Occasionally I publish answers to selected readers’ money questions. I welcome your opinion in the comments. Send questions to [email protected] Q: I am in the process of purchasing my first car. I make a little over $30,000 and have … [Read more...]
Auto Financing for Smart People: Tips for Saving on Your Car Loan
February 17, 2012 by
Earlier this week I wrote about mistakes we make when buying a car. One of those mistakes is overlooking the importance of the auto financing in the overall cost of your new car. The example I gave is if you are buying a new Honda Civic, the … [Read more...]
5 Big Car Buying Mistakes
February 14, 2012 by
Last Saturday I was out to dinner at one of those Japanese Hibachi places. Over a scorpion bowl, I was talking to a friend who works as a sales manager at a luxury car dealership. He was mulling over getting out of the industry because---as you might … [Read more...]
Should You Buy That New Car? 5 Reasons to Keep Your Clunker Running
December 8, 2011 by
Guest author David Bakke shares his insights on money management, smart shopping, and getting out of debt on Money Crashers, one of the top ranked personal finance blogs. In this day and age, people are constantly upgrading just about every … [Read more...]
The Case for Buying a New Car
October 26, 2010 by
New or used? It’s a conundrum as old as cars themselves: Buy new and enjoy the security of new-car reliability and a factory warranty? Or Buy used and save thousands on depreciation? Now, if I were to poll personal finance bloggers, I'd … [Read more...]
What’s Your Car Really Costing You?
July 26, 2010 by
Photo by jauladeardilla. For many of us in the United States, owning a car is a necessity. We need a car to get to work. And we need to work so we can make mortgage payments, save for retirement, and pay for all those other expenses in … [Read more...]
Peer-to-Peer Auto Loans
May 14, 2010 by
It’s best to buy a car with cash---but not everybody has saved up thousands of dollars when the need for new transportation strikes. Although car shoppers have several options for financing a new or used car, including many online lenders, buyers … [Read more...]
Money Aisle Auto Loans
May 12, 2010 by
Money Aisle is a unique online service where banks compete for your business in a real-time auction. Want to get the best rate on an auto loan? Money Aisle may help you find the best auto loan rates before you even step foot into a dealership, … [Read more...]
New Grads: Four Money Facts Worth Knowing
May 6, 2010 by
Graduation season’s just around the corner, and soon-to-be grads nationwide are plotting the next big move. Many of you coming out of college may soon start earning your first steady, full-time paycheck (and it will hopefully be bigger than those … [Read more...]
Paying Off an Auto Loan Is Bad For Your Credit Score!?
April 7, 2010 by
Dave Ramsey tells people that FICO scores aren’t credit scores; they’re “I love debt” scores. Case in point: Last week, I paid off my auto loan. This week, my FICO score dropped 60 points. Sixty! There have been no other changes to my credit … [Read more...]
