be giving someone else say in how i proceed in life to spend my money. However good finances isn't about any particular thing. We can all argue about individual items. But, i think what you would really want to see is someone who has a sense of the financial future, who understands the big picture of finances and not get hung up on a particular thing. Good money management is a state of mind and way of life. If she can maybe get on board with some of financial gurus like Dave Ramsey, etc, then it might make sense to her.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 14, 2015 8:23:26 GMT -5
DH and myself. He liked to lease and I don't. Now I'm in a lease. Due to the executrix sweetening the deal for me to continue the lease, I will but when this is up, no way. Now I'm not and have never been of the belief of an under 10k car but I'm firmly in the camp of under 30k out the door can get me a safe and reliable vehicle. If DH had lived, we were compromising on next car. Buying it outright. So we'd have had one we owned and one on a lease we were still paying on. Until that lease was up and then that was IT for leasing. Yes, he's have still bought expensive cars but that's him. Not like he couldn't pay bills because of them. Beer, this problem isn't going away. You want to be in a relationship with her. I'm amazed you haven't been pressured into marriage yet but it's hard for a saver to be married to a spender. VERY hard. There were suggestions of you just paying her some rent and buying some groceries and calling it good. Like a roommate with benefits. I hope you have done so then back away from her finances. You have zero right to an opinion or control over her choices, for herself or her children. Be grateful for that and keep it that way.
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Lizard Queen
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Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 14, 2015 8:49:56 GMT -5
My DH and I agree mostly. After having other relationships with very different approaches to money, this was one area that was very important for me to be compatible in.
Buying cheap and driving into the ground isn't necessarily the best way to go, though that's the way we are doing it. There's good arguments for replacing sooner, and I also agree with trying to get a newer used car. I think the guideline for going with no more than a 48 month lease is a good one, though I wouldn't balk at 60 month. Absolutely no more than that, though.
I can't stomach going over $20k, but that is a function of our income. You can spend whatever you want, so long as you can afford it relatively easily.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 9:05:57 GMT -5
I thought we should get another two years out of the old car. I was overruled, but it was 8-9 yr old so not like it's an 'every two years' issue.
Good decisions... Buy the new one and drive it forever!
Op- I think we all know this is probably not really about cars... Or at least not just cars. Good advice already given on that.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Dec 14, 2015 9:14:16 GMT -5
Cars we are mostly on the same page. Which is drive it until Beth totals it (the last one ) or until we feel unsafe in it ( dh with the truck, the one before that.)
So I've still driving the 2006 dodge caravan that I hate and we both regret me being in the focus when I had the accident.
I think we're both expecting another couple of years out of the caravan, sadly.
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Dec 14, 2015 9:20:25 GMT -5
And OP, I only mentioned cars because that is what you talked about. My wife and I have different view points about A LOT ...
- Politics: She is democrat and I am a republican... Fun times
- Finances: she is save it under the mattress type, I am invest it in the market type
- Style/decorations: I got no style or basic taste.
- child rearing: total opposites so should be interesting when we do if ever have kids.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Dec 14, 2015 9:22:16 GMT -5
My wife and I are on a similar viewpoint with cars, but not the same.
We both agree on driving them for a long time, and buying used, if it makes sense. But when we bought the minivan, I would have rather gotten a model that was a few years older and paid $20k, versus the model year we got and paying $28k, but it wasn't the end of the world.
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 14, 2015 9:32:56 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 9:32:57 GMT -5
DH and I have been married for 12 years and have gotten rid of only one car! In 2008 we gave DS, who was graduating from college, our only car, a Subaru bought used that was still in good shape but getting old. We bought a used Nissan from Enterprise Rental. I HIGHLY recommend them for a no-BS buying experience. We still have that one and in 2014 we bought a second car, also a Nissan from Enterprise. DH takes both cars to get serviced regularly and we have no plans to replace them unless they become undependable or need extremely expensive repairs.
DS totaled the car we gave him a couple of years later- he was uninjured, thank God. He paid $5K cash for a beater and that's his commuter car. When he married DDIL, she was working at a Nissan dealer and owned a nice, shiny SUV. There's a loan on it (he once asked me about borrowing from his 401(k) to pay it off and took my advice to keep paying the loan, which is at 2%). In a way, I'm glad they have one respectable car for travel to our place (3 hours) and for carting our granddaughter around. It will be interesting to see what they get when the SUV needs to go, but they're very frugal and I trust them to make a good choice.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Dec 14, 2015 9:42:15 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple. Can you please talk to my husband? Although, he'd shrug and say so what, our kids are going to puke, eat and destroy it anyway so it would be stupid to buy anything new and nice.
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Dec 14, 2015 9:43:18 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple. Can you please talk to my husband? Although, he'd shrug and say so what, our kids are going to puke, eat and destroy it anyway so it would be stupid to buy anything new and nice. Your husband is a smart man.
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 14, 2015 9:48:25 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple. Can you please talk to my husband? Although, he'd shrug and say so what, our kids are going to puke, eat and destroy it anyway so it would be stupid to buy anything new and nice. There really is no nice way to say this, so I'm just going to go for it.
Yes, your kids may eventually make a mess. How much of a mess they make is somewhat up to you and what you're OK with. My kids weren't generally pukers and the couple of times they did puke, it was on themselves in the car seat, so was confined to the car seat rather than the car. I didn't change diapers in the car. I didn't let my kids eat or drink in the car so didn't have sour milk smell or random sticky patches, but others are OK with that and that's what works for them.
But bottom line - for some reason - it's different when it's your kids' nasty sticky mess than if it's some random strangers' random, sticky mess. It's not fun to clean up your kids' mess, but it's slightly less vomit inducing than sitting in some other person's car and realizing there's some disgusting unidentified stain/puddle/sticky patch from a stranger.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Dec 14, 2015 9:49:23 GMT -5
We're pretty much on the same page regarding cars. We buy what we can afford and drive it until it's no longer safe. Of course, our individual history is different. Hubs would buy $100 junkers and drive them for a few months, so he's had a lot of cars over the years. I bought my first car in 2003 after my stepmom's mother died, and just bought my second ever car two years ago (hubs drives my old car as his commuter vehicle). I only put three miles a day on the Fit and we use it for all of our travel and weekend driving. It has 16,000 miles now and will last me for years. When the loan is paid off (0.9% for 5 years) hubs will then get a new car. We kind of differ on what to look for but it will most likely end up being another sub-$20,000 hatchback. He used to talk a out getting a old pick-up truck, which I will not go for. One, urban area and street parking. Two, people with trucks do favors. No thank you! Luckily, he loves hatchbacks as much as I do. And he also appreciates having a low payment (we pay $230/month for the Fit).
But whenever we have disagreements about something, we do talk it over, after all the yelling is done. Lol. I'm a very set in my ways person, so I really try not to control every decision, which is admittedly hard. But my husband is the person I chose to spend my life with and I want him to enjoy our union as much as I do. He does see "my" way a lot quicker when I calmly lay out my rationale. I also see his way when I think before I speak. We had to do a lot of growing before deciding marriage was for us.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Dec 14, 2015 9:58:15 GMT -5
I buy a brand new car once every 3-4 years. But I pay for it myself as I pay all my own bills. Buy I can afford to.
I bought both my children cars as well. When Thing 1 started driving, I bought her the "throw away" car to drive, knowing it would get damaged. Now that Thing 2 is driving, she got that car and I bought Thing 1 a nicer new to her car for less than $10k. When Thing 2 graduates, I will buy her a nicer, new to her car (sooner if the throw away gives) to get her through college and hopefully beyond. If either totals the car or doesn't take care of it and it dies, the can either buy the replacement or walk. Not my problem at that point.
I agree with her that what kind of car she gets is none of your concern. If you aren't going to be paying for it in any way, you get no input. You are not her husband nor are you the child's father. If you are going to pay for it, you decide. It's that simple.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 14, 2015 9:59:28 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple. Have you been looking in my van?
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milee
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Post by milee on Dec 14, 2015 10:04:44 GMT -5
Big believer in buying 2-4 year old cars and driving them a long time. I especially love to do this with luxury cars since they depreciate so quickly the first few years, are often leased (so don't have many miles and don't have any body damage), and the people who own them generally have taken care of them because they want them to look good.
That said, the thought of buying a used minivan is a little nauseating. Yes, there are the rare Phils and other childless adults who buy them, but the vast majority of minivans are owned by people with kids. And I seem to be the only heartless monster mommy who thinks her children will survive a 20 minute car ride without a meal so doesn't let her kids eat/drink in the car. So most of those used minivans have had all sorts of food and drink spilled in them, not to mention kids puking in them or having diapers changed in them.
Buying a used minivan is the vehicular equivalent of taking home an upholstered couch you found in the dumpster or out on the curb. Blech.
But that's not really what the OP is about - it's about relationships and control. OP wants control and is using money as a tool to establish the control. SO doesn't want to be controlled in this way. The decision about what type of car to buy, how much to spend or if a car is even needed isn't one where there is a definite right/wrong answer because there are legit answers for different people. This is about problem solving as a couple. Have you been looking in my van? No, but I have been riding with some of my friends and it's not a pretty picture. I don't know how some of them stand the smell of their own car.
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swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
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Post by swamp on Dec 14, 2015 10:08:22 GMT -5
You all know my story with my DH and trucks,
But this one seems to have hit the sweet spot. It has the old man steps in the bumper so we can climb in the bed without hurting ourselves. It has the full doors in the back so the kids can get out without having to open the front door. It has nice big icons on the dash that he can see. Now if I can just keep him front backing into the garage.
I theoretically want to keep vehicles for a long time. There is always some issue why I can't.
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swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
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Post by swamp on Dec 14, 2015 10:09:21 GMT -5
Have you been looking in my van? No, but I have been riding with some of my friends and it's not a pretty picture. I don't know how some of them stand the smell of their own car. It's not the food that's the problem. It's the soccer cleats and skates.
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Deleted
Joined: Oct 7, 2024 4:36:20 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 10:12:37 GMT -5
A good car cleaner can get rid of all that food and stain nastiness. BF had his daughter's minivan cleaned and it was absolutely amazing. It was like brand new.
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milee
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2012 13:20:00 GMT -5
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Post by milee on Dec 14, 2015 10:16:49 GMT -5
No, but I have been riding with some of my friends and it's not a pretty picture. I don't know how some of them stand the smell of their own car. It's not the food that's the problem. It's the soccer cleats and skates. Yeah, I'm very sympathetic to that. Being a sailor, I'm always toting around huge piles of wet gear and it's wet with warm salt water... very nasty. Sometimes there's just no avoiding it, the salt water gets in the car and makes it stinky until I can shampoo the carpets. But I have found a few tricks to keep the wet stuff from icking up the car.
- All weather rubber mats and cargo area liner. The kind that are designed to hold water in (they'll have a lip or multiple compartments so the water stays on/in the liner rather than running off onto the carpet.) No big deal to later any water off the mats and sometimes hose the mats off.
- In the cargo area, carry a roll of those big, black contractor garbage bags and also a bucket or small laundry basket. Wet, nasty stuff gets tossed in the bucket, basket or in a bag.
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midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
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Post by midjd on Dec 14, 2015 10:20:48 GMT -5
Leather seats hide a multitude of sins! And the puke wipes up much more easily. DH and I are pretty much on the same page. He churned through cars in his teens and early twenties, and has watched enough friends and family members end up owing $40K on a $20K vehicle after trading up a few times to be much more conservative. He works at a dealership so when one of us needs a new vehicle I give him a price range and a few non-negotiables. Haven't been disappointed yet. Where we differ is on hobby vehicle spending. DH buys, fixes, and sells Jeeps. I don't get the same *whatever* out of them as he does (the whole process seems like a PITA), but that's his money so as long as the Jeep isn't in pieces in the driveway for more than a day I don't really care. If we were that far apart on non-hobby vehicle spending, separate finances might be the way to go. I've discovered I care very little about how DH "wastes" his own money as long as the other bills are paid. Then again, if one person can't support his or her own expenses, that's a problem too...
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janee
Established Member
Joined: May 14, 2014 10:04:48 GMT -5
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Post by janee on Dec 14, 2015 10:21:20 GMT -5
We love Volvos which can be pricey. We tend to buy the 2 year old cars coming off lease. They typically have 20-22K miles on them--which is new in our book! My last Volvo I drove for 17 years. I have a short, 3 mile commute so only had 138K miles on it. We sold it because it was starting to rust. By buying a great car that is coming off lease we feel we can get a nicer car. We typically own them for 10+ years so feel it balances out.
I would let your GF make her own decisions. Tell her, "this is what I would do, but you have to decide what's best for you." But then, you'll have to not say anything
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