CARZ FOR GIRLZ: 6 EASY STEPS TEENS CAN USE TO SAVE FOR A CAR
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Louisville Bureau
The Auto Channel
Is the likelihood you will wake up on your birthday and find a brand new car parked in the driveway with a big red bow on it very slim? Unless you were on a MTV "My Sweet Sixteen" episode, chances are the only way most of us will be getting a vehicle is if we cough up a little – or a lot – of cash.
Maybe it comes as a major reality check to realize we're going to have to actually do something about this not-owning-a-car issue. I'm offering you 6 Easy Teen Car Saving Tips that won't take much to get you started on the road to car ownership:
Everyone Starts From Somewhere, With Something. Got some birthday money burning a hole in your pocket? Leftover allowance? I don't care if you have to steal a quarter from the couch cushions – get your Car Account started today! Place the money in a jar or piggy bank impossible to raid!
Make Some Steady Money. Don't get all down – I'm not talking about going down to McDonalds or the mall! Why not begin looking for work by asking your parents this very minute if they (or their friends or neighbors) have a need for an office girl, gardener, pool cleaner, closet organizer, caterer, or the old standby – babysitter. Informal employment, as well as doing something you'd actually enjoy sticking with, stands a better chance of delivering more perks in the form of flexible hours, higher (and tax-free) pay, referrals for more jobs, and not scarring your social life!
Online Savings Account Offer Better Free Money. You can get a much hirer return or what's called an interest rate on your car money if you store it in an online account simply because online banks don't have to pay for the kinds of overhead expenses walk-in banks deal with. Also, it's totally easy to link the account, to say, a bank in town you or your folks are already doing business with to transfer funds in a snap (and with no bank fees – did you know some banks even charge you just to go inside?!)
Get Rid of Spending Distractions That Don’t Involve a Car Purchase. Go toss out any magazines and delete links that feature your other materialistic cravings (umm … can you say clothing?) But by all means, to get focused on your future car, check out what places like The Auto Channel has to offer in terms of your price range and car in consideration.
Think Twice Before You Buy Anything. Sure, a girl has to live. What's a harmless taco or two that you might go out for later this afternoon? But remember, those few frivolous dollars you spend today equates to a few more hours without wheels. What multiples that Car Account is the little choices to turn pocket change into a car (so drop those dollars you would have spent in the account NOW!)
When the Saving Gets Tough, Reward Yourself. No doubt the minute after you implement this plan, you're going to get an invite to the movies, hear a new tune you want for your iPod, or see your best friend got a new headband you want, too. Get creative with your rewards. This could mean a clothing exchange with friends, a movie party, or burning songs on a CD for sharing.
Stick to this plan for at least 6-8 weeks before your next big step: Asking mom and dad if their finances will enter the picture at all in your quest to obtain a car. Guaranteed mom and dad will be more impressed with your current efforts to save for a car rather than if you hadn't done anything to get started – you will look like someone they actually want to finance and in a bigger way than you imagined!
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