Dave Says: Road warrior rule - East Idaho News
Dave Says

Dave Says: Road warrior rule

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Dear Dave,

I’m trying to get out of debt. I make good money and do consulting for a living. I put about 4,000 miles a month on my car. It’s a 2012 model, and I currently owe more on it than it’s worth. I’ve considered selling it, but I’m concerned about reliability since I’m on the road so much. Do you have any advice?

Chantel

Dear Chantel,

Rule of thumb number one when it comes to your finances is you don’t want too much of your financial picture tied up in things that are going down in value. Specifically, no one needs to have more than half of their annual income tied up in things that go down in value.

You’re a road warrior, so whatever you drive you’re going to destroy. From a business perspective, you need a relatively low-mileage vehicle with good gas mileage that’s reliable and safe. You also want something that’s reasonably comfortable. Having said that, I would advise doing a lot of research and getting the least in car that meets all those criteria.

Since whatever you drive is going to be worth nothing in about 20 minutes, I’d start setting aside some cash every month as part of a monthly budget for a newer, better car. That way, when it comes time to put the old one down, you’ll have a pile of cash to go along with your trade-in.

But even in your situation, Chantel, I would never advise buying a brand-new car or leasing a vehicle. From a financial standpoint, either of those moves would be just about the dumbest things you could do!

— Dave

The buying decision

Dear Dave,

I live in Pennsylvania, and I’m accepting a new job out of state. My wife and I will be in this new area for at least two years, and we’re not sure if we should rent or buy a house.

Ron

Dear Ron,

Most of the time, as long as you’re financially ready for such a big investment, buying a house is a good move. But if I’m in your situation, and I’m not sure if it’s a long-term thing, I’m going to rent until I see what the future holds.

It seldom makes a lot of sense to live in a place for two or three years and sell it, unless you get a ridiculously good buy at purchase and are able to sell for retail without any trouble. Even though the economy is finally, slowly turning around somewhat, I’m not sure that most properties in the current marketplace would go up enough in value in only two years to offset your cost of sale.

You’re in a situation similar to lots of military families I help. Often, they’ll be stationed somewhere for just two or three years. They’ll buy something, they can’t get it sold, and they end up with rental properties all over the country. Believe me, that wasn’t their initial plan. Playing long-distance landlord is a pain in the rear!

Rent for now, Ron. Then, if you two decide you like the new job and new surroundings — and it turns out you’re going to be there for a good, long while — start checking out the area for a nice home.

— Dave

Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.

Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored several best-selling books, including "The Total Money Makeover." The Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

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