Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Georgia > Atlanta
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 04-06-2017, 03:01 PM
 
1,151 posts, read 1,309,479 times
Reputation: 831

Advertisements

OP is well above the poverty line and doesn't have to settle for a 2,000 dollar junker on 39k in ATL. They could easily afford a new entry level or use car under 20k and at least save $100 a month if not much more.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 04-06-2017, 03:04 PM
 
1,151 posts, read 1,309,479 times
Reputation: 831
2017 Kia Rio: Best Sedan of 2017 | Kia Cars


2017 Honda Fit | Honda
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 04:27 PM
 
Location: Alpharetta
81 posts, read 92,251 times
Reputation: 54
Don't listen to anyone here that says you can't live off $39k a year. It's certainly possible and I also did it when I moved here. Just budgeting is fine.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 04:46 PM
 
Location: Edgewood in the City of Atlanta, GA
111 posts, read 104,932 times
Reputation: 178
Quote:
Originally Posted by atltechdude View Post
You have no business buying a newer car for $24k when you make $39k a year, unless you really want to stay poor.

At that level, you need to do what the previous poster suggested and buy a cheap USED car for $2-3k so that you don't have a car payment and you maximize your available cash flow for basic living expenses.
I bought a $26K car making $28K in Connecticut back in the days. I had no issues paying for it and rent in Connecticut. This was back in the late 90's but CT's cost of living is higher than ATL. It can be done and you just have to manage your money well which I did. Sometimes I wonder how I managed, but I didn't worry about having the latest and greatest and still was able to go clubbing. OP don't worry about getting rid of your car and you might be upside down in it right now. Just become frugal with your money and find rent under $800 which you should be able to do in those areas as long you don't mind a little bit older property. I'm a financial analyst so if you need any hints on budgeting drop me a PM.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 04:57 PM
 
Location: Alpharetta
81 posts, read 92,251 times
Reputation: 54
No way in hell he's going to find anything under $800 worth parking his car.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 05:05 PM
 
Location: Atlanta, GA
14,834 posts, read 7,412,952 times
Reputation: 8966
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rdbass View Post
I bought a $26K car making $28K in Connecticut back in the days. I had no issues paying for it and rent in Connecticut. This was back in the late 90's but CT's cost of living is higher than ATL. It can be done and you just have to manage your money well which I did.
Sorry I have to disagree. Working an entire year for the same amount you pay for a car is not managing your money well.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 06:15 PM
 
68 posts, read 74,619 times
Reputation: 59
I appreciate that you went out your way to list those cars, but I'm 6'5. That's going to be a little tight lol
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 07:43 PM
 
2,324 posts, read 2,906,895 times
Reputation: 1785
I've always tried to keep my housing and auto payments, combined, less than 1/3 of my gross income.
I never had to stress about money by doing it.


For you,
your monthly gross income is 3250


3250/3
so you can spend $1083.33 on them


400 of that is car payment




That leaves 683.33 to spend on rent


Would be hard to find a safe apartment (living alone) for that cost.


I used to make a similar salary - I rented an in-law suite and paid 500\month, utilities included, until I started making more.




On your income the most I would spend on rent is 850/ month, it's doable and you can find a small 1BR
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 08:15 PM
 
Location: Edgewood in the City of Atlanta, GA
111 posts, read 104,932 times
Reputation: 178
Quote:
Originally Posted by atltechdude View Post
Sorry I have to disagree. Working an entire year for the same amount you pay for a car is not managing your money well.
Well for long term it might not be the best financial decision but I was trying to say he can definitely do it if he is budget conscious with his other expenditures. I have never had an issue with money even though I spend a lot for all of my cars. I of course value cars as something I want to spend a lot of money on as I'm spending so much time in them. Everybody values things differently. Maybe he doesn't plan to travel much at this time of his life. Not everybody wants to drive a civic or a corolla.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 04-06-2017, 10:20 PM
 
Location: Atlanta, GA
14,834 posts, read 7,412,952 times
Reputation: 8966
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rdbass View Post
Not everybody wants to drive a civic or a corolla.
I don't either. I have a Trans Am that is my weekend/toy car. But I waited (late 20s) until I could actually afford it to buy it.

Having a high car payment (or high rent payment) early in life is a big financial mistake imo. You need free cash flow for savings and investments if you want to get ahead and build a successful life.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Georgia > Atlanta

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:16 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top