MW UPDATE: 'What the hell!' I'm 28, have no debt, a 401(k), Roth IRA and $45K in cash. Should I save for a house or buy a Tesla Model 3?
By Quentin Fottrell, MarketWatch
'I believe I can buy the car and strap down, and save more aggressively to replenish the funds'
Dear Quentin,
I've been flip-flopping back and forth between buying a new car or putting a down payment on my first home. With my parents being very money-minded and keeping a careful eye on my finances (still), I'm caught in a predicament.
The original plan was to save up 20% to 30% for a down payment on a condo in the suburbs of Los Angeles and buy into the market within the two years or so, and right now I'm about 40% towards that goal.
However, with the Green Act possibly on the horizon again, the Model 3 has been a temptation, especially with all the extra bonus incentives my state offers, with a net final price of around $27,000. I'm not desperately in need of a new car, but this seems like a great way to save some money on a vehicle with smart features.
I am 28 years old with zero debt as of January 2021. Retirement wise, I am well on my way to maxing out 401(k) contributions this year, and I have already maxed out my Roth IRA contributions, and if everything stays the same, I'll have about $60,000 in retirement by the end of the year.
In terms of liquid assets and investments, I'm sitting on about $45,000 as of right now. I currently save and/or invest 50% to 60% of my take-home pay, since I moved back home with my parents after being laid off last year, and started a new job remotely.
I don't know if I should (a) purchase the car straight up and empty out my savings as I will probably have the time to save up the money again before a potential housing crash, (b) not purchase the car and keep saving for the down payment, (c) do both or (d) invest the money elsewhere.
As financial conservatives, my parents are strongly against me buying the car because it's a depreciating asset, and they believe entering the market should be my priority, so they think that I should have the down payment waiting, to jump into the market whenever I see a good deal.
I believe I can buy the car and strap down, and save more aggressively to replenish the funds. Any advice for me?
Pressured by the Parents
You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions related to coronavirus at qfottrell@marketwatch.com
Dear Pressured,
What the hell! Give into your impulse, splash out on the Tesla $(TSLA)$ Model 3. You will be empowered by the knowledge that you are using your spending power to get America back on its feet, while making a cool statement that you have finally arrived. Fully embrace the American dream of being smack-bang-wallop in the middle of the eco-warrior, Tesla-driving, tech-savvy zeitgeist. All any of us have is today, after all and global warming is coming for us all in the end.
Cruise the neighborhoods where you would like to buy a home in your 30s, 40s or 50s (it will all depend on how the property market fares between now and then). Take a good look at those homes, assuming they are not obscured by manicured hedges, and enjoy the view. Drive back to your parents' house, honk the horn so they can marvel at Elon Musk's bold vision for themselves, and then and only then ask them nicely if they would make space in their driveway for your Model 3.
I am kidding, of course. You have done everything right so far. Buy the house first and the $27,000 electric car later. You already have a destination in mind. Don't allow an automobile, regardless of how cool you think it would be to drive, to deter you from that destination. Listen to your parents. They have seen more than you have. They are trying to set you on the road to financial freedom. And as nice as they are to drive and to be seen driving, you don't need a Tesla to achieve that.
The Moneyist:'Warren Buffett and Harry Potter couldn't get those two retired early': Our spendthrift neighbors said our adviser was 'lousy.' So how come WE retired early?
Hello there, MarketWatchers. Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group where we look for answers to life's thorniest money issues. Readers write in to me with all sorts of dilemmas. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns.
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-Quentin Fottrell; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com
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March 02, 2021 14:36 ET (19:36 GMT)
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