Ask Chuck: Should I Wait to Buy a Used Car?
Hi Chuck, When do you think used-car prices will drop? My car is racking up a lot of miles, and I am trying to hold off on buying a replacement. Waiting on Prices to Drop Dear Waiting on Prices to Drop, Several years ago, a neighbor told my wife they needed to buy a […]
Ask Chuck: Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist Cars?
Dear Chuck, Should I buy a car listed on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist? There seems to be a lot of great deals from private sellers. And I would love to pay cash rather than have a car payment. But the process seems so daunting. Many of the posts look like scams, and most sellers say […]
Ask Chuck: Watch Out for Extended Warranty Rip Offs!
Dear Chuck, I bought a car a few years ago from a dealership. It came with a limited one-year warranty. How do I know if any of these extended-warranty offers are legitimate? Warranty Worries Dear Warranty Worries, They say there are now three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and receiving a “final notice […]
Ask Chuck: Is Now the Time to Buy a Car?
Dear Chuck, Should I buy a used car now? I’ve been told to just buy new, but I don’t want a car payment. Needing Transportation Dear Needing Transportation, My perspective is that neither is a good option right now. I suggest you try to hold off until market conditions change. Some context will help. […]
Ask Chuck: Concerned About Gas Prices
Dear Chuck, I’m getting nervous about the rising cost of gasoline because of my long commute each day. How can I avoid having my budget whacked? Bring Back Cheap Gas! Dear Bring Back Cheap Gas, You have good reason to be concerned, but it is not all bad news. There are plenty of reasons […]
Ask Chuck: Should I Buy an Electric Car?
Dear Chuck, I need to replace my car this year. I’m trying to decide if I should buy an electric vehicle or not. What would you do? Car Choice Dear Car Choice, This is a timely question as a great deal of policy is attempting to move us towards electric vehicles with the assumption […]
How To Reduce Financial Stress
With many things causing stress in today’s world, here is a short list of financial practices that will reduce your stress, make managing your money simpler, and generally improve your quality of life. 1. Spend less than you earn. It sounds easy, but this is too often our greatest financial challenge. The vast majority of people that […]
Ask Chuck: When Should I Buy a New Car?
Dear Chuck, I want to replace my mother’s clunker and am considering financing a new one. My father died unexpectedly and I want her to hold onto what little savings she has. What would you do? Taking Care of Mom Dear Taking Care of Mom, It is wonderful that you are helping your mom. […]
Ask Chuck: New Car Before Baby?
Dear Chuck, My husband and I drive older, paid-for cars. His is 11 years old and mine is 9. Neither give us any issues. People are telling us we need to buy a new car before the arrival of our first baby at the end of the year. We’re not convinced. What do you think? […]
7 Rules for True Riches
Most of the financial principles I live by I learned because I was doing it all wrong. For the majority of my young adult life, and well into my marriage, I was focused on all the wrong things. Being a success in the eyes of the world was the most important thing to me. I […]
