Question: After several years of riding a bus
After several years of riding a bus to work, Belinda finds that she can no longer do so because her employer moved to a location that is not convenient for public transportation. Thus the Johnsons are in the market for another car. Harry and Belinda estimate that they could afford to spend about $12,000 on a good used car by making a down payment of $2,000 and financing the remainder over 36 months at a 6 percent interest rate for $304 per month. Required: (a) Make suggestions about how the $304 might be integrated into the Johnsons’ budget (Table 3-6) by making reductions in certain expense categories. Table 3-6: 
(b) If they cannot make room in their budget for a $304 monthly car payment, would you recommend they finance a vehicle for 48 or 60 months? Why or why not? (c) Assume that the Johnsons have narrowed their choices to two cars. The first car is a three-year-old Chevrolet with 44,000 miles; it is being sold for $12,500 by a private individual. The seller has kept records of all maintenance and repairs. The second car is a three-year-old Toyota with 51,000 miles, being sold by a used-car dealership. Harry contacted the previous owner and found that the car was given in trade on another car about three months ago. The previous owner cited no major mechanical problems but simply wanted a bigger car. The dealer is offering a written 30-day warranty on parts only. The asking price is $12,200. Which used car would you advise the Johnsons to buy? Why? (d) Would you recommend that they purchase or lease a low-priced new vehicle instead of buying a used vehicle? Why or why not?
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Table 3-6 2018 Unfinished Annual Budget Estimates for Harry and Belinda Johnson Yearly Monthly Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Мay June July Aug. Sept. Oc. Nov. Dec. Total Averages INCOME 4,080 4,080 4,080 Harry's salary Belinda's salary 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 4,080 48,960 4,080.00 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 6,400 76,800 6,400.00 Interest 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 360 30.00 Income from trust 3,000 3,000 250.00 TOTAL INCOME 10,510 10,510 10,510 10,510 10,510 10,510 10,510 13,510 10,51o 10,510 10,510 10,510 129,120 10,760.00 ЕXPENSES Fixed Expenses Rent 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 19,800 1,650.00 Health insurance 300 300 300 300 300 300 350 350 350 350 350 350 3,900 325.00 Life insurance 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 240 20.00 Home purchase fund 500 500 500 500 500 2,500 208.33 Renter's insurance 220 220 18.33 Automobile insurance 600 600 1,200 100.00 Auto loan payments Student loan payments 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 490 5,880 490.00 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 3,600 300.00 Savingslemergencies Harry's retirement plan Belinda's retirement plan 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 1,200 100.00 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 195 2,340 195.00 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 4,800 400.00 160.00 1,700.00 500.00 Cable TV and Internet 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 1,920 20,400 6,000 Federal income taxes 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 500 1,700 S00 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,700 500 1,700 500 1,700 500 1,700 State income taxes S00 500 500 500 500 500 S00 Social security taxes Automobile registration Total fixed expenses Variable Expenses 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 9,600 800.00 300 300 25.00 6,565 6,565 6,565 6,565 6,565 7,165 6,715 7,435 7,215 7,215 7,515 7,815 83,900 6,991.67 Savings money market Revolving savings fund Food (home) 400 3,000 3,400 283.33 250 250 210 250 190 240 200 190 1,780 148 33 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 550 6,600 550.00 Food (out) 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 3,600 300.00 Utilities 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 2,640 220.00 Cell phones Auto gas repairs 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 1,320 110.00 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 220 2,640 220.00 Doctoridentist 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 1,200 100.00 out-of-pocket Medicines 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 720 60.00 Clothing and upkeep Church and charity 170.00 96.67 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 170 2,040 100 100 100 100 100 60 100 100 100 100 100 100 1,160 1,475 1,920 Gifts 80 80 110 75 140 120 60 60 400 300 122.92 Public transportation Personal allowances 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160.00 S00 500 500 500 500 500 500 S00 S00 S00 S00 S00 6,000 500.00 Entertainment 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 1,800 150.00 European vacation 400 400 400 400 400 400 200 200 200 200 200 200 3,600 300.00 Summer vacation 200 200 200 200 200 200 1,200 100.00 Anniversary dinner party 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 40 40 500 41.67 Miscellaneous 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 1,200 100.00 Total variable 3,712 3,712 3,702 3,707 3,712 3,342 3,742 6,042 3,242 3,222 3,380 3,280 44,795 3,732.92 expenses TOTAL EXPENSES 10,277 10,277 10,267 10,272 10,277 10,507 10,457 13,477 10,457 10,437 10,895 11,095 128,695 10,724.58 Difference (available 233 233 243 238 233 53 33 53 73 -385 -585 425 for spending. saving, investing. and donating Revolving savings 385 585 withdrawals
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