Need advice - DH driving me crazy.

K

KimDW

Cathlete
A couple weeks ago we traded in his 2003 Silverado truck for a 2006 Chevy Cobalt (sport package) for him to drive to work to get a lower payment and better gas milage. He really likes the car but still says that he wants a truck. He now wants me to trade in my car (2005 Nissan Altima) so he can get a used truck. We still owe 14,000 on my car with 3 years left to pay. It has 23,000 miles on it. If we're lucky we will just break even on a trade amount. He's looking at a 2003 Chevy S10 that has 10,000 miles on it. Priced at 14,988 (thru a dealer). He'd want to purchase an extended warranty for it so that's going to add money to the price. The bottom line is I WANT TO PAY OFF A VEHICLE AT SOME POINT IN MY LIFE!!! The way his income is we can't afford to keep having all these loan payments. He knows this and thinks that it is stupid to think we will keep our vehicles after they are paid off. He is driving me crazy with this. I'm betting that we will be paying about the same monthly payment for this used vehicle that we are now with my Nissan. I need some advice. What are your opinions???

Kim
 
I say keep your car. I paid off my van a few years back and it feels great not to have a car payment anymore. I was glad I decided to purchase my van rather than trading it in or leasing another car. I have put some money into it on maintenance but no where near what I would have paid in car payments every month. The worst thing is to feel like you're drowning in debt. Stick to your guns and keep your car.

Marcy
 
I think men in general have a problem when it comes to cars. They always want a different one or another one to go with the one they already have. I have heard the same from my DH about not keeping them after they are paid off. This maybe true but a girl can dream of not having a car payment someday.

You never said what you would drive if you traded in your car. The truck won't help with the gas mileage, so he won't drive it back aind forth to work due to economical reasons. Nor is it convient for a family unless it is a king cab.

I'm sorry I don't really have any advice but I can commiserate. (sp?)

Jenn
 
I guess I am kind of confused. You trade in your car and drive the truck around on a daily basis and he uses it at night and on the weekends or you trade in your car and you drive his car and he drives the truck to work? Either way seems pretty impractical to me. I don't know how you feel about driving pick up trucks around, but I would rather drive a car (no flames, JMO). I also wouldn't want my DH making me give up something that I want so that he can have something else. I think your DH needs to grow up and be financially responsible. Sometimes in life we can't have everything we want and we need to make sacrifices. I am truly sorry that you have to deal with this because money is always tough in a relationship. I hope that you guys can come to a decision that pleases both of you not just him.

Karin
 
I say keep what you have, pay it off, then drive it until it dies. Both of our vehicles have been paid off for several years and it's wonderful to OWN them and not have to make payments.

We have a '93 Volvo with alomost 300,000 miles on it and it's still going strong. By the way, that's my DH's car and he's exceedingly proud of it. He takes very good care of it and it looks like new.

I drive a '98 Tahoe with nearly 200,000 miles on it. Again, it's been well cared for and we won't get rid of it until we have to (besides, no one wants that gas hog;( ). We regret the gas it uses but we needed it back in '98.

Hopefully, by the time we need a new car, we will have saved up enough money to buy one outright.
 
Unless you need a truck I just don't see the point. It just seems very impractical to trade in the Nissan for a truck that is two yeas older.

DH and I currently have 2 payments as well. One will be paid for in December and I just can't wait to be down to one payment. I am not sure WHAT I will do when both are paid for.

I was also wondering what you will drive? Does he expect that you will drive the truck or would you drive the new car?
 
I would be driving the Cobalt (the car that was bought specifically for gas milage and lower payment). Thanks for the advice. I was beginning to think that I was the one being unreasonable about this. He always makes me second guess myself when he does things like this. I hate it.
Kim
 
So, I'm not understanding why you have to give up your car just because he wants a truck? I think he needs to suck it up and drive what makes most financial sense. Sounds like you are often being made to get the short end of the deal. You don't need to give up squat just b/c he "needs" a truck. Ridiculous.



Age only matters if you're cheese.
 
So did I miss something? Can't he just trade in his Cobalt then for the S-10?

He made his choice, now he fixes it.

Besides, Altimas are one of the best cars around for the price and comfort according to Consumer Reports.

Oh men and their toys, cars, TV, etc. . . . . . . .

(Actually my DH buys Hot Wheels - too funny - half our garage is filled with boxes of them.)
 
Not to start a brand war but after owning a Chevy S10 I will never buy another Chevrolet, what a lemon.

dave
 
My hubby are driving our paid of cards...have had them now for 7 years. With proper maintenance,this is more than possible. I'm so glad we don't have huge care payments!!! It is tempting to always trade in for a newer model and keep a car payment, but the price isn't worth it to me and there is always something newer and better to trade in for. 'Hopefully, he will see the benefits of driving a paid off car. Good luck!
Angela
 
Kim.... I don't know how you manage your finances but one thing I have found that has worked beautifully for the past 10 years now is "pay for your own". DH and I have a budget which we both contribute to from our pay. We pay for the house, utilities, groceries, etc. jointly from this budgeted amount. We pay for our own vehicles or anything else we want from our own money. This will not work for everyone I know but in the 27 years we've been married, the last 10 have been blissfully without any money disagreements at all.
 
I really hope you don't fall for this! DH and I both had our cars paid off (Honda Civic/Accord) and it felt great!!! Last year, DH was rear-ended by a teenager (she ended up rear-ending 3 people last summer!) and it totaled out his '94 Accord (it was in prisine condition). He was lucky to have gotten $5000 for it from the insurance company! Anyway, for medical reasons, we needed to get a truck/SUV and had been looking, just not seriously because neither of us wanted a new payment. Well, that nudged us from just looking to needing to buy real quick! We ended up with a Honda Pilot (notice a trend?) and love it! The payments come out of DH's check and the mortgage comes out of mine (not that their even, but it works for us).

I think that it's a case of "wanting what you can't have". IMO
 
My DH and I are are strictly yours-mine-ours when it comes to money.

My paycheck pays for my car, his pays for his car. I get the car I want, he gets the car he wants. No arguments. The joint account pays for shared expenses: Food, mortgage, etc.

He manages the joint account because I am hopeless managing money, but discuss all needs-discussion expenses, e.g., house repairs and improvements.

Ironically, I own a Ford Ranger - but would never buy a Ford again. I would buy a truck again, but not an American truck, and certainly not a Ford.

Susan L.G.
 
Hi Kim,

So sorry DH is driving you crazy. {{{{{HUGS}}}}}} I think you got some great advice here already. I guess the only thing I would like to ask you is are you able to discuss this situation with him and come to a compromise that is acceptable to the both of you? And is he like this just about his vehicles or is he driving you crazy in other areas as well?

I do think it is important to compromise, as you obviously have. But, he must compromise as well. Is he open to your perspective on this?

Good luck!!!
 
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