I am a 19 year old girl and I don’t have my own car yet. The problem is, I don’t have enough money to buy my own car on my own and I currently looking for a job. Because I don’t have my own car, I have to rely on other people driving me places such as school and work. I am the only one my age in my neighborhood without one and it is kind of embarrassing because a lot of people that are younger than me have their own cars already. Most people look down on me because I don’t have my own car. At my age, do I need my own car to drive myself places without relying on others?
Don’t put the cart before the horse and certainly don’t look at someone else’s horse drawn carriage and wish it were yours. Get for a job and save up for a car if you want one.
Forget about the kids in your neighborhood. Forget about what other people think. Worry about your responsibilities and figure out what you can do to get what you want.
That whole other thread didn’t convince you?
Huh, this is the same poster…
Have you tried Über?
It would only be “bad” if you had no other alternatives for transportation and it was an absolute necessity. From both threads you have posted, it doesn’t sound like you absolutely need a car. The main reasons you cite for wanting one are simply because other people in your neighborhood have one and “people look down on you” which is probably not as true as you may think. It’s not uncommon for people to not get their own cars until they are 20-22 years old due to not being able to afford their own or not needing to own one due to their location (for example, I know friends who live in big cities that exclusively use public transportation). I myself didn’t get a car until I was 21.
Any decent person worth listening to would be able to understand your financial dilemma and will know better than to criticize or judge you for it. Don’t listen to the opinions of some rude, ignorant teenagers in your neighborhood that don’t know you, your life, or your situation.
If people are truly looking down at you for not having a car then you should be wondering if these people are worth knowing.
I would recommend offering gas money to people giving you rides,
I didn’t have a car until I was 21 and working full time. I did have use of the family car provided I dropped my dad off at work and picked the up at the end of the day.
Read the other thread you started on how you could convince your parents to buy you a car so you could be more independent and not look bad to your peers.
The consensus was that if it’s that important that you be independent, you get a job, save your money, and buy yourself a car.
Wanting someone else to buy you a car does not translate to independence. It translates to an entitlement mentality.
Yeah, it’s not a good situation. It’s not good to be a burden on other people.
I bought my first car last year, shortly after I turned 28 years old.
I lived in Atlanta for college, where I could’ve really used a car. But I didn’t have enough money either, and asking my parents was not an option (they couldn’t afford it either). I was one of the few without a car, too. I relied on a combination of public transit and friends to get me where I needed to go, and/or I tried to find jobs that were walking distance from campus.
Then I lived in New York for 6 years and I simply didn’t need one, which was good because I was also in graduate school and still couldn’t afford one.
Having a car and not having to rely on others has nothing to do with age - there are plenty of grown adults who can’t afford their own car, or are unable to drive, who have to rely on others to get around. The question is about ability. Can you afford to purchase a car? Do you have family or friends who are willing to give one to you? If the answer to both of those is no, then you’ll have to find other ways to get around until you can. I am always willing to give friends rides these days because I remember what it was like not to have a car, and it sucked. Having willing friends is a blessing. I agree with being generous with gas money!
Some people’s parents can afford to buy them cars.
Some people work and buy their own car or share a car with their siblings.
Some people bike to work.
Some people use public transportation.
Right now, others are driving you. Make the best of that.
Be on time.
Offer gas money if possible.
Say thank you.
Give them cookies.
So instead of asking us what you can do, start doing something.
Apply for any and all jobs you see.
Save as much money as you can…make sure you are not spending money on stuff you don’t need to.
No
I am over 25 years old, and I still don’t know how to drive yet. There is nothing wrong with not being able to drive. Just have a friend or family member drive for you.
is it bad that you don’t have a car AT YOUR OLD AGE OF 19? Not at all!
After reviewing your previous posts, http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1779092-how-can-i-convince-my-parents-for-me-to-have-my-own-car-p1.html , I now know why your parents can’t and won’t get a car for you: you demonstrate a significant lack of maturity. Re read all of the previous answers because you still don’t get it!
Your previous posts are an indication of your entitled persistence. Instead of asking for help, on this college website, about your EDUCATION, like your peers on this site-who are volunteering and scrambling to get into schools-you focus on why you deserve a car. “Most people look down on me because I don’t have my own car”. I do not believe you or that statement.
If you can’t find a job, volunteer somewhere or do something that is productive for others. I do believe that you need some professional help if you are projecting negative feelings about others’ opinions of you. Work on your self efficacy so that you can stop being belligerent to your parents.
I’m 21 and don’t even have a driver’s license (legally blind), but I honestly could care less. If it matters so much to you, keep saving up and get a used car. And if people “look down on you” over a car, then forget those jerks.
Can you ride the bus? A bike? I like the Uber idea.
I don’t think you have to have your own car, but I do think you should be taking yourself places.
I do think it is weird that your folks drive you everywhere. Are you a bad driver? Are you going to take the car somewhere and disappear so that your folks won’t have access to it?
When my kids started driving, I was happy for them to drive themselves so I didn’t have to. That didn’t mean they got a car, but I was willing to talk to them about sharing a car.
I don’t know what sort of pitiful existence someone must lead to “look down” on a 19 year old for not having a car; but regardless, you shouldn’t worry about others’ opinions on such trivial matters.
It isn’t “bad” (whatever that means) that you don’t have a car at 19. Almost every 19 year old I know relies on public transportation (because you’d have to be crazy to try to find parking in Boston, lol) If you do indeed have a way to get to where you need to go, whatever that means may be (carpooling, biking, pubic transit, etc.) then make the most out of it.
I don’t think it’s bad that you don’t have a car at your age.
I DO Think it’s bad that:
- you apparently obsess about not having a car. This is, what, the 3rd thread you've started on the topic?
- at age 19 you're still hoping and assuming that mommy and daddy will get you that car.
- at age 19, you're still incredibly concerned about what others think. Some where around 2 or 3 years ago, you were supposed to have outgrown the whole "The world is watching my every move and judging me" thing.
I got my first car at 18. That’s because I got my first job at 16 and saved for 2.5 years.
If you want a car, there’s a very easy way to get one: get a job and save your money.
Problem solved.