When I turned 16 I thought it was time for me to get my driver’s license. Being a rebel, I looked into buying my first car. My dad, being the responsible parent that he is, made sure I had enough money saved so I could have the car. I loved that car. I didn’t want to part with it for anything.

My mom kept reminding me I’d need it as an adult. I scoffed at her. No way was I ever going to drive. I didn’t have a license or anything. This wasn’t going to happen.

I’ll never forget the day I got my first real car. My dad came to pick me up. We went to the dealer and I chose a car. We were in the parking lot when my mom asked if she could say something to me. I looked at her used cars in sacramento with a blank face. She explained that I was the one who had to pay the loan back, I had to pay the insurance and there was more responsibility than just driving it.

 “We think you need a car that will last a long time.”

My parents knew the right time to tell me about money. They’d seen me blow it, they knew about the things I’d buy and how I’d say I was going to pay for it next week. They knew I had a small trust fund that I’d use to buy a car. I’d only have to work part time to pay for the whole thing.

My mom didn’t think my teen self was going to take responsibility for it. My parents had no idea I was about to change their lives. I was about to give them the gift of responsibility. I learned that I could do things without the approval of other people and I could face the consequences.

I didn’t have a car, I didn’t have a driver’s license, but I had something very important: I had a free car loan.

It was a two year lease, with a $1,000.00 down payment.

I’ve been paying it back for the last 15 years.

You see I’ve been a little more responsible with my money than my teens. I was working at a school when my son was in high school and I had the car for just about all those years.

You see I’ve been a little more responsible with my money than my teens. I was working at a school when my son used cars in sacramento was in high school and I had the car for just about all those years. I never missed a payment.

A month ago I had my son’s car for a couple of days and I missed two payments.

I missed one of them because the insurance company wouldn’t renew my policy. I didn’t know that my rate was going to go up about 60% for the same coverage. My insurance company told me they couldn’t give me a lower rate and I took them at their word.