KJB's Tips to Buying a Car

I've had two cars up to this point in my life, at 16, mom bought me essentially from her school's "Craigslist", a red 1996 Saturn sedan. I had it from the summer before junior year until it died the spring break of my 4th year of college.

From there she bought me a blue grey, 2001 Ford Escape.

I had always wanted an SUV, power windows and locks.

I had this car from that spring break, Spring '14,  until the summer of my funemployment when it died after a job interview and once AAA got it up and running and I got it to a mechanic we learned it needed a new transmission.

If you know nothing about cars, like myself, know this-- the transmission is one of the most expensive parts to fix on a car.

So the Ford sat behind our garage for a year, while I tried to save money- and fail- and mom and I shared her car... for a year.

Then in June or July of 2016- mom paid to get me a new transmission.

If you haven't figured it out yet- my mother is a saint.

After that- and having one or two lectures about the safety of the car from my mom and my best friend's dad not to mention a rental car- I started my search for a car...

I learned a lot along this journey and want to share it with you.

This is the part where I say: Do as I say and not as I did- because well I know how it should be done- I didn't necessarily practice what I preached.

1. SAVE SAVE SAVE
1. The more money you put down on a downpayment the lower the monthly payment. I suggest $1,000 but... you should know I didn't have that much- it worked out.
2. HAVE GOOD CREDIT
1. Pay your bills on time
1. You're not dinged until you're 30 days late from your due date!
2. Have a credit history
3. Don't let every dealership check it, oops.
3. Know what you can afford
1. BE REALISTIC
1. I wrote down all my bills in a month then calculated how much I make between two paychecks and went from there.
2. Have a minimum, a likely $$$ and a maximum. STICK TO IT!
4. Compile a list of features your dream car would have:
1. Rear camera
2. Bluetooth connectivity
3. Cruise control
4. steering wheel controllers
5. RESEARCH
1. Go online: Kelly Blue Book! 
1. Go ole KKB.com, it is LIFE and find cars close to you
2. Look for 35,000 miles or less- mine was 53,000.
3. Look for a car 2-3 years old if you're looking at a used car. 
1. 3 years is when cars' depreciation starts to slow down.
4. Buy v. Lease
1. Have that decision made before you go to the dealership
2. I bought because I wanted to be able to drive my car any and every where with no restraints.
3. Leasing is nice because you give it back after 1-2 years. But you have to be conscious of the miles you put it on it.
1. It's a brand new car!

Know that basically this is a deep, dark rabbit hole you're about to fall into.

Be prepared to sell your soul...

But now you're really an adult.

xo,

KJB

If you have any tips to add- leave a comment below!