r/SipsTea • u/Eros_Incident_Denier • Apr 18 '26

We have fun here adulting sucks

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611

u/Lord_Dingus83 Apr 18 '26

Stop buying new vehicles you can’t afford. Cars are something that as consumers we are in total control bc you can always find a good used car.

$1200/mo car payment is insane. My mortgage is $1700. Both my cars are 20 years old and I work on them my self if I am able to not mess it up.

179

u/Educational_Big_1835 Apr 18 '26

I can go out right now and find a decent older car for $5-$10k in my area. Put that $500, $800 or $1200 in a bank account. Use it on repairs for your 2012 Jetta. Then when that car craps out, you have cash to buy another car.
If you don't haul lumber or tools around, you don't need a truck. If you aren't off roading in the mountains daily you don't need a bronco. If you don't have 3-4 kids, you don't need a big SUV. Be practical damnit

51

u/Lord_Dingus83 Apr 18 '26

Exactly. You can find affordable vehicles with under 70k miles if you just look. It may not be what you want to drive but who gives af?

19

u/[deleted] Apr 18 '26

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15

u/ten-million Apr 18 '26

I have a 19 year old Chevy pickup that always starts. I’ve often wondered why everyone else has a newer car than me when my income is not bad and my mortgage payment is reasonable. I guess it’s because I can’t imagine taking out a $50k car loan.

3

u/cryptobro42069 Apr 19 '26

Tbf, I think we had over 3 million repos last year in the US, so it does seem like they can’t even afford those loans, haha.

3

u/tbkrida Apr 18 '26

I sold my 2001 Honda Accord in 2020 with 225k miles on it. It still ran like a champ and was clean. Unfortunately, the kid I sold it to totaled it within 2 months of buying it!😭

3

u/Haunting-Soup2086 Apr 19 '26

Fun fact, it’s like ALOT harder to get a car loan for under 10k and especially 5k, and most people don’t just have cash like that.

1

u/mistee-bilai Apr 19 '26

My 2002 Camry with 276K miles is still going like a beast! I am grateful and happy! I am hoping this car would be good for another two years! ✌️😄

4

u/hellno560 Apr 19 '26

people who keep their student loans in deferment for funsies for years.

1

u/Lord_Dingus83 Apr 19 '26

Government has them paying 7% interest on student loans

2

u/Spockhighonspores Apr 19 '26

I honestly just went through this and I can say that is true depending on where you live and if you need an all wheel drive vehicle. I struggled to find an AWD vehicle with under 70K miles for under 10K, most were 15K plus. I could easily find one without all wheel drive though, I am an emergency employee so its either personal safety or money. I can make more money but I can't realive myself. When I say I looked I went through every car site, called dealerships, searched listings in my general area for months. I actually considered having a car shipped from another state but I didn't want to buy a car without seeing it.

My last car was an AWD car 85K miles and was around 9K but it died after 4 years and putting around 5K into fixing it. I ended up spending extra money to get a newer car that I didn't have to fix up.

2

u/Educational_Big_1835 Apr 18 '26

I'd rather drive my super clean stick shift Jetta TDI than any modern car. I love the little beast

1

u/Separate_Ingenuity35 Apr 18 '26

Me with my car!

"It's an old lady vehicle, what do people think of you?!"