It’s no secret that my husband and I live in a wealthy neighborhood. In fact, since the day we first met back in 1983 and we moved in together, we have always lived in very wealthy neighborhoods. How do we do it? By living in the most modest house on the block. Location. Location. Location. Our home may be a bit smallish BUT we have the zip code. And sometimes, that’s all that may matter.
In our current location, we did it by buying a distressed piece of land at a super great price and building our very own custom-made modular home upon it. We negotiated with the land owner over price (he was the one who was distressed. not the land.) His previous prospective buyers passed away before they purchased the land. We came along, had the money and a good gift of gab. Ditto for the modular construction company. Hubby GC’d most of the work himself (plumbing, electrical, construction) knew exactly how he wanted the home built (thus saving us thousands and thousands of dollars) and was able to erect a home valued at $275K (at that time) for only $170K. All for cash. No mortgage. No loans.
You can only do these things and get these things accomplished if you have a good deal of money in the bank. That’s where our frugality comes in. Once the seller knows you have cash to back up your negotiating, they are more than willing to make a deal. They know we have the potential to complete the sale. By our living close to the bone and within a budget, we get to deposit more money into savings and investments. Cash is the power needed to ‘Let’s Make A Deal’.
I have always chanted: I don’t want to be a millionaire. I just want to live like one.
That means living well, eating well and looking well. I don’t do this for other people. I do this for myself. I always wanted to prove to myself that I didn’t need to toil and denegrade myself for the almighty buck in order to live very well. Good negotiating skills will and can get you anything you want. You just better have the cash to back yourself up. Otherwise you’re just a babbling fool.
Living in a nice house and dressing in nice clothing doesn’t stop there. If you’re going to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk. That translates into you needing a stunning ride. Car. Vehicle. Mobile. I always made sure I drove a really nice automobile to close the packaged deal. Any fool can go into a car dealership, plunk down a bare minimum deposit and take out a bank loan. I haven’t bought a new vehicle in decades. I learned that lesson well. You buy used. Newly used. Maybe 2 or 3 years used. And you make sure you have your own expertly maintained, pre-used vehicle as part of your down payment before you whip out the balance in cash. It’s a trifecta that has never failed me. From Mercedes Benz to Datsun 240Zs to red convertible Mustangs, throw in a Corvette, or two; hubby and I have enjoyed driving luxury cars for decades.
I have always chanted: I want a top shelf life at bottom shelf prices.
Every single thing I own, from the every day dishes I keep in my kitchen cabinets down to the diamond ring on my finger, clothes on my back, every stick of furniture, every food tidbit that touches my lips, anything and everything that I buy, have all been negotiated for. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.
Our 2013, fully loaded, super duper luxury Dodge Durango Citadel, valued at $56K when new, was purchased by us in 2015 for only $32K. $12K of the payment was from a trade in of our Ford Explorer and $20K in cash. So, realistically I only spent $20,000 in out-of-pocket cash to get a luxury car (It’s based on a 350 Mercedes Benz model. Chrysler and Mercedes jointly worked together that year on the Durango).
Fast forward to today and hubby and I are again in need of another vehicle. We used the Durango to tow our RV and it could only tow on flat land. No mountainous regions or hills could we travel. Over the past six years it didn’t bother us. We only traveled to Florida or Rhode Island and all that driving was on level ground. Lately, however, now that traveling is coming back into vogue, hubby and I want to explore the landscapes of both the Adirondack and Catskill mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway as well as finally driving out west and visiting The Grand Canyon and Sedona. It’s time. This dream has been put off long enough.
Hubby did his usual search. We interviewed a few dealerships. Got a feel for what our Durango would bring in. Hubby and I did have at least one heated argument. Well, actually two. One was he wanted a new tow vehicle because of all the added safety features. The Durango is loaded with safety and he got used to them. The second argument was he wanted to either lease the vehicle or take out a small loan. Have you looked at the prices of cars these days? They’re almost the price of a small home. That’s if you can even buy a car today? Used cars are few and far between. New cars, if not on the lot already, are facing a computer chip backlash and may take weeks, maybe months to get.
I would have neither one of his wants or desires. (This is why my husband will always be the poor boy he grew up as and I’ll always be the rich bitch I was brought up as. His family is poor. My family is rich. Opposites attract.) We need to stick to our budget and style of living. One: I don’t buy new cars because as soon as you drive them off the lot they lose 20% of their value. Better to buy a vehicle 2 years old, already depreciated thus saving yourself thousands and thousands of dollars. Two: I don’t deal with banks. They’re thieves, deceitful and liars. I had a car repossessed once because they said I missed a payment. When I called the bank manager, he confirmed he did receive the (late) payment BUT his bank needed the car more than I did due to their own financial problems. Nope. No car loans or leases for us.
Once hubs and I were on the same page, we went to work. Hubby is a fantastic mechanic and knows his vehicles inside and out. It took him a few days and a few dealership interviews but he located a vehicle that had mostly everything we wanted or needed moving forward in our towing requirements. A RAM pick up truck was going to bring us closer to The Grand Canyon than any other model. Cost was our first priority. Technology was second. Luxury was third. Have you seen some of these new fandangled pick up trucks lately? They’re geared for the long haul, with Navigation systems, leather seats, heated and air conditioned bucket power seating, Apple Play, USB ports, lumbar supports, super roomy, tons of storage space….the list goes on and on.

The model we chose was a 2019 RAM 1500 Crew Cab. New, this pick up truck was $52,000. Today, the dealer wanted $42,000. What was our price (after two days of negotiations)? $37,500. What did we get for our 2013 Durango as a trade in? Their first offer was $10,000. Their last and final offer was $13,000. We took it. Total cash out-of-pocket for us was $24,500 (plus tax and a DMV $75 fee). Vehicle is a CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) still under original warranty with an extended warranty included and has very low mileage.
Our frugal ways made sure we had the cash saved and once the dust settled, it was a seamless purchasing experience. SCORE! Hubby has visions of towing his eventual sailboat. I just want to get our RV up in the mountains and I just want to start exploring some National Parks. Our new luxury truck has been puppy approved!






Hi Cindi, Nice negotiating! Beautiful looking car. What kind of gas mileage does the Ram get? Not towing and towing? Is it tow ready? Or will you have to invest more? I was shock how much I paid in sales tax, it’s not a small expenditure. How about in NY state? The difference in my Outback car insurance for me was $16 a month from my Jetta.
I am so happy you are planning to fulfill your dream of seeing the Grand Canyon. I hope you are going off season for avoid the crowds. Sincerely, Nora
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lara. The vehicle is ecco friendly. I think towing it gets 20MPH which is amazing. Whatever the gas mileage is, it’s better than what we had previously. That much I know for sure. Yes, it’s tow ready. Comes with a great towing package. It can tow over 11,000 pounds. Our current RV is only 6,000 pounds. So, should we ever upgrade our RV also down the road, we’ll have a vehicle that could do it. As soon as Nick gets his 2nd shot, we’re hitting the road.
PS: now that we have been more out and about lately, I started wearing my new ring. Remember? I’m getting very close to using my new handbag also. It’s been so great getting out of the house. Finally. I tweezed my eyebrows, cut my nails, polished my nails and started wearing some of those new clothes I bought from Chico’s. Remember those? They’ve been sitting idle since last February 2020. Who’d a thunk, right?
LikeLike
So you must have taken the Covid19 weight gain off with trying Vegan for awhile since I remember you had said your jeans weren’t fitting. Congratulations . 🎊 🎉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lara, everything fits!! Woo Hoo!
LikeLike
Fantastic! Time to live a joyful retirement! Hopefully Much happiness comes your way. Sincerely Lara
LikeLike
Thanks Lara. I appreciate your good wishes.
LikeLike
PS, the sales tax due is less for us because of the trade in value. The first $13,000 is taken off the top of the final sales price. The remaining balance is taxed. Our sales tax rate is around 8% (ouch) but it’s just another way we save money when buying a car.
LikeLike
$1800 sales tax ! Wow that hurts! Yesterday was two weeks since my second vaccination. I am going to still order everything online or curbside pickup for the foreseeable future. Actually I think this saves so much on grocery impulse buying and helps to keep on the diet.
Planning on doing a Newport vacation in July with my family. My DD just stayed for their winter break at this unbelievable million dollar Airbnb home with access to two private beaches and Two miles from a public beach. And also going to Cape Cod again. As far as Longer trips, I am postponing till at least the fall crossing the Atlantic. I am so ready for spring and working outside on my lawn and gardens. So many projects to get done. Sincerely, Lara
LikeLike
Lara, without the trade in, the sales taxes would have been $3,000!!!! That’s a savings of $1,200. Nothing to sneeze at. Better in my pocket than anyone elses. We’ll probably be back in Newport in August, as we are every year. Almost. The way it looks in Italy, I don’t think my sister and I will be going back anytime soon. They still don’t have any vaccines. The only overseas trip hubby wants to take is to cruise the Greek Isles. That I’m looking forward to doing!!!
LikeLike
Ah! The Greek Isles sounds wonderful! Can Nick fly again ? Had his health problems improved? Lara
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s going next month for his annual test. I’m hoping he’s still well and nothing has grown or gotten bigger. We plan on cruising. I didn’t even think of flying.
LikeLike
Hi Cindi, I know after making a car payment late the bank you had the car loan at-repossessed the car because they were in financial trouble but IMHO I don’t think all banks are thieves. I have worked with 10 local banks in three different states and five national banks in my adult life. Only one has been miserable to work with. My plan to get and drive (all the driving cost-insurance, gas and maintenance) as long as I own my Subaru Outback for Free has worked in eighteen months thanks to leveraging with the .9% bank loan and dividend investing. There is more ways through the mousetrap. Sincerely, Lara
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lara, I don’t understand the point of this comment. Surely you know no one can predict the future? We are in unprecedented times with a future that is not looking to bright.
When we were buying our truck last week, the finance manager told us he doesn’t get too many buyers paying cash. 80% of his customers, he said, are leases. Can you imagine? With all the unemployment and businesses going under, how can their finance department give out so many loans/leases? He said most monthly payments are $500 and above. It’s just a matter of time before their finance department starts to scramble. What has worked out for you these past 18 months might not work the same going forward. You and only you know what is best for yourself. Banks aren’t true to their clients. They have to answer to their stock holders. Not every bank manager is as wonderful as George Baily. The big banks don’t have to worry because they know the government will eventually bail them out. There are so many horror stories out there of what banks have done to people. Look at Wells Fargo. They foreclosed on homes back in 2008 that was illegal. They took away people’s homes with no good or just cause. I can’t think of one time or one movie that ever showed a bank or a bank manager being depicted as a ‘nice guy’.
My sister bought a Prius recently and like you, she got a .9% loan to tide her over. She paid it off in 10 months. People have to do what is right for themselves. Only you know what is right for you. Only I know what is right for me. And ditto for my sister. people must do what is right for themselves. Without judgment.
LikeLike
That’s just it. It’s your judgement call that :
1. all banks (bankers) are thieves.
2. That people buying new cars are fools. A new car with all the safety features works for me as a widow, and because almost no hefty repairs or maintenance cost for five years. ( I get Groupon oil changes and free tire rotation for less then the cost of oil and filters at Auto Zone.
3. That paying cash is the best way. You plunk down ~$27,000 cash and your $13,000 DurangoTrade in. A few days later you were hot over Nick spending $12.72 knowing you wanted to replenish your savings and stick to a tight budget with many sacrifices. I drove my Subaru off the lot putting $1000 down, and a month later after I got my monthly 11% dividend check from my savings I didn’t spend, I transfer a portion to pay the monthly car payment . The same month my preferred stock went up and I sold them for a $7,000 gain. Selling high – then later buying lower, I Reinvested all this money and then my car insurance was totally covered from the dividends. In today’s bank and treasury low interest on savings environment , it doesn’t make you any money. It surely doesn’t keep up with inflation. Historically, inflation average is 3% but this doesn’t tell the true story. Because in the next four years, we could have 8%, 2%,1%,1% respectively and average to 3%. On a fix income that first year spike could raise monthly expenses above your fixed and passive income. 2.5% CDs won’t cut it. But there are many, many other ways to make better returns. Jane Bryant Quinn’s book gave you some ideas.
In this pandemic world – I, like other people, are spending more for higher quality food and delivery and the price of this food is going up because of supply and demand, and increase transportation cost. Everyone has to get a plan in place to deal with emergency but also inflation . Sincerely, Lara
LikeLike
Lara, food is going up because the government commanded thousands and thousands of truck drivers and their trucks to deliver vaccines. NOT FOOD. Why don’t you pick up a copy of the book Nomadland. Turn to Chapter Three, ‘Surviving America’ and read the countless stories of smug Americans, retirees who lost most everything in 2008 due to the stock market crash or failed businesses, lost their pensions, their homes yada, yada, yada. And how now, they are taking craps in 5 gallon buckets in the back of a van (which is where they have been forced to live in). You’re just as smug as they were. I guess your lesson in life is coming. Most of them thought they had it all planned, they had all the answers. Well, things happen. Sometimes you can control it. Sometimes you can’t. Buying a new car, financing it, especially in retirement is a no-no many, many financial advisors frown upon. Please stop trying to convince me (or yourself) otherwise. Truthfully, I’m getting a bit tired of your constant banter back and forth. I am also getting email complaints from some of my readers that they are sick of your better-than-thou attitude. I really don’t know who you think you are. You think you’re better than me? Smarter than me? This blog isn’t ‘Ciphers From Cindi And Lara’. It’s Ciphers from me and me alone. Why don’t you go start your own blog and give out your own sets of advice?
AND THE REASON WHY I CAN PLUNK DOWN $27,000 CASH FOR A CAR IS BECAUSE I WATCH THE $12.72 CENTS BOTH HUBBY AND I SOMETIMES WASTE. A 2019 truck has ALL of the safety features a 2021 model has. Do the research. Safety technology in cars changed right after the 2018 models. Only difference is I’m paying $40,000 for the truck vs $56,000 for the newer model. It’s called ‘being smart’. It’s the little things that add up. Not the big things. Investing in the stock market is a fool’s game. A calamity waiting to happen. And that you can take to the unethical, thieving banks. When Dave Ramsey was in his 20s and making millions in the real estate market, the bank he was doing business with changed hands. The new bank didn’t like having someone so young as Dave Ramsey was, at the time, to owe them so much money. So, the bank called Ramsey’s loans and thus destroyed him. Banks are the enemy. They are no one’s friend. Eventually people fall like a ton of bricks which I think subconsciously you know is coming your way. STOP trying to convince me you know otherwise. IMHO, you don’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person