<prompt> Human: Hey please bare with me this is my first post.. ever. Anyways Im 18 and going into school full time in the fall and also working full time, the university is close enough to my moms house that I am just living here and probably will be until I finish school 2020ish. She doesnt ask me to pay rent so my only expenses are food and my phone 200 month. Because of scholarships and a program at work my school is paid for.. Right now the majority of money goes to my schools savings fund and whatever else I decide to spend it on. When I was 16 my dad bought me a car and has paid for the insurance since. He hasnt asked me to pay for any of it but I would like to.. I would like to trade in the car and buy myself something nicer. The car is worth about 8,000, Im not sure if I should put as a down payment or save it and have a higher monthly payment to have something like an emergency fund. I make close to 1,700 a month and have put another 1,000 in a savings account that is for my car. Im wondering how much I should actually spend on a car. Ive seen things on budgeting that say 50 on housing and transportation, 20 savings, and 30 monthly expenses but this hasnt helped me with much. The credit union I am with advertises 2.99 auto loans but because I havent been building credit for that long my rate might be higher. Also because I am 18 car insurance is still very expensive, about 250 a month. So Im asking how much you guys think I canshould spend on a car. TLDR: 18, Make 1,700month with 200 in monthly expenses, car worth 8,000 plus 1,000 in savings how much can I spend on car? Assistant: Youve been gifted a car worth 8000. What makes you think you need something nicer? Save your money or help your parents pay your tuition.Human: Sorry man didnt mean to seem ungrateful.. Thats the thing because of scholarships I got my parents arent paying for my school, I like cars, just wondering how much I should spend. Assistant: I like cars, too, and I can think of plenty of great cars at 8k that wouldnt require you to go into debt. What do you have, and what do you have your eye on?Human: I have a Ford Fiesta.. Ive been wanting a Subaru Impreza for quite a while  <response>: you are 18. how long could you possibly have been waiting? take the advice in this thread, save your money. 