pile of money

Owning a car is a requirement in modern reality. Unless you live in one of the few cities with complete public transportation, you’ll need a car to get to work, see friends, and run errands.

Unfortunately, getting an automobile to call your own can be quite expensive. Many people don’t have the spare pocket change ready to buy a new car when they need to. In fact, most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, with no money saved up for such a big purchase.

Do you want to know how to save money to buy a car? There are a number of steps you can take to move in the right direction. Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know. 

1. Dig Into Your Current Budget

Saving up to afford a car is going to take putting some money aside, there’s no doubt about that. But many people don’t know how to begin to manage their finances to figure out HOW to be able to put this money aside.

It’s easy if you’re spending recklessly on entertainment each month. You can simply start not going out to eat as much, skip a few concerts, or cut back on your drinks. But if most of your budget is made up of things you actually need to run your life, things can get tricky. 

The best thing you can do is to start by determining how much you can afford to pay monthly towards a car. Dig into your budget and see where you might be able to spend less. 

Can you pull back at the grocery store for the next year? By how much? How about subscription services? These are often low-cost, but they can add up over a year to a higher number than we may like to think about. 

Figure out how much money you could allocate towards car payments. When you land on this number, leave some extra wiggle room as well. You never know when your new car might need a surprise oil change or need something else last minute.

2. Plan For Your Down Payment

The largest sum of money you’ll need to hand over at once is the down payment you’ll make on the automobile. This is a sum that you’ll need to plan around.

So stop by the Ford dealership or wherever you may be looking for cars and chat with a representative about the automobile you are interested in. They should give you an idea of how much money you’ll need to have ready upfront. 

Some vehicles might require a down payment prior to the payment plan that is not conceivable for your budget. The good news is that with the research into your own finances that you’ve already done, you should know what you can afford. 

Once you find a vehicle you like with a down payment that seems realistic, you can start working towards making that move a reality.

3. Set A Smart Deadline

Some people make the mistake of throwing themselves headfirst into a car purchase and hope to just figure things out as they go along. This is certainly a method, but not one to be recommended. 

The best thing you can do for yourself in this situation is to determine the date in which you actually need the vehicle. How long can you go in your current situation? Putting off your new car purchase will give you time to save up, move money around, and put yourself in a better starting position. 

You might not have the money you need right now to reach the payment plan you’ve researched. But if you give yourself three months, for example, you can break down how much you’ll need to make each month to hit that amount. 

The key here is to be realistic. You don’t want to spin your bank account to zero because you’d like to have a new car next week. If you do need to get a new car soon because of logistical reasons, you’ll need to save fast.

But delaying the gratification of the purchase can put you in a much more secure financial situation, and give you a roadmap to follow for the months ahead. 

4. Start Setting Money Aside

If you’ve done the previous steps, you should be in a good position to make your car dreams a reality. But now you need to put into action what you’ve said on paper: you actually need to set some money aside.

This can be harder for some people than others. If you tend to have a habit of money slipping through your fingers, you may need to take steps to ensure you put the money aside that you need.

One way to do this is by opening a separate account for your car purchase or using your savings account for this purchase. The second you get a paycheck from work, go ahead and put the percentage you need right into this account. This way you can’t ‘accidentally’ spend it on other things when you’re out with your checking account. 

If a more physical reminder would be helpful, set up a money jar on your bedroom dresser and start stashing cash in there. Being able to see the money build up sometimes helps people work towards the goal. Just make sure no one takes it! 

How To Save Money To Buy A Car

Knowing how to save money to buy a car can make a huge difference in your financial stability. By following the above practices, you can ensure you get the vehicle you want without throwing your life into chaos. 

Need more advice on your personal finances? Check out our community page for more.