I don't know why, but I was watching today's show of Kathie Lee and Hoda (god knows why I did that) and they were showing a segment called "Pay it forward" where this guy goes out and gives money to people he feels that deserve it. So on today's show, he goes to a grocery (or a wall mart type store, I don't remember) and decides to give 500$ to a cashier he says works hard and smiles everyday. And then on the show they said, she spent the 500$ in order to buy a car since she goes to work using the bus. Is it me or that money would of been better spent off on an investment or something else better than just a car, like paying debts. Why is taking the bus such a bad thing in the media??? Maybe I am too harsh and mean,lol. The way she was portrayed was like if she was living paycheck to paycheck, so using the 500$ for a car is like sucha bad decision in my mind, but once again, am I just mean or too strict?
Without actually seeing this show, I'm sort of split here. I mean, if you're going to get a car, better to spent $500 on one and not $10,000. And while I get by on bus and train based transit, my girlfriend owns a car. Without this, I'd be hard-pressed to make 100% public transit work. I'm also willing to venture that you or someone in your household owns a car. I take the bus to work, but there are scenarios when taking the car is the better option, like to the grocery store or to a friend's house for an evening of hanging out.
Others in this thread have mentioned that you can just move closer to where you work to make the commute cheaper and easier (shorter/faster). This is true, but it's an example of the poorer you are, the more things cost. If you have a limited budget, you may not be able to afford to move. You may not have the job stability to warrant moving near the job you probably won't have in two years.
If any of us were living paycheck to paycheck on a cashier's wage, well, I'm sure most of us would work to get into a better situation. But $500 isn't enough liquid cash to fix that. A car, however, if used correctly, provides opportunity. Suddenly, job interviews can be scheduled on the same day as you work, because you can make it there and still get to your shift on time. You can exercise your buying power by getting to businesses that aren't along the bus route you take.
Not to say she's going to use this car as a tool to do these things, but we don't know. I just wouldn't put someone down because they're poor and bought a $500 vehicle. At least there is a potential upside with this purchase, as opposed to getting a new TV or a couch, or even just going out to the bars with the cash until the money is burnt out.