Looking for a new car under $20,000? Good luck. Your choice has dwindled to just one vehicle

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. Also, don't take out a loan.

Pay cash. If you had a loan for your first purchase, once it's paid off, put that money into a separate savings account. When you need your next car, you now have the cash for it.

I'm 75 years old. I'm not sure just how many cars I've owned, probably 10 or 12 at this point. Most were second hand. Early in my marriage, when we were getting a new car, my then husband was adamant about purchasing new. "I don't want to buy someone else's problems," he said. I was honestly enthralled with that attitude, as purchasing new had never been on my radar.

But some years later, with a rise in car costs and a levelling of our income, going back to buying used happened. By that time the internet was well established, and we could find out what we needed to purchase cars.

I actually love buying cars. I'm only sorry that my son did his recent car purchase entirely on his own, without Mom participating. Although being independent from Mom is a Good Thing.