Hope to Prosper

Simple Practices that Lead to Wealth

How to Get a Free Car in 5 Easy Steps

Chrysler has come up with an entirely new twist on a generations old problem, begging parents for a car.  A car is practically a rite of passage for teenagers and no self-respecting parent would risk damage their child’s self-esteem by depriving them of mobility.  But, what if the parents can’t afford a brand new car or they refuse to buy it?  Never fear; people can now register a car online and beg all their friends and relatives to pitch in together to buy it.  Here is how it works.

The Old Way The New Way
  1. Get a Job
  2. Save a Down Payment
  3. Buy the car
  4. Make the Payments
  1. Configure your Car
  2. Register it Online
  3. People Sponsor Parts
  4. Your Car Gets Funded
  5. Thank Everyone
Result = Hassle Result = Awesome

Road Tripping

Kids these days have to be proactive to ensure they receive a car worthy of their style and stature.  It’s not enough to just hit up their parents and hope for the best.  Otherwise, they could wind up like my poor daughter.  She got a green 1996 econo box, with a cassette player and peeling paint.  Had she registered for a new car online, she could have at least dreamt of having Sync and Wi-Fi.  It’s pretty sweet to configure your brand new car, especially when other people pay for it.

Payments are Lame

In all seriousness, I bought a shiny red sports car when I turned 21 and it was the biggest financial mistake of my entire life.  It cost me four years of brutal payments, expensive registration and high-risk insurance.  I got a bunch of tickets and lost my drivers license.  I had to make the payments while it was parked and gathering dust.  It wound up costing me way more than I had ever expected.  I can still hear the salesman telling me, “It’s only $10 per day.”  Don’t you believe it.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that marketers will go to any length to sell products to people who can’t afford them, even if it means mooching on their behalf.  Consumers have come to expect things they can’t afford, even if it means years of debt or shameless begging.  A new car is not a right, an entitlement or even the best option.

“You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.”

Abraham Lincoln – 16th President of the United States

Recommended Reading

Bruce Bucks – Money Tips from Hipsters
Don’t Quit your Day Job – Lifestyle Creep and You
Wealth Informatics – How to Let Go of Stuff

2 thoughts on “How to Get a Free Car in 5 Easy Steps

  • Howdy! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!

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