- Budgeting
- Cash Management
- Consumer and Mortgage Loans
- Debt and Debt Reduction
- Time Value of Money 1: Present and Future Value
- Time Value of Money 2: Inflation, Real Returns, Annuities, and Amortized Loans
- Insurance 1: Basics
- Insurance 2: Life Insurance
- Insurance 3: Health, Long-term Care, and Disability Insurance
- Insurance 4: Auto, Homeowners, and Liability Insurance
- The Home Decision
- The Auto Decision
- Introduction
- Determine How a Car Fits into Your Financial Plan
- Understand Key Issues of Auto Ownership
- Understand How to Buy or Lease a New Car and Understand the Lease Versus Buy Decision
- Understand the Challenges of Buying a Used Vehicle
- V. Understand the Special Challenges of Leasing
- Summary
- Assignments
- Family 1: Money and Marriage
- Family 2: Teaching Children Financial Responsibility
- Family 3: Financing Children’s Education and Missions
- Investments A: Key Lessons of Investing
- Investments B: Key Lessons of Investing
2. Narrow Your Choices and Pick Your Vehicle
When choosing an automobile, it is critical that you comparison shop. You should compare prices, features, and quality to find out exactly what you want. Be informed. Check the library, check a number of Web sources, and look at the alternatives. As you look at different cars, determine what is available in your price range and budget.
After you have looked at what is available, the next step is to pick your vehicle. As you narrow the choices, test-drive the exact vehicles you are considering. Do not buy any car without test-driving it first.
As you make your final decision, it is critical that you remember to make your car fit your budget. Don’t make your budget fit your car. If you must finance your car, determine exactly how much you can afford to spend each month and select a vehicle with a payment plan that fits within that limit. Do not spend more on a car than you can afford.
