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A 17-Year-Old's $8,000 Car Deal Just Taught Him an Expensive Lesson About Debt

MarketDash Editorial Team
5 days ago
When Atlanta teen Beto bought a Honda Accord for $8,000, he thought he had his first car figured out. Then came the insurance bill — $700 a month. Financial advisors on The Ramsey Show walked him through the hard math of teen car ownership and why debt compounds stress at any age.

Getting your first car is supposed to be one of those classic American teenager moments. For Beto, a 17-year-old in Atlanta, it turned into a crash course in why adults are always so stressed about money.

On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, Beto called in to explain his predicament. He'd bought a 2012 Honda Accord from a friend for $8,000, agreeing to pay $400 a month. Seems reasonable enough, right? Then reality showed up with a bill.

When the Real Costs Hit

The problem wasn't the car payment. It was everything else. Insurance for a teenage driver isn't cheap — it's roughly $700 a month, and that's just for liability coverage. To put that in perspective, Beto earns $850 every two weeks working full-time at an MMA gym. His insurance alone eats up most of one paycheck.

"The part that's getting me is the insurance," Beto told hosts Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw.

But wait, there's more. Transferring the title to his mother's name cost about $700 as a one-time expense. The car needed minor repairs before it could be registered, another $350. Suddenly, that $8,000 car deal looks a lot more expensive.

The Debt Conversation

Cruze didn't sugarcoat it. "Debt will always set you up in the negative," she said. "It always will. Financially, emotionally, your stress, everything. And I think you're kind of getting a glimpse of that, but I'm kind of glad you're getting a taste of it at $8,000 for a stupid car loan vs a $40,000 business loan at 25."

It's a harsh truth, but there's logic there. Better to learn how debt compounds stress with an $8,000 Honda than with a massive business loan or mortgage down the line. Beto lives with his mother and considers himself financially independent, contributing where he can. But even working full-time, the math wasn't working out.

The Side Hustle Pitch

The hosts' solution? Find more income. Beto had already lined up a new full-time position at an orthopedic clinic paying $20 an hour for 40 hours a week. That's a solid bump from the MMA gym. Cruze asked if he could keep the gym job in the evenings, but the schedules conflicted.

Warshaw suggested something more flexible instead — food delivery, part-time gigs, anything that could fit around his clinic schedule and help cover those brutal car costs. The goal wasn't to work himself into the ground, but to bridge the gap between what he earns and what he owes.

Entrepreneurial Ambitions

Beto also mentioned interest in starting a car detailing business. Cruze encouraged him to run the numbers first. "You may find out, 'Oh my gosh, this is pretty incredible, I only have to put in $500 and I'm making thousands a month,'" she said.

But she also cautioned against taking on additional financial risk while still paying off the car. New businesses come with unforeseen expenses, and piling those on top of existing debt is a recipe for more stress. Better to wait until the Honda is paid off and he has some breathing room.

What Other Teens Should Know

Beto's situation isn't unique, and it offers some clear lessons for other young people — and their parents — thinking about that first car:

  • Teen driver insurance is shockingly expensive, sometimes costing more than the car payment itself.
  • Title transfers, taxes, and registration fees add up fast and often catch buyers off guard.
  • Side hustles can be a lifeline when monthly expenses exceed income from one job.
  • Debt creates stress even when you're working hard and doing everything right.

What stands out about Beto's story is that he's doing most things right. He works full-time. He's looking for better-paying work. He's thinking about entrepreneurship. He's financially aware enough at 17 to call a financial advice show. And he's still struggling because car ownership, especially for teenagers, is genuinely expensive.

The Path Forward

With the new clinic job and potentially some side income, Beto should be able to manage the payments and eventually get ahead. It won't be easy, and it won't be quick, but it's doable. The key is staying focused and not taking on additional debt while working through this one.

"I hate that you're in the situation," Cruze told him. "But I really do think with putting some of these jobs kind of together, making some more money, and really being focused right now, I think you're going to get out ahead on it."

For a 17-year-old getting his first taste of financial pressure, that's probably the best outcome to hope for — not an easy fix, but a manageable path forward and a lesson learned early enough to matter.

Back to News

A 17-Year-Old's $8,000 Car Deal Just Taught Him an Expensive Lesson About Debt

MarketDash Editorial Team
5 days ago
When Atlanta teen Beto bought a Honda Accord for $8,000, he thought he had his first car figured out. Then came the insurance bill — $700 a month. Financial advisors on The Ramsey Show walked him through the hard math of teen car ownership and why debt compounds stress at any age.

Getting your first car is supposed to be one of those classic American teenager moments. For Beto, a 17-year-old in Atlanta, it turned into a crash course in why adults are always so stressed about money.

On a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, Beto called in to explain his predicament. He'd bought a 2012 Honda Accord from a friend for $8,000, agreeing to pay $400 a month. Seems reasonable enough, right? Then reality showed up with a bill.

When the Real Costs Hit

The problem wasn't the car payment. It was everything else. Insurance for a teenage driver isn't cheap — it's roughly $700 a month, and that's just for liability coverage. To put that in perspective, Beto earns $850 every two weeks working full-time at an MMA gym. His insurance alone eats up most of one paycheck.

"The part that's getting me is the insurance," Beto told hosts Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw.

But wait, there's more. Transferring the title to his mother's name cost about $700 as a one-time expense. The car needed minor repairs before it could be registered, another $350. Suddenly, that $8,000 car deal looks a lot more expensive.

The Debt Conversation

Cruze didn't sugarcoat it. "Debt will always set you up in the negative," she said. "It always will. Financially, emotionally, your stress, everything. And I think you're kind of getting a glimpse of that, but I'm kind of glad you're getting a taste of it at $8,000 for a stupid car loan vs a $40,000 business loan at 25."

It's a harsh truth, but there's logic there. Better to learn how debt compounds stress with an $8,000 Honda than with a massive business loan or mortgage down the line. Beto lives with his mother and considers himself financially independent, contributing where he can. But even working full-time, the math wasn't working out.

The Side Hustle Pitch

The hosts' solution? Find more income. Beto had already lined up a new full-time position at an orthopedic clinic paying $20 an hour for 40 hours a week. That's a solid bump from the MMA gym. Cruze asked if he could keep the gym job in the evenings, but the schedules conflicted.

Warshaw suggested something more flexible instead — food delivery, part-time gigs, anything that could fit around his clinic schedule and help cover those brutal car costs. The goal wasn't to work himself into the ground, but to bridge the gap between what he earns and what he owes.

Entrepreneurial Ambitions

Beto also mentioned interest in starting a car detailing business. Cruze encouraged him to run the numbers first. "You may find out, 'Oh my gosh, this is pretty incredible, I only have to put in $500 and I'm making thousands a month,'" she said.

But she also cautioned against taking on additional financial risk while still paying off the car. New businesses come with unforeseen expenses, and piling those on top of existing debt is a recipe for more stress. Better to wait until the Honda is paid off and he has some breathing room.

What Other Teens Should Know

Beto's situation isn't unique, and it offers some clear lessons for other young people — and their parents — thinking about that first car:

  • Teen driver insurance is shockingly expensive, sometimes costing more than the car payment itself.
  • Title transfers, taxes, and registration fees add up fast and often catch buyers off guard.
  • Side hustles can be a lifeline when monthly expenses exceed income from one job.
  • Debt creates stress even when you're working hard and doing everything right.

What stands out about Beto's story is that he's doing most things right. He works full-time. He's looking for better-paying work. He's thinking about entrepreneurship. He's financially aware enough at 17 to call a financial advice show. And he's still struggling because car ownership, especially for teenagers, is genuinely expensive.

The Path Forward

With the new clinic job and potentially some side income, Beto should be able to manage the payments and eventually get ahead. It won't be easy, and it won't be quick, but it's doable. The key is staying focused and not taking on additional debt while working through this one.

"I hate that you're in the situation," Cruze told him. "But I really do think with putting some of these jobs kind of together, making some more money, and really being focused right now, I think you're going to get out ahead on it."

For a 17-year-old getting his first taste of financial pressure, that's probably the best outcome to hope for — not an easy fix, but a manageable path forward and a lesson learned early enough to matter.