i cannot believe i have not posted about this yet....in november, one month ahead of schedule, i paid off my car! i have never owned a car outright and let me tell you, the process of becoming a car owner sorta felt like finishing the only marathon i have ever run. the struggle over the miles was sometimes painful but i saw a lot of neat things along the way.
in this case over the years and many miles driven. the first year was probably the most difficult. i didn't have a steady job so money was t.i.g.h.t...but i made every payment. on time every time.
the magical final payment was 327-ish. basically 326 and some odd change. i had to send an actual check. and once it was processed, i attempted to log into the toyota online payment center i had gone to monthly for years....and i was DENIED. a simple message saying that this account was no longer valid appeared. i just stared.
wow! just like that the car was mine. and then the title came in the mail. it was official.
i couldn't have gotten the car without the help of a dear friend who was willing to co-sign for me, but i fully know that i would be able to get a car on my own now. the thing is... i could certainly trade in my car and upgrade, getting another loan and make payments for years to come...but would rather save up money until i can buy one straight up.
i think our society believes that payments are 'normal" but i'm trying to move away from that line of thinking...and instead think...if i had just made phantom payments into an account for a few years, i would have enough saved up to walk into a dealership and say, yes, i would like that one please-in white...oh and i will be paying with cash.
and that will feel really good. i have my eye on a car but haven't done much research as to whether it would be a logical choice or if i just love the way it looks...but i am not too concerned since a lot will change in the next few years...by the time i am ready to pay for it with cash...i will discover that it is actually a space ship and people live on the moon. but i will pay with cash nonetheless.
in this case over the years and many miles driven. the first year was probably the most difficult. i didn't have a steady job so money was t.i.g.h.t...but i made every payment. on time every time.
the magical final payment was 327-ish. basically 326 and some odd change. i had to send an actual check. and once it was processed, i attempted to log into the toyota online payment center i had gone to monthly for years....and i was DENIED. a simple message saying that this account was no longer valid appeared. i just stared.
wow! just like that the car was mine. and then the title came in the mail. it was official.
i couldn't have gotten the car without the help of a dear friend who was willing to co-sign for me, but i fully know that i would be able to get a car on my own now. the thing is... i could certainly trade in my car and upgrade, getting another loan and make payments for years to come...but would rather save up money until i can buy one straight up.
i think our society believes that payments are 'normal" but i'm trying to move away from that line of thinking...and instead think...if i had just made phantom payments into an account for a few years, i would have enough saved up to walk into a dealership and say, yes, i would like that one please-in white...oh and i will be paying with cash.
and that will feel really good. i have my eye on a car but haven't done much research as to whether it would be a logical choice or if i just love the way it looks...but i am not too concerned since a lot will change in the next few years...by the time i am ready to pay for it with cash...i will discover that it is actually a space ship and people live on the moon. but i will pay with cash nonetheless.
Nice! I have another year and a few months before I 'own' my car, but I'm looking forward to that day! It's quite the feeling of freedom and accomplishment.
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