{"id":1323,"date":"2007-09-17T07:52:23","date_gmt":"2007-09-17T14:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/2007\/09\/17\/shaking-the-new-car-itch-a-tale-of-priorities\/"},"modified":"2019-10-17T22:48:58","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T05:48:58","slug":"shaking-the-new-car-itch-a-tale-of-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/shaking-the-new-car-itch-a-tale-of-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaking the new car itch: A tale of priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I went to the street to get the mail on Saturday, the latest issue of The New Yorker<\/em> was in the box. Walking up the sidewalk to the house, I idly began to remove the subscription cards. I stopped, though, when I came to a full-page cardstock advertisement. I read the front of the ad. I read the back.<\/p>\n

At the kitchen table, I carefully removed the ad from the magazine, carried it upstairs, and sat down at my computer. I typed in the listed URL<\/a>, and for the next two hours, I was at the mercy of the advertiser<\/strong>. What was this ad for? The 2007 MINI Cooper.<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/div>\n

I’ve mentioned before that I hate my current vehicle \u2014 a 2000 Ford Focus. I bought it in a hurry after my 1992 Geo Storm was totaled by a wayward tractor-trailer rig. I’ve loathed the Focus since day one.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, as I began my debt-reduction crusade, Kris and I made a pact. As soon as I had paid off all my debt, I could buy any car that I wanted.<\/strong> I never dreamed that day would come so soon, but it has. I’ll be debt-free by Christmas (except for the mortgage), which means I’ll have some tough choices to make.<\/p>\n

During our recent trip to London, I fell in love with the MINI. It seemed to be everywhere, and I was enamored with its compact style. I began to believe I had to own one. But I’m not in the same place I was three years ago. I have a different perspective on money. Do I really want to eliminate my debt only to immediately purchase a new car? That doesn’t sound smart.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, I drive a lot, and the Focus is like an anchor around my neck. Also, I do feel that it’s appropriate to reward myself for achieving a goal. Kris and I had a long chat yesterday. We both think I’ve licked the debt monster and have shown I can work to pay things down. I have the go-ahead to buy the car.<\/p>\n

Of course, in order for this to happen, I actually have to be willing to spend the money. I could probably pay off a new car in just a couple years, but I’m not sure that’s something I’m willing to do. This frugal living stuff has become a habit.<\/strong> And although I hate my car, it seems foolish to get rid of it after only seven years.<\/p>\n

Last night I sat down to work out the numbers. It’s clear that buying a car would impede my larger goals.<\/p>\n

One of my goals is to drive less<\/em>, for example. I want to reach a point where it doesn’t matter what sort of car I have. I want to work from home, writing. I want to walk to the grocery store. I want to ride my bike to reach more distant destinations (like the comic book shop). How does buying a car help me achieve these goals? It doesn’t.<\/p>\n

Not<\/em> buying a car lets me reach these goals more quickly.<\/strong> By not<\/em> buying a MINI Cooper, I’m roughly $25,000 closer to paying off my mortgage. By not<\/em> buying a MINI Cooper, I have more to set aside for retirement. If my dream life is to stay at home and make my living as a writer, then I need to do things that will make this a reality. Buying a MINI Cooper is counter to my objectives.<\/p>\n

Someday I really will buy a car that I want<\/em>. That day has not yet arrived, however. Maybe I’ll do it when the Focus dies. Maybe I’ll do it when I turn 45. Or 50. Maybe a wealthy aunt will buy me a MINI Cooper \u2014 I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. If only I had a wealthy aunt…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I went to the street to get the mail on Saturday, the latest issue of The New Yorker<\/em> was in the box. Walking up the sidewalk to the house, I idly began to remove the subscription cards. I stopped, though, when I came to a full-page cardstock advertisement. I read the front of the ad. I read the back.<\/p>\n

At the kitchen table, I carefully removed the ad from the magazine, carried it upstairs, and sat down at my computer. I typed in the listed URL<\/a>, and for the next two hours, I was at the mercy of the advertiser<\/strong>. What was this ad for? The 2007 MINI Cooper.<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/div>\n

I’ve mentioned before that I hate my current vehicle \u2014 a 2000 Ford Focus. I bought it in a hurry after my 1992 Geo Storm was totaled by a wayward tractor-trailer rig. I’ve loathed the Focus since day one.<\/\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3287,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[496,486],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3287"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1323\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}