What to do ?

[u/Stock_Cauliflower_57]

I’m 20 years old and i saved up a lot of money from work. I’m an electrician started working right after highschool, I really wanna buy a car i’ve wanted my whole life for around 23,000, this car is my motivation to wake up everyday and go to work it’s all i think about. I’ve finally saved up the money and my parents are telling me this is the dumbest thing in the world to do and i’m blowing all of my money. And my gf of 2 years (F19) is now saying i care about the car more then getting a place together. And my grandparents are also telling me to save and me and my girlfriend who see eschother everyday can get our own place together. I’m really frustrated because this car is my dream and is why i show up everyday and it’s all i think of and now everyone is saying im dumb

[u/doesnthurttoask1]

Truth is, you ARE being dumb, that’s why lol

You’re young, saved up money, and have a good paying job. In this economy, your main focus should be investing in things that will pay off in the long term. Using that money to buy yourself a house is the BEST move you can make right now. You can rent it out and build extra income. Or keep it, and always have your own place to fall back on.

A car will lose value the literal SECOND you drive it off the lot. And it’ll continue to lose value every day, every mile, that you use it.

As a 31 year old, I’m telling you… shift your main focus to a house first. Then car later. This economy and rent may get 100x more expensive. And you don’t want to be my age wishing you put that money into a house, and still live with your parents. I wish I was 20 again and had someone tell me to use my money toward buying a house.

[u/Stock_Cauliflower_57 → u/doesnthurttoask1]

i guess so this car is just on my mind every single day and i want it so bad

[u/Wise_Pomegranate_653 → u/Stock_Cauliflower_57]

post this same thread on Adulting. Trust me 99 percent of people will tell you how life is hard and a new car is a bad idea.

[u/doesnthurttoask1 → u/Stock_Cauliflower_57]

Bro, I’m telling you.. a car is the wrong choice in this economy.

I’ll give you my experience. When I was your age, I saved up and got my car. It was nice for a few years. But then new car models came out the next year, then year after that. And by the 3rd/4th year, my car was whatever. Friends of mine had already bought the newest model and now I wanted to buy a newer one. It’s a money trap.

All the while, I was living with parents. Then moved out, rented for a bit. Houses shot up like crazy! Then rent shot up like crazy! I had move back in with parents. Still am now at age 31. If someone would have sat me down and explained to me that buying a house would’ve been better in the long term.. I would be chillin in MY own house, with a low mortgage payment. Doing what I want in my own house.

But now I’m 31, arguing with my dad about cleaning up his mess.. can’t have guests over.. can’t do what I want..

It’s a simple choice when you think long term. But hey, if you want the car first… get it. My advice from that point would be to make extra payments to pay it off ASAP. Then rebuild your savings to buy the house asap before you miss out on the housing market going back up.

[u/AverageJohn1212 → u/doesnthurttoask1]

He sounds like.... ultra spoiled. I'm not gonna spend much time here.

[u/doesnthurttoask1 → u/AverageJohn1212]

Yup. But I get it. We were all young and dumb once, and didn’t listen to other’s advice. Part of being young and dumb, is unfortunately learning the hard way through our mistakes.

I personally wouldn’t have made the mistakes I did, if social media and internet was as big in my early teens or 20s. Or if I had someone sit me down and really make me realize the long term effects of my choices. With information more easily accessible now, it’s so easy for young people to start making the right financial moves early on. It’s really comes down if they have a good head on their shoulders and discipline to make good moves now, and reap the benefits later

[u/AverageJohn1212 → u/doesnthurttoask1]

I'm on your page.

It makes the internet experience... honestly way more shxtty. When you learn more and more as the days go on, yeah most of the world actually has decent family and a proper upbringing. Some people actually got advice lol and not just being hit repeatedly.

[u/doesnthurttoask1 → u/AverageJohn1212]

I feel you lol my parents weren’t educated about money. So I can’t blame them for sitting me down and explaining a 401k, investing, or buying a house asap. But I am grateful they provide me a home to fall back on when things don’t work out for me. A LOT of people don’t have that safety net. So this time I’m saving up TRIPLE to actually buy a house now, instead of saving up a few thousand to move out renting.

I don’t wanna move out a 3rd time, to come back home again when I’m almost 40 🙃

[u/AverageJohn1212 → u/Stock_Cauliflower_57]

Yeah you gotta stop. This obsession with a car is sounding like signs of mental illness.

It sounds like you grew up spoiled and never had a reason to prepare for anything else but a damn car. Can't even imagine what type of car it is.

[u/Key-Target-1218 → u/Stock_Cauliflower_57]

It's a very immature move. VERY.

No one gives a shit what kind of car you drive. Personally, (not that it matters to you, but just sayin') I have more respect for the mechanic who maintains all the early 2000 Toyotas, Hondas, Pontiac Vibes, etc than I do for the guys whose self worth and image is wrapped up on some fancy car they can't afford.

EVERYONE is telling you its a bad idea. You think everyone is wrong, but you?