Outside of buying a home, purchasing a vehicle is one of the most consequential financial decisions a lot of people will make. It follows, then, that financial gurus and well-meaning friends, family members, and neighbors have all sorts of advice for young people looking to make what might be their first life-altering purchase.The only problem is, buying a car has changed dramatically in the last several years—never mind the last couple of decades—and much of the standard advice is horribly outdated. Young people today, whether they have a lot of money in savings or (more likely) not, still need to get around in a world that was built for cars and not people. So they're turning to a different playbook. Here are some of the old rules they've been forced to ditch.1. Only buy in cashFinancial guru Dave Ramsey is a big proponent of never taking on a car loan or monthly auto payment, insisting that if people can't afford to buy their car outright in cash, they shouldn't buy it at all.This one may have worked in 1985 when the average cost of a new car was $12,000. But in 2025, that figure has skyrocketed to a whopping $50,000.Simply put, very few people can afford to lay out the cash for a new car and buy the whole thing outright. The reality is that taking on a car payment might be necessary, and it's not the end of the world."I see people deplete their entire savings to purchase a car, without factoring in all the high-ticket expenses coming up for the rest of the year," says AJ Schneider, a financial strategy coach with Beyond The Green Coaching. "This is a huge red flag and usually driven by the outdated mindset of 'I don’t want a monthly car payment.' There is nothing wrong with a monthly car payment—as long as you can afford it. I would rather someone use a portion of savings plus take on a manageable payment than wipe out their entire safety net." @anncorbitt Cars are either too expensive or I’m a tightwad. Both things can also be true. #carshopping #newcar #economy 2. Always buy usedThis one is (was?) based on solid logic. Cars depreciate massively the instant you drive them off the lot. So, in theory, a gently used car should be a much better value than a brand new one. This is another classic Ramsey piece of advice—if you can't afford to a buy a new car in cash, find a reliable used vehicle that you can buy instead.However, that advice doesn't account for the fact that used car prices have surged dramatically. The average used car sells for nearly $26,000 these days. Yes, that's a lot cheaper than buying new, but it also means you're not getting the full warranty and coverage you get with a brand new vehicle, and you could be walking into a lot of maintenance pitfalls if you're not careful. For those reasons, and with such a high price (the median American household has just $8,000 in savings) a lot of folks don't even find it worth it to buy used anymore.Take it from someone who grew up driving a rotation of $2,000 beaters. It's a nightmare when you can't get to school or work because you have an unreliable car that always needs a repair. Oh, and those $2,000 beaters cost $10,000 now. People without tens of thousands in the bank need a way to get to work, too. "Always buy used." Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash 3. Never lease a carFinancially, this is still solid advice, at least in the long term. Leasing has typically been reserved for wealthy folks with a lot of disposable income, who want to trade in their luxury vehicle for the newest model every couple of years. (My late grandad was famous for always having a new Infiniti or Lexus in the driveway.)But more and more people are choosing to lease their vehicles these days, so it's worth examining why. For starters, leasing can have lower costs up front. Some folks need (or just want) a higher-end vehicle than they could normally afford, and leasing can make those choices accessible without a huge long term commitment. Leasing also saves you the hassle and expense of repairs and maintenance. At the end of the lease, you can walk away and start over with another brand new car. Many people now choose to lease EVs, electric vehicles, because they depreciate so much faster than traditional cars.“Younger buyers like predictability. Leasing gives them a fixed cost, new tech every few years, and less risk with depreciation. It’s becoming a lifestyle decision, not just a financial one," writes Jack Carlson, CEO of Carvia.ai.Leasing is not right for everyone, or even for most people, but in 2025 it's no longer a complete non-starter like your dad probably told you it was. @billythecarkid Can you negotiate the money factor on a lease?Depending on the leasing company, lender, or dealership you work with, you may be able to negotiate a lower money factor. However, this figure is less negotiable than others based on its dependence on your credit score. If you have a lower credit score, you'll likely pay a higher money factor regardless. #carbuyingtips #leases #lease #carbuyingadvice #carbuyer #carbuyingmadeeasy #dealership # 4. Study up on hardball negotiating tacticsOlder generations will try to warn you about the "art of the deal," the back and forth that takes place between salesperson and customer. They will advocate for coming in with a lowball price, walking away to let the dealership stew, and playing multiple dealers against each other in an intricate ballet.Simply put, dealerships in 2025 don't care. They don't have that many cars in stock, anyway, and there will be plenty of other customers coming by while you're off giving them the silent treatment.Money Magazine writes, "Overall, haggling at the car dealership has simply faded ever since supply shortages emerged in the auto industry in 2021. Car dealerships generally aren’t under much pressure to move vehicles by offering discounts or engaging in negotiations with customers because their cars are still selling fast for around the full price or more." Don't expect them to come crawling after you, offering discounts, or throwing extra perks your way in order to close the sale. The best you can usually hope for in 2025 is to pay the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price).But some of the things your parents and grandparents taught you are still solid.Though the world has changed and everything has gotten more expensive, the Baby Boomers had the right mindset when it came to making such a big purchase. We can still learn a thing or two by how they approached the process.1. Arm yourself with researchBuying a car, even though you can do it online, isn't like buying from Amazon. You can still get ripped off if you're not careful.(In other news, soon you'll actually be able to buy a used car, with financing, from Amazon in just one or two clicks.)“Before you even show up to the dealership, you should already know what model you want and what it is actually selling for. Walking into the dealership is not the time to research a car," says Stephan Shipe, Ph.D., economist, professor, and founder of Scholar Advising.And once you're there, the work isn't over. Ask questions. Especially if you're buying a used car that might have a sketchy history, remember that dealers aren't required to tell you everything unless you ask."Asking questions is how you avoid making a bad purchase," says Michael A. Klitzke, Esq., an attorney who specializes in fraud cases against car dealerships. "Ask every question you can think. Prior accidents and damage are the common questions but consumers should ask more. ... Ask if there is anything at all that is wrong with the vehicle. Ask about the maintenance history. If it turns out that the dealership lied to you (which happens frequently), these same questions are going to be the basis for a lawsuit."Older generations loved taking used cars to "their guy" (mechanic) for a lookover before they purchased. You can still do this today, and Klitzke says more young people should take advantage of the opportunity to ensure they don't end up with a lemon.2. Read the fine printDon't just focus on the monthly payment, if you're taking one on. Consider the long-term costs of the vehicle you're buying and, especially, the terms of the loan.“Dealerships will frame everything as a monthly payment because the terms are not fixed anymore," says Shipe. "I have seen eight- and even ten-year payment terms, which lets them make almost any car fit whatever monthly number you say you can afford.”Affording a car is much harder now than it was for previous generations, but even still, you don't want to make a rash decision that will hurt you financially in the long run anymore than it already has to. A loan that long might make the car affordable in the short-term, but it is a massive commitment with huge risks.Buying a car has gotten more expensive across the board. Young people (and all people, really) today have had to find ways to make it work. Doing something responsible like buying "affordable and reliable" has changed. A Toyota Corolla, for example, often considered a reliable and decidedly un-flashy choice, goes for about $20,000 today. That's a good deal compared to the other choices out there, but in 2000, it would have only cost about $13,000. (Take a wild guess if wages have matched that rapid increase.) The Financial Times writes that there's "no such thing as an affordable starter car anymore."All the tips and tricks in the world can't change those simples facts. One article from Investopedia recommends young people have their parents give them cash for a down payment—seriously.This is why more and more people are choosing not to own a car at all. Households with multiple cars have increased, but so have households that own zero. In fact, nearly half of young Americans report not even wanting to own a car and would prefer having better access to ride-sharing, public transport, and other mobility options. Can you blame them?If you do find yourself in need of a new or used car, everyone you know is going to want to give you advice. It's important to note the year in which they last bought a car before you decide whether or not to listen to them.

There is nothing quite like being roasted by the people who love you most. That's exactly what happened to Little Rock, Arkansas News Anchor Faith Woodard when her parents watched her live broadcast. The former college basketball player can be seen in a screen grab from her morning broadcast with THV 11 wearing a sleek professional look, standing behind the desk with two other anchors. What Woodard and the wardrobe department likely saw as a professional, high-fashion look did not impress her parents. The anchor was feeling confident about the outfit choice. In her post about the incident, she shares that she received a lot of compliments from others about the look. The outfit consisted of a black bodysuit covered by a black dressy poncho and red pants with a statement button closure. Modern TV news studio, ready for broadcast.Photo credit: CanvaIt was a whole look fit for Fashion Week, but when she called her parents after her segment was over, they proceeded to lovingly tease her. Woodard shares what happened in a social media post, writing, "I thought I had on a very cute outfit yesterday. I got sooooo many good compliments. I get on the phone with my parents and my dad says 'I see you had on your Batman outfit today.'" This is where you'd think Woodard's mom would come to the rescue and tell Woodard's dad to leave her alone and, in a way, she did—just not in the way one would expect. Instead, Woodard relays her mom's response, which is equally as amusing, "Then my mom says, 'No that’s Darth Vader.'" The local news anchor thought the entire exchange was hilarious, and so did all the commenters on her post. While some may view parents teasing their child as negative, it's actually a positive bonding experience when done playfully. According to research, "Playful teasing is interesting psychologically in that it has potential to create mutual amusement. A shared humorous experience is an interaction of positive affective valence and may strengthen social bonds. Hence, playful teasing is noteworthy because of its implications for higher socio-cognitive abilities, as well as its potential relevance to the origins and functions of humour." Star Wars No GIF Giphy Playful teasing is especially more effective when done with older children because they're more likely to view the interaction as mutually humorous. At this stage in Woodard's life, she is likely well aware that her parents love her deeply, which made it easier to join in on the harmless ribbing. Commenters enjoyed the exchange between the parents and their daughter and joined in for a laugh, with one person saying, "And it's both parents joking on you which makes it funnier. I'm thinking momma gone say leave my baby alone but nooo momma thew in she looks like Dath[sic] Vader....I HOLLOWED."Another shared her own fashion faux pas, writing, "Baby, I thought I was cute one day with my black fedora hat and black peacoat and my husband called me Darkwing duck. I never wore that combo again." darkwing duck 90s GIF Giphy Someone else writes, "If your parents don’t cook you when you think you’re fly….are they really your parents?! I know they couldn’t wait for you to get off air.""Looks like a judges robe. They are out of order with those jokes," one person laughs.Another simply couldn't resist joining in on the joke, saying, "Well i for one would like to thank you for delivering the news to the Imperial Army and the Galactic Empire. Let people know if they gonna keep running their mouth, their gonna get some of that lightsaber action! You look like the most feared Sith Lord in Brooklyn."

Janelle Marie, who has all kinds of videos related to healthy (and unhealthy) in-law/grandparent dynamics, recently tackled an issue that many will soon be experiencing—navigating the holidays. Specifically, she showed how in-laws/grandparents can accommodate their adult kids who might be traveling to multiple households for Thanksgiving. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty easy. Marie acts out an imaginary phone conversation where a son named “Jeff” informs his mother that their family will only be at the dinner portion of the event, so that the kiddos can squeeze in a nap. In this faux scenario, the mom simply says, “no problem, thanks for letting me know,” and even offers to have the dinner start a little later, in case that eases any stress. And…that’s it. No guilt tripping, no passive aggressive comments—just assuming the best in each other and being honest and accommodating. @heyjanellemarie With thanksgiving this weekend I thought this would be a nice reminder for how easy it is to just be accommodating #family #grandparents #inlaws #toddlerparents #momskit ♬ original sound - Janelle Marie It might not seem all that radical until you look at the comments section, where so many people lamented the fact that this conversation would likely not happen for them.“Do mother/mils this easy exist? I can’t even imagine it” one person wrote. Another quipped, “Is this an alternate reality?"Holiday logistics can feel like emotional landmines for many families, but healthy communication can make it dramatically easier. Experts often emphasize that families don’t need to agree on everything. They just need clear expectations, mutual respect, and a willingness to collaborate instead of control.Here are a few helpful guidelines Marie’s video indirectly models:1. Assume good intent. Most schedule changes aren’t personal. They’re usually about sleep, travel time, or sanity—not about rejecting one side of the family.2. Be flexible where you can. Shifting mealtimes, shortening activities, or holding the gathering on a weekend before or after the actual holiday can make celebrations more enjoyable for everyone. Recognize that circumstances change and accept that you may not be able to do everything the same way you used to.3. Don’t punish honesty. If an adult child knows they’ll be guilted or shamed for telling the truth, they’ll stop being transparent. And resentment almost always follows.4. Focus on the time you have.Some years you might get more, others you might get less. But you can always make the most of whatever time that’s available.5. Plan with the family. Not for them.This can help prevent a lot of misunderstandings and disappointment.And then there’s the role people don’t talk about enough: the spouse, usually the husband in the MIL/daughter-in-law dynamic. A huge amount of stress could be prevented if sons acted as the bridge between their families of origin and the families they’ve created (as “Jeff” did in this instance). When husbands take equal responsibility for communicating boundaries, clarifying the schedule, and gently shutting down disrespect toward their partners, it eases pressure on everyone.Marie’s simple skit wasn’t meant to be earth-shattering, but for many viewers, it was a glimpse into what holidays could look like with a little emotional maturity. May this become a holiday tradition for all. And for what it's worth, plenty of viewers also commented that their own MILs do, in fact, act this way. To the in-laws/grandparents out there who do demonstrate this kind of compassion—thank you.

Humans and wildlife coexisting together sometimes leads to unexpected encounters, as well as unfortunate mishaps. Wild animals generally have strong survival instincts, but sometimes they're just not enough.Such was the case of a juvenile great horned owl who somehow fell into a concrete mixer on a construction site in Utah. Someone found the bird and reported it to the Department of Wildlife Resources, who then called Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. When the sanctuary workers procured the owl, about 25% of its body was covered in dried concrete. “We reached out to other wildlife rehabilitators and they had never heard of an owl falling into concrete before, either,” said Best Friends Animal Society’s Wild Friends supervisor Bart Richwalski. That meant the team would have to figure out on their own how to remove the concrete without causing damage or harm. “After doing some research, our team quickly came up with a plan to help the owl in the least invasive way possible," he said. Checking the owl's eyesCourtesy of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Richwalski and the team believe the owl was likely born this past spring. "He's a youngster. That's probably how he ended up in a concrete mixer," he said. They also believe he's a male based on size. When they got the owl to the facility, they found that most of the concrete was on the right side, though most of his body had some amount of dried concrete within it. "An owl needs silent flight, and the wings were damaged to the point where that wouldn't have been possible," Richwalski said. "But his feathers were also sticking together because of the clumps of concrete."They started treating him by very gently crushing the bigger pieces of concrete with hemostats and forceps, then using their fingertips to crumble the smaller pieces. Then, in 20-minute sessions while the owl was under anesthesia, they'd bathe him with Dawn dish soap and water, gently cleaning him with a toothbrush and then drying him thoroughly. He also got an x-ray to check for skeletal damage. Cleaning the owl's wings with a toothbrushCourtesy of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary "Surprisingly, the owl was very accepting of his treatment here and his care," Richwalski said. "He did start getting feisty by the third day, but that's typical of an owl in distress."The plan was that once all of the concrete was removed, the owl would be moved to a series of enclosures, each one larger than the last, so they could test his flight abilities in a safe environment. Checking the owl's wingsCourtesy of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary The owl's long-term prognosis looks good, according to Richwalski. "We expect that he will molt next spring, which will hopefully bring in some fresh, non-damaged feathers," he said. New feathers should allow him to fly silently, which is what allows owls to be effective hunters. Hopefully, that will happen in late spring or early summer. "Once our owl friend recovers, we anticipate taking him back to near where he was found—not on the construction site, but somewhere that is a natural habitat for him, and release him and let him be," Richwalski said. Since being thoroughly cleaned, the owl has been moved to his first enclosure, where he was able to get himself up onto a 6-foot perch. Richwalski said that's a promising sign that nothing but his feathers were damaged. We hope to see the little fellow find his way home next summer!You can learn more about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary here and the Wild Friends certified wildlife rehabilitation center here.

Let’s face it, most children aren’t models, and when parents get their kids’ school pictures, they just hope the child has a decent smile, not a toothy grimace. They also pray that the kid looks directly into the camera, and that their hair doesn’t get messed up between drop-off and picture time. A lot has to go right for parents to get the perfect picture, and they have to be good, or else you’re going to hear about it from the grandparents.When mother Brooke Hamilton, 35, of New Brunswick, Canada, got the pictures back from her daughter Zuri, 10, and son, West, 8, she was shocked. Zuri didn’t take a straightforward, look-at-the-camera, smile photo. Instead, she got sassy by throwing up a peace sign with her hand on her hip, tongue out, and a knowing wink. West, on the other hand, gave a great smile in a traditionally posed photo. Hamilton says that Zuri asked the photographer if she could “try one of her own poses,” and that’s the one they chose, she told People. @thenewmrshamilton Replying to @It’s me ? you were right, smiling forever ??❤️ #schoolpictures #pictureday #siblingsbelike #Siblings #schoolpictureday @Wade Hamilton Everyone was impressed by Zuri's self-confidencePeople in the comments were impressed by Zuri’s self-assurance. “She’s EXACTLY who she thinks she is,” Mei wrote. “She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she IS the moment,” Gus wrote. “And good on the photographer for letting her do that. Imagine having missed out on these iconic shots?!” Kenn commented. “There is NOTHING subtle about it. She TOLD you in plain Queen's English,” Gretchen added.The mother of two may have been surprised when she received the photos from school, but she had no problem with her daughter hamming it up for the camera. “I’m all about letting kids be themselves,” she told People. “Even if that means doing things a bit differently!” Countless people in the comments said that Hamilton should frame the photo so her family can enjoy it for years to come, and she did just that. @thenewmrshamilton Replying to @It’s me ? you were right, smiling forever ??❤️ #schoolpictures #pictureday #siblingsbelike #Siblings #schoolpictureday @Wade Hamilton Zuri has gone viral beforeThis isn’t the first time that Zuri has gone viral for her big personality. Last year, she made it to The Kelly Clarkson Show after a song she recorded with her mother, “Good and Bad,” went viral, earning over 2.6 million views. The song, much like her photo, has some attitude, especially in the way she drops a Not! Joke after saying “You probably should.” @thenewmrshamilton In her songwritting era ???✨ so proud of her! #littlesongwriter #songwritter #firstsong #firstsongwritten #futuresongwritter #kidsfirstsong #herfirstsong #songwritting #momsoftiktok #canadianmom #motherdaughter I could be badI could be goodIf you don't like meYou probably should, notI said no to the candyAnd you should run away nowAnd you should go and play'Cause the candy will chase after you“They [The Kelly Clarkson Show] were the ones that saw Zuri's viral video on TikTok and reached out. So we went through a couple of the steps and talked to some of the producers and ended up booking the show,” Hamilton told CTV. “We have people from all over the world reaching out saying that they were listening, tuning in, listening to Zuri's song. So it's been really cool.” @thenewmrshamilton POV: YOUR 8 YEAR OLD GETS ON THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW ????? Such an amazing experience!! Thank you @Kelly Clarkson Show for having us! ?? Video: The Kelly Clarkson Show via YouTube #kellyclarkson #kellyclarksonshow #thekellyclarksonshow #whatimliking #tvappearance #wereontv #newbrunswick #songwritter #badandgood #badandgoodsong #badandgoodzuribloom #zuribloom #zurionkellyclarkson @kellyclarkson

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Chile’s Miss World contestant was NOT what anyone expected

The 'Gomer Pyle' star was given the choice between having his friend fired and having his entire show cancelled.

Chile’s Miss World contestant was NOT what anyone expected