How can I afford a car with everything everybody decides to put on teenagers?

Question

the minimum wage around here is $5 an hour. insurance costs on average around 300 a month, gas near 100 plus the car payent. the max hours a teenager can work every week is 27 hours by law. how in the heck can i pay for that on THAT salary?

Answer 1

Car ownership is a priveledge....not a right.

Answer 2

I recommend a little soul searching-- do you really need a car now? A car could seriously interfere with your personal progress-- school, college, whatever.. I've seen a lot of kids graduate from high school, get a job, buy a car, but then not able to afford school because they've got this car. In effect, you could be buying your own slavery if you aren't careful. Make sure you need the car, not just want it. A car is the worst investment there is, and as cool as they are, when they start needing to be fixed and insured and filled with $3.00+ gas, your car won't feel as neat after you've had it and had to pay for all that stuff.

Answer 3

find a little 500 dollar beater car. It will be cheaper on insurance, you can often find 89 Toyotas for around 500 to 1000. they still give you good mileage. As far as gas, limit the number of trips you take when you go places. Limit it to work and school. If you live close enough to the school just leave the car at home and walk. this will save you tons of gas. if someone wants you to take them some where have them pay you 5 or 10 bucks for gas money. This should limit the number of trips people want you to take them too. If your going to go out and cruse around with your friends have them put in like 3 bucks a piece for gas. 4 X 3 is 12 bucks. That’s enough for 4 gallons of gas. On a car that gets even 25 miles to the gallon that’s 100 miles. if your frugal about your trips you can make that last a week. Maybe even 2 weeks. If your with a good insurance company and they offer a Simi-annual payment you can often save money that way. With a 2 week pay period your checks after tax should come out to be around 200 a check. That’s 400 a month. You insurance should only cost you around 75 to 80 a month with a good used car like the 89 Toyota. gas wise you should only spend a max of about 120 a month for gas. This is under assumption that you need to fill the tank (About 10 gallons) once a week. so it is possible. You just need to look at how to be frugal and cost effective. Your young and your not always going to be making 5.15 an hour.

Answer 4

You do like all of us did when we were your age.

You drive an old car you don't really want - but need. As you earn more, you can buy something newer or fancier.

Look at cars that are 10-15 years old. There's still a lot of good stuff out there, and it's cheap. My first car was 12 years old when I bought it. These days, I still buy used (2-3 years) to allow someone else to pay the depreciation.

Answer 5

Yeah, sorry, teenagers are not really meant to be driving brand new cars unless their parents pay for it. Buy a used car like we all had to start with, and use it to go to college or whatever, get a good job and you can afford a new car. It's the American way!! : ) good luck, hope this helps

Answer 6

yep life sux. they do that so you have to rely on public transport or stay at home with your parents. i often thought as a teenager, that adults were all stupid meanies, and how was i suppose to survive in an adult world with such unfair disadvantages. made an orphan at 17 i had no choice but to spend some time living in my car, and doing the crap jobs to get by. when i couldnt afford the car i sold it, but lucky for me i had family who took me in and helped me out with cheap board and the like. i used public transport alot and walked as much as possible. i also did odd jobs here and there for elder aunties to get the money to get another car.
but things were cheaper then. all i can recommend is that you save hard, and budget majorly untill things are in your favour.

Answer 7

buy a used car from a maw and paw shop where they will allow you to only have liability insurance on it. Plus you can put low down and have lower monthly payments. I would also start to look for a better paying job.

Answer 8

you have to get a crappy car that is low on insurance. Get an old grandma car. Where do you live that the minimum wage is still $5? They raised it to $6.85.....Or ride a bike

Answer 9

You forgot insurance. If under age, it will take all of your earnings.

Answer 10

You need help from your parents.