{"id":1013,"date":"2022-06-28T19:13:02","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T19:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/essential-tips-for-car-shopping-on-a-budget\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T14:03:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T14:03:50","slug":"essential-tips-for-car-shopping-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/essential-tips-for-car-shopping-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Tips for Car Shopping on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<article class=\"wp-block-group alignfull p-post-single is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<header class=\"wp-block-group alignfull p-post-single-hero is-style-theme-subtle-light has-backgrounds-subtle-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center l-container is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-1f86b309 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-hero__content has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a4fd459e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div style=\"text-transform:uppercase; margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);\" class=\"theme-color-secondary t-date wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2022-06-28T19:13:02+00:00\">June, 2022<\/time><\/div>\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-post-title has-display-x-large-font-size\">Essential Tips for Car Shopping on a Budget<\/h1>\n\n<div style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:0\" class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/category\/budgeting\/\" rel=\"tag\" class=\"cat-item\"><i class=\"cat-item__color cat-item__color--green\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><span class=\"cat-item__label\">Budgeting<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-column-is-layout-a209ae40 wp-block-column-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-hero__media has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-587a7eb1 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><figure style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;\" class=\"is-style-image-featured s-aspect-ratio-1-1 wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg 5760w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/buying-a-car.jpg?resize=1619,1080 1619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-body has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-spacing-80\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a car. However, purchasing a vehicle is a big investment and not something you want to rush into. Many car dealers have a reputation for acting like your friend to try to convince you to buy a car that\u2019s potentially above your price range. But you don\u2019t want to get saddled with monthly payments you can\u2019t afford. Make saving money a priority when you follow these tips for car shopping on a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-consider-buying-a-used-car\"><strong>Consider Buying a Used Car<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>New cars lose value as soon as you drive off the lot. After a year, your new car has lost 30% of its value.<sup>1<\/sup> Used cars, on the other hand, depreciate at a slower rate. This can be to your advantage when you buy a used car, since you can essentially purchase a better quality used car for the same price as a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Know What You Can Afford<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you head to the dealership, take time to determine how much you can afford to spend. A good strategy is to dedicate no more than 10-15% of your income to your vehicle purchase.<sup>2<\/sup> This includes all your car expenses like, your monthly payment, financing, registration fees, licensing and insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to figure out how to save up for a car, use this percentage to work backwards and calculate how much money you\u2019ll need when budgeting. Then, set up a savings account dedicated to your future vehicle and start making regular contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wait for the Holidays<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The end of the year is the best time to buy a car, as dealers are working harder to hit their annual sales goals.<sup>5<\/sup> Big sales and price reductions are more common during October, November, and December, particularly around Black Friday. If you can\u2019t wait, consider buying on a Monday or a major holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do Your Research<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The sheer amount of information online means you never have to be caught off guard. By doing some research ahead of time, you can find a lot of detailed information about the vehicle you want, the price you can expect and how you can pay for it. Don\u2019t be afraid to shop around at different dealerships and compare pricing information. After you gather some initial information online, head to a few dealerships to ask questions and test drive the cars you\u2019re interested in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you research, consider all the costs of ownership, not just the cost of the car itself. Gas, insurance, and maintenance will need to factor into your ongoing car budget as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do the Prep Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a used car, look up a vehicle history report. This will tell you about past ownership, accidents, and repairs. Getting a pre-purchase inspection is also a good idea when buying a used vehicle. With this you\u2019ll get insight into any potential safety concerns or mechanical issues, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Negotiate Car Price<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Car prices are not set in stone. In fact, car dealers expect you to negotiate to get the best possible deal. Start your negotiation with a price that\u2019s below the maximum amount you\u2019re comfortable spending so that you have room to bargain.<sup>3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Don\u2019t Trade In<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your goal is saving money, it\u2019s best not to trade in your car when you\u2019re buying a new one. You\u2019ll make a greater profit by selling your car on your own. Another downside of trading in your vehicle at the same time as purchasing a new one is that it can make it more confusing to know if you\u2019re getting a good deal. It\u2019s easier for car dealers to upsell you on your new car and lowball you on your old one in a single transaction.<sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\"><strong style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Online Payday Loans<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having adequate transportation is a necessity for many of us. If you\u2019re struggling to save money for a car or need help with emergency transportation, consider an online payday loan from LendNation. Our speedy application and approval process gets you your money quickly and conveniently. Stop stressing about budgeting and contact LendNation today to find a loan option that works for you.&nbsp; We offer a variety of loans products to help solve your financial needs.&nbsp; Let the customer service team at LendNation help you today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/location\/\">Find a location<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/\">apply now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/insurance\/car-depreciation\">https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/article\/insurance\/car-depreciation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/how-much-car-can-you-afford-4156674\">https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/how-much-car-can-you-afford-4156674<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/091714\/how-get-good-deal-used-car.asp\">https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/091714\/how-get-good-deal-used-car.asp<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cars.usnews.com\/cars-trucks\/how-to-trade-in-a-car\">https:\/\/cars.usnews.com\/cars-trucks\/how-to-trade-in-a-car<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/when-is-the-best-time-to-buy-a-car-5207171\">https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/when-is-the-best-time-to-buy-a-car-5207171<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group p-post-single-related has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-07747ed5 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80)\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 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wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/article\/create-your-budget-to-have-a-fun-summer\/\" target=\"_self\" >Create Your Budget to Have a Fun Summer<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-62083a6e wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-tertiary\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendnation.com\/blog\/\">Visit Blog\n\t\t\t                                                                                                  Homepage<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Purchasing a vehicle is a big investment and not something you want to rush into. Get the most for your money when shopping for a car by using these tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[66,57],"class_list":["post-1013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting","tag-car-shopping-on-a-budget-best-time-to-buy-a-car","tag-saving-money"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Essential Tips for Car Shopping on a Budget - LendNation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Purchasing a vehicle is a big investment and not something you want to rush into. 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