I wanna buy myself a new car but then I see news like this....

[pencilandpen]

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paid off my loans and recently thinking of buying a new car to reward myself but then I see news like this.

looks like another super market chain is closing all its pharmacies. prescriptions transfered to CVS.
Stater Bros. to close its pharmacies

seems like every week theres news about pharmacy closures or hours cuts.
guess no new car for me lol.

 

[PharmtoCS]

Right in the heart of one of the most saturated regions in the country where 2 pharmacy schools just graduated their first classes.

Time to save up at least a year of emergency funds + relocation expenses.

 

[pencilandpen]

Right in the heart of one of the most saturated regions in the country where 2 pharmacy schools just graduated their first classes.

Time to save up at least a year of emergency funds + relocation expenses.

theres still more pharmacy schools opening? wow
but hey MTM is gonna come save the day OK

 

[PharmtoCS]

theres still more pharmacy schools opening? wow

Stater Bros is based in Southern California which was already extremely saturated even before KGI and West Coast University just graduated their first classes this year.

 

[Thoughtfulsinner]

If you wanted to be rich and have job security, pharmacy was not a good decision.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Go ahead and buy your new car, but get a lower end model. No BMW's o Mercedes, although I guess the worst that would happen is they get repossessed when you can't make payments on them.

 

[VA77]

Save Save Save. If you have to buy then buy a reliable USED vehicle but keep major purchases to a minimum.

 

[APN-59 rph]

Save Save Save. If you have to buy then buy a reliable USED vehicle but keep major purchases to a minimum.

You beat me to it....Go used..find out who is reputable in your area...Maybe a couple of years old.....As of now watch out for flood damage...these heavily electronic vehicles do not like stray water...esp. salt water.....You need to take up the "lifestyle" of a church mouse ASAP......Work part time in construction or somesuch so that you can bail if things go south....Have cheap fun...good luck...

 

[JamesL1585]

If I were living in California, and saw this news, I'd do some drastic research/due dilligence and find which of the locations had the highest population with the least amount of pharmacy's near, and open one.

I know it's doom and gloom time in pharmacy, but there are always opporutnities, especially int he midst of rapid change.

 

[spacecowgirl]

My husband (he's in finance) and I were just talking about how buying a new car is the dumbest financial move that lots of people make. Haven't had a car payment in 2 years and it's great. Last car I drove for 14 years, our "newer" car is a very practical one. It gets me places safely. Fin.

 

[APN-59 rph]

My husband (he's in finance) and I were just talking about how buying a new car is the dumbest financial move that lots of people make. Haven't had a car payment in 2 years and it's great. Last car I drove for 14 years, our "newer" car is a very practical one. It gets me places safely. Fin.

Buying new isn't so bad for you since you seem to spread the cost over a looong period. In addition, you get the latest safety features that I would guess your 14 y.o. buggy won't come close too....But I agree...for a newbee buying used-ish and slamming the difference in payments into a cash type account would be a "good idea"...

 

[ancienbon]

My husband (he's in finance) and I were just talking about how buying a new car is the dumbest financial move that lots of people make. Haven't had a car payment in 2 years and it's great. Last car I drove for 14 years, our "newer" car is a very practical one. It gets me places safely. Fin.

So untrue..
With new car ,you get better deal and better interest rate . And if you re going to keep it for 14 years,you re better off buying it new..

 

[Wickett]

So untrue..
With new car ,you get better deal and better interest rate . And if you re going to keep it for 14 years,you re better off buying it new..

I don't know if I agree with that. Buy a lightly used car so you still get overall reliability and life of a car, but you let the initial sucker take the big depreciation hit. I bought my car with less than 8k miles on it in near perfect condition for 31k.....brand new it cost almost 45k. I also got a 100k extended bumper to bumper warranty for 1.2k so I have the same or better protection as a new car for around 12k less than if I bought it new off the lot.

 

[Prosperity8]

I just bought a used Mercedes with $128k balance left in student loans. Currently on autopay with SoFi for $3,400 monthly. I managed to squeeze enough out of my budget to afford the car payment. I should throw that $300 extra into student loans but life is short and retail is stressful. Not going to work myself to death and enjoy some luxury. Plust I'm already allocated 51% of my monthly income into student loans.

 

[steveysmith54]

Back when I was a student, their business plan was to draw pts by giving away free antibiotics and metformin.

Wasn't gona last.

Krogers has already cut their hours. I believe as did Walmart.

Wonder how much longer until we see Krogers start closing their slower stores?

 

[PA_dud3]

I just bought a used Mercedes with $128k balance left in student loans. Currently on autopay with SoFi for $3,400 monthly. I managed to squeeze enough out of my budget to afford the car payment. I should throw that $300 extra into student loans but life is short and retail is stressful. Not going to work myself to death and enjoy some luxury. Plust I'm already allocated 51% of my monthly income into student loans.

I've been continually setting aside money for the past year or so as a Technician, and will continue to do so through pharmacy school as an intern. My plan is to have enough to buy/buy most of a pre-owned BMW 3 series. I have a 2009 3 series currently that is clean and relatively low mileage, but I just want to be able to reward myself a little bit when I graduate. Plus I will need a new car, haha. I plan to be like you, however and prioritize the loans above everything else.

 

[BMBiology]

I just bought a used Mercedes with $128k balance left in student loans. Currently on autopay with SoFi for $3,400 monthly. I managed to squeeze enough out of my budget to afford the car payment. I should throw that $300 extra into student loans but life is short and retail is stressful. Not going to work myself to death and enjoy some luxury. Plust I'm already allocated 51% of my monthly income into student loans.

By buying this used Mercedes, you just added 3 years to your retail work life.

Buying crap will only force you to work longer and harder. Oh and you just increased your debt to income ratio which is going to affect your ability to buy a house.


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[NITRAS]

So untrue..
With new car ,you get better deal and better interest rate . And if you re going to keep it for 14 years,you re better off buying it new..

You haven’t looked at depreciation curves on cars, have you?

 

[mentos]

I just bought a used Mercedes with $128k balance left in student loans. Currently on autopay with SoFi for $3,400 monthly. I managed to squeeze enough out of my budget to afford the car payment. I should throw that $300 extra into student loans but life is short and retail is stressful. Not going to work myself to death and enjoy some luxury. Plust I'm already allocated 51% of my monthly income into student loans.

What a terrible financial decision. My classmates who bought luxury cars are drowning in debt while those of us who didn't paid off our loans and own homes.

 

[spacecowgirl]

So untrue..
With new car ,you get better deal and better interest rate . And if you re going to keep it for 14 years,you re better off buying it new..

I kept it that long because it still ran well. An occasional 400 dollar repair once a year or so, that's one month of a car payment. Literally every financial person would agree with me. Cars are terrible purchases that people frequently make. My husband says the average car loan life is less than 3 years. That is ridiculous to get a new car that often. And it's not because they are paid off loans.

I mean if that what does it for you, fine. There are many other purchases I think are stupid. I make some frivolous purchases. But there is no financial rationale to new cars.

 

[jjcayce123]

drive your current car into the ground. Nothing is worse than a car payment every month. Ive had my accord for 10 years. Never had a problem with it and no car payments for the past 7 years. Hoping to get another 5-10 years out of it.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Buying a new car is one of the most financially stupid things one could ever do. I'm never going to buy a new car until my net worth is over a million.

You can get some great value in used sedans and hybrids right now thanks to the idiots in this country being obsessed with crossovers and SUVs again.

 

[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

I just bought a New-To-Me 2016 vehicle and I'm thrilled, and I don't have crazy high payments, and it will last through school and my son driving in a couple of years (my last car was on life support). Practical, low mileage, and it's going to last me through being able to pass it to my son eventually.

You don't have to buy NEW. Just New-To-You 🙂

 

[PA_dud3]

I just bought a New-To-Me 2016 vehicle and I'm thrilled, and I don't have crazy high payments, and it will last through school and my son driving in a couple of years (my last car was on life support). Practical, low mileage, and it's going to last me through being able to pass it to my son eventually.

You don't have to buy NEW. Just New-To-You 🙂

That's where the best deals are at, IMO. Buying Pre-Owned within the last 3 +/- gets you a newer car with a newer body style and features as well as low mileage, and the biggest hit to the cars value has already been suffered by the first owner. You really cant go wrong that way.

 

[pezdispenser]

Learning about cars and how to perform DIY maintenance has also saved me a lot of money. I went to a shop to get some tires mounted and balanced and they tried to upsell me on a ton of unnecessary maintenance. Things like:
- you should get a wheel alignment every 5k miles... your tire warranty will be voided if you don't... BS
- 3k mile synthetic oil change. Synthetic should last well over 5k even into the 7.5k-12k range.
- charging $80 to change the engine air filter or the cabin air filter when you can buy them for $20 and DIY in a few minutes.
- power steering fluid change, but newer cars with electric power steering don't even have hydraulic fluid.
- radiator coolant change or transmission fluid change. Most cars now have 'lifetime' fluid which should last a good 100k miles.

 

[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

Learning about cars and how to perform DIY maintenance has also saved me a lot of money. I went to a shop to get some tires mounted and balanced and they tried to upsell me on a ton of unnecessary maintenance. Things like:
- you should get a wheel alignment every 5k miles... your tire warranty will be voided if you don't... BS
- 3k mile synthetic oil change. Synthetic should last well over 5k even into the 7.5k-12k range.
- charging $80 to change the engine air filter or the cabin air filter when you can buy them for $20 and DIY in a few minutes.
- power steering fluid change, but newer cars with electric power steering don't even have hydraulic fluid.
- radiator coolant change or transmission fluid change. Most cars now have 'lifetime' fluid which should last a good 100k miles.

Thanks for this! I'm going to ready my car's manual again to see what my car has/doesn't have. I appreciate this very much!

 

[mentos]

I like to buy tires from warehouse clubs like Costco. You get them cheap and they give free balancing and rotation every 6k or so miles whereas a garage will charge you like $40 everytime. Plus if you get a nail they fix it free.

 

[Momus]

I like to buy tires from warehouse clubs like Costco. You get them cheap and they give free balancing and rotation every 6k or so miles whereas a garage will charge you like $40 everytime. Plus if you get a nail they fix it free.

Discount tires/American tires do the same.

I used to buy Michelin all the time but nowadays I'll get cheap tires, rubber is rubber... It makes no different for me, I ain't racing anytime soon. I replace them every 40-50k miles, or whenever it hits 4/32.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Discount tires/American tires do the same.

I used to buy Michelin all the time but nowadays I'll get cheap tires, rubber is rubber... It makes no different for me, I ain't racing anytime soon. I replace them every 40-50k miles, or whenever it hits 4/32.

There's this joint near me called tires etc. They always have this deal where they'll put 4 new Michelins installed out the door for $72/ tire. I have no idea how they do it.

 

[Momus]

Buying new isn't so bad for you since you seem to spread the cost over a looong period. In addition, you get the latest safety features that I would guess your 14 y.o. buggy won't come close too....But I agree...for a newbee buying used-ish and slamming the difference in payments into a cash type account would be a "good idea"...

Buying new means you take 20-25% depreciation hit the first yr. For an average car, you lose about $7.5k just year 1. A 5yr old car lose about 60% of its value. Buy used, buy smart.

 

[Rouelle]

Discount tires/American tires do the same.

I used to buy Michelin all the time but nowadays I'll get cheap tires, rubber is rubber... It makes no different for me, I ain't racing anytime soon. I replace them every 40-50k miles, or whenever it hits 4/32.

I use Discount Tires. Had a nail in a tire this week actually. They fixed the flat and rotated for free. It’s pretty convenient. I don’t recall what I paid per tire last winter. Was more than WVU’s $72, but not ridiculous by any means.

 

[Prosperity8]

Buy a used luxury car is the best "bang for your bucks" deal. Very happy with my purchase.

 

[confettiflyer]

Buy a used luxury car is the best "bang for your bucks" deal. Very happy with my purchase. View attachment 239816

The maintenance though...unless you DIY, in which case, that’s a good buy.


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[confettiflyer]

Learning about cars and how to perform DIY maintenance has also saved me a lot of money. I went to a shop to get some tires mounted and balanced and they tried to upsell me on a ton of unnecessary maintenance. Things like:
- you should get a wheel alignment every 5k miles... your tire warranty will be voided if you don't... BS
- 3k mile synthetic oil change. Synthetic should last well over 5k even into the 7.5k-12k range.
- charging $80 to change the engine air filter or the cabin air filter when you can buy them for $20 and DIY in a few minutes.
- power steering fluid change, but newer cars with electric power steering don't even have hydraulic fluid.
- radiator coolant change or transmission fluid change. Most cars now have 'lifetime' fluid which should last a good 100k miles.

Tranny fluid is easy, brake fluid needs a pump and more crap than I care to deal with.

Air filters are a no brainer. If you can’t replace one, you should just give up on life 😆


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[confettiflyer]

Buying a new car is one of the most financially stupid things one could ever do. I'm never going to buy a new car until my net worth is over a million.

You can get some great value in used sedans and hybrids right now thanks to the idiots in this country being obsessed with crossovers and SUVs again.

I buy new only because I can never truly know how bad the previous owner treated their car. Given how I drive rental cars, I just have to assume they fly over speed bumps at full speed and jackrabbit at every green light.


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[PA_dud3]

The maintenance though...unless you DIY, in which case, that’s a good buy.


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Maintenance on my bimmer isnt too bad. However I did just have to replace a starter and intake manifold gasket at 156000 miles. Looking at about 700 or so currently for that job. Still not terrible for the work and parts. Most of the maintenance I do myself. Oil changes, air filters, etc. I can do brakes and rotors myself as well as coolant flushes but I prefer to have them done professionally. Some repairs I can do myself and save quite a bit, too. Had to replace a leaking oil filter housing gasket. Took about 2 hours but parts were only like 40 bucks.

 

[Momus]

Tranny fluid is easy, brake fluid needs a pump and more crap than I care to deal with.

Air filters are a no brainer. If you can’t replace one, you should just give up on life 😆


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Just YouTube Chrisfix, I learn to fix my car watching his channel.

Brake pad and rotor replacement are a $350 job, DIY $70 45 mins-1hr job. Can't beat that.

 

[NITRAS]

I will add that when I was a resident, my $2000 car started to go tits up and I “needed” another car and bought a $28,000 new truck.

In retrospect, it was rationalizing a car we didn’t have the money for. It was a mistake. On a slightly different topic, it was the last car payment I’ll ever have.

 

[confettiflyer]

I will add that when I was a resident, my $2000 car started to go tits up and I “needed” another car and bought a $28,000 new truck.

In retrospect, it was rationalizing a car we didn’t have the money for. It was a mistake. On a slightly different topic, it was the last car payment I’ll ever have.

Tits up, rofl. I’m going to use that today.


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[Pharmacy Kid]

I'm in the market for a new car. Mine is 10 yrs old and has 175000 miles. Once it hits 200000 I'll retire it.

 

[pezdispenser]

Discount tires/American tires do the same.

I used to buy Michelin all the time but nowadays I'll get cheap tires, rubber is rubber... It makes no different for me, I ain't racing anytime soon. I replace them every 40-50k miles, or whenever it hits 4/32.

I switched to Michelin Premier A/S tires even though they cost $1k for 4 in 245/40R18 size and am so glad I did. They are amazingly quiet and comfortable on the open highway. But I suppose if you only drive in the city there won't be much difference.