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The first time you lay your eyes on your very own bouncing bundle of joy is the first time you experience true, pure love. It’s like every fiber of your being reprograms itself for the single purpose of caring for a tiny human’s health, well-being, and happiness. When you have a baby to bring with you everywhere, you can’t just drive around in a jalopy anymore. From the grocer, to the myriad of pediatric check ups, to bringing the little one around grandma’s, you’re going to be driving around a lot and any beat up old car just won’t do.
1. Safety First
When you have to think about baby formulas, diapers, and so many other baby care products, the last thing you’d think about is spending thousands on a vehicle, right? Unfortunately, this is the absolute worst time for you to be scrimping on transportation. Consider anytime you see “PRE-LOVED CAR ONLY $2000 – GOOD AS NEW – CASH ONLY – BUY NOW!!!” ads as a deathtrap on wheels. Chances are, these are twenty-year-old, barely roadworthy vehicles and are probably unsafe for a child. This isn’t to say that you need to get the latest, voice-activated super car with a sunroof, falcon wings, and smart navigation. You don’t need all the bells and whistles. But it does mean that you have to be mindful of the safety ratings and basic features like child lock, airbags, and LATCH system for baby car seats and boosters.
2. The Bigger the Space The Better
This is one of those things where the “bigger is better” rule applies. Think about the staples on your vehicle for the next few years: baby boosters/seats, strollers, diaper bags, stain-away detergents, extra sets of clothes for you and your baby, all the snacks, and a few toys. Imagine having all of that plus all the bags from the grocery stores. Trust me, go as big as your budget allows. You won’t regret it.
3. Comfort Over Cool
You are going to be putting baby seats and strollers in the back, and a full bag of baby essentials in your car, so no matter how pretty a sports car is or how hardcore a Hummer looks, trust me you do not want to go there. Can you imagine the muscle strain of having to reach back for a baby seat in a two-door sports car, or reach up in a flood-ready Hummer? Get a regular family sedan or a midsized crossover, and your muscles will thank you.
4. Go For Green
You are going to be in your car a lot which means you’re going to be consuming a lot more fuel and expelling more toxic emissions into the atmosphere. If the budget permits, consider getting a hybrid, but if that is out of the question, at least consider getting a vehicle with better fuel efficiency. There are loads in the market today for fair prices. The best part? You’ll end up spending less on gas. Go green, and your wallet and the environment will appreciate it.
5. Money Matters
Of course, one of the biggest things to consider before buying your first car is whether or not you can afford it. If you’re lucky, you’ve saved up enough to buy a spanking new car with cash in one go. For those of us who can’t, there are options out there. From bank loans to car financing, there are ways for you to pay for your vehicle in staggered payments. It’s all a matter of knowing what you can realistically afford without completely restricting your weekly budget. Be sure to shop around because there are loads of car lease companies that have money-saving car packages with registration, insurance, and even cheap, additional perks like maintenance and tires.
Getting your first family car doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. All it takes is a little know-how on which factors to consider, and a reputable car financing company to help you work through which vehicles and repayment structures will best fit your needs and budget. Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!
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Alpha Finance offers affordable car lease not just for people with clean credit but also for single moms, the self-employed, pensioners, and low-income households. We promote financial responsibility and do not tie up our customers to unfair lease terms or exorbitant interest rates.
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