“My need to purchase another vehicle led me down a path of financial hardship that I still deal with to this day.”
Oh man, I have seen this time and time again. Once you pull that trigger to buy one on credit it becomes a perpetual cycle and you never do get solvent.
The newest two generations have just made a lifestyle out of this. They are basically going to lease/rent a vehicle for a monthly credit payment all their lives and never actually get one paid off.
And part of it is their own fault for participating in our current “throw away economy”. I have seen them trade a car in for a newer one just because the one they have needs a new set of tires. Their thought is “the payments a month are the same, but I get a new set of tires for free”.
No you are not getting a new set of tires for free... Too even think so is the stupidity dealers are hoping for. lol
But that is the current mindset of this current throw away economy we live in. Even many our age are falling for this same trap and mindset and trade in for a new one every year or two.
“I own a (make, year, model) and boasting about it because of how rich I am. No you don’t, umless it is paid off the bank or dealer owns it and you own absolutely nothing yet.
And what you just sold your soul for is now worth 50% less than what you will be paying for it as soon as your drive it off the lot. Truly not a very wise investment at all...
Looking back, if I was able to bring my Nova with me to Texas, I wouldn't have had to go into debt, then into further debt, then into even further debt. But my mother selling it without my consent is drove it all, well, that and a freeloading now ex-wife.
I'm retired now, due to Long Covid, and my age, 63. A lot of my debt has been paid or, in the case of private student loans, been forgiven due to my disability. My federal student loans disappeared last summer without so much as a letter, but that's ok. It's gone. I'm hoping now that if/when my VA and SSA disability claims come back approved, I'll be able to pay off the remainder and finally be completely debt free.
Then it's off to a secluded location in the mountains somewhere to finish my days. LOL