Loanio

Should you lease a car?

With the current state of the economy and rising interest rates, many are considering leasing an auto instead of making an outright purchase or financing one. While there are a few benefits that can come through a leased vehicle, this is a decision that will require some careful thought and weighing of the pros and cons before leaping. This is particularly true if you have never leased a vehicle before. Let’s take a look at whether or not leasing is a good option right now.

First and foremost, the most important thing to consider about a lease is the fact that you will have a buyout price at the end of the lease period. Many people forget about this extra fee and at the end of a few years find out that they really aren’t in any position to purchase their car. Unless you have more than enough money saved up to pay that extra fee at the end of a lease term, this may not be a wise option.

Another common problem facing those that lease is the fact that once the lease is complete, you won’t have a vehicle to trade in unless you do decide to purchase the leased vehicle. While leasing is convenient, it is often very difficult to get another car, especially if your funds are limited. Unless you plan on leasing for many years to come, this is something that must be considered. Essentially you’ll be paying for two to three years on a car, but at the end of the term, you’ll have little to show for your efforts.

While the interest rates for leases are usually a bit lower, there are some extra fees that may be included that can reduce any potential savings dramatically. It is vital to read through a lease document completely before you sign it to ensure you understand how much you will be paying now, during the term of the lease and when it is over. You may be told that your lease payment will be a certain amount when you are shopping for the car, but in actuality, you’ll have to add in other fees on top of that initial quote and your payment can be affected. Dealers that are above board usually do not tack on extra fees, but it does pay to be cautious.

We’ve gone over quite a few negatives about the leasing process, but there are a few positives to consider as well. First and foremost, the monthly payments are usually quite a bit lower. Considering the state of the interest rate market at this time, this is usually a very attractive selling point for many car buyers. The warranties are usually a bit better on leased vehicles and you may even be able to take advantage of some tax benefits if you do decide to go this route. Leasing is not for everyone, but with careful management and a complete understanding of the terms, they may also be very beneficial.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-24 04:55:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Defining Your Budget and Crafting Your Financial Future A budget or spending plan is a specific money management tool that is designed to put you in control of your spending, keeping you out of credit trouble and other financial trouble. Your budget is vital because it is your personal plan for spending the income that you have, making......
• Managing Money Wisely [/caption] One of the hardest things for many people to accomplish is managing money wisely. We may all know the basics, and understand that spending too much is a good way to get on the road to financial ruin. However, when push comes to shove, we end up making mistakes......
• 5 Tips for College Students on Budgets When you are in college, it can become easy to get caught up in your busy, stressful lifestyle. With all of the studying and working that you have to do, coupled with hanging out with your friends, working part time jobs and participating in extra activities, it can actually become......
• Do You Need a Money Manager? /caption] If your idea of organizing your finances is throwing a receipt in a big pile, you may want to consider the benefits of hiring a money manager. There is a new trend in the financial world where daily money managers are becoming very popular, and for many consumers, they......
• Tips for College Student Budgets /caption] Trying to make ends meet when you are in college is not an easy task. Your income is usually pretty limited and expenses can be high, even if you have a scholarship. If you’re trying to save money or just get by, there are some great tips for college......

• Money Hacks Carnival #20 -- Personal Finance Destinations Unfortunately, our host this week was unable to fulfill the obligation, so the carnival is being hosted here at the Money Hackers Network site. This week, I will take you on a tour of the Personal Finance Blogosphere and share with you some of my favorite destinations. But first, here......
• Personal Finance Links (Avatar Edition) This is coming a little late, but I wanted to make mention that if you haven't seen Avatar you should definitely go. I didn't really have much interest in it, nor did I know anything about the story, but after seeing it three times I can say it's a great,......
• Personal Finance Resource Links 12-14-08 Welcome back to Free From Broke!  Check out some great articles I've found around the web: Sense to Save tells us what she'd do in the event of a financial emergency. Make sure you organize your finances before the new year! Still looking for a gift?  Here's 50 frugal......
• Review: The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance: Basic concepts in personal finance that every teen should know. Time is a resource that many teenagers don't realize is their greatest resource for finacial independence. "The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance" is a tome that will provide teenagers with important financial lessons, in a manner which will pull their interest and convey itself effectively in its intended task. The......
• Five Personal Finance Gifts for Under $25 A healthy financial life is the best gift any adult can hope for this Christmas. Unfortunately, we can’t actually give that to our friends and loved ones. We can’t reach in and make their financial lives come to order. However, we can show them that we’re ready to support and......