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Getting a car, whether new or pre-owned, is an exciting experience. At the same time, it’s a financial commitment that will probably take up a healthy part of your budget for the next few years.

The new models that are coming out feature numerous cutting-edge technologies, including smartphone integration, safety monitors, and even all-digital dashboards. And all that’s just starting with the interior. These bells and whistles can make your driving more comfortable, but with new tech comes higher prices.

Shopping for that perfect car requires striking a good balance between recognizing what you need versus what you want. If you want to stay within your budget while car shopping, we recommend following these key pieces of advice below.

Recognize “Lifestyle Creep” and How It Applies to Cars

Before shopping for the car of your dreams, take the time to conduct a reality check. In much of the United States, owning a vehicle is a necessity. On the other hand, you may need to tamp down on certain impulses so that you buy a vehicle that won’t leave you in a financial pit.

We’re referring to lifestyle creep, the phenomenon where one is pressured to spend more as they gain access to more income. We’ve talked about lifestyle creep before, but to summarize, it has these elements:

• Getting a raise or paying off a debt means having more money
• Knowledge of having more money increases the urge to spend
• Overspending negates the original benefits of additional income
  

In some respects, buying another vehicle is seen as a status symbol, and playing into that concept might convince some car buyers to finance a vehicle they simply can’t afford.

In other words, the temptation to get the latest model or most feature-rich trim may convince a buyer to get a car that doesn’t fit their lifestyle.

Don’t fall into that trap! While it’s important to invest in a vehicle you’ll like and want to drive, it’s equally important to choose a car that suits your needs.

To keep yourself grounded in your car search, ask yourself the following questions:

• Why exactly do I need a car?
• What do I expect this new car to do for me?
• How will this vehicle align with my lifestyle?
  

Finally, give yourself a gut check: “Is this car going to help me do the things I am currently doing, or am I thinking of buying it for things I might do?” An honest assessment now will save much heartbreak later.

Now that you have a starting point for examining why you’re buying a car, let’s talk about shopping around for one.

Learn About Car Trims and Their Price Points

While car shopping, you may notice that a given vehicle model has several different price points. Car manufacturers offer many of their vehicles in “trims.” Trims are packages that include a predetermined amount of features, and their prices are adjusted accordingly.

CarMax provides a detailed breakdown of trims, their impact on price, and how they relate to the shopping experience. While the vehicle model may remain constant, the name of the trim can vary significantly. Instead of getting hung up on names, look directly at the MSRP. Basically, the higher the price, the more feature-rich a trim is.

It’s essential to compare trims for a given model, as this is one of the primary factors that determine the car's price. The trim matters because it serves as a benchmark for deciding whether you’re overpaying for the car you want. In other words, you don’t want to pay thousands more for features and technology you’ll rarely use.

Automakers have different criteria for determining which features warrant getting placed at another trim level. The most common features that might affect a car’s price point include:

• All-Wheel Drive
• Advanced Collision Prevention Systems
• Sunroofs and Ambient Lighting
• Entertainment Centers and Speakers
• Interior Seating Materials
• Heated Seating
• Engine Horsepower
  

Reviewing the feature list is a good idea because it will allow you to weigh the benefits and costs of a given trim.

For example, a more powerful engine and all-wheel drive sound great for certain conditions, but will they fit your lifestyle? Or to put it more bluntly: will you need these features just to complete your routine commutes? As an aside, more powerful engines and drivetrains tend to have lower fuel economy and may require more costly maintenance over time.

All in all, comparing trims will help to temper your expectations and aid in getting the car that best fits your use case. Review the feature lists carefully and determine what things you need versus the things you can easily do without.

Don’t Forget That Pre-Owned Is Still an Option

Another thing to consider while car shopping is the pre-owned element. While it may seem less exciting to finance a pre-owned vehicle, they do tend to be less expensive than their new counterparts.

An under-discussed trend in automotive manufacturing is that, generally speaking, newer iterations of the same vehicle model tend to have nominal changes from one year to the next.

In other words, the 2026 version of one vehicle and trim may not have many significant differences compared to its 2025 counterpart. Similar trims across several years may not have massive changes at all.

As a result, getting a pre-owned version of an older vehicle may end up saving you a significant amount of money. Sure, the base trim from 3 model years ago may not have a moonroof compared to the current model year’s iteration, but is such a feature needed to get you to work or the supermarket?

When you take the time to compare vehicles and how they might affect your budget, it adds perspective to your car search. Taking that extra effort can do wonders to get a car you’ll love, and all without the unnecessary bells and whistles.

First Florida is your partner in buying a vehicle you’ll want to drive. Check out our auto loans, which offer financing for a car that best suits your lifestyle.