Forget the minivan and practical compact car. You've reached the age when you want to reward yourself.
You can impress the neighbors without sending your savings plan off track by opting for a certified pre-owned model. Your carrying costs are virtually a wash (an older model may cost slightly more to maintain), but you'll shell out far less upfront.
Go for a three-year-old model, says Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds.com, since the steepest depreciation happens in years one and two. "That's the most savings," he says.
Even after accounting for a lower trade-in value, you can build up more for retirement if you follow this practice every time you switch cars (five years is average).
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