Hyundai Accent

The $3,000 rule for cars is a budgeting guideline that comes in two forms depending on whether you're buying a car with cash or financing one. For cash buyers it suggests that $3,000 is roughly the floor for buying a reliable used vehicle worth owning. For buyers financing a vehicle it suggests that $3,000 should be your minimum down payment before committing to a loan. Both versions of the rule are built around the same underlying principle: car ownership costs significantly more than the purchase price, and you need a financial buffer before you start...