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About Me:

Sian

Joined the U.S. Army and have been deployed and PCS'd several times. Been trying to get control of my finances and getting rid of debt. Preparing myself for retirement which is still 25 years away and counting down. My goal is to get rid of debt, fund my retirement, and live my life happily.

Debt:
Capital One: PAID OFF/CLOSED!!
Rooms to Go: PAID OFF/CLOSED!!
USAA card: $0

Resort Maintenance Fees: $1,800
Apartment reno: approx $1,037.25 @ 0% - $10/mo
Timeshare: $2,753.70 @ 6% - $85.07/mo
Rewards Card: $7,751.05 @ 15.15% - $157/mo
Navient: $14,785.04 @ 4.08% $60.25/wk
Car Loan: $17,911.49 @ 13.7957% - $360/mo
Nelnet: $22,191.37 @ 5.03% - 102.16/mo

Retirement:
401K: $4,525.39 (3 Jan 2017)(increase from last amount)
Pension: $1,704.72 (3 Jan 2017)(increase from last amount)

CREDIT SCORES:
Equifax: 636 (Dec 2016)(36 point decrease)
TransUnion: 666?
Experian: 677 (Dec 2016)(24 point increase)

Short and Long Term Goals:
[X] Come up with do-able 5 year consumer debt free plan
[_] Start Birthday/Christmas fund ($100 total)
[_] Pay off Emblem credit card
[_] Start emergency fund
[_] Start putting money in Roth IRA
[_] Get rid of 50lbs and attain 12% bodyfat
[_] Clean/Organize items for Ebay/yard sale
[_] Donate items not for sale
[_] Donate to retirement home and/or shelter

Still Trying to Buy a New Vehicle

December 25th, 2016 at 06:44 pm

So for the past few months I've been trying to purchase a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ fully loaded except for the rear DVD entertainment for $13,600. There were issues with the paperwork. The DMV wouldn't take the title from the form DMV because their titling laws were different and it took another month to get it fixed. So I've been waiting on this particular vehicle since October.

Well the paperwork came through on Thursday. I had already test driven the vehicle prior but I knew that it needed a new battery. Well when the paperwork came through they replaced the battery that day, and on Friday... it was dead.

So now there may be electrical issues or an alternator wrong with it.

Well at this point I'm no longer wanting to deal with them and I don't really want the vehicle anymore so I started looking again (although I was looking the whole time).

So at this point I have found two vehicles that I like. a 2011 and a 2012 Cadillac SRX Premium Collection. The 2011 is at $16,240 but the internet sale price is $15,741. The 2012 was at $21,998 and now at $17,998.

I can afford these but I do want to negotiate for lower. I know I suck at negotiating but I think that I have time on my side. Meaning it's the last week of the year and the dealers want these cars off their lots so they don't have to pay taxes on them.

Does anyone have any advice for me in the meantime? I am already financed and will be going on Monday to the two different dealerships.

Posted in Budgeting, Debt, Personal Finance | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Still Trying to Buy a New Vehicle”

rob62521 Says:
December 25th, 2016 at 10:43 pm 1482705793
1482705793

As for the Equinox, it sounds like you lucked out by not getting it.

When I went to purchase our last vehicle, I looked up on line the same vehicle at different places and printed out the info so it gave me some leverage. I also informed them I didn't have to buy a vehicle so I would be free to walk away if I wasn't happy. I wasn't mean or nasty, just firm. I got the price I wanted. Being a woman, they figured I was an easy mark. They were incorrect because I did my research. Good luck and hope your deal goes well.
Sian Says:
December 26th, 2016 at 08:25 am 1482740746
1482740746

I've already walked away from a previous "deal". I feel confident I'll get one of these vehicles although I'd prefer the 2012. It's only about $1k difference in price. My parents will be happy if I get it down to $17k but my SIL wants me to get it to 15k. lol I have to be mindfull to not let them know I'm in the military because they just see dollar signs there. And I also look younger than my actual age (some people say I look about 28 but I'm actually 40), so I want to use that to my advantage also. And of course I'm a female...
snafu Says:
December 27th, 2016 at 01:26 pm 1482845168
1482845168

No plan to buy a vehicle this year so I'm not up-to-date on Best buys, used cars. I suggest you check Lemon-Aid's recommendations and comments on operating cost of vehicles. I can't imagine buying a Cadillac, their reputation has been so dismal. My two anecdotal stories are colleagues who need brand named stuff and feel entitled to call on friends to solve their problems. Their Cadillacs seem to be in constant repair causing more spent on maintenance than monthly payments! Why is that a brag point?
Sian Says:
December 28th, 2016 at 08:12 am 1482912764
1482912764

Well I already know what the issues are for this particular caddy. So I'm already watching out for it. And I already know what the fix is for some of the issues. I may be proactive and do a prevent fix before there is an issue for 1 or 2 of them. There are a couple of things that I do need to do right away like buy another key fob since it only came with one. That part sucks, but it's necessary. And they came down on the price a bit for that.

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Sian's Money Matters

My path to a better life

Still Trying to Buy a New Vehicle

4 Responses to “Still Trying to Buy a New Vehicle”

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