So I need some advice on H's current car loan...
Background- We have been together for 6 yrs total, married for 1 yr. We just recently joined checking/savings accounts in the last 2 weeks so that's why this is bugging me.
In the last 6 yrs, H has had 3 different cars, rolling down debt from the last 2 into the current car. When I met him, he had a Nissan Xterra which he was making payments on. When gas went up to almost $5/gal yrs ago, he decided to trade in the gas guzzler and buy a Camry. After 2 yrs with the Camry and barely able to make it to work in the snow (hes in EMS so he says he "NEEDS" to be at work no matter what), he decided to trade in and get his current car, a Nissan Rogue, which he's had for about 2 yrs now. At the time he bought, I wasn't paying attention to the facts about buying cars/money (only take on a 3yr loan, pay cash yada ya- you can spare me the details- I've just recently learned a lot (dave ramsey...) and have pointed these things out to him) He doesn't really get statements because it's automatically taken out, but when I last saaw a statement about 3 months ago his balance was about $18,000, his interest rate is probably around 3% or so, and his loan is up in 2017!! I can double check this info in the paperwork tonight. (Again, we've had the car about 2 yrs now) He is set up for auto Bi-weekly payments (which is when we get paid) and they take out $245 for a total of $490/month. Ugg. My car has been paid off for 1 yr now and I will drive that thing to the ground
) We have no other debt except for the mortgage.
We are not struggling by any means, but we have other things we are trying to save for right now. We wanted to buy a house within the next 2 yrs so we are saving for a down payment ($13,000) and also boosting up our savings account ($10,000). I am wondering what options we have to get this thing paid off faster or refinanced. Not sure which route to take....If we do buy a house soon, i don't want a $500 per month car payment as well, I'd rather put that towards house payments and 2017 is a looooong time away...Should we put any extra money towards making extra payments, re-finance? We will not sell/trade it in, he will run this car to the ground which he's agreed to and learn his lesson. Anytime I bring up doing something about it, he just doesn't do anything....We will not make the same mistake in the future. But I just want this car loan gone ASAP! Help!
Re: Car loan advice needed
TTC since June 2012
Your situation is remarkably similar to mine! Wow. My husband's Honda CR-V is our only debt, that has $17000 on it and we are at 3.5% interest rate. Here is what I've learned: the more often you make payments, the more interest you save, even without i
Great, thanks for the advice! I will talk to DH about making extra payments, I think that will be the best way to go.
Thanks for the spreadsheet, I will set it up in Excel so hopefully we can get rid of this ridiculous payment a lot faster! I