Is it a bad look as a senior associate (on the path to manager within a year) to be driving an expensive car like a C7 or C8 corvette that is $70k+? I don’t think it is and here’s my rationale. I’m making over 6 figures, maxing out my 401k and IRA accounts with extra $ going to a brokerage account, I have a 3BR 1300 sq foot home with finished basement and garage for $170k. My two loans are only $240k combined. Heck most people spend more on a house alone. Work remote so vette isn’t daily driver.

I have a luxury car and got some stank eye from my team when I bought it. I don't have kids nor do I spend a lot on material things or vacations so I didn't think it'd be a big deal. They still talk about it regularly and are clearly jealous and as the youngest/lowest ranking person on the team, it does bug me sometimes. If it makes you happy and is financially a smart decision, go for it...just be prepared for comments because people are weird.

I don't think that is necessarily bad as long as you can afford it. You are also saving for retirement. If you were not doing that and instead spending money on a car, I would say that wouldn't be fine. In my opinion, if you want a car and that is your thing, why not get it?

170k a year for a 3 bedroom.? Yeah bro buy the vette, we know it’s going to be your only entertainment in bumabama or wherever you’re at

Weird flex but ok

Nah if anything is just be like dang, that person may not be great with money. But it sounds like you’re in a good spot so don’t stress it.

Nah I have a $70K truck, no one bats an eye. Don’t be a show off tho

Enjoy yourself man. What's the point of waiting till 60+ to get your dream car and live life. I'm on the wait list for zo6 2025

I think i know where the author is coming from. I've always been a car guy. When i was a senior associate, i bought a new corvette. The next time raises and bonuses came around, i got significantly less than in the past. It later got back to me that the partners' attitude was that if i could afford a corvette, they were already paying me enough. I now have a $100k+ Porsche in the garage and i don't tell anyone at work. And before we talk about investment, opportunity cost, depreciation, etc., the smile that thing puts on my face is worth every penny. If you're a car guy, you know exactly what i'm talking about. If you're not, you'll never understand. It's also like a 4th car for me, so not a daily driver and easy to keep on the down low.

O worked with a senior who had 100k corvette. He was really into cars and other than that lived like a monk. Noone really judged him for it other than thinking its a waste of money

You said your mortgage is $170k and this would put you at $240k? So you’re financing a $70k car? That tells me you can’t afford it but what I do I know? You have all your other stuff maxed out, why not finance a $70k mid-life-crisis car

This is america. Drive what you want/can afford.

If you don’t make it a big deal then they won’t. You don’t have to talk about it to them and they’ll never know because you work remote.

you seem to be going through an awful lot of mental gymnastics to justify this to yourself I think only you can answer that question.. you’re probably fine but if you’re going to visit a client in some rural location I wouldn’t take that car

2 months into public accounting as a 24 year old associate I bought a new Cobra. Buy what you want, who cares. Probably wasn’t the most Dave Ramsey thing I could’ve done, but keep yourself on a good career path and a decade later it won’t matter

I know an associate and not even a month in, she bought a tesla. Go for it.

This isn’t a brag, more so curious what other people think. If I provided zero context, would it have been “you should be saving for retirement” or something else? I provided context because I just wanted to know. If anything I don’t want to be the guy people think is a faker, I want to have financial balance. So I wanted to see if people would think I’m somehow a faker (meaning I’m living beyond my means) because I’m so young with nice things.

Time value of money. You can save that money and let it grow so you can spend it when you are older in life. Or you can spend the money now to reap the joy while you are young. The choice is yours.

I prefer to be low-key, but you do you. I wouldn’t drive it to the client though.

Who cars what people think. Spend ur money how u wish. Those people aren’t paying your bills

You seem to have it together. Nothing wrong with spending your money how you want