Money-Saving Tips from Tibs and Shell

[GUBU]

I'll never purchase a car again.

I bought my Subaru, and I love it, but I loathe paying on a car that by the time I'm done will be worth jack shit.

I will lease from now on. I don't mind not owning a thing that will be worth shit by the time I'm don't paying on it. Plus, I get a brand new car every three years or so.

Long term leases with cars are often worse than buying outright. With respect to cars, I'd say the best option is to map out when you're replacing your current one (bar unforseeables), and work up a plan to start saving ahead of time so you've as much as possible cash in hand*.

And with any sort of leasing arrangement, I'd look very hard at the small print before even touching the pen. Even the smallest dent, or overage on your mileage (which is often very restrictive) could set you back thousands when you hand back the car keys in three years time. Remember dealers don't offer you these kinds of deals because they're good for you.

*Of course with the ubiquity of credits union in Ireland, I've access to cheap finance for part or all of a car purchase no bother (I'm a member of two).