Budgeting For Dummies

Chapter 13

Budgeting for a Major Purchase or Life Event

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discussing homeownership

Preparing for a home remodel or renovation

Making the right choice when buying a car

Creating strategies to pay for a wedding or start a family

I have certain feelings about spending a lot of money at once; chances are you do, too. Personally, I think having feelings, such as anxiety, is human nature. Money provides security, and spending a lot at once can seem scary. So can committing to financing a major purchase.

But isn’t that why you started your budgeting journey? You wanted to be more in control of your finances, which means following through with some scary stuff — like making a big purchase without letting it break the bank. I show you how in this chapter.

Purchasing a Home

Thanks to network TV, buying a home looks easy. Whole channels are dedicated to finding a new home or remodeling the one you have. These shows can make the process look easy by cramming work that took weeks, and sometimes months, into a one-hour show.

Owning a home is most likely one of the biggest financial ...