Prior to 2008, when I was well able to take vacations, I really didn’t because I had a business to run. My “vacations” were a day here and there tacked onto business travel, no taking a week off let alone two. New cars were depreciated through that business and although even then they were too much money, the depreciation offset sufficient income that it was honestly a deal so I did it. Now, I buy used. I watch the market for cars that interest me to see how well they age, how reliable they are, I keep a short list. I can’t afford the depreciation hit now that I’m no longer able to use it to offset business income. Planes? Had a customer that both imported and manufactured LSA’s and was bartering for seat time to get a license, does that count? The planes cost then what an SUV costs now so it seemed within reach, then. Not now. I could go on and on, but the most galling thing is dentistry. I’m at the age where the need for root canals starts rearing it’s ugly head, and even if I had dental insurance the first $2,500.00 is not covered and does not roll over year to year. Guess what a root canal costs? Most of that, but not all so it’s out of pocket.
“The planes cost then what an SUV costs now so it seemed within reach, then. Not now.”
You can still get a plane for less than an SUV if you shop around and know what you are looking for. Not a new plane. New planes have more fancy avionics than they use to and they got more expensive. Used planes are still reasonable.