An engineer in a different department was asking my advice on a new laptop. I'm no expert, by an stretch of the imagination, but he knows nothing at all.
Anyway, he wanted a $170 bottom-of-the-barrel laptop as his main and only machine. I told him that he's an engineer and should splurge for something in the $4-700 range, based on what his needs are and how long he wants to keep the laptop for.
He then told me that he can't afford much, because his credit is out of control and he just financed a 2018 Mustang 2.3EcoBoost. I just congratulated him on the cool new car and send him a link for a $60 refurb Chromebook, which he should be receiving tomorrow.
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To be fair, I purchased new cars when I started as a new engineer. Unfortunately, I then helped out family with their debt and ended up playing the 0% interest rotation game every year to keep from making my newly-accrued debt worse.
Why? Well I purchased a new car, because I thought I could afford it and wanted something to show for my hard work. I took on everyone else's debt, because there was no other option. That part of the family was close family and how no one else to turn to who had a credit score closer to 800 than 0...
Two of those family members are now dead (too young) and one is missing and hasn't been heard from in years....
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Today, I'm wiser and wouldn't consider such a heavy debt-load. Even though I can afford an $80k car, I'm perfectly happy with a Premium Subaru...a Touring if it's for the wife for mid-30s new; mid 20's used.