IHateFinancialPlanning.com
(ARA) - For many Americans, a car is the second largest purchase they make. Advertisers devote millions of dollars to convince us that we deserve to own the hottest set of wheels. The same people who used to yell, "I want my MTV!" are now shouting, "I want my SUV!"
But step inside a dealership, and confident car shoppers are like deer in headlights when confronted by aggressive sales people, confusing financing decisions and a fear of buying more than they can afford.
IHateFinancialPlanning.com, the Web site for the three out of four Americans who hate financial planning, can help sort out the financial aspects of buying and leasing cars. While you crave an SUV, you may discover that the cost of insuring it and filling its huge gas tank will blow your budget off the road.
IHFP offers the following tips to make sure you don`t get caught in the headlights:
Get Your Records Straight
One of the first steps in financing a car is to get a grip on your credit rating. Unless you intend to pay with cash, you will have no secrets from the car dealership, finance company or auto insurer. A poor credit history can result in a higher interest rate or even loan disqualification. Also, bad markss on your credit could flag you as an insurance risk, translating into higher premiums.