Single big purchase or multiple small? - Page 2

Considering where youer live in Switzerland, how about buying an appartment, you would save Rent, and instead invest it in something you actually own, I guess you could even call it "spend some money on yourself"...

Buy a used BMW

What he said.

I wouldn't put that high of a percentage of my income cash-wise into a used car, but you can probably afford to get a car and still enjoy yourself. Just lower your standards for the car a bit. What are car prices like in Switzerland?

I've owned so many German cars that I actually clicked on that site and somehow knew how to read all that. hm. interesting. Anyway, considering the costs of owning a car over there, I'd personally buy something like a new Scirocco 1.4TSi with the 160ps, six speed. It seems to better suit your budget, IMO. something like this, maybe: http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/sh...e&pageNumber=1

It dosen't sound like you have money to waste on anything. You should be trying to optimize your spending vs. investments since you have limited savings. I'll assume "savings in the lower 5-digit range" includes investments and I'll assume (hope) you are relatively young. Try prudentially investing at least 50% or more of what you make. Doesn't sound like you have good financial management skills if you've got low 5-digit savings on a 85KUSD salary (which outside of StyleForum, is a relatively high salary for a single professional). As a data point, I had amassed low 6-figure savings/investments three years out of college on a similar salary with (in retrospect) less than optimal fiscal control.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say buy the car if it really is your dream car. From what I read, it seems like your family is decently well off and keen on supporting some of your needs. Combine that with your own adequate salary and I'm sure you can still live comfortably. I don't even know how I could take three vacations a year anyway.

Think about your value function of enjoyment. Value from driving your dream car nearly every day vs value from your extra vacations and slightly more clubbing.

(You know you wanted someone to tell you buy the car. Here is your confirmation.)

Try and find the car used. You should have no problems finding it in Germany. With the crazy EU gas prices I'd get something as economical as possible.

Agree wholeheartedly. Cars are a bad investment. Get one very used, and the longer you wait, the cheaper they get. Good car choice though, provided you never have to haul a kid.