My[27m] girlfriend[28f] says I am childish for wanting to buy a 120k sports car.

I opened up my laptop to type this out after reading this... interesting post on my phone.

So, I make much, much, much more money than you do. I bet we're in the same industry, or cousins of the same trade. Heck, we may even live in the same California/Washington/New York/Texas technology dominated centers of this country.

You're 120,000$ Audi R8, purchased, is a bad idea - especially when you make so little money. Hear me out, dude.

I have a team of young Software / DevOps Engineers, all in their 20's, all from immigrant families or poor families local to the area. They all bring in 120 to 160 a year before taxes. I've seen some of their lives play out over the years, and a lot of them did EXACTLY what you are doing - blow all of their income, for the next 2-3-4 years, on a car.

Then they get laid off. Or restructuring obsoletes their job. They had savings but blew off their families, girl/boyfriends and friends in exchange to expensive luxuries.

Then they have extreme levels of debt, or took all of their liquid net worth and in exchange have an expensive car instead. Again, these are just some software dudes who live in shitty little apartments, with no relationships - can code great, but the only thing they have to show for years of work and savings is an asset that depreciates 30% of its value in year 1, and 50% of its value in year 3.

R8 or not, this is not an investment but it's a stupid decision.

Think of the alternatives. Half of 120k can buy you & your significant other ten weeks on ten tropical islands in 4-5 star resorts, with amazing memories and experiences you'll carry for your life. An 80k down payment could be the beginning of a family, a house, a lifestyle that is fulfilling - with an asset that has 100% more of a chance of moving upwards in value, short or long term (not guarantee'd compounding of value!), while the car has a 100% chance of depreciating significantly over time.

Consider lifes other woes. Medical/Dental expenses, being in an accident or the unexpected expenses of life along the way. You will remove any sense of safety and security, i.e. any hedge, for your years as you grow older.

You make 130k and want a 120k. That's great. You get the car, spend a few thousand a year in maintenance, 5-20 grand for every repair beyond the basics, your insurance will be 100's / month and it'll be worth 10's of thousands less every year you own it.

What's left? News flash dude, I was where you were and made the same stupid mistake many years ago. Then 2008 happened. The debt and drainage of bank accounts is something no one will bail you out of.

Also, you make decent money - make better decisions. Unless you like the idea of being the single dev/engineer/vc/trader/etc in a small apartment, with an expensive car, with not much else to it. Woah, what a catch!

/r/relationships Thread