Congratulations on the car! May it serve you well for many years.
I've got to do something about that credit history problem.
Do you have a credit card? If you don't get one of the no annual fee ones, use it regularly for small purchases such as groceries, and pay it off every month so that you never carry a balance/incur fees. This was the way I built up my credit rating prior to buying a house, because I had no other financing in my history (having paid for things out of pocket, including my first (used) car).
I really should avoid all this buying things stuff in the future. It just makes me nervous
Heh. You're not alone in this, believe me. I think it took me a year or so to be accustomed to the debt when I took out my first mortgage. For someone who had no debt prior, suddenly being in for more than 100,000 was a purpetual source of anxiety until I became accustomed to it. Unfortunately unless one pursues a career with an astronomical pay scale, or comes from considerable money, there's no way around basic aquisitions. Personal vehicles are unfortunately *necessary* in much of North America (I literally couldn't get to work without mine -- no public transit to speak of). Likewise it doesn't make sense to pay rent if one can own one's own home (assuming moving isn't in the near future).
Try not to second guess yourself, because this wasn't a wrong choice even if you didn't get the "best" possible deal. You have insurance for if something unfortunate should occur, and the rest will take care of itself with time.
no subject
I've got to do something about that credit history problem.
Do you have a credit card? If you don't get one of the no annual fee ones, use it regularly for small purchases such as groceries, and pay it off every month so that you never carry a balance/incur fees. This was the way I built up my credit rating prior to buying a house, because I had no other financing in my history (having paid for things out of pocket, including my first (used) car).
I really should avoid all this buying things stuff in the future. It just makes me nervous
Heh. You're not alone in this, believe me. I think it took me a year or so to be accustomed to the debt when I took out my first mortgage. For someone who had no debt prior, suddenly being in for more than 100,000 was a purpetual source of anxiety until I became accustomed to it. Unfortunately unless one pursues a career with an astronomical pay scale, or comes from considerable money, there's no way around basic aquisitions. Personal vehicles are unfortunately *necessary* in much of North America (I literally couldn't get to work without mine -- no public transit to speak of). Likewise it doesn't make sense to pay rent if one can own one's own home (assuming moving isn't in the near future).
Try not to second guess yourself, because this wasn't a wrong choice even if you didn't get the "best" possible deal. You have insurance for if something unfortunate should occur, and the rest will take care of itself with time.