I’ve done it both ways. I financed my first “real” car fresh out of college—big purchase, big commitment. A few years later, I tried leasing a shiny new compact SUV because I wanted low payments and less stress.

Let’s be honest—selling a car can feel like walking into a foggy maze of “maybes,” mystery values, and more paperwork than you thought possible. When I decided to part ways with my car a few years back, I was torn between taking the easy trade-in route and doing a private sale.

When I bought my trusty sedan back in the day, I figured I’d drive it for a few good years, trade it in, and move on. But here we are—230,000 miles later—still rolling strong, still on the original engine and transmission, and still getting compliments from the mechanic like, “Wait, this thing’s how old?”

I used to think car detailing was just for gearheads or people with detailing shops and six types of polishers hanging from their walls. My version of "cleaning the car" involved a drive-thru wash and maybe shaking out the floor mats once in a while.

I still remember my first real winter drive like it was yesterday. I was fresh out of college, new job, new car, and a forecast that promised “light snow.” What I got was a surprise blizzard, white-knuckle steering, and a slow-motion slide into a snowbank. (Spoiler: no one was hurt, except my ego.)

I’ll admit it—I thought I had it all figured out when I installed my baby’s first car seat. I watched a couple YouTube videos, gave it a good tug, and called it a day.

A few years back, I walked into a dealership in July, eyes on a shiny red SUV and heart full of optimism. I figured summer was a good time—sun’s out, sales are up, right?

I’ll never forget the time my old Honda started making a weird clunking sound on the highway. Heart in my throat, I pulled over, popped the hood, and stared at the engine like it owed me money. I didn’t know what was wrong—but I knew I couldn’t afford a surprise repair bill.