...
So in an effort to become a true mustachian, I’m debating on whether I should sell it....
- I don’t really need the money—but I do understand that I could sell it, buy a civic and invest the rest..
- If I do sell it, I can probably get $36K for it (losing $5K).
- Since I’m riding my bike now, it would only be sitting around except for when necessary—and doesn’t this justify keeping it? :)
- It’s my dream truck that I would like to keep forever.
My wife says I'm being extreme and should just keep it for when we need it, but I feel like such a clown.
Am I crazy for even needing to post this?
— a tormented noob-mustachian
Garth, welcome to MMM and the frugal lifestyle! Congratulations on your realization, huge kudos to you for seeing past the insanity!
What should you do? Yes, you should sell it. However....
1) Your wife has seen you "sieze on" ideas before. She is afraid you'll sell it, then miss it too much, pine for a new one, then actually buy another. So you've got to be clear with yourself how committed you are to the frugal lifestyle before you sell it. How are you going to feel when you see other guys tooling around in *YOUR* dream truck while you ride the bike?
2) Are you going to resent any vehicle you buy to replace it with? Are you going to gaze at that awesome Tacoma that pulls up next to you at the light, while you are sitting in your frugal Civic? Are you going to look longingly at that other Tacoma while you whine to the wife about it?
3) Did you buy it only as a "toy", or do you have actual, functional things you need to do with it? ie: haul lumber, mulch, trash, furniture, etc. Stuff like that, say, at least four or more times a year?
4) Do you "identify" with the truck as a symbol of masculinity?
What I'm getting at here is, you need to assess both your marital situation (and the effect the truck has had on it) and your actual, true need for the truck. If it was only a toy and you've truly figured out the futility of owning and driving a "toy", then by all means, sell it.
But: replace it with a vehicle that has added importance, usefulness and functionality for you and the wife. Did you forego a minivan to buy the truck? Well then, you suck majorly. Sell the truck and get a 2-3 year old minivan that gets good mpg. (Honda? Toyota?) Then get ready to enjoy the positive vibes you get from the DW for that decision.
Replace the positives of the truck with a vehicle that has even more positives that you can daily profit from. Don't get rid of the Tacoma and suffer with a vehicle that can't satisfy any of the family needs.