Confession: I have never once walked into a car purchase asking "can I afford this car?" I asked "can I afford this payment?" and called it a day. Turns out those are two very different questions, and the gap between them is where a LOT of money disappears.This week Alex and I tackle the lease vs. buy debate. We cover why leasing can make an $80,000 car feel weirdly affordable, why a new car's "low" interest rate might still cost you more, and the Scion story that proves nobody actually knows what's in your bank account by looking at your car.The SolutionLeasing means financing depreciation: You're paying to use a car for two to four years, plus mileage limits, wear and tear fees, and a payment that never ends.Buying wins when you keep it: Pay it off, keep driving it, and suddenly $500 a month is yours again.Watch the interest rate trap: New cars often come with lower rates than used ones, but on average you'll still pay around $15,000 more for the new one.Know what $600 a month really costs: That's $36,000 over five years before gas, insurance, and maintenance. Invested instead, it could grow to over $350,000 in 20 years.Ask the real question: Would you still want this car if no one saw it?This week's homeworkCalculate your true monthly car cost. Add up your payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, and registration. Then put that number next to your income and your goals and ask yourself: what else could this money be doing for me?Connect with usJoin the Wallet Therapy community on Patreon for early episodes, monthly live sessions, and Discord access where Alex answers your questions directly: patreon.com/beckyhayterGot a car decision you regret (or one you're proud of)? Tell us: [email protected]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.