I'm cutting back on new game purchases, it's going to be paired down to one game, maybe two, a month at the most. I have so many titles I currently own that I've never played. It's absolutely ridiculous how many new games I've bought recently that I unwrap and then stick on the shelf.
No credit card debt, thank God. We do have a mortgage and student loan payments that we pay every month and we're buying a new car soon. Both of our cars are paid off right now, so a $200-$300 monthly payment for a couple years will be a new experience.
My wife and I have our cars paid off as well, but we keep debating getting something new for no better reason than it would make it more convenient to haul crap (groceries, dog, etc.) around. Not the best reason to rid yourself of a '02 or '03. For the past two years we've gotten close, but pulled back. It's the thought of a payment; while we can afford it (in the sense that that means less money being saved, er, eating out
) it's a nag and a drag. Pair that with depreciation and ugh. Actually, double ugh to depreciation. Even though dealers/manufacturers are eating some of it in subsidies and price cuts, all existing cars are also falling in value at a greater rate. Depreciation is the worst aspect of car buying, especially if you purchased a model that's now heavily subsidized. Double whammy.
Still, good time to purchase. Push for 0%, even if they aren't offering. Takes alot of the psychic sting out of the payment (sure, I'll take your money and let you eat the borrowing/lending cost). If not going used, go for a 2008 model if you're not concerned with having the newest edition; may save you quite a bit. Also, don't let the salesman bring out the four-box worksheet. Negotiate on price, not payment (but bring a calculator and don't be afraid to calculate the affect of (simple) interest, period, down-payment, etc on
your desired monthly payment; don't rely on the salesman or worse, the finance officer). You're smart and know this already. But shiny cars can overwhelm the senses. And when I was in Seattle, there's a whole lot of nice, new cars sitting forlorn.
Bad pun, but you and you're wife are definitely in the driver's seat with an auto purchase in the present economy. Though, if you can put up with the Cherokee's bad mileage you could increase your student-loan payments and pay less interest over time. That's not very fun, though. Suze Orman
...still admire her, though.
I've put off buying a car for about a year now. My Yukon is about 7 years old and now has 80k miles on it. I'm getting kind of sick of it.
Whatever you do, don't go near the Hybrid Yukon or equivalents. Yes please, can I have a marginal increase in gas mileage but an infinite increase in worry once it's off warranty? I don't go for gas-guzzlers (hate'em) but if you do, just go for it. None of this absurdity that GM and Toyota are up to sticking hybrid drivetrains into 2-ton + vehicles. Fuck me if the Bay Area isn't full of people patting themselves on the back for driving tank-like hybrids. Missing the point, bobos
.
