Buying a car unemployed. :(

toomsie

My younger sister wants to buy a car while not having a job with the support of her mother. I don't like it one bit. Already things are at a crisis level, with things about to double. The problem is how are they going to survive without the expenses of a car, let alone with one. Losing money every month because of a car is not a good strategy. My situation has gone down 5 fold this year so I can't offer much support. Maybe it breaks protocol to talk about it here but I don't know what to do. 

tacpot12

What you should do is ask your sister why she feels she needs a car so badly, and how she is intending to pay for all the running costs. Unfortunately, part of her plan may be to drive uninsured. You should warn her that the number of ANPR cameras means that there is a good chance that she will have her car crushed and will have lost the money she used to buy it. 

You don't need to do much more than that. Listen to her answers with an open mind. She may have a very good reason for wanting a car, and may have a reasonable plan for how to fund it. If she doesn't have a good plan, you need to back off, as she's an adult (and her mother is also an adult) and can take financial decisions for herself even if you think they are wrong.  

facade

There is nothing you can do, except move away and don't answer your 'phone when you get calls like "The electric has gone into emergency credit, I just need £10 until Friday" (Friday November 6th 2122, along with the other £5000 by then).

They are both adults and can make their own mistakes, the trick is not to get caught up in them.

Easier said than done I know, I have that particular T-shirt, so frustrating when you worked hard for your money and budgeted, doing without some little luxury, then they try and tap you for a sub out of what you saved.

toomsie

Its worse no that I have much less income, though I do have stocks. But selling at the bottom is not what I want to do, its like selling for scrap. I can’t sleep about this.

GrumpyDil

But as the others have noted they are both adults and it is their responsibility. 

Of course if you still live together that is more of an issue if you think they will tap you up for money to pay household bills. In that case a discussion about your contribution to the household expenses being X would seem to be in order.

toomsie

I live apart from them. But any losses they make I feel like it is mine too. I broke up with a girlfriend two years ago mainly because she could not understand the situation and focus more on work. Now I feel like it was all a waste. 

Goudy

All you can do it be upfront and honest with them.

Give them your opinion why you don't consider this a good idea.
You might not want to sound brutal, but you need to explain clearly the financial responsibility they would be taking on.
Add up all the insurance, tax, fuel, MOT, repairs, servicing and so on and see what they say about where the money will all come from.

You will also need to explain your own financial limitations as to why you might not be able to help with this if they go forward with it.

If they don't take any notice of you it's not your fault.
If you explained clearly the above points and they fully understand, you will have done your best for them.

diystarter7

OP
You are sensible but sadly millions are not, hence the hand to mouth living.
Even when one is working, we all know people struggle and many lose everything.

To own a car one has to have savings to replace the puncture even if it a brand new car, allow for massive insurance increases if you are caught breaking the rules, parking fines if you cant be bothered to park properly.


Personally and no offence to your mum OP, I'd blame the helper as much as your sister if mum did help.

Sadly, people are set to do what they feel is right and lot a lot anyone can do.

We never had a proper hols for over ten years when we bought our first property. Parents offered financial help we refused it.
The cars we bought, just the one but we could have done with 2 but knew it was an unnecessary financial burden so we made do with one, we bought for cas

The only borrowing we have ever done was on the first and second property years ago and the money was from banks/etc and never family/loan sharks etc etc.

Finally, when things go wrong, never mind looking after the car, paying to keeo it road legal even when not driven and parked on the road, people are having problems paying their bills/rent/mortgages/etc etc.

toomsie

If I didn't offer to pay for her lesson this would not have happened. 

Ectophile

toomsie said:

Its worse no that I have much less income, though I do have stocks. But selling at the bottom is not what I want to do, its like selling for scrap. I can’t sleep about this.

Not Your Problem.  Look after your own money and don't worry about other people's.

baser999

If she’s presently unemployed she really doesn’t need a car does she? Suggest she delays any purchase until she’s in work and can fund it herself; she might even be able to get a loan for it and if she fails to keep up with the payments the car will be repossessed. That might focus her mind.