the next step | an SUV

I've discussed buying a new car on my blog previously. I wasn't ready to commit to a monthly payment at the time, but if I would have been, I would quite possibly be riding around in this little beauty right now. 

image via

She's pretty, right? Sidenote, who do I always refer to cars as 'she?' Maybe I'll make my next car a man. While I would NOT hate to be driving that pretty Kia Optima around, I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger. 

As you know (because I've only talked about it 2789755 times), we just bought our first house. And with 4 bedrooms...it's not THAT far until the time when we start having little As and Bowies running around. That is, if you consider 2-3 years not that of a long time...you do? OK good. 

What does this have to do with cars? For this next stage of our lives, we need room. We've got the house part down, so now we need the car part down. And with both of us at 90,000 miles or above (hey, we like having no car payments!) it is a little past time to move on. 

While the Optima above IS gorgeous, it's not the right car for the new stage we're going to embark on in a few years. And because I'm a thinker, I don't want to get a new car and then have to get another one in four years when we have two little peaches hanging out in the backseat. Those fancy strollers are big, y'all! Also, mom, if you are reading this, NO, we are not having kids any time soon. Just preparing extra early!

When we ran out of space at home, we moved on up. We're running out of space in our cars, so I say it's time to move on up! The plan is to get me a new SUV and A will take my current car until we pay of mine. Ain't nobody got time for two car payments at once. Ew! 

We haven't started looking at SUVs, but we plan on making the big purchase in September. That leaves us PLENTY of time to research and test drive and research some more. They all have so many fancy gadgets now, and admittedly, I get a little starry eyed at those things. I need A to bring me back down and remind me that we are not buying an SUV because it's pretty and will talk to me, we are buying it because we're transitioning to a new stage in life and we need more space. Space > features. Remembering that is going to be tough!

Hopefully I'll have a pretty reveal post in September with a fancy new big SUV! Now, I'm off to buy a lottery ticket so I can afford the gas...

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

lesson learned

Happpppy Monday, folks. (It never is a happy Monday but I'm convinced by saying it like that, it will magically become a happy Monday. Hasn't worked yet but I'm not one to give up easy.)

We didn't do much of anything this weekend to warrant an update - one thing was fun but it's my Si.Pi.Di. for the week, so come back Thursday to check that out.

Learned something new this weekend, though. Want to know how to make your phone ring off the hook so you feel super popular? (Slash super annoyed and want to throw your phone against the wall...) Well my friends, the answer is to simply get a quote for a car over the Internet.

Houston Kia dealerships - 1. Kaitlyn - 0.

I don't really SUPER need a new car - but I can just feel my Saturn starting to crap out on me. (It's getting old, 80,000 miles old.) And, since they don't even MAKE Saturn's any more, repairs could be pretty pricey.

Our neighbor in our old apartment complex got the new Optima last year and ever since then I've been in loooveeee. Isn't it so pretty?

So on Friday, I got an innocent little quote online to see what my monthly payments would be. (Sidenote - it's SUPER nice to have a car that's completely paid off...a car payment every month would cut into my house savings a lot.)

Innocent my behind! On Friday ALONE I got 10 phone calls. TEN! All Houston area Kia dealerships called and left voicemails. And then I got 12 emails. I am not exaggerating!!

I get that they are just doing their job, but it's so annoying. If I was thinking of seriously buying, I would pick the one dealership that didn't call at all. Maybe I'm just a certain type of consumer, but I don't like to be pestered or annoyed. Like when I walk into a store, I want to be left alone. If I want help, I'll ask for it.

Real substance here today, I know. It was a long night of no sleep thanks to snorry mc snorston.