> car payment I do agree COL outpacing earnings is most of the problem, but at the same time, so many people are peer pressured into unnecessary overspending w

> car payment I do agree COL outpacing earnings is most of the problem, but at the same time, so many people are peer pressured into unnecessary overspending when they could've done just as well spending a fraction. A big one is a pervasive perception you need to get into big debt (or any debt at all) to have a nice, reliable car. I firmly believe anyone can find a good used car around or even under $1000. I bought mine (99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7L) over two years ago for $750. Some odds and ends needed repairs over time including it coming with a bad alternator (I was aware before buying). I just completed a 3000 mile road trip with it and it's still good as new barring a manageable issue I'll have to get taken care of soon. People in my peer group will be paying off much less nice cars for years and years while I'm saving and enjoying a great car with no finnicky distracting touch screen on the radio or other annoying misfeatures new cars are plagued with. My parents spent $8000 on a 2008 Nissan and the radio controls broke and would cost too much to fix or replace, the gas flap only opens with a hard to reach lever, the digital pedals are extremely oversensitive, and you can't even start it without pressing the brakes, which is especially annoying in the winter when you just want to lean in and start it to warm up. The same principle goes for appliances, furniture, almost anything. Don't trap yourself in a lifetime of being cash poor when the alternative on craigslist for 1/10-1/100 the price is just as good or better.