Buying a car is not an easy decision to make even if you do have the money to spend for it. You have to consider the many factors behind why you are buying a car. You might end up not using it so much because of many different reasons. Or you might just end up selling it again just because you are unhappy with your purchase. Think about the following things before you end up wasting your money.

• Can you afford it? This is a very valid question. Money is not something that is easy to come by and even if you do lease a car, who's to say that you will always have the money to make the monthly payments? Think about your financial situation before making the major decision of buying a car. Only your bank and credit history will really dictate whether or not you are ready to invest in such a luxury item.

• Don't rush! Buying a car is not a race. Just because everyone has one does not mean that you have to buy the first thing that you set your eyes upon at the dealership. There are other factors to consider such as price of the car, how fast it goes, how far it goes on a single tank of gas, etc. Do not make the mistake of just buying a car because it looks good and everyone is talking about it. Take your time in choosing a car that is right for you. Even when you do have a decision, make sure that you have a second thought.

• Do your homework – What kind of car are you looking at? Will it give you the mileage that you are expecting on one full tank of gas? Will it help you save money or will you be spending more on it in the long run? What kind of insurance policies exist and which one do you want? What is your credit report status? These are all relevant questions that you must answer and they will help you in your future car purchase.

• Don't settle for what the dealer suggests – When a dealer suggests something to you, it isn't the “end-all” decision that you should make. You can either haggle for a better deal or you can walk into another shop that will offer you a better deal. Remember that the ball is in your court when you are shopping for a car so don't let the dealer dictate what decisions you should make with your money.

• Make a choice but check again – Once you have made a choice on a particular deal, the first thing you should do is check if you are really going to go ahead with your purchase. Check if all the paperwork is in order and that the deal you have agreed upon includes nothing more. Whatever you agreed to spend on should be just that. Make sure that there are no hidden charges with the dealers. Some of them can be quite sneaky and include all sorts of charges that you will regret paying in the long run.