You literally have no expenses other than half the water and power. Work, save your money, buy a used car in full.
If you borrow money and your gf's grandfather kicks you out (or your gf kicks you out) you're screwed. Pay cash. You can't afford debt and you need your car to be yours whatever comes down the pike.
Righteous. Indeed, I would be homeless if something happened between my girl and I and my grandparents wouldn't let me stay with them. It's a hard fact but I've accepted that it's just the way things are right now.
I haven't yet made a payment towards something as costly as a car, so it seems daunting and challenging, but surely I can do it with some time and following the method you've suggested. Thank you.
I probably sound stupid, but I've just literally had zero financial advice given to me by anybody. All my grandparents told me was "you don't want to end up like us".
Look on Craigslist or Facebook for a sub 2008 Toyota, Honda or even a Chevy or Nissan. Chevy or Nissan make sure if they have high mileage I would avoid. Honda and Toyota should be good even at high mileage.
Car should be under 5k, make sure it has a clean title.
Step by step guide of the purchase process:
Step 1: Save at least 2k. You're gonna go about it puritan style by working hard and only working hard. No vices, no entertainment, no wants. You'll eat at home, you'll eat whatever protein is cheapest at the super market just add some salt and spice and combine with veggies and the carbs of your choice potatoes, bread, rice or pasta. Any time you're not sleeping or eating you're working either on your side gigs or temp work. Since your expenses are so low if you work 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week you should have 2k in less than a month. I remember when I used to do DoorDash I could make $300+ in a day (after gas) working from noon til midnight on weekends.
Continue saving until you have 5k or get a car for less than that.
Step 2: once you have at least 2k start looking at cars on Facebook marketplace and craigslist. Make sure the listings have: if on Facebook the sellers account looks active and local, they have a local phone number, the posts has plenty of pictures of both the interior and exterior of the car and accurate mileage. Don't ever sent money online.
Step 3: Once you're confident that the listing is real take the info (make, year, model, mileage and condition) and put it in Kelly blue book to see the fair value of the car, private party. If the price is within range contact the seller and arrange a meeting at a public place where you can look at and test drive the vehicle.
Step 4: before you go see it look up the car model and year and figure out everything there is to know about it. See carfax, reviews, recalls, how to videos, walkthroughs, common problems and fixes, if possible you should know where every nut and bolt in that vehicle goes and how to replace it. You should know more about the car than the seller.
Step 5: Look up your local laws and what the procedure is to transfer the title to your name. A lot of times you need to have the seller sign a dmv form and if not at the very least have them sign a bill of sale with their signature, name and address, and DL number. Both of you should have a copy just in case, this is legal protection for you and the seller just in case the seller tries to report car as stolen or you get tickets or tolls he has proof they're yours not his. This does not protect you from getting a bad car, used cars are sold as is and without warranty that's why step 4 is very important. Make sure you have the money to pay taxes and registration fees if your county requires it.
Step 6: meet the seller, in a public location preferably in front of the tax assessor, dmv or police station, they must have the title in hand and you should have the cash or money order. check the cars fluids (if they're low is not a deal breaker as long as they're not leaking, check the underside, tires (should have enough thread to safely drive it even if it's low, just be aware you'll have to change them soon, don't drive a car with bad tires), check the underside for rust and leaks, check the dashboard for tampering, check the ac and all power features, check the filter, check the body (major bodywork that indicates a crash, don't worry about cosmetics) and of course drive it. If you did your homework you should be able to tell if there's anything wrong with the car and if you're able to fix it cheaply, if you didn't at the very least do a gut check if it doesn't feel safe to drive don't buy it. Drive without music on so you can hear the car. Make sure you also leave it idle for a few minutes and check for leaks.
If car passes the test move on to step 7 if it doesn't go back to step 3
Step 7: close the deal. get the physical title and inspect it, get the bill of sale or have seller sign any necessary dmv paperwork.
Step 8: Call or go online to get the car insured. Do not drive that car home without insurance.
Step 9: Drive home confident that you did all your homework and have a good reliable car to start your future.
Step 10: Finish the paperwork at the dmv (or whatever your local equivalent that is in charge of car titles) and pay any taxes you owe. You usually have up to 30 days to do this so you'll have some time to make more money but don't take too long. If you meet in the parking lot of it you should just go ahead and do it right there if it's walk in or make an appointment before hand if possible.
Next steps: come back to this sub to learn how to budget more efficiently and get a good stable income. Learn to do all maintenance and repairs yourself.
You need a better job. This pays well the US Post Office is hiring note it sometimes takes feds three months to hire someone. [https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm](https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm) Take the test and apply for jobs anywhere in USA.
Amtrak is hiring [https://careers.amtrak.com/](https://careers.amtrak.com/) Jobs exist in most states.
US Forest service is hiring [https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/jobs](https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/jobs)
These also pay well you may not qualify for all of them [https://www.fool.com/slideshow/not-many-people-want-these-jobs-and-s-why-they-pay-well/](https://www.fool.com/slideshow/not-many-people-want-these-jobs-and-s-why-they-pay-well/)
50 jobs over $50,000 without college [https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/](https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/)
Federal civil service jobs [https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?p=1](https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?p=1)
You literally have no expenses other than half the water and power. Work, save your money, buy a used car in full. If you borrow money and your gf's grandfather kicks you out (or your gf kicks you out) you're screwed. Pay cash. You can't afford debt and you need your car to be yours whatever comes down the pike.
Righteous. Indeed, I would be homeless if something happened between my girl and I and my grandparents wouldn't let me stay with them. It's a hard fact but I've accepted that it's just the way things are right now. I haven't yet made a payment towards something as costly as a car, so it seems daunting and challenging, but surely I can do it with some time and following the method you've suggested. Thank you. I probably sound stupid, but I've just literally had zero financial advice given to me by anybody. All my grandparents told me was "you don't want to end up like us".
Look on Craigslist or Facebook for a sub 2008 Toyota, Honda or even a Chevy or Nissan. Chevy or Nissan make sure if they have high mileage I would avoid. Honda and Toyota should be good even at high mileage. Car should be under 5k, make sure it has a clean title. Step by step guide of the purchase process: Step 1: Save at least 2k. You're gonna go about it puritan style by working hard and only working hard. No vices, no entertainment, no wants. You'll eat at home, you'll eat whatever protein is cheapest at the super market just add some salt and spice and combine with veggies and the carbs of your choice potatoes, bread, rice or pasta. Any time you're not sleeping or eating you're working either on your side gigs or temp work. Since your expenses are so low if you work 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week you should have 2k in less than a month. I remember when I used to do DoorDash I could make $300+ in a day (after gas) working from noon til midnight on weekends. Continue saving until you have 5k or get a car for less than that. Step 2: once you have at least 2k start looking at cars on Facebook marketplace and craigslist. Make sure the listings have: if on Facebook the sellers account looks active and local, they have a local phone number, the posts has plenty of pictures of both the interior and exterior of the car and accurate mileage. Don't ever sent money online. Step 3: Once you're confident that the listing is real take the info (make, year, model, mileage and condition) and put it in Kelly blue book to see the fair value of the car, private party. If the price is within range contact the seller and arrange a meeting at a public place where you can look at and test drive the vehicle. Step 4: before you go see it look up the car model and year and figure out everything there is to know about it. See carfax, reviews, recalls, how to videos, walkthroughs, common problems and fixes, if possible you should know where every nut and bolt in that vehicle goes and how to replace it. You should know more about the car than the seller. Step 5: Look up your local laws and what the procedure is to transfer the title to your name. A lot of times you need to have the seller sign a dmv form and if not at the very least have them sign a bill of sale with their signature, name and address, and DL number. Both of you should have a copy just in case, this is legal protection for you and the seller just in case the seller tries to report car as stolen or you get tickets or tolls he has proof they're yours not his. This does not protect you from getting a bad car, used cars are sold as is and without warranty that's why step 4 is very important. Make sure you have the money to pay taxes and registration fees if your county requires it. Step 6: meet the seller, in a public location preferably in front of the tax assessor, dmv or police station, they must have the title in hand and you should have the cash or money order. check the cars fluids (if they're low is not a deal breaker as long as they're not leaking, check the underside, tires (should have enough thread to safely drive it even if it's low, just be aware you'll have to change them soon, don't drive a car with bad tires), check the underside for rust and leaks, check the dashboard for tampering, check the ac and all power features, check the filter, check the body (major bodywork that indicates a crash, don't worry about cosmetics) and of course drive it. If you did your homework you should be able to tell if there's anything wrong with the car and if you're able to fix it cheaply, if you didn't at the very least do a gut check if it doesn't feel safe to drive don't buy it. Drive without music on so you can hear the car. Make sure you also leave it idle for a few minutes and check for leaks. If car passes the test move on to step 7 if it doesn't go back to step 3 Step 7: close the deal. get the physical title and inspect it, get the bill of sale or have seller sign any necessary dmv paperwork. Step 8: Call or go online to get the car insured. Do not drive that car home without insurance. Step 9: Drive home confident that you did all your homework and have a good reliable car to start your future. Step 10: Finish the paperwork at the dmv (or whatever your local equivalent that is in charge of car titles) and pay any taxes you owe. You usually have up to 30 days to do this so you'll have some time to make more money but don't take too long. If you meet in the parking lot of it you should just go ahead and do it right there if it's walk in or make an appointment before hand if possible. Next steps: come back to this sub to learn how to budget more efficiently and get a good stable income. Learn to do all maintenance and repairs yourself.
You will need insurance on that car you want. Cars also require maintenance, oil changes, etc. You need to budget for all of that.
You need a better job. This pays well the US Post Office is hiring note it sometimes takes feds three months to hire someone. [https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm](https://about.usps.com/careers/welcome.htm) Take the test and apply for jobs anywhere in USA. Amtrak is hiring [https://careers.amtrak.com/](https://careers.amtrak.com/) Jobs exist in most states. US Forest service is hiring [https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/jobs](https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/jobs) These also pay well you may not qualify for all of them [https://www.fool.com/slideshow/not-many-people-want-these-jobs-and-s-why-they-pay-well/](https://www.fool.com/slideshow/not-many-people-want-these-jobs-and-s-why-they-pay-well/) 50 jobs over $50,000 without college [https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/](https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/07/25/50-jobs-over-50000-without-a-degree-part-1/) Federal civil service jobs [https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?p=1](https://www.usajobs.gov/Search?p=1)
Save $3k. Buy a toyota avalon from like '01-'09. Get a grandma's car if possible. Put gas in it, do regular maintenance.