How to Buy an Affordable Car Out of Boot Camp

Congratulations! You just graduated boot camp. You have a triple-digit balance in your bank account for the first time in your life. Luckily, you’re an E-2 and literally all your expenses will be paid for you. You can eat at the galley for free, you get free housing, free healthcare (sort of), and even solid retirement plan options. Literally all of your money is disposable.

Your only question is, what should you do with it? You’re wondering that question as your parents are driving you off base for the first time in the last sixteen weeks. Man, you’re so tired of your parents having to drive you around. You’re a soldier now, goddammit. You need some independence.

What’s that you see? A Ford dealership? Is that a 2023 Mustang? Does that sign say no money down, STAR Cards excepted? No way! What a great deal.

It’s going to be tempting, but this is how you avoid going $27,000 in debt as a 19-year-old. This may be a crazy solution, but here it is: don’t buy a car that costs more than $8,000. That’s it. It’s so easy. Go to a dealership, but $2,000 down, have your parents co-sign on the loan (if their credit isn’t shitty), and have reasonable monthly payments. That’s it. That’s how you buy an affordable car out of boot camp.