The used car market is a lot more expensive than it used to be, especially if you don’t want a beater that you have to take into the shop every couple weeks
Well I mean just cause they need asap doesn't mean they're going to get it asap. Saving up and buying used is the best bet. Unless they can lease for relatively cheap and they have a stable job.
I’ve been on the lookout for a car to buy my sister for the past couple of months . Finally struck a good Honda 2011 with no mechanical issues and runs on CNG , was able to negotiate from $4.5k to $3.8k. Just be patient with it and try to not surpass w certain budget , I’ve honestly just been saving any money the school refunds me and from my job
I wouldn’t count out a beater. The right make can take you to 250+ with relatively no issue. However an important part of that is any documentation the owner can provide to make sure they aren’t gonna give you an engine that’s about to explode. (Speaking as someone who has had a Honda and Lexus)
Yep! That’s what I did. New car sales are at the lowest point they have ever been because people are seeing how much of a waste of money it is. If you take good care of your car it will last you a long time. I still drive my 2008 ford focus. It isn’t the most stylish but it’s nice having the freedom!
When I was a student, I had a part time job and was able to snag an awesome Ford Explorer at a police auction for only a few grand. It looked super dirty and that’s why no one bid on it haha.
Odd IT jobs here and there and a part time employment at UCSD while I was a student.
At the time, under-the-table IT jobs were hot.
Each job where I’d make a website, or even just install a basic network backend for small businesses yielded several hundreds to thousands per project. I just had to hustle my way to pay for tuition.
I know the number is different for everyone but I personally am actually buying a car right now and I saved up about 13,000 in a separate account just for buying a car. I hope to spend less than that and am aiming for a price around $10,000
if you buy one from facebook marketplace you can save up for a few months and then it's yours, you don't need to make monthly payments. you can get a used reliable one like a mom van for cheap
well my parents make $80k a year and i have 7 siblings and they had 5 dependents at the time so that’s why 😫 plus we got like an additional $1-2k during covid. i went to college of san mateo in the bay area!
Omg I’m in a similar situation , so your saying the college just gives u money based on how shitty of a situation your in 😭 or am I mistaken, does this have something to do with financial aid from fasfa ?
So the cc takes in to consideration more than what the fasfa does and allows u to keep some of the money fasfa would have sent allowing u to just use it for whatever then? Sorry I’m new to fasfa and all that jazz cuz I’m international
so the cc just transfers the money to you, all the money comes from fafsa and how much they decide to give you! but yes the money is intended for “tuition” but cc granted me free tuition bc of my income so i saved it!
damnnnn 😭 so how can I go about getting the cc to grant me free tuition , do I just contact them and say hey I’m poor can I get excused from having to pay back all these loans? And hope they accept and wire the financial aid money back to me?
omg i lied lol cc is free for everyone but they still have a “tuition” amount that fafsa looks at to determine how much students spend on school im guessing
I applied as international and didn’t get to do fasfa on time cuz of my status at the time soo my tuition prices were through the roof hence why I’m going this route
Hoping I can maybe complete my lower div in one year and transfer by next year with better tuition options by applying for fasfa early and as a resident
That’s why it’s so great that there is a brand new trolley and a robust network of bus routes to take you many places. Myself and thousands of other students have done it every year, even before the trolley :)
No doubt about it that it’s great that they are adding more public transport routes, but I still believe it’s more economical to invest in a car than to use the bus/trolley if you’re going anywhere but near campus
Did an internship in Mira Mesa area. It was a 45 minute bus trip vs a 15 minute car ride. Not only am I saving 30 minutes every commute but also the bus only came in 30 minute intervals🤷♂️
I mean it’s not exactly a free and open choice. There’s a lot of systemic stuff and dictates what neighborhoods you can live in and what neighborhoods have public transportation.
Not to mention it’s not just where you live but also where you work.
I'm just saying that if you're relying on public transportation, that's going to be a factor in your decision making when finding an apartment or a job.
What is “under the year 2012”? Like “older than 2012, because 2011 < 2012,” or “younger than 2012 because 11 years old < 12 years old”?
Old will be cheaper but younger may be less likely to be a clunker and to have better economy and safety, and I wasn’t sure which you were recommending.
You don’t say where your internship is, but if it’s only for the summer, an e-bike is less expensive than a car, requires no insurance, and could be a good way to get places faster than relying on transit. Yeah, sucks if it rains, but we’re out of that season now. And I think you can put e-bikes on the racks on busses? In case you want to bus most of the way and use the e-bike for final mile riding. UCSD even has some [e-bike incentive deals](https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/ride-electric.html)
used, craigslist and FB marketplace are a good place to start. be careful meeting people on there and always bring a friend (bonus points if they know about cars :-)!
If you are in San Diego and buy used take it to "don't buy a lemon" or some other mechanic you trust before you actually buy it. Used cars are fine but many have defects not listed on carfacts.
In san diego around mission gorge there is or was a business called don't buy a lemon. You can probably find a similar one if they are not around anymore.
Either way take the used car to them or a reputable mechanic before you buy and ask them to do an inspection. They can tell you if there is any damage etc.
We made a deal at one of the used car sales held at old Qualcomm stadium. However, I included a contingency that the vehicle must pass inspection and if it did not or something was not disclosed they would have to pay me for the inspection. Otherwise I would buy the vehicle and pay for inspection.
The 4 runner we wanted had been in an undisclosed crash and we got all money back, deposit and inspection fees.
I'm transferring from a city college. While there I saved up all of my Pell Grants and lived very very very frugal. Now that I am leaving to a bigger city I bought a used car.
Save up $4000-$5000, look on Offer Up or Facebook Marketplace. Search for a Toyota Corolla or Honda Accord/Civic. Make sure:
- Mileage is low \~100,000
- Clean title
- Tags up to date (2024/2025)
- No mechanical issues
- Can pass smog first try/or already has a current smog certificate (within 90 days)
If you have saved up $4000, find a car that you can buy at around $3000 or lower. This is to ensure you have $1000 for registration, insurance, and in case the vehicle needs any repairs (people lie about their cars being in good condition A LOT).
If you have saved up $5000, then find a car that you can buy for $4000 or lower. Same concept as above example applies here and so forth.
Never buy at the seller's asking price, you can always bring it down.
Before you buy a car, if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with the mechanics of the car, but you have found a good one or have a good deal on it. Ask the seller that you want to take it to a mechanic shop of your choice and have them perform a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection). It'll cost around a $100 dollars, but it's better to spend $100 and know the car is in good condition or not, rather than spend $4000-$5000 on a car that needs repairs more costly than the value of the car you paid for.
In terms of saving money:
- Cut all unnecessary expenses. You don't need a Netflix subscription, Spotify, Amazon, etc. You don't need those subscriptions. You just do not need them. If you want them, then you will stay poor forever. You also do not need to go out and eat. Just stop doing these stupid things and you're good. Basically, stop spending money on stupid shit. Whether it costs a $1 or $100, it is unnecessary and every penny counts.
- Get a job, and use work study (if you have it) to save up untaxed money, it will help to save more. If you don't have work study, then get a job now while you have time in the summer, and work as many hours as you can and save your money.
- Save, save, save. If you have expenses that are necessary like a phone bill, rent, etc. Find a job that pays more, if not, then get any job that will pay and stick with it until you find a better job. Always apply to a better paying job when you can, but don't quit your current job until you have been offered your new job.
It is quite easy. I don't know how people make it hard on themselves. Cut out any excuses, and just put the work in and save the money. Most important thing is to stop spending money on stupid shit.
Also don't lease a car, you will have plenty of time and other ways to build your credit. No need to tie yourself down to a $20k-$30k car that performs the same functions as a $3k-$4k car.
I went to community college worked 30 hours a week then transferred in and bought a used car off my professor just for UCSD to give us no parking and plenty of tickets :)
My parents bought me a car the summer after my freshman year. It’s an old 2018 model Honda. I needed it for my internship that summer. I pay for gas, maintenance, and insurance (half). I can’t afford to pay for full insurance on my own because it’s absolutely insane at over 500.00 a month….
I plan on paying my parents back the cost of the car later on. But they said don’t worry about it and just concentrate on internship and schoolwork.
I mean I was in high school in 2018, so to me it is. Might not be for you. Also, it’s my first car, and it’s a used car so by default it’s old 🤷♀️ (but new to me).
I was in hs then too, I guess it’s just a difference in financial background/perspective because my car is 10 years older than that and it’s still among the newer ones in my family
I honestly don’t know. Teenage driver is the only negative aspect I can think of. I don’t have any speeding ticket or even parking ticket. After that 6 months my mom bought a policy for me under her insurance plan and it’s cheaper but still around $300 a month. Maybe it’s the coverage. I have a really good coverage plan and not just the minimal.
I’m saving money right now for some periodic maintenance 😭. New tires x4, transmission flush, new battery, AC refill. Pretty sure I’m missing some things. I have a list of all the things the car repairs needed that my dad sent me. Everything involving a vehicle is expensive (especially gas). I would rather have a more reliable public transportation 🤷♀️
i got into a fender bender and my insurance was quoted 500 but they decreased it to 300 with good student discount, good neighborhood discount etc. but then i got a point on my record from a speeding ticket and i didn’t do traffic school so i was quotes $500-700-1000 by several places, i had to ask the court to do traffic school to lower my insurance 😅
Yeah, according to my parents and older sisters, insurance doesn’t really goes down much until we hit 25 and with a clean driving record ☠️. I think my oldest sister is paying something like 180 a month for her car insurance. But she lives in one of the most walkable city in the country with plenty public transportation’s options. Guess we’ll continue to suffer the high insurance prices until 25 I guess.
Buy used and try to get from a private seller. Dealerships are a pain and their fees/taxes add 10-15% to cost. Just make sure you have a reliable mechanic check out the vehicle for issues but you’ll save money this way
Use Facebook marketplace. There are tons of ways to save money when buying a car, talking to the owner, test driving, and checking the car out yourself. Facebook marketplace is a good place because most of the time, the car is marked down.
i just work a lot and budget my money 😭 i also bought used, but from a car dealership. the monthly rate is def a little high, but i saved up enough and paid a few months ahead of time so now im always like three months early and save a bit on interest 🙏🙏
My brother gave his Toyota Corolla to me and it’s $250 ish plus another $250 for insurance.
I’m an incoming RA for third year so financial aid gives me money from what is supposed to be for housing to me directly since I get it for free.
Also saving up on my paychecks from work($17.55 per hour biweekly)
I worked two jobs and bought it used, 2008 year model . Keep in mind it’s not just the upfront cost of the car but also fuel, insurance, and upkeep (good to invest a little more for a reliable one). Also as many said, the used car market is super pricey right now and has been for several years. I got mine in 2021 and paid about $7.5k but could’ve easily paid over 10k for the same car today
My mom gave me our old family car. She was moving out of the country and it was worth more to me than it would have been worth for cash at the time.
Car payments are awful to sign yourself up for if you don’t have to. You also need money for monthly insurance payments + parking passes on campus/your apartment + maintenance (registrations, oil change, new tires, etc.). This with car payments can easily run you over 500$/month.
I’d recommend living close to campus and taking public transportation/asking friends for rides unless you have the ability to save up enough cash to buy a car out right.
If you lease it’s cheaper per month but you’re not paying to own so you have to weigh the pros and cons of that. It worked for me because I temporarily needed something cheap and that was pretty cheap at the time
Lived with my dad so I didn’t have to pay a lot for rent and worked 12 hour days with two jobs, so I was able to save up money to buy a used car on Facebook marketplace.
Look at Craigslist, OfferUp, FB Marketplace for a used Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Lexus/Buick/Oldsmobile with sub 150k miles, clean title and smog is in order
Then go crazy and find the budget you’re looking for and maybe you’ll get lucky with a good looking example! Just be patient that’s key!
Car market is a little fucked right now. Back when I was a freshman I bought a yr old used Honda civic. My dad paid 50% of the insurance payments and I took care of everything else
I worked on campus jobs. Interest rate back then was like 3-4%
4 years ago I was able to buy a Civic with less than 30k miles on it for 4K down and $300 a month. Pretty manageable if you have a job
Of course now the interest rates on car loans are like double or triple what they used to be
If you’re looking to just commute for school, and are somewhat close to public transit (just far enough to not walk but not insanely far) consider an e scooter to get you to Public transit.
With a car, you’re going to have a payment, and then insurance, maintenance, and gas. If you pay in full that’s a bit better, but you should still insure it with comprehensive unless you buy a cheap car that you can easily replace for less than a few grand, those are few and far between nowadays though.
Really you have to weigh the cost of Ubering/Public Transit/Scooter/Bike vs all the added expenses of a car. If you have a well paying job that you need to get to, that’s more of a reason to get a car, but if it’s just for a social life and getting to and from school, just Uber or try to make friends to carpool with and pitch in on gas.
My parents helped with an old Toyota truck for college. Then I worked for 2 years out of college and bought myself a new tacoma. Still driving it today. Cars are so expensive in this market. I think networking and asking around is how you will get a good deal. Old retired couples get rid of their cars all the time that they barely drive. You should try that:)
You gotta save up. Unfortunately the used market is still kinda crazy so if you have family members that maybe have a reliable used car that would be willing to sell to you, I’d start there.
Under no circumstances should you finance anything right now with these interest rates. And I mean that in the most respectful way based on how you asked the question.
Use public transportation as much as possible. If you can be really disciplined and save $400 a month for a year that would put you in a much better position to get a decent used car.
Personal/family connections upfront with cash is the best way to get a car usually. If you know anyone that would know a guy or a situation comes up where someone is offloading a good used vehicle, it’s a good idea to take advantage of that
Also, a lot of people have car payment debt on a monthly basis for YEARS or like in perpetuity forever. Uh if you can avoid that that is nice.
If you don’t REALLY need a car while on campus, as in not going to use it on a routine needed basis it could be a good idea to at least consider waiting especially if your only option would be to give yourself a car payment.
TLDR: poor people have cars because of taking on predatory car payment debt mostly lol
Just get a loan. The only reason you should own a car is if you're using it to support yourself. I avoided going in dept for 40 years. That was the biggest setback for me. When I was ready to buy a home I had to start from scratch building credit. Now I understand I should never use my money when investing to make money. In order to use other people's money for your investments you need to show you have been and can handle doing so.
I saved up and bought my car cash from someone (used) , it has its problems to fix mostly maintenance that had been neglected but it's still running great and I drove all the way to Illinois with it and it made it just fine :). Just make sure you take someone with you that knows a bit about cars, I'll make the whole process much easier.
Save up money and go to car auctions! Try to bring someone who knows cars with you so you can see if it’s a bad beater or not. I got my first car that way and it lasted me 5-6 years and I was able to sell it after but it was a ‘96 corolla so not the prettiest car
My roommate found a good deal off craiglist before covid. I paid 3k$ for 2002 camry and another 1.5k$ to fix it to make it a bit more reliable. All of it my parents and grandma paid for it. I only for next maintenace and insurance.
I used my CC financial aid & money from working☀️
I told my old roommates and they said “I hate when people use their financial aid to buy a car” and I hit them with “I’m poor and don’t have a family to buy or give me a car” lol. But a car is so necessary. I got a really good remote job after I got a car but I have to drive to LA area 2x month. 😩
My dad worked for Carvana before the stock tanked and they let line leads buy any of the trade ins they couldn’t sell. Was able to get a a 2011 VW sedan with 150k miles for $1000
5 years and 30k miles later and she’s staring to give me issues but I have a good job now so she just needs to last a few more months
My parents drive a 2024 Cadillac Escalade and a G wagon but I always see both on my parents at home … I wonder what my dad does for a living I used to think so I asked my mom and she told me my dad owned property’s in the city and rented them all so I guess buy property and rent it 🤓
Learn how to say “no” to everything!!! I just started saving and the only thing I pay for is the necessity rent, groceries, utilities, other bills. But me and my brother went out to eat almost everyday, smoked 🍃everyday, just a bunch a shit. Now I say no. I have 3k saved up in just 4 months. It makes you realize how much you actually spend on stupid useless things
Dad gave me his old 3rd Gen Range Rover full sized. Things a beast in the snow, and the air suspension smooth as butter. Looking to buy new Land Rover with my summer job.
Not an alum but had family that went.
My family memeber was making absolute peanuts. Saved up and bought a clapped out 20 year car. Meanwhile there was a gold wrapped Aston Martin near Muir LOL
Gotta play the hand you're dealt until your time comes.
Pinch every penny.
Look on places like offer up, FB marketplace, Craigslist, etc... at the very least, those are decent places to start looking. Probably won't find pristine cars but you can find more than enough to get you from A to B
It’s usually a combination of working and being mostly supported by parents (and financial aid/scholarships). I think very few college students these days are 100% financially independent (take no money from parents at all and do not use any resources from parents at all). We more so range in dependency, with some of us being able to afford things thanks to parental support, some of us being able to afford very little, and some of us being basically 100% supported.
Buy an older Toyota or Honda don't be afraid to purchase with 150k+ miles sure they don't have all the cool gadgets of newer ones but they are 100% more reliable.
Oh man let me tell you. I graduated in 2021. I lived on campus for like a year. I never payed for a parking pass. Parked my car at gliderport dirt lot all the time. Got like two 50 dollar tickets during my whole time there. Those two tickets still far cheaper than a parking pass
If you're living on campus it's probably more economical to take an uber or rent a car when you need to go somewhere that public transit can't take you.
Used cars in the US are so cheap… you can get a 10-15 year old Toyota or Honda for like $5k that has at least 50k-100k miles of life left with basic maintenance.
yea i bought an ancient 90s mazda back in undergrad in 2014 for 1500 bucks, it made it a good 5 years and 50k miles for me with just oil changes. AC didn't work though but I just rolled the windows down during the summer nbd
Save up and buy used
The used car market is a lot more expensive than it used to be, especially if you don’t want a beater that you have to take into the shop every couple weeks
I agree, but if you’re willing to wait a little and watch the market there are options for every price range.
You’re definitely right, but a lot of people that are car shopping need a car ASAP.
Well I mean just cause they need asap doesn't mean they're going to get it asap. Saving up and buying used is the best bet. Unless they can lease for relatively cheap and they have a stable job.
I’ve been on the lookout for a car to buy my sister for the past couple of months . Finally struck a good Honda 2011 with no mechanical issues and runs on CNG , was able to negotiate from $4.5k to $3.8k. Just be patient with it and try to not surpass w certain budget , I’ve honestly just been saving any money the school refunds me and from my job
Are you just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing? lmfao
I wouldn’t count out a beater. The right make can take you to 250+ with relatively no issue. However an important part of that is any documentation the owner can provide to make sure they aren’t gonna give you an engine that’s about to explode. (Speaking as someone who has had a Honda and Lexus)
Yep! That’s what I did. New car sales are at the lowest point they have ever been because people are seeing how much of a waste of money it is. If you take good care of your car it will last you a long time. I still drive my 2008 ford focus. It isn’t the most stylish but it’s nice having the freedom!
You gotta move away from San Diego and move back when you make it
When I was a student, I had a part time job and was able to snag an awesome Ford Explorer at a police auction for only a few grand. It looked super dirty and that’s why no one bid on it haha.
Where did you get the few grand?
Odd IT jobs here and there and a part time employment at UCSD while I was a student. At the time, under-the-table IT jobs were hot. Each job where I’d make a website, or even just install a basic network backend for small businesses yielded several hundreds to thousands per project. I just had to hustle my way to pay for tuition.
How much did u saved for a car
I know the number is different for everyone but I personally am actually buying a car right now and I saved up about 13,000 in a separate account just for buying a car. I hope to spend less than that and am aiming for a price around $10,000
my parents gave me their old 99 camry and they bought a new (used) car
Wild
Partly someone crashed into my parents car and we got insurance money for a down payment and partly working my butt off for payments
if you buy one from facebook marketplace you can save up for a few months and then it's yours, you don't need to make monthly payments. you can get a used reliable one like a mom van for cheap
i saved money from community college refunds 🥲 #poorpplperk
Woo! Community College Perks!!
No fr! I saved up almost 20k over the past few years from those refunds plus a separate income from working part time and living at home 😂
Wait what teach me , I planning to go to cc
well my parents make $80k a year and i have 7 siblings and they had 5 dependents at the time so that’s why 😫 plus we got like an additional $1-2k during covid. i went to college of san mateo in the bay area!
Omg I’m in a similar situation , so your saying the college just gives u money based on how shitty of a situation your in 😭 or am I mistaken, does this have something to do with financial aid from fasfa ?
well yes! the money comes from fafsa through cc!
So the cc takes in to consideration more than what the fasfa does and allows u to keep some of the money fasfa would have sent allowing u to just use it for whatever then? Sorry I’m new to fasfa and all that jazz cuz I’m international
so the cc just transfers the money to you, all the money comes from fafsa and how much they decide to give you! but yes the money is intended for “tuition” but cc granted me free tuition bc of my income so i saved it!
damnnnn 😭 so how can I go about getting the cc to grant me free tuition , do I just contact them and say hey I’m poor can I get excused from having to pay back all these loans? And hope they accept and wire the financial aid money back to me?
omg i lied lol cc is free for everyone but they still have a “tuition” amount that fafsa looks at to determine how much students spend on school im guessing
Nani , when I looked at the cc I’m planning on going to it said tuition for non resident is like 8k a year so that’s not really the case the ?
bc UC’s are more expensive, more of the fafsa money for tuition is sent to them and less is refunded to you (i think)
Makes sense
but UC’s refund you money for rent and books depending on your income and bc mine is super lower, i got $3k every quarter
Ohh I didn’t know that , maybe not going to uc when I had the chance this year might have not been the best option , but man it was so expensive
typically UC’s are the one of the cheapest colleges besides state schools so even if looks expensive, it all depends on how much fafsa gives you
I applied as international and didn’t get to do fasfa on time cuz of my status at the time soo my tuition prices were through the roof hence why I’m going this route
Hoping I can maybe complete my lower div in one year and transfer by next year with better tuition options by applying for fasfa early and as a resident
but in total i saved like $20k and put a down payment of $3/3500 then used the rest for rent, car payments, bills etc. while i looked for a job 😅
Damn that’s insane , love that for you m8
Most economical: public transportation
God well funded public transport would fix so many of my problems
Heavily depends on how accessible it is to you
Second this, most places in SD aren’t very public transport friendly unless ur around the UCSD area
Good thing this is a sub of UCSD students!
I would be miserable in SD if I could only access places within a 3 miles of campus
That’s why it’s so great that there is a brand new trolley and a robust network of bus routes to take you many places. Myself and thousands of other students have done it every year, even before the trolley :)
No doubt about it that it’s great that they are adding more public transport routes, but I still believe it’s more economical to invest in a car than to use the bus/trolley if you’re going anywhere but near campus
Probably more convenient, no doubt. Don’t think I would consider it economical though. Tradeoffs 🤷♀️
Did an internship in Mira Mesa area. It was a 45 minute bus trip vs a 15 minute car ride. Not only am I saving 30 minutes every commute but also the bus only came in 30 minute intervals🤷♂️
How accessible it is to you depends on where you live, which is your own choice.
I mean it’s not exactly a free and open choice. There’s a lot of systemic stuff and dictates what neighborhoods you can live in and what neighborhoods have public transportation. Not to mention it’s not just where you live but also where you work.
I'm just saying that if you're relying on public transportation, that's going to be a factor in your decision making when finding an apartment or a job.
i do use it and appreciate its existence in sd but i would really appreciate even more not having a 2.5hr round trip commute to my internship LOL
Get a cheap Toyota or Honda under the year 2012 with 150,000 miles that still runs. Or Carvana lease a used old car
What is “under the year 2012”? Like “older than 2012, because 2011 < 2012,” or “younger than 2012 because 11 years old < 12 years old”? Old will be cheaper but younger may be less likely to be a clunker and to have better economy and safety, and I wasn’t sure which you were recommending.
You could try and see if there's a nearby Zipcar lot you can walk/bike/bus to. That'll be way cheaper than buying a car
You don’t say where your internship is, but if it’s only for the summer, an e-bike is less expensive than a car, requires no insurance, and could be a good way to get places faster than relying on transit. Yeah, sucks if it rains, but we’re out of that season now. And I think you can put e-bikes on the racks on busses? In case you want to bus most of the way and use the e-bike for final mile riding. UCSD even has some [e-bike incentive deals](https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/ride-electric.html)
Got free from my aunt who got it from another family member who bought it new-ish in like 2004. 💀 Gas a whole other beast tho
used, craigslist and FB marketplace are a good place to start. be careful meeting people on there and always bring a friend (bonus points if they know about cars :-)!
Working, but rn is a terrible time to buy. If you don't buy outright, APR for loans is astronomical for used even with stellar credit scores.
If you are in San Diego and buy used take it to "don't buy a lemon" or some other mechanic you trust before you actually buy it. Used cars are fine but many have defects not listed on carfacts.
what is “don’t buy a lemon?”
In san diego around mission gorge there is or was a business called don't buy a lemon. You can probably find a similar one if they are not around anymore. Either way take the used car to them or a reputable mechanic before you buy and ask them to do an inspection. They can tell you if there is any damage etc. We made a deal at one of the used car sales held at old Qualcomm stadium. However, I included a contingency that the vehicle must pass inspection and if it did not or something was not disclosed they would have to pay me for the inspection. Otherwise I would buy the vehicle and pay for inspection. The 4 runner we wanted had been in an undisclosed crash and we got all money back, deposit and inspection fees.
I carpool !🏊♀️
I'm not I love the Trolley :3
Work in a hospital, have a roommate, apply for student loans 🥵🥲
I got $50k from a FAANG internship and balled out
😱
What u balled out on lol and what position/company?
Win the lottery
My grandparents gave me their old minivan after they bought a slightly newer one for themselves. It’s that beige, old person color but it works fine
That’s a treasure. Minivan is out of production and the best car to live on the wheels. I wish I could have one one day.
I'm transferring from a city college. While there I saved up all of my Pell Grants and lived very very very frugal. Now that I am leaving to a bigger city I bought a used car.
Save up $4000-$5000, look on Offer Up or Facebook Marketplace. Search for a Toyota Corolla or Honda Accord/Civic. Make sure: - Mileage is low \~100,000 - Clean title - Tags up to date (2024/2025) - No mechanical issues - Can pass smog first try/or already has a current smog certificate (within 90 days) If you have saved up $4000, find a car that you can buy at around $3000 or lower. This is to ensure you have $1000 for registration, insurance, and in case the vehicle needs any repairs (people lie about their cars being in good condition A LOT). If you have saved up $5000, then find a car that you can buy for $4000 or lower. Same concept as above example applies here and so forth. Never buy at the seller's asking price, you can always bring it down. Before you buy a car, if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with the mechanics of the car, but you have found a good one or have a good deal on it. Ask the seller that you want to take it to a mechanic shop of your choice and have them perform a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspection). It'll cost around a $100 dollars, but it's better to spend $100 and know the car is in good condition or not, rather than spend $4000-$5000 on a car that needs repairs more costly than the value of the car you paid for. In terms of saving money: - Cut all unnecessary expenses. You don't need a Netflix subscription, Spotify, Amazon, etc. You don't need those subscriptions. You just do not need them. If you want them, then you will stay poor forever. You also do not need to go out and eat. Just stop doing these stupid things and you're good. Basically, stop spending money on stupid shit. Whether it costs a $1 or $100, it is unnecessary and every penny counts. - Get a job, and use work study (if you have it) to save up untaxed money, it will help to save more. If you don't have work study, then get a job now while you have time in the summer, and work as many hours as you can and save your money. - Save, save, save. If you have expenses that are necessary like a phone bill, rent, etc. Find a job that pays more, if not, then get any job that will pay and stick with it until you find a better job. Always apply to a better paying job when you can, but don't quit your current job until you have been offered your new job. It is quite easy. I don't know how people make it hard on themselves. Cut out any excuses, and just put the work in and save the money. Most important thing is to stop spending money on stupid shit. Also don't lease a car, you will have plenty of time and other ways to build your credit. No need to tie yourself down to a $20k-$30k car that performs the same functions as a $3k-$4k car.
Car payments, auction, or buy a junker.
My first car, a family friend gave me $10k to put towards a car and I bought a used car outright. The next ones I financed myself.
I went to community college worked 30 hours a week then transferred in and bought a used car off my professor just for UCSD to give us no parking and plenty of tickets :)
I’m selling a used 03 Honda accord if anyone is interested. 170k miles. Drives fine but definitely not a trophy car.
A bad thing happened to me and I got money from it.
My parents bought me a car the summer after my freshman year. It’s an old 2018 model Honda. I needed it for my internship that summer. I pay for gas, maintenance, and insurance (half). I can’t afford to pay for full insurance on my own because it’s absolutely insane at over 500.00 a month…. I plan on paying my parents back the cost of the car later on. But they said don’t worry about it and just concentrate on internship and schoolwork.
2018 is old? 😅
This is all I got from this too 😭😭 I love my 2018 Honda clarity. She’s still new to me 😭
Fr like my car is over 30 yrs 💀
I mean I was in high school in 2018, so to me it is. Might not be for you. Also, it’s my first car, and it’s a used car so by default it’s old 🤷♀️ (but new to me).
I was in hs then too, I guess it’s just a difference in financial background/perspective because my car is 10 years older than that and it’s still among the newer ones in my family
Why is your insurance so expensive? Mine is $200 a month
I honestly don’t know. Teenage driver is the only negative aspect I can think of. I don’t have any speeding ticket or even parking ticket. After that 6 months my mom bought a policy for me under her insurance plan and it’s cheaper but still around $300 a month. Maybe it’s the coverage. I have a really good coverage plan and not just the minimal. I’m saving money right now for some periodic maintenance 😭. New tires x4, transmission flush, new battery, AC refill. Pretty sure I’m missing some things. I have a list of all the things the car repairs needed that my dad sent me. Everything involving a vehicle is expensive (especially gas). I would rather have a more reliable public transportation 🤷♀️
it’s probably expensive because it’s a new-ish car
i got into a fender bender and my insurance was quoted 500 but they decreased it to 300 with good student discount, good neighborhood discount etc. but then i got a point on my record from a speeding ticket and i didn’t do traffic school so i was quotes $500-700-1000 by several places, i had to ask the court to do traffic school to lower my insurance 😅
Yeah, according to my parents and older sisters, insurance doesn’t really goes down much until we hit 25 and with a clean driving record ☠️. I think my oldest sister is paying something like 180 a month for her car insurance. But she lives in one of the most walkable city in the country with plenty public transportation’s options. Guess we’ll continue to suffer the high insurance prices until 25 I guess.
Saved and bought it used
i saved up and bought my own, i do have car payments and insurance but i save up and budget money.
Aunt stopped driving and my dad bought her 2022 volk jetta off her for me and gave her my ol beater I was using for a few years to get around
parents dropped 32k on a mini cooper, i had saved 18k to get a little chevy but they got a car for me 🧍♂️
I sold mine. Too much of a headache. Can get pretty much anywhere combining public transportation with a bicycle _(or ebike or scooter)_
craigslist beaters
Buy used and try to get from a private seller. Dealerships are a pain and their fees/taxes add 10-15% to cost. Just make sure you have a reliable mechanic check out the vehicle for issues but you’ll save money this way
VA disability
Use Facebook marketplace. There are tons of ways to save money when buying a car, talking to the owner, test driving, and checking the car out yourself. Facebook marketplace is a good place because most of the time, the car is marked down.
My mom passed away so we sold her old car and bought a newer used car for me. My dad payed for additional costs.
i just work a lot and budget my money 😭 i also bought used, but from a car dealership. the monthly rate is def a little high, but i saved up enough and paid a few months ahead of time so now im always like three months early and save a bit on interest 🙏🙏
My friend dad works at a junkyard, he made shit happen, about me I don't have a drivers license
My brother gave his Toyota Corolla to me and it’s $250 ish plus another $250 for insurance. I’m an incoming RA for third year so financial aid gives me money from what is supposed to be for housing to me directly since I get it for free. Also saving up on my paychecks from work($17.55 per hour biweekly)
I worked two jobs and bought it used, 2008 year model . Keep in mind it’s not just the upfront cost of the car but also fuel, insurance, and upkeep (good to invest a little more for a reliable one). Also as many said, the used car market is super pricey right now and has been for several years. I got mine in 2021 and paid about $7.5k but could’ve easily paid over 10k for the same car today
Worked a job as a waiter on the weekends
My mom gave me our old family car. She was moving out of the country and it was worth more to me than it would have been worth for cash at the time. Car payments are awful to sign yourself up for if you don’t have to. You also need money for monthly insurance payments + parking passes on campus/your apartment + maintenance (registrations, oil change, new tires, etc.). This with car payments can easily run you over 500$/month. I’d recommend living close to campus and taking public transportation/asking friends for rides unless you have the ability to save up enough cash to buy a car out right.
If you lease it’s cheaper per month but you’re not paying to own so you have to weigh the pros and cons of that. It worked for me because I temporarily needed something cheap and that was pretty cheap at the time
parents
Save up for a used E bike.
Lived with my dad so I didn’t have to pay a lot for rent and worked 12 hour days with two jobs, so I was able to save up money to buy a used car on Facebook marketplace.
Parents.
Mom had car bought in 2014, moved to New York, didn’t need car so my grandpa paid her for me to have it
grind, buy cheap used, grind some more, fix cheap car up, sell that, buy nicer car
Get an eBike and use the trolley and bus
I would suggest looking on FB Marketplace for something
Internship money saved
Look at Craigslist, OfferUp, FB Marketplace for a used Honda/Toyota/Mazda/Lexus/Buick/Oldsmobile with sub 150k miles, clean title and smog is in order Then go crazy and find the budget you’re looking for and maybe you’ll get lucky with a good looking example! Just be patient that’s key!
Kia has EV6's leases for $169/mo with a little under 4000 due at signing.
Temporarily driving my dad’s, since I’m now commuting 40 minutes away (NC)
beware of insurance and gas prices
Car market is a little fucked right now. Back when I was a freshman I bought a yr old used Honda civic. My dad paid 50% of the insurance payments and I took care of everything else I worked on campus jobs. Interest rate back then was like 3-4%
4 years ago I was able to buy a Civic with less than 30k miles on it for 4K down and $300 a month. Pretty manageable if you have a job Of course now the interest rates on car loans are like double or triple what they used to be
If you’re looking to just commute for school, and are somewhat close to public transit (just far enough to not walk but not insanely far) consider an e scooter to get you to Public transit. With a car, you’re going to have a payment, and then insurance, maintenance, and gas. If you pay in full that’s a bit better, but you should still insure it with comprehensive unless you buy a cheap car that you can easily replace for less than a few grand, those are few and far between nowadays though. Really you have to weigh the cost of Ubering/Public Transit/Scooter/Bike vs all the added expenses of a car. If you have a well paying job that you need to get to, that’s more of a reason to get a car, but if it’s just for a social life and getting to and from school, just Uber or try to make friends to carpool with and pitch in on gas.
bought a used car after saving up
My parents helped with an old Toyota truck for college. Then I worked for 2 years out of college and bought myself a new tacoma. Still driving it today. Cars are so expensive in this market. I think networking and asking around is how you will get a good deal. Old retired couples get rid of their cars all the time that they barely drive. You should try that:)
You gotta save up. Unfortunately the used market is still kinda crazy so if you have family members that maybe have a reliable used car that would be willing to sell to you, I’d start there. Under no circumstances should you finance anything right now with these interest rates. And I mean that in the most respectful way based on how you asked the question. Use public transportation as much as possible. If you can be really disciplined and save $400 a month for a year that would put you in a much better position to get a decent used car.
Personal/family connections upfront with cash is the best way to get a car usually. If you know anyone that would know a guy or a situation comes up where someone is offloading a good used vehicle, it’s a good idea to take advantage of that Also, a lot of people have car payment debt on a monthly basis for YEARS or like in perpetuity forever. Uh if you can avoid that that is nice. If you don’t REALLY need a car while on campus, as in not going to use it on a routine needed basis it could be a good idea to at least consider waiting especially if your only option would be to give yourself a car payment. TLDR: poor people have cars because of taking on predatory car payment debt mostly lol
Just get a loan. The only reason you should own a car is if you're using it to support yourself. I avoided going in dept for 40 years. That was the biggest setback for me. When I was ready to buy a home I had to start from scratch building credit. Now I understand I should never use my money when investing to make money. In order to use other people's money for your investments you need to show you have been and can handle doing so.
I saved up and bought my car cash from someone (used) , it has its problems to fix mostly maintenance that had been neglected but it's still running great and I drove all the way to Illinois with it and it made it just fine :). Just make sure you take someone with you that knows a bit about cars, I'll make the whole process much easier.
Save up money and go to car auctions! Try to bring someone who knows cars with you so you can see if it’s a bad beater or not. I got my first car that way and it lasted me 5-6 years and I was able to sell it after but it was a ‘96 corolla so not the prettiest car
how are you affording the education? living in san diego? 5 months of rent here will probably get you a decent old car
My roommate found a good deal off craiglist before covid. I paid 3k$ for 2002 camry and another 1.5k$ to fix it to make it a bit more reliable. All of it my parents and grandma paid for it. I only for next maintenace and insurance.
I used my CC financial aid & money from working☀️ I told my old roommates and they said “I hate when people use their financial aid to buy a car” and I hit them with “I’m poor and don’t have a family to buy or give me a car” lol. But a car is so necessary. I got a really good remote job after I got a car but I have to drive to LA area 2x month. 😩
My dad worked for Carvana before the stock tanked and they let line leads buy any of the trade ins they couldn’t sell. Was able to get a a 2011 VW sedan with 150k miles for $1000 5 years and 30k miles later and she’s staring to give me issues but I have a good job now so she just needs to last a few more months
Worked 2 jobs, saved up $7000 and bought a used car with 100k miles on it.
My parents drive a 2024 Cadillac Escalade and a G wagon but I always see both on my parents at home … I wonder what my dad does for a living I used to think so I asked my mom and she told me my dad owned property’s in the city and rented them all so I guess buy property and rent it 🤓
Learn how to say “no” to everything!!! I just started saving and the only thing I pay for is the necessity rent, groceries, utilities, other bills. But me and my brother went out to eat almost everyday, smoked 🍃everyday, just a bunch a shit. Now I say no. I have 3k saved up in just 4 months. It makes you realize how much you actually spend on stupid useless things
after 5 million years, my dad bought himself a new hybrid for gas efficiency (bay area commute is no joke 🥴), so he passed me his car
Motorcycle 👍
My parents gave me money to buy a used car.
Get a moped
Dad gave me his old 3rd Gen Range Rover full sized. Things a beast in the snow, and the air suspension smooth as butter. Looking to buy new Land Rover with my summer job.
Saved up from hdh job like 6k then put a down payment. I have monthly payments of like 200. Parents pay for my insurance thank god.
Buy a used prius or similar hybrid. Alternatively, you could buy a scooter (get yourself an M1 license) or lease a car.
Not an alum but had family that went. My family memeber was making absolute peanuts. Saved up and bought a clapped out 20 year car. Meanwhile there was a gold wrapped Aston Martin near Muir LOL Gotta play the hand you're dealt until your time comes.
Pinch every penny. Look on places like offer up, FB marketplace, Craigslist, etc... at the very least, those are decent places to start looking. Probably won't find pristine cars but you can find more than enough to get you from A to B
Ur local city sometimes holds auctions for government/impounded vehicles, which start at like $5k. Google has better answers than me tho haha
bought a used one full price. its the beat way
It’s usually a combination of working and being mostly supported by parents (and financial aid/scholarships). I think very few college students these days are 100% financially independent (take no money from parents at all and do not use any resources from parents at all). We more so range in dependency, with some of us being able to afford things thanks to parental support, some of us being able to afford very little, and some of us being basically 100% supported.
If you need an inexpensive and reliable car in socal, I'm here to help.
E bike. Times are changing. Adjust
Facebook marketplace!
Buy an older Toyota or Honda don't be afraid to purchase with 150k+ miles sure they don't have all the cool gadgets of newer ones but they are 100% more reliable.
Even if you get a car, where on campus are you going to park?
Oh man let me tell you. I graduated in 2021. I lived on campus for like a year. I never payed for a parking pass. Parked my car at gliderport dirt lot all the time. Got like two 50 dollar tickets during my whole time there. Those two tickets still far cheaper than a parking pass
If you're living on campus it's probably more economical to take an uber or rent a car when you need to go somewhere that public transit can't take you.
Used cars in the US are so cheap… you can get a 10-15 year old Toyota or Honda for like $5k that has at least 50k-100k miles of life left with basic maintenance.
yea i bought an ancient 90s mazda back in undergrad in 2014 for 1500 bucks, it made it a good 5 years and 50k miles for me with just oil changes. AC didn't work though but I just rolled the windows down during the summer nbd
People really underestimate how long cars can last.
Im rich bitch