Thanks everyone for your opinions. Unfortunately, the husband has now decided that he wants to trade in his 2018 Honda Civic for a used truck. He is from Arkansas, and as a country boy, he has this foolish mindset that "everyone needs a truck." We can get about $18,000 for the Civic, and hopefully buy a used truck for about $15,000, so our net worth won't take a hit. We are debt free, not including the mortgage. Our financial goals are to achieve financial independence in 13 years.
The husband's new revelation irks me because, in July 2018, we traded in his 2017 Toyota Tacoma (a TRUCK!!) for the 2018 Honda Civic, and now, almost a year later, he wants to go back to a truck. We have pretty much gone full circle. I find it ridiculous. He seems to want a truck for emotional reasons and not for practical reasons.
This whole conversation about replacing his Honda started because I wanted him to sell it and replace it with a used, reliable car so we could free up cash to speed up our path towards FIRE. But, after almost a year of owning the Honda, he realizes he prefers driving trucks over cars (he is a country boy). So instead of replacing the Honda for a used car like I planned, he wants to replace it for a used truck.
Should I let him replace his car for a truck? He says a truck is more suitable for him. If I do let him do this, then I will prevent him from further trading in vehicles in the future, and convince him to drive the truck to the ground. We're trying to reach financial independence in 13 years, and his habit of trading in vehicles (3 trade-ins since 2014) is NOT going to help us get to financial independence sooner. What would you do? Should I continue to fight?