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Paying Car Off

Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:05 pm
Posted by Crimsonsaint24
Alabama
Member since Jul 2011
552 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:05 pm
I currently owe about $9,266.00 on my car and I will have everything paid off except my house. My question is I have about $8,000.00 saved in my savings account should I take this and put it towards paying the car off? I also have a emergency account but I don't touch that account unless of a emergency.
Posted by WikiTiger
Member since Sep 2007
41055 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:09 pm to
If you really want to attack the debt but are unsure of parting with that much cash that quickly, then why not just pay double on it until it's paid off? That way you still have some cash on hand but you are making the debt disappear quicker.
Posted by Crimsonsaint24
Alabama
Member since Jul 2011
552 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:10 pm to
Yes its kind of hard just dumping that much cash at one time and its gone
Posted by dallastiger55
Jennings, LA
Member since Jan 2010
27659 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:17 pm to
whats the interest rate?

if i were you id either pay about 4-5k at one time or pay a few hundred more each month
Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:23 pm to
Much depends on the interest rate. If it's 3% or below I wouldn't bother paying more than the minimum no matter what since the rate of inflation is about that.

If it's more, then it would depend on how much more. For just a percent or two I still might not bother and look into investing the money instead. If you're paying a lot more then I'd consider dipping into emergency cash - the amount would depend a lot on the interest rate.

BTW, I hope your emergency account is in a Roth. You can withdraw what you put in at any time without penalty while getting a tax-free return on earnings.
Posted by Vols&Shaft83
Throbbing Member
Member since Dec 2012
69895 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:24 pm to
quote:

I currently owe about $9,266.00 on my car and I will have everything paid off except my house. My question is I have about $8,000.00 saved in my savings account should I take this and put it towards paying the car off? I also have a emergency account but I don't touch that account unless of a emergency.


Just pay extra every month, that way, you reduce the principal without having the painful experience of saying goodbye to your entire savings. Plus, you can continue to build your savings while paying off the car faster.
Posted by Vols&Shaft83
Throbbing Member
Member since Dec 2012
69895 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:28 pm to
quote:

BTW, I hope your emergency account is in a Roth. You can withdraw what you put in at any time without penalty while getting a tax-free return on earnings.



Ok once again, I think this is shitty advice. Yes you can withdraw your contribution at any time, but you cannot replace your contribution at anytime. Why would you sacrifice the opportunity cost of a ROTH IRA because you can't live with the idea of leaving $5,000-$10,000 alone in a money market or savings account for emergencies? I simply cannot understand this logic.
Posted by kennypowers816
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2010
2443 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 12:34 pm to
I agree with foshizzle.

But if you're itching to pay it off quicker, I understand. I was there with my car. I've had the savings to pay it off since I bought it, but I wanted to build the credit history and the rate was so low that it wasn't hurting to keep paying it. I ended up just paying off a large chunk of the principal to get the balance below $5k. Made it feel nice that I could pretty much just cut a check any day to get my title.
Posted by Crimsonsaint24
Alabama
Member since Jul 2011
552 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 1:22 pm to
I just like knowing the fact that all my cars are paid for I may just double up and knock it down faster
Posted by Fat Bastard
coach, investor, gambler
Member since Mar 2009
72481 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 1:54 pm to
nothing wrong with multi-levels of protection such as

1) emergency account(which you have)

2) ROTH ira (can be used for emergencies)

3) HELOC on home (can be used for emergencies), etc, etc

not everyone likes to use their roth as the #1 choice emergency fund.
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89480 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 2:01 pm to
quote:

I currently owe about $9,266.00 on my car and I will have everything paid off except my house. My question is I have about $8,000.00 saved in my savings account should I take this and put it towards paying the car off? I also have a emergency account but I don't touch that account unless of a emergency.


Yes, go ahead and pay down. You'll be out from the note in just a few months. If you're really hesitant - you're not eliminating it, anyway, so maybe pay $4000 to $5000 now, and hold the rest until you can pay off the remaining balance. The only problem is - some "priority" will show up and pull at that pot of money.

If it were me (and I've done it, in fact), I would pay what you can and once that debt is retired - DO NOT GET NEW CAR FEVER. Be disciplined and pay yourself the car note, every month, back into savings to replenish that $8000 you're about to dump into it. Don't incur another car note - just pay yourself the note until you can pay cash - keep doing that and you never have another finance charge on a car again.
Posted by nelatf
NELA
Member since Jan 2011
2296 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 2:25 pm to
I need to know your interest rate....but the answer at this point is probably do not pay it off....keep savings intact and continue to pay monthly p&i.

Posted by Crimsonsaint24
Alabama
Member since Jul 2011
552 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 2:51 pm to
Rate is 4.7
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89480 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 2:56 pm to
quote:

Rate is 4.7


I stand by my advice - pay it down, then off, THEN pay yourself back the $8,000 by continuing to pay the note. Don't get new car fever, just because you get the title in the mail.
Posted by Powerman
Member since Jan 2004
162191 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 3:31 pm to
quote:

Rate is 4.7

If I were in your situation I'd probably dump the entire 8K into it

Then over the next several months knock it out

You'll be able to quickly replenish the 8K fund without a car note and you'll avoid the remaining interest

Although I'm not sure what the original loan was. If it's front loaded with interest like every other loan you may have already paid most of the interest

Can you pull up an amortization schedule that shows what portion of your remaining loan is interest and principle?
Posted by jmtigers
1826.71 miles from USC
Member since Sep 2003
4970 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 3:49 pm to
quote:

Rate is 4.7


This is probably a big departure from the norm, but refinance it w/ penfed for 1.45% and invest your cash elsewhere.

1.45% < inflation and you get to keep your $8k for other opportunities or emergencies.
Posted by Tenforty1728
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2012
64 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 4:13 pm to
Don't overthink this. We're not talking about enough money to worry about not paying the note off and investing the cash. We're talking about saving roughly $350 a year in interest by paying the thing off. Just consider that savings and enjoy not having a car note anymore and continue to be a responsible saver like it sounds like you are.

Everyone take a chill pill with YOU MUST THROW EVERYTHING IN A ROTH!!! and NOOOO DONT PAY OFF ANYTHING YOU CAN EARN MORE THAN THAT INVESTING!!!! How much return are you really going to see from that over and beyond the guaranteed return of not paying a bank interest for a car note? Not worth the risk. Pay off the debt and enjoy being relatively debt-free.
Posted by BACONisMEATcandy
Member since Dec 2007
46643 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 4:23 pm to
I would go ahead and pay down and just continue to make the same payments back to the acct you spent the money from
Posted by PlanoPrivateer
Frisco, TX
Member since Jan 2004
2788 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 4:44 pm to
I would keep the $8,000 in a safe place, say a money market account, and continue to pay the car note. Once you get the balance down to $8,000 then pay off the car and start putting the amount equal to your car note into savings or investments.
Posted by jso0003
Member since Jun 2009
5170 posts
Posted on 2/11/13 at 6:00 pm to
At 4.7.... pay that shite off!
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