Best ways to save money $

scottIN · 06-21-2016, 06:39 AM

I follow the Dave Ramsey plan - no debt except for your house on a (max) 15 year loan. No credit cards - cash (or debit card) for everything.

I know a lot of posters said 'But I get X% cash back!' Well, the problem with that is that every study shows you spend more money using a credit card vs. a debit card. So to get your couple hundred dollars at the end of the year, it's probably cost you thousands. And as Dave says, he's never had a millionaire tell him 'Wow! Getting that cash back is what made me a millionaire!'.

Another thing that came up in here was 0% financing then investing the cash you would have paid. That works until it stops working. Let's say you did that on a zero down car. Two months later, the economy tanks, the market crashes, your investment is worth 50% of what it once was, and you lose your job. Oh - and you're upside down $5K in your car already. You can't make the payments or sell the car. Trying to arbitrage 0% / investing doesn't factor in risk. If you don't believe there is any risk, you should go borrow as much money as you can on your house, your cars - whatever - and put it into the market.

A year ago, my GF and I were doing ok - no problem making payments, went on vacations, went out all the time. But we had huge payments - mostly the cars. Doing the debt snowball, we're down to just one payment and paying it off @ $5K / mo. When we're done in a couple of months, you know where that $5K goes? In my pocket! So let's say I want a new(er) car. I can now save $20K in 4 months, add that to my paid off car, and have $45K for something new. And still no payments. We're already planning a vacation to Costa Rica for New Year's. Know how long we have to save up for it? One week. Because our only payment will be our house ($800 on a 15 year fixed).

I've sort of become a Dave Ramsey evangelist. When you understand what debt does to you, it all makes sense. Did you know that debt is the most heavily marketed product? Why? That's how car dealers, furniture stores, banks and so many others make their money. My banker has 3 Porsches. My debt paid for those. I understand that now.

Chuck33079 · 06-21-2016, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottIN

Another thing that came up in here was 0% financing then investing the cash you would have paid. That works until it stops working. Let's say you did that on a zero down car. Two months later, the economy tanks, the market crashes, your investment is worth 50% of what it once was, and you lose your job. Oh - and you're upside down $5K in your car already. You can't make the payments or sell the car. Trying to arbitrage 0% / investing doesn't factor in risk. If you don't believe there is any risk, you should go borrow as much money as you can on your house, your cars - whatever - and put it into the market.

You're right to a point. You absolutely can arbitrage the difference assuming the interest rate you're trying to beat is low enough. Hell, you can get a bank CD that'll beat a 0.9% car loan.

Now if you're paying 6%, you're absolutely right, it's too much risk to try and beat that.

The one thing you left out of that scenario where everything goes to **** is your savings. If you don't have six months to a year's worth of an emergency fund sitting in cash you have no business trying to be slick and make a couple of bucks by investing what you would have put down on a car.

7midgits · 07-22-2016, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottIN

I follow the Dave Ramsey plan - no debt except for your house on a (max) 15 year loan. No credit cards - cash (or debit card) for everything.

I know a lot of posters said 'But I get X% cash back!' Well, the problem with that is that every study shows you spend more money using a credit card vs. a debit card. So to get your couple hundred dollars at the end of the year, it's probably cost you thousands. And as Dave says, he's never had a millionaire tell him 'Wow! Getting that cash back is what made me a millionaire!'.

Another thing that came up in here was 0% financing then investing the cash you would have paid. That works until it stops working. Let's say you did that on a zero down car. Two months later, the economy tanks, the market crashes, your investment is worth 50% of what it once was, and you lose your job. Oh - and you're upside down $5K in your car already. You can't make the payments or sell the car. Trying to arbitrage 0% / investing doesn't factor in risk. If you don't believe there is any risk, you should go borrow as much money as you can on your house, your cars - whatever - and put it into the market.

A year ago, my GF and I were doing ok - no problem making payments, went on vacations, went out all the time. But we had huge payments - mostly the cars. Doing the debt snowball, we're down to just one payment and paying it off @ $5K / mo. When we're done in a couple of months, you know where that $5K goes? In my pocket! So let's say I want a new(er) car. I can now save $20K in 4 months, add that to my paid off car, and have $45K for something new. And still no payments. We're already planning a vacation to Costa Rica for New Year's. Know how long we have to save up for it? One week. Because our only payment will be our house ($800 on a 15 year fixed).

I've sort of become a Dave Ramsey evangelist. When you understand what debt does to you, it all makes sense. Did you know that debt is the most heavily marketed product? Why? That's how car dealers, furniture stores, banks and so many others make their money. My banker has 3 Porsches. My debt paid for those. I understand that now.

My grandfather was an immigrant..He said "You have a choice. You can spend your adult life as a debtor or creditor" simple as that.

06-21-2016, 06:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
scottIN Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Castle, Indiana Posts: 764 Drives: '12 370Z Rep Power: 55	I follow the Dave Ramsey plan - no debt except for your house on a (max) 15 year loan. No credit cards - cash (or debit card) for everything. I know a lot of posters said 'But I get X% cash back!' Well, the problem with that is that every study shows you spend more money using a credit card vs. a debit card. So to get your couple hundred dollars at the end of the year, it's probably cost you thousands. And as Dave says, he's never had a millionaire tell him 'Wow! Getting that cash back is what made me a millionaire!'. Another thing that came up in here was 0% financing then investing the cash you would have paid. That works until it stops working. Let's say you did that on a zero down car. Two months later, the economy tanks, the market crashes, your investment is worth 50% of what it once was, and you lose your job. Oh - and you're upside down $5K in your car already. You can't make the payments or sell the car. Trying to arbitrage 0% / investing doesn't factor in risk. If you don't believe there is any risk, you should go borrow as much money as you can on your house, your cars - whatever - and put it into the market. A year ago, my GF and I were doing ok - no problem making payments, went on vacations, went out all the time. But we had huge payments - mostly the cars. Doing the debt snowball, we're down to just one payment and paying it off @ $5K / mo. When we're done in a couple of months, you know where that $5K goes? In my pocket! So let's say I want a new(er) car. I can now save $20K in 4 months, add that to my paid off car, and have $45K for something new. And still no payments. We're already planning a vacation to Costa Rica for New Year's. Know how long we have to save up for it? One week. Because our only payment will be our house ($800 on a 15 year fixed). I've sort of become a Dave Ramsey evangelist. When you understand what debt does to you, it all makes sense. Did you know that debt is the most heavily marketed product? Why? That's how car dealers, furniture stores, banks and so many others make their money. My banker has 3 Porsches. My debt paid for those. I understand that now. Chuck33079 and 7midgits like this.

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