Rich Habits Podcast

146: Lease or Buy? The Real Math Behind Your Next Car

11 snips
Dec 1, 2025
Dive into the real math behind leasing versus buying your next vehicle. Discover the hidden costs of leasing, like mileage penalties and wear-and-tear charges. Learn why buying a used car can save you from initial depreciation and build wealth in the long run. The hosts share practical steps to help you decide between leasing and owning, breaking down cash flow implications and ownership lengths. Plus, they discuss the dealer incentives that keep customers caught in a perpetual payment cycle.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Leasing Seems Cheap — But Total Cost Is Higher

  • Leasing looks attractive because monthly payments are lower than loan payments.
  • Over time, leasing is almost always more expensive than buying when you run the full math.
ADVICE

Lease Only With Valid Business Or Preference Reasons

  • Consider leasing if you can deduct payments as a business expense.
  • Lease only if you truly value new cars every few years and accept the premium.
ANECDOTE

Robert Prefers Leases For Convenience

  • Robert has leased vehicles for decades because he values convenience and being under warranty.
  • He admits leasing is a personal preference despite higher long-term cost.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app