Budget simple, simple, simple

Why simple

All people tells that a budget is important. I agree you need to have one of some kind. it's the game plan for your money. it's a tools and it should be as simple as possible. some person will need a very detail one that's their choice. starting with that for most will make them stop using it as too restrictive.

Money management is easy for me and with a good memory I made my budget in my head until I finish university. I now suggest that you write it down in a simple form because I know my old method don't work for 95% of the peoples. After I used excel and Quicken. the idea is to have a game plan for your finance. detail are sometimes necessary. but the big picture is more important and need to be available.

Budget can be just a 5 or 6 category. like for a student for a year
income : 11000

tuition fee : 3000
book : 500
rent (12 x 300) : 3600
utility (12 x 60): 720
food (52 x 20) : 1040
other (52 x20) : 1040

then 1100$ in case not much but should be used with care.

Budget should be the game plan not wishes, dreams it should plan the reality.

keep on track

Budget is the game plan; keeping track is to make sure you follow the game plan. you should track it and found how you do compare to the game plan. there also keep the tracking simple

for more information about budget and financial planning:

How to make a budget

Budget should help manage your personal money, like a game plan not a series of number

Used car why used car seller have a bad reputation they make it!

Experience buying used car

I don't like driving then paying more for car is just a waste of money in my view. this is my view many like new cars and it's their options.

Not all car seller are equals

My first car

In 1996 I grought my first car. It was a Pontiac Grand Prix 1988 that was already 8 years old. even if it was very expensive to repair the break (every 10-20 K km) iI was very lucky and used it for 4 and a half year.

My second car

after changing jobs and needing to use my car to go to work I chnage for asttisticly more reliable car since the other now had 12 years. I buy a 3 years old Chevrolet Cavalier 1998 from Auto Durocher of Laval in December 2000.
At the delivery I buy the winter tire and next spring I had a surprise when looking to change them back to the original it was delivered with tire that had been repair on the side of the tire (This kind of repair I thing is illegal to do in Quebec since it's dangerous). but the car itself made good job for the 5 years i got it until I change it. At that point it was time. I used it for 2 years at 20 Kkm/year and 3 at 10 KKM/year since i got back to work downtown using the train.

My third car

In june 2005 I search for another car.
I give a try to the "from auction company car".

First lets try the most advertized one H Gregoire. I hate my experience. having the pressure of the seller always with you and not been able to look at cars freely was painfull. This type is just not for me.

After I try the next door Corporatif Renaud. There I found a Chevrolet Alero 2004 for 9.9K usually was 12-14K. a bit cheap since discountinued and an american car. I got the used cars dealler usual speech: it was a women that was driving, never been accidented.
Lets see!
To be able to get an inspection they ask me to signed the contract. I should have refused. I used a refered APA inspector. He found that the car comes from Ontaio a body shop and was accidented. the motor has the know issue of GM V6 of prestone leeking to the oil pan.


Whithout surprise I decide I don't want to buy. I ask to cancel the contract I got a lots of craps. The seller asks me to go inside to see the boss since he can't write cancel on a contract. She immediately begins to yield at me saying this is not a contract just a reservation and the car was already back for sell because the insoection have been made more then 48h after(it was the 4th days). Then making a big scene to be sure all his employee sees it she continue to yield at me "you want this contract cancel it is cancel" and she took the contract from my hand and put it in peace my copy of the contract. I tell her that my copy is not what I'm afraid of it was their copy with witch they can force me to buy this car.She just pass from me to an employee to yield to get the copy and put it on piece also. All the time yielling at me I'm a trouble make and this is not a contract. they don't need client like me. Added note 2009: Corporatif Renaud no longer as Laval place all the 4 closed and only the longueil as reopen on the name of the Automobile Renaud.

I Febuary 2006 I change job again and then in june 2006 I really need to get a newer car. I try a Nissan dealer (Chomedey Nissan) and buy a Sentra 2003, except for the "jobber" break used making a lots of noise, this car worked well.

The difference of price was 500-800$ more then the "from auction company car" used car dealer. But I think brand Dealer worth it.

My fourth car

After I amshed in January 2008 I needed to shop for car another time.
I checked the pricing range and then go back to the previous dealer. they don't really have in stok the car similar just abit new the one they have had a difference of 1.5K$ to 2K$ over the "from auction company car" dealer.

Let's try again the "from auction company car".
I go at Auto P.B. it seems clean, but some obvious mistakes like selling a plain 1.8 Sentra as a 1.8S the S have a lot of option difficult to take a plain for one with electical grou, cruise and 20 other gadget). some car are not prepared. but most seesm to be.

Now the used car seller story

Auto Publique. all kind of small irritant that make buying a pain. Car not deliver. other location not cooperative to let you try car. Small repair not made as stated. delays, etc. Since I was in a rush insurance company don't let you keep rental car long after they pay i got to buy. In the end the car is so so. but in all in all below average experience

You can refer to the APA investigation on used car dealer:

APA investigation

Introduction

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