Terra's Past Letters

Carless

Dear Carless,

From what you said in your first email, your father said that they are in a "financial crisis." You seem to think that you mother has "a lot of money." Either there is extra money that they want to spend on a car for you or there isn't. If there is no extra money, then you'll have to deal with that and get a part-time job and save up over time. If there is extra money but for whatever reason they don't want to spend it on a car for you, then you'll have to deal with that and get a part-time job and save up over time. Either way, you can't force your parents to buy you a car. You realize that, don't you?

As for trying to "convince" them how much you need it... Well, here's my suggestion: build a case for it, on paper. Write up all the good reasons you can think of that will explain why you need a car. Assuming that they have the extra money to buy it and they are willing to spend that money on a car, then you could offer to help out with the payments. It might help convince them if you made a commitment to contribute to the purchase of this vehicle and to ongoing payments.

I hope this helps.