"Toyota Isn't Quitting on the Prius Just Yet"--Jalopnik

[Xist]

I created a thread of snowplows mounted on bicycles and of a plow mounted on a car.

None of them were very good.

When I first started college I was looking for work and everyone told me to get a credit card to pay for my books.

As I wrote, the average person is not very smart.

[Shaneajanderson]

Originally Posted by Xist

I created a thread of snowplows mounted on bicycles and of a plow mounted on a car.

None of them were very good.

When I first started college I was looking for work and everyone told me to get a credit card to pay for my books.

As I wrote, the average person is not very smart.

Ahh yes, I can't down you for youthful ignorance, they take advantage of that every time.

When I say a plow I'm talking about a business outfit, I want to make money with the thing. Another reason the pickup is justifiable, it can make me money.

[Xist]

I responded each and every time with "No! Credit cards are evil!"

However, I still did not have a job, so I got a credit card before I started missing assignments.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by Xist

I have also had dozens of people tell me that I need to get a savings account and start putting money into it instead of aggressively paying down my credit cards.

This actually is a good idea. If you have a few hundred or even a thousand dollars squirreled away where you can't get to it easily, that can prevent your having to use a credit card to pay an unexpected bill and setting yourself back.

[Xist]

The scenario is that you already have credit card debt, so if you put money in savings, you will pay unnecessary interest.

[redpoint5]

Ramsey method for the undisciplined, lowest cost of moving forward for the disciplined.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by Xist

The scenario is that you already have credit card debt, so if you put money in savings, you will pay unnecessary interest.

The whole idea of putting money in savings--not a lot, but enough to float you through an unexpected expense--is that you then won't have to put that on your credit card when it inevitably happens and you have nothing on which to fall back, where it will generate more interest you will then have to pay. If you have another source of funding, like a family member willing to loan you money, good on you--but most people don't and would be well-served by putting something away even as they pay down their debt, as an insurance policy against unforeseen but likely expenses (of course, most people don't have the savings and aren't paying down their credit cards, but that's another story). Study after study has found that the majority of Americans don't have the funds on hand to cover a sudden $500 expense, which could easily happen to anyone at any time just due to the unpredictability of bodily accidents and medical conditions, car accidents, and weather, among other things.

You can say, those things won't happen to me because I pay attention and I'll see them coming and plan for them. But you can't plan for your appendix rupturing or someone rear-ending your car at a stoplight or a wind storm tearing up your roof. Those things come out of nowhere. (Well, actually you can plan for them--by putting away a little money just in case).

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

It's not about needs; it's about wants.

And wanting a vehicle capable of fulfilling needs that only come up a couple times a year.

My sister and her husband were recently shopping for a new (used) car. They don't have any kids yet, but they wanted a vehicle big enough for when family comes to visit and for bulky purchases like furniture, situations that'll likely only happen a handful of times a year. I tried talking her into something like a Camry or Accord and just rent or borrow a bigger vehicle as needed. They ended up getting a 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD, which is capable of 20mpg highway.

[Xist]

Let it be known that I hereby bestow upon Vskid3 the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Trying award!

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by vskid3

And wanting a vehicle capable of fulfilling needs that only come up a couple times a year.

My sister and her husband were recently shopping for a new (used) car. They don't have any kids yet, but they wanted a vehicle big enough for when family comes to visit and for bulky purchases like furniture, situations that'll likely only happen a handful of times a year. I tried talking her into something like a Camry or Accord and just rent or borrow a bigger vehicle as needed. They ended up getting a 2007 Honda Pilot 4WD, which is capable of 20mpg highway.

Should've gotten a Sienna, capable of 30 MPG highway lol!

My family used the passenger and storage capacity in that van pretty regularly until I got my own car and began driving myself places. Then the vehicle was too large, and a whitetail deer decided it was time for the family to upgrade to a Prius. Double the fuel economy and still has plenty of storage when it's needed.

Bigger is not always better.