Everyone has that one car that makes their adrenaline jump, their heart race, and their blood pump a little faster. It’s your dream car. The one you have wanted forever and a day—but, for some reason or another, you never thought you could have. However, this article is here to tell you that you can, but there are steps to owning the car of your dreams.

Get Educated About the Car You Want—Price, Features, Services, etc.

There has to be a reason why you love the car that you love. Is it the features? The cool colors, seats, and settings? The smooth ride and quick drive times? Pinpoint what you love and begin a list of features, services, and prices. These are your goals. Consider the price a hard-set aspiration, and work towards that. When you work hard and eliminate the things you don’t need from your budget, you’ll be surprised how quickly you have the extra cash for your dream car.

Set a Budget and Fit it Into Your Means

What do you need to live comfortably? Food, water, housing—etc. These are the essentials. However, some people have a wine taste on a beer budget, as the saying goes. This means, if you live beyond what you need, you won’t have extra cash for the things you really want. Your dream car might cost a bundle, so set a budget, stick with it month to month, and watch the extra cash accumulate.

Consider Financing Your Dream Car, but Within Reason

Financing a dream car can be more expensive than simply saving up for it. However, for people with next to no bills, this is a good option. It might be your biggest expense, but you have to be responsible enough to handle the monthly payments. If added fees and taxes put your dream car over your set price range, abandon the financing idea, and opt to save for it instead.

Or, Invest in an Oldie and Fix it Up Over Time

If your dream car is an oldie but a goodie, there are probably loads of damaged cars that could use a little TLC. And they are much cheaper than buying your dream car brand new and outright. Do the math and if the costs of repairs is cheaper still, opt for investing in an oldie to fix up as you get the cash. It could be a fun project for the weekends. Or, you could make a budgeted fixer-upper deal with an auto repair shop St. Peters MO, or equivalent.

Your dream car is always a dollar away. You simply have to budget, plan, prepare, and save your cash. If your dream car is that big of a deal, you will find a way to get the cashflow to snag it.