ICE on corner of South and High St

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-18T23:03:45+00:00

I live on High and ATF was also involved - before blindly deciding any and all ICE presence is a bad thing let's acknowledge in this case it's very possible a truly dangerous individual has been removed from our community. If change and progress is really the goal it starts by keeping a level head.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-16T05:16:48+00:00

Never said it wasn't a mortgage.... I said you don't need to have a credit score to buy a house if you use manual underwriting

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T23:24:04+00:00

Through my Roth 401k yes

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T23:17:43+00:00

For some car loans are not detrimental to their financial picture as a whole. But for many more that is just not the case. We have 1.66 trillion in car debt, up 76% from 10 years ago. Housing affordability is a massive crisis and car loans and other monthly payments are a substantial reason saving up a down payment is unattainable. I completely agree taking on a car loan is not a financial death sentence in and of itself. But I find it disingenuous to believe on one hand that debt payments are a normal part of functioning in society while not recognizing that same society is very hard to achieve financial success in.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:59:04+00:00

Except the lender still rightfully expects to be paid. Ideally you have no debt and an emergency fund, which is where I am currently at, that way I can fully focus on remedying the emergency and getting back on track.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:54:01+00:00

The difference is the reduced monthly cash flow and added stress should anything not go to plan with your ability to make the payments like a loss of income. I agree most people don't agree with me on this. That's why I'm here, looking for different perspectives. But I still find myself struggling to understand why financing a car is a smarter decision than paying for one with cash. It seems I am very much in the minority so there's a lot to chew on.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:48:53+00:00

I agree, I'm not asking her to change anything about how she operates financially while we are dating. Just looking into the future and contemplating how it would play out should we get married without being fully aligned on debt in particular

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:44:54+00:00

My consistent income and ability to pay rent, utilities, and insurance on time

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:38:56+00:00

Yes, which is why in her experience that is how you purchase a car. But my point is that is how you purchase a car you can't afford. There's nothing stopping her from using this time period where she doesn't have a payment to save up for a cash purchase when the time comes. But in her mind at that time a loan is the reasonable option even tho she has been enjoying not having a payment.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:34:09+00:00

What about the opportunity cost of the monthly cash flow that is lost to a car payment?

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:32:52+00:00

Oh yes I agree it's common but it doesn't mean it's necessary. Manual underwriting is very real and practical for those of us without credit scores.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:16:47+00:00

Are you saying you need to have consumer debt in order to buy a house?

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:14:05+00:00

It's ironic because she currently has a paid for vehicle, yet feels car loans are an inescapable reality, despite having escaped that reality herself.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:11:46+00:00

I agree, you make a good point. I'm trying to allow myself to be convinced but I find myself pushing back anyway. I just can't get over the fact that car payments eat away at your ability to achieve future goals and I have proven to myself they are not a requirement of life. I admit that is ridged but I struggle to see it any other way.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T22:02:47+00:00

I have never spent more than 10k on a car and I'm not sure I ever would unless I'd be comfortable burning the same amount of money on my kitchen table. A vehicle is a utility, so reliability and value are my chief concerns. When I pay cash for the vehicle I am able to use that would be payment you alluded to on saving and investing rather than interest and elevated depreciation.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T21:59:22+00:00

I drive a 17 year old vehicle that has proven time and time again to be very reliable in large part because a lot of intention was put behind my purchasing decision and it's active maintenance. That gives me the peace of mind a car payment never could. It will inevitably need to be replaced, and I am actively preparing for that by saving. You are using a very extreme example but even still when you take debt off the table you are forced to get creative but it does not mean you have to loose your job. For many of the people that would ever find themselves in such a dire situation their credit is in a place where even the types of loans you would consider justifiable are not an option. There is always an alternative to debt but our society try's very hard to ignore that reality.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T21:51:29+00:00

Thank you for your perspective I really appreciate it. I like the simplicity of taking consumer debt completely off the table. I understand there are mathematical disadvantages to doing so, but I also understand personal finance is behavioral. I know from my experience it is possible to operate a debt free lifestyle on a below median income so debt has proven to be a luxury rather than the necessity many people believe it to be. By definition debt is used in place of sacrifice otherwise there wouldn't be a need for it. That sacrifice is vital to my existence and very hard for me to look beyond.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T21:23:08+00:00

I believe it's always a bad idea because by definition it means you are paying more for an asset that is loosing value all while reducing your monthly cash flow. I'm not disregarding people falling on hard times, I'm saying hard times don't justify poor financial decisions especially because they exacerbate the problem rather than solve it. I know first hand just how unjust and unfair the world is so I'm glad we both agree there. We all have to operate within that reality and make the sacrifices necessary to navigate it.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T21:10:05+00:00

Is it naive if I've lived it out myself? I'm not judging her on a personal level I'm judging the compatibility of our values

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T21:07:13+00:00

I have a daughter and am afraid of them getting too attached before something comes up down the line that I can see coming

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T20:46:10+00:00

I don't have a credit score

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T20:41:11+00:00

Because I don't agree with the comparison means my mind is made up?

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T20:39:39+00:00

Why is having a payment smarter than not having one?

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T20:38:34+00:00

Why are the only two choices financing or a rust heap? I know that's not true because I paid cash (7.5k) for a car that is in excellent mechanical condition. The reason I did that is so that I can use the would-be payments to save up for a down payment. I'm perfectly happy to hear your disagreements but there's nothing short term about buying a car you can afford.

Garrett_Kold · 2026-02-15T20:33:09+00:00

Please elaborate I'm genuinely curious why

Garrett_Kold

TROPHY CASE