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Many call your 20s your ‘defining decade’. While so many things can change after your 20s, this is still likely the time that will shape you as a person – you’ll learn a lot about yourself. What you want, what you don’t want, and hopefully, where you’d like to go in life. Buying a car in your 20s means being able to enjoy some freedom and further get to where you’d like to go. However, there are a few dos and don’ts you should pay attention to.
Do Buy A Sensible Car That Suits Your Needs
The first do is to make sure you buy a sensible car that suits your needs. Make a shortlist of the things that are important to you in a car. Perhaps you want a car that is going to be kinder to the environment, have decent boot space for equipment (perhaps if you enjoy photography or even just for your shopping), and safety features so you can stay safe on the road. While you probably will want a car that looks nice, this is not something that should be too high up on your list, as the other things are more important.
Don’t Buy A Car That You Can Barely Afford To Run
If you do prioritize the way your car looks too highly, then you might end up buying a car that you can barely afford to run. You might think that it’s great taking pictures of your new car for your Instagram followers, but what’s the point if you can’t really drive it? Please, try to check your ego and get something that is going to be beneficial to you.
Do Check Out As Many Resources As Possible To Have An Idea Of What You Need
Read up on as many resources as possible before you head to a dealership so you can better figure out what you need. This Easy Guide to Buying a Car should give you some pointers, as should car forums and even Facebook groups. Just don’t be dazzled by cars you know you can’t afford.
Don’t Forget To Take Somebody More Experienced With You
Taking somebody more experienced with you is always a good idea. Whether this is an older sibling, a parent, or somebody else, it should help to safeguard you against shady sales tactics and cars that aren’t worth quite as much as what they are being sold for. They should help you to negotiate and be able to tell you what to look for.
Do Figure Out A Payment Plan You Can Afford
You need to have a realistic figure in your head of what you’d like to pay, whether you’re making a one off payment or you’re going to need to finance the vehicle. Have the terms you’d like, as well as the figures in your head so you know what you’re working towards. If you can’t quite negotiate the right deal, don’t be afraid to walk away. You may get a call from the dealership agreeing to your terms in a few days.
Buying a car in your 20s means giving yourself more freedom – so follow these dos and dont’s to get it right.
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