How long did you finance for?

congrats!

 

60 months at 2.99% APR on our 2015. We got it in November of '17. We pay extra every month, and we will be done with the payment this July for a total of 43 months

I'll be searching around for a certified pre-owned Corolla around the same year as our truck payment ends this summer, and plan to put half down and put extra towards our mortgage.

My thinking is having your loan be longer term if you get good APR is a good move when you can afford shorter term loans in case shit hits the fan. I'm disabled, and sometimes surprise hospital visits occur.

 

Yup. My thoughts exactly.

 

I saved for 2 years before buying and had a trade in. Planned it for a while.

 

What lift do you guys think is on this?

 

Agreed! My first new vehicle as well. I plan on keeping it forever so that makes me feel better about it.

When you consider how much money some folks pay for cable TV or Satellite, a little interest on an auto loan seems a lot less crazy.

 

Then add the fact it’s a Tacoma, makes it way more palatable.

 

The other thing is it's hard to go wrong money wise with those trucks. Saturday I was at the dealership for toyota care. They had no new Tacomas at all at Hanover toyota and a line of 5 used. One with a make down price was a 2017 trd sport 4x4 with average miles. They were still asking 1,500 more than my new 2020 sr5 4wheel drive.
They keep value for sure and the prices on used are up still.

 

And if I’m going to change the wheels and suspension and stuff is it just better to get an sr? So I’m not spending money on wheels and suspension I’m going to change anyways???

 

Omg I know people that have $270 cable bills. I'm like for what? I hardly watch tv we have the internet and locals package here. I actually hate most of the new shows anyhow. It's cheaper to stream an old show, go outside or read and more fun. Plus money for car payments

 

There are a few other reasons or things the TRD models come with, but yes just get the sr.

 

Paid the womans ride off in 10 days. Only financed because they knocked 1k off the price. The 8.38 in intrest was worth paying

 

Actually, mine is a 4runner, but agreed! 4runner resale is even more ridiculous than Tacoma, which is part of the reason I bought new.

 

Digital Antena $0 per month. Got rid of cable 12 years ago. My wife hates it, but I pay everything. Still $0 for cable.

 

I knew that from the runner forum, I just forgot. I am glad to hear about the 4Runner resale, as we have one of those in the drive way as well, but I feel like I stole that.

 

“iF yOu DoNt HaVe AlL tHe CaSh tO bUy iN fUlL yOu ShOuLdnT hAvE iT”

Thought we left all the clowns in 2020.

 

My method to financial happiness is simple, my wife and I didn’t have kids. We’re mid 40’s and make decent money and are very responsible with it, we don’t waste money on restaurants or lavish vacations. I generally brown bag my lunch every day. We have no debt except the 15 year 2.25% mortgage and a small lease payment on the Tacoma. We fund Roth 401K’s to the federal max and do some additional investing. We got started on the right path later than I would’ve liked, we made $200K worth of mistakes in our 20’s that took a good portion of our 30’s to dig out of, but we’ll catch up in time. I figured out a plan similar to Dave Ramsey on my own and it worked, I discovered him when I was almost done. We can conservatively save $3K per month after funding retirement and paying all of our bills.

I went to all Roth two years ago. With all of the cries for socialist policies and the politicians promising more free shit I believe taxes are going to skyrocket before I retire. I’m banking on my 13% effective tax rate today being less than 20 years from now, plus the gains are tax free. I would love to convert all my previous investments to Roth, but I can’t see paying a high 5 figure tax bill now to make that happen.

I like Ramsey well enough, but I don’t care for the preaching and disagree that all debt beyond a mortgage is always bad. I have purchased his books for a few people and paid for FPU for a close friend. I recommended my friend buy herself a new car when her hoopty shit the bed, it slowed down her plan by 7 months, but a single female needs a safe car to drive.

It’s certainly easier to get ahead when you make more money, as long as you limit your lifestyle to something sustainable. I know plenty of people making over $200K who live check to check because they have a spending problem. An expensive house they didn’t put 20% down on and two expensive car payments can easily wipe out a decent income. From 2003-2021 our income went up 700%, but if I hadn’t changed my bad habits from my 20’s I’d still be broke.

 

Compare the price of the SR vs what you think you want. Im pretty handy and can add any features that come standard on the sr5 (minus the sliding rear window) It didnt make sense for me to finance features that i could add with a little cash on hand.

 

$270!

 

I'm near the antenna thing too. The cable company keeps increasing that f-ing broadcast tv Fee to the point I could use that to install a roof top antenna and only buy internet. I'd actually like to get rid of crap cast all together but no one else has broadband here.