Another lesson in common sense

It isn't right to group all people together but there seems to be a real drain on intelligence lately. I have a friend who bought a pretty big house, shortly after that he bought two new vehicles; a Chevy Trailblazer for his wife and a huge 4X4 Dodge crew cab truck for himself. Now with the gas prices at an all time high, he has realized he can't afford to drive his truck. I am guessing he is pulling in $35,000 a year and his wife is a school teacher so we all know she is overpaid. The house he bought cost him around $200,000. The vehicles come in around $40,000. With the extreme gas prices we are paying, he decided to buy a small car for commuting to and from work. He got a great deal on a Pontiac Sunfire, $8000. Now how much gas can you buy for $8000 when you only live 20 miles from work?

$248,000 dollars of debt, for what? To live like a king? He lives in a housing project next to a few hundred other people that have just as much debt as he does. Now how smart is that? Common sense people, think about it.

Ford makes the most fuel efficient SUV on the market (I think), the Ford Escape. It is 4x4 and has a great deal of room inside. After my truck wears down some or I get sick of fixing it, I plan to replace it with one of those Escapes. My truck (99 4x4 F150) will stay with me until I take my dirt nap. After all it is (and has been) paid for. I see no need to cast it off to Buck's Auto Sales. My truck will look good sitting in my garage, waiting to haul another load of fire wood. Cutting and hauling my own fire wood helps me save some cheddar, that way I can pay my huge $69,000 mortgage payment on my 5-acre ranch with a two-car detached garage and barn. I think I got more for my money and my nice little house serves our family well.

Think people, think.