Anonymous wrote:It's not a competition to be the cheapest.

In America that has become all about excess, it is good to be celebrating frugality.

The way to beat the economic power curve is to wait to have children and not waste money on cars.

Great thread.

We are married 10 years. HHI of $320k when we married, HHI of $220k now (I stay at home).

Both came into the marriage with used, paid off cars. About 8 years ago we both bought new, used cars (cash): Honda (~$7000k) and Hyundai (~$5000k). He keeps saying I should get another car but I love my little Hyundai.

This is such a rich people thread.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a competition to be the cheapest.

It's a competition to be the wisest.

I think we might win as a percentage of HHI.

Married 14 years. HHI 1.3M (although it has gone up from 160K when we married).
1 used Volvo when married - 12K
1 new Subaru with first kid - 20K

Might replace the old Volvo with a minivan this summer.

Own 1 car, got 13k loan 5 years ago it's about paid off.

DH has a company car but all in we spend $200/mo for gas and insurance.

So we have no car payment starting september

Married 3 years.
HHI 160k.
We both had cheap cars prior. Mine was paid off $15000, he was paying is at the time, $20k I think.
Driving mine til the wheels come off.
I don't get excited about new cars. Rather anxious about scratches I get when they are new.
Short commute, parking on DC streets often. Love that it drives well, no mayor repairs and I'm not worried anymore about aesthetics or value.
Hoping to leave it to DS- 7years to go til he is 16.
DH puts more miles on his. Even though his was bought new, it might die faster.

Married 9 years
HHI 235k

We have 1 car, 2006 Honda CRV, purchased in 2009 with cash.

We are fine with one car...we metro to work, the kids walk to school and most activities.

Anonymous wrote:It's not a competition to be the cheapest.

Why not? Maybe it should be.

Married 25 years, 2 kids, current HHI = $230k
4 cars over that period
3 bought used (financed 2 of them, paid cash for one), one new (financed)
I *think* the first one was $15k used. (But that was 18 years ago, memory is sketchy.) The second was ~$17k used. The third was $22k new. The fourth was $7k used.

Current cars are now 8 and 10 years old. I'm actually going shopping this weekend for a new car to replace the 10-year-old one. (We have a teen driver and this car is not IMO safe for teens.) Our budget is $23k. We will finance it, as we have a kid headed to college soon and need to keep liquid right now. Will test drive Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I was reading the thread about the young mom working on her budget with the fiancé who bought the BMW and there were a lot of car-frugal posters. I thought my DH and I were pretty frugal but DCUM may have us beat:

Married 15 years, 1 kid
2 cars over that period
Both used/paid in cash ($27k total)

What are your car numbers frugal DCUMers?

Married 22 years, 2 children
Each had a car when we married, have always had two cars.
We have purchased 3 in that period.
All three new, one cash purchase all between $20k and $25k
HHI $180k

Anonymous wrote:Married HHI 419k,

1. 2k13 Fully loaded Audi A6 paid off
2. 2k15 Fully loaded Acura RDX - not paid off

married 3 years with a 1yr/old.

This may be many things, but it is not winning a frugality contest. But I think you probably already knew that.

Married HHI 419k,

1. 2k13 Fully loaded Audi A6 paid off
2. 2k15 Fully loaded Acura RDX - not paid off

married 3 years with a 1yr/old.

Anonymous wrote:Married 11 years. $250K HHI. Pretty sure we'll beat everyone here.

Two cars, both bought new for cash.

One Nissan - $14K
One Honda - $19K

Married 12.5 years (12/27/03).

Two cars, both bought new for cash in these respective years.

One '07 Hyundai Accent
One '09 Hyundai Elantra Touring (using a "Cash for Clunkers" trade-in)