Quote:
Originally Posted by extrashaky
But he's not a 30-year old with a wife, kid and mortgage. He's single with no responsibilities, and he has means for the meager financial burdens in his life. There's a big difference in risk appetite when it's only your risk and not anybody else's.
I'm in my 40s and do not have any kids, spouses, pets or plants. Not too long ago I was working in a job I didn't like for a company I didn't like in a city I despised. I got tired of it, so I quit and moved to New Orleans. No job. No real plans. I just gave my notice, packed up my shit and moved.
That sounds crazy to people with kids and mortgages, especially in what was, at that time, still a pretty weak economy. The coworkers in my department (ALL of them with children) thought I was nuts, and some of them said so. But for me, what was the worst that could happen? I might have ended up depleting my savings and having to sell my stuff. I might have had to get a job at Home Depot to make ends meet. I might have ended up bankrupt and homeless, but I have family I could go live with if it got to that point.
But it all worked out better than I could have expected. And the best part is that if I decided I hated New Orleans, I could do it again.
This kid is in a similar situation. He has no responsibilities. He has nobody counting on him. He has good earning prospects on the horizon, and he has a safety net in the form of family. He'll have plenty of years ahead of him to worry about mortgages and college funds for kids and all that crap that keep you tied down. But for now, he has very little at risk. Really, what's the worst that could happen? If he got himself in financial trouble, he might have to sell the car. Big deal. If that happened, I suspect he wouldn't whine about it or go looking for a government handout. He would take responsibility for it and rebuild.
OP, buy the car. Don't let other people project their fear of risk onto you, when their risks just don't apply. And don't feel guilty about having a safety net. You were born luckier than some, but that's not anything to be ashamed of as long as you don't let it turn you into a douchebag.
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I hear you. That's why my situation is different than when I bought the car. I did what you did. I moved from Orange County, CA to Phoenix, AZ with no ties at all. I started dating a woman who has a kid a year ago. So again... today -- Not my clowns & not my circus. I would buy a "Family car".
I encourage him to buy the car, and I sincerely mean that. I want him to be able to drive this dream of a car. I understand fully that my current situation is not his and my "fear of risk" isn't his. Honestly, I do. If I were where I was 1 year ago when I bought my car, then I'd buy it all over again. No hesitation. I have zero regrets.
OP, Like this author stated, do *NOT* feel guilty for having the financial situation you do. Remeber that you do not have to justify your living situation, car, education level, or anything else to ANYONE but yourself. At the end of the day, the payments on the car are more yours than mine or anyone else's here on this board. Again, I am sorry if I come across like an asshole