INCOME GAP

HOW WIDE IS THE ALLEGED INCOME GAP? AS WIDE AS THE SPENDING GAP BETWEEN THE FEW WHO PAY THEMSELVES FIRST, PAY CASH AND AVOID DEBT AND THE CROWDS THAT PATRONIZE AUTO MALLS TO SELECT FROM NEW MODELS.

AS WIDE AS THE GAP IN PRICES OF NEW VEHICLES. A CAR (I FORGET WHICH MODEL) SELLS FOR $19,000 CASH; THE LUXURY YUKON (I NOTED THIS MODEL) IS ADVERTISED FOR SALE AT $12,000 OFF. WHAT A TESTAMENT TO THE EXTREMES OF TECHNOLOGY. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE BETWEEN UNDER OR OVER SPENDING ON A VEHICLE. YET CROWDS KEEP PATRONIZING THE CAR LOTS TO FINANCE THEIR PURCHASES OR LEASE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY CASH.

AS WIDE AS THE SPENDING GAP BETWEEN THE PURCHASES OF NEW OR A USED VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, 'PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES' DON'T FIGURE INTO APPRAISALS OF THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, SO THE MARKET PUSHES NEW CARS TO MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE OF AMERICAN OPTIMISM. NEVERTHELESS, THE POINT OF ORIGIN FOR SAVING MONEY IS THE USED VEHICLE SECTION OF THE CAR LOT. DEPRECIATION ON A NEW, SHINY CAR OR TRUCK BEGINS THE MOMENT IT LEAVES THE PREMISES. BUYING WARRANTIED VEHICLES A YEAR OR OLDER IS A SMART, COMMON SENSE METHOD TO SAVE MONEY. PAYING CASH SHOULD BE THE METHOD OF PAYMENT.

HINT: TRASHING MONEY FOR THE STATUS OF A NEW CAR (INSTANTLY DISCOUNTED WHEN IT IS 1ST DRIVEN ) IS LIKE TRASHING EXPENSIVE RACING MACHINES AT THE DAYTONA 500. BOTH ARE LOST INTO A CHASM.