[quote author="Nude" date=1258545771][quote author="gypsyuma" date=1258544457][quote author="Nude" date=1258542789][quote author="Perspective" date=1258537500]I did a good job controlling the wife's housing desires buying a house that cost less than 2.5x our income. Now I'm trying to determine what's reasonable to spend on a car.</blockquote>
Look, you don't know me and I don't know you and the last thing I want to do is come off like a salesman, but here it is: when it comes to your wife, you need to indulge her sometimes. The occasional pair of new shoes, a new sparkly, flowers for no reason, and yes... a new car. The reality is she's put up with your nasty farts, your endless snoring, your gross ear hair, your addiction to (insert guy thing here) and she's still with you. How much is making her happy worth to you? Because that's all she's gonna feel when you hand her the keys... your appreciation, love, and gratitude rolling on wheels. If you come across as putting a price limit on a car, you are telling her that she's worth "X" and that's an invitation to marital counseling if not outright divorce.
So, take it from a guy who dotes on his wife like mad... make your wife happy. Find out what car she really wants, move an appropriate amount into your checking account, then take her down to the dealer and tell her to go pick one. After all, when you get right down to it this is what money is about; making life better for us and those we love. I understand your need to be careful and prudent, but sometimes it's ok to enjoy the rewards.</blockquote>
And you don't know me and I don't know you..... so just one thing to add:
<strong>Not all women are created equal.</strong>
If my husband overspent on a car for me, I would return it.</blockquote>
Ahem...
<blockquote><span style="color: green;">Find out what car she really wants</span>, move an appropriate amount into your checking account, then <span style="color: red;">take her down to the dealer and tell her to go pick one</span>.</blockquote>
I pick my words most carefully madam and, as you can see, my advice precluded any possibility of 'overspending' as his wife would be choosing the car herself. Presuming she is as intelligent and as capable as yourself, I am sure she would choose a car that she would not need to return for reasons of cost.</blockquote>
Exactly... each of us have our things that give us pleasure. Obviously the poster gets a lot of joy out of building their net worth. I have no desire for a really nice car, but it gave me immense pleasure when my husband took me to Burgundy and the Cotes du Rhone for 10 days of wine tasting this year. I had to stop myself a hundred times from calculating smarter things that money could have been diverted to because it took away from the joy. It felt incredibly indulgent, but sometimes you need to indulge in yours or your spouse's indulgences so that there is a balance of joy and pleasure for both of you. Now that I understand what you're talking about, it sounds like your wife has been indulging you with the pleasure of building the net worth, so show her how much you appreciate how far you've come because she has sacrificed wants to reach the goals. All sacrifice and no indulgent pleasure isnt't very fun.