Ever find yourself putting cars before other financial and practical priorities??

I couldn't agree more!! I need my sleep.......

 

Have to pay the bills FIRST, then you WILL have money to spend on toys, not much but you will have some. I see people paying late fees all the time and wondering why they don't have any money. I Payed my 30 yr. mortage off in 11 yrs. Then sent two kids through college, one at a private school and the other at the most expensive public university in America. I managed to build two cars during that time, both of which i still own. My income is barely average, my wife lost several jobs during those times also. The trick is to not spend what you don't have. My dad told me "if you can't afford to pay cash for it you don't need it" I saw him buy a house and several cars with cash, but it was along time between purchases. You really can't do that today, but you can come close with some self control. I do use a credit card a lot, and PAY IT OFF at the end of every month, this has gotten us two FREE trips to visit our daughter and son in law in N. Carolina! Remember; family first, EVERYTHING else second.

 

Right on! Well said. From the "I don't play with snakes anymore" quote, are you a Dave Ramsey listener? www.daveramsey.com

In my world when it come to finances staying 100% debt free, normal bills and investing (the days of pensions are pretty well history) take the lead. The hobby cars are dead last on the list of priorities and if need be, the first to be gone.

 

Guilty. I actually was on the no debt kick long before I picked that up, but he's helped a lot. I know he'd kick me on borrowing money to have a real old hot rod, but seriously, it's a piece of history. They really aren't making any more...

 

yeah,, less than 3 weeks ago after a long 2 years,,i am finally debt free(except house payment ,normal bills ,,etc..),,however,,i found my self in a situation today that i told my self i wouldnt get back into,,i found my dream a car a week ago, it is way out of my budget..so i through my 51 up in the classifieds.,,well,,i went to check it out again today just to see it again,,,i found myself making the dude an offer that my bank foolishly preapproved me for just in case,,,thank god he declined, good thing he did as we are only $500.00 apart and i wouldnt even be able to explain that to the ol lady regardless of the fact of being back in debt up to my ass worse than i was 3 weeks ago,,haha

 

The other advantage of buying cars/parts/tools with cash is that you're officially playing for keeps. You don't HAVE TO sell something to pay for it, as it's already paid for. I like playing for keeps...

 

How do you think I got all this STUFF??

 

I can thank my wife for not even letting the thought cross my mind. Sell,save,trade to get. BTW..she's good at the second one...and Thank God she has my "fix" in mind as one reason for it...else I might sneak a "0%".

 

That's because they have bad parents that didn't teach them the value of a dollar. I find most people my age have parents that are from that generation. The generation that didn't have much, worked hard for a few extra dollars, and busted their ass and sacrificed to get where they are today. I can see the difference when I'm out at the high schools teaching. That's only a 5 year age difference depending on what grade I'm teaching. The majority of kids today don't work, don't know the value of a dollar, and are used to the flashy lifestyle they have because they get handouts from mommy and daddy. It's a cycle in a way if you think about it. They get out in the real world and are used to driving a flashy car and having flashy clothes. But how can you afford that right out of college? Normally you can't, unless you're financially smart.

I really believe that everyone should be required to take a personal finance class in high school(plus that keeps me having a job...lol).

 

you are 100% correct...my daughter is 13 and belives that we should have her an ATLEAST $30,000 sweet sixteen party and give her a bmw or convertable VW beetle when she turns sixteen,,,she is serious! hahahhaa

 

no i don't... but my wife thinks i do.

 

every fuckin day of my life.

 

i got nothing to lose..i am 24,no wife,no kids,live with my parents..My money goes to my projects..I rather just live in my car...call me crazy or dumb..then youll have a black eye

 

My parents tried to teach me fiscal responsibility, they really did, but it just never took.
I can still hear them..."FIFTEEN dollars for THAT??!?"...when I brought home a deuce grill in '64, earned by digging gardens out for neighbors.
Damn. Sure wish I had $15 now, instead of all that old tin.

 

and you brought this almost one year old post back up to the top for us to call you crazy? Yep, the rate you're going you will live with your parents forever or till they get sick of supporting you and kick you out. Oh yeah, thats right, you plan on living in your car at some point right so it's no big deal?

 

Hell yes that's the only way to roll!! If you only bought shit you could afford you'd not have near as many cool toys. In high school they questioned my actions and car habits and laughed at my Gearhead Ways. Let's see who's laughing now>>>>.

 

How would one even find this thread? Searching for irresponsibility?

 

Oh-oh...this is a lifestyle post! On to Orcabettys, cuff length, and red wheels!

 

go get um girl!

i know a guy like this..hes 47 and still living with mommy..never grew up. never became or was forced to become responsible. ..we call it the peter pan syndrome.
Dude at 24 ? jeasus..give yer mom a break!..let her get on with her life. Step away from the bong and realize you have to do it for yourself. Dont you think your being a bit selfish?

 

...and when I was 24 I was married, had a house, a kid and cars. Your neither crazy or dumb...just ignorant

 

i find myself in that position, at times.i just try and get creative with the ways of getting what i want.
i look around at what i've got laying around, and whatever i don't use goes up for sale/trade.this is how i got my current project,
i had a jeep i never used. put it on craigslist for sale/trade for hot rod. got a reply from a guy with a 63 impala ss who wanted to trade. not what i wanted, but figured it would get me back in the hot rod lifestyle, and i'd drive it with a "for sale" sign on her.
after 3 days of having that car, i put it on e-bay. i really wanted a late 20's-early 30's hot rod, and just couldn't embrace that 18ft long, behemouth!
surprisingly, i got a lot of hits. this one guy contacted me, and asked if i'd be willing to trade for one of his projects, as he really wanted something like the 63, to take his family in.
whatcha got? how about a 46 chevy, turn key hot rod? nah, not the late 20's early 30's, i wanted.
how about a 31 ford tudor project?
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIER IS A GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
even swap, come to daddy!!!
my point is, be creative. don't let the important things slide. it'll add too much stress, and you'll wind up selling it, anyway.

 

Sounds normal to me if you piss away your money on household bills all you have to show your firends are a handfull of receipts. Impress them and get another project.............you could sell it at a profit too.

 

I had to get out of hot rodding for many years to get my "plan" going. I went to events, but no rod of my own. I bought a new Dodge van in 1974 and drove it for 16 years for my photography business before buying another new car in '89. All the while, I worked a lot of hours, even worked a second job on many weekends and evenings just to stay with "my plan".
I retired at 52 in 2003 and started to play with hot rods again, just as my "plan" was intended.
I did "without" a lot of toys through the 70's and 80's while my friends were refinancing their houses and buying new cars, boats, taking lavish trips, and other impulse items.
Another thing, I started putting away $250 a month in 1973 and never stopped doing so.
I have to admit, it was really hard, but now I watch my friends my age heading off to work at 6AM, fighting with L.A. traffic, getting home at 7Pm every night, suffering with company layoffs and "downsizing", gas prices, etc., etc.
The only thing that would have disrupted my "plan" was if I had encountered health issues and that didn't happen, thank goodness.

If you are in your 20's or 30's, my advise is to get on some sort of savings schedule, stick to it no matter what.
Take good care of yourself. Poor habits will catch up with you sooner or later. Those health issues will end or seriously impact your dreams.
Don't think twice about buying the newest Ipod, CD, cell phone, etc. In fact think about five or six times before buying such stuff. More likely than not, you don't need that stuff.
No credit cards, ever, except for emergencys. Taking Suzie out for a nice dinner and drinks is not an emergency even though your underwear thinks that it is.
You don't have to be rich to become rich.
Money can't buy happiness, but it does buy freedom.

You can do this.

 

Only every day of my life, and I can already tell it's taking it's toll...

Mazooma, you did well and I'd do good to learn from you. Easier said then done I'm afraid

 

Before I was married and didn't own a house, I thought that way. Now that I'm married and own a house, I only use overtime money for cars. It took 3 years to build my last car, but it didn't affect the household budget.

 

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it and this country would not be in the credit toilet it is in.

 

Sure I did when I was racing seemed like every penny went into racing it was like a drug. I am not proud of it but it happend and yes I leaned from it. Now that I do not race any more bought the retirement house and can not beleive the money I have to put in savings and enjoy.

Don't get me wrong I loved racing and my family enjoyed it also but it was very costly.

 

I have one job: Protect the woman and child. Protect them from the elements, hunger and bad guys. The first two require a job, and a Plan B should Plan A fall through. The third requires my fists and a gun, and the willingness to use them.
All else comes after.

-Brad

 

when im broke and need parts i whore myself out for electrical work and appliance repair.... come to think of it im broke now and need parts, anyone need any electrical work or appliances repaired???

 

Not since 1974 ...

When I got married, I sold my Harley, my race car and a bunch of other good stuff so I could buy a home. I worked a second job and hustled side jobs for " car money ". In five years time, I moved up to a better brick house with some land. Stuck with the same work ethic and plan.

Retired @ 57

Still play with cars ... but not as much. I have learned to be HAPPY with the 2 old cars and one Harley I have ... I have figured out I cannot own ALL the 32 Fords in the world ... just a couple ... a roadster and a 3W