It's that time of year again, jack. Car dealers are offering discounts like their rides are going out of style. People start thinking about cars and then start thinking about car loans. Loans are lame, but some idiots are making big-time trouble for themselves by buying a set of wheels they REALLY can't afford, then spreading the loan out a few more years to make the payment lower.

That's stupid because you're fooling yourself into thinking you can afford a top-notch bucket of bolts. Don't buy a brand new car unless you got money coming out of your ears (about a million bucks or so). If you save up the dough and buy a car that's a few years old, it will still get you from A to B, but your wallet won't be smaller after you get where you're going, bub.

Remember, the new car's value is dropping so fast you'd think someone made a pair of cement shoes for it and dropped it in the river.

Dave Ramsey says no car payments. So what if all your broke friends make fun of you? They won't be laughing when you pay for your next car with cash.