April 29, 2013

I bought a car!

You have to understand that we are thrifty folks. We don’t make big purchases lightly. As a friend once said to me, “You and your husband overthink everything, don’t you?”

Well, you could put it that way, but I think that thinking through major (and minor) purchases is a good thing. Our household monetary policy comes down to two fundamental ideas:

1. Money in the bank = freedom.

2. We are responsible for the consequences of our actions.

Let’s put it this way: consumption = less money + more waste, unless you are really thoughtful about the way you consume. I don’t know about you, but I do a major household cleanup at least twice a year, and until I really cut back on my spending, I would take away bags and bags of stuff no one used anymore each time. A few years back I began to make a concerted effort to change my ways. You know you’re consuming wisely when spring cleaning hits and you have nothing to give away or stock a yard sale with.

All of this to say that deciding to buy a second car wasn’t easy for me. We’ve been a one car family for nine years. It’s worked for us because my husband and I both work from home, but there have been times when it’s been frustrating. Last year our ’99 Dodge Caravan got creaky and we traded it in for an ’01 Ford F-150. Not my idea of a family car (although we all fit in it), but very handy for all the hauling and building we’ve done on the acre this past year.

The F-150 gets cruddy gas mileage, though, and I don’t entirely trust it. Our nearest town is 45 minutes away through a lot of empty territory. I’m not comfortable piling my daughter’s friends in it and going for a day trip anywhere. Plus filling the tank for such an outing would put me in the poorhouse.

Enter the Honda Fit. It’s a 2007 and it’s seen some wear and tear, but I’m hoping it will get me through the next 6 – 8 years, until all the kids move out. It’s a great car for the last two to learn to drive on, and wonderful to run errands around town in. It should sip gas. I have a feeling the Ford is going to sit in our driveway an awful lot now.

Now to name her….