Since this is a gossipy office, everyone there now knows. One of the people asked my friend Sarah what kind of car I'd gotten. Sarah replied that I had my old 1970 Suburban repaired for around $1000. The immediate response was "She could've used that on a down payment on a new SUV!" Sarah tried to explain that a) my truck is paid off, and b) I love the character of my truck and don't really want a new vehicle. It just didn't sink in. Apparently the other person thinks I should've saddled myself with an auto loan to get myself a new Jeep Grand Cherokee like hers. ::sigh:: consumerism is alive and well, I guess.

If you wait until you get your tax rebate check, you could put $1300-$1600 down on that new Grand Cherokee. That means you could get $300-$600 more in cool options! Isn't it worth the debt payments and losing a truck you love (plus $1300-$1600 cash in the bank) so you can be just like this person? C'mon, tootru, get that new SUV!

</consumerism ad>

Way to stick to it! You're tougher than I am. I probably would've gotten the new car. Granted, it would have been a $15,000 4door instead of a $30,000+ SUV. . . ;-)