Welcome to the newest episode of Wonder in the Weeds. I am Cristie, your Gen X host , and I am here with Faith, our Gen Z representative. Today we are talking about what happens when two different generations tackle a big life event: buying a car.

A few weeks ago, Faith’s old car completely died in our driveway. Because of her work schedule, she needed a replacement fast. She is a young adult now, so her dad and I decided she needed to handle this purchase herself. She even used the cash she won from a playwriting grant for her play “Dead and Gone” to make the down payment.

Faith’s Strategy as a Gen Z Buyer

Faith did a ton of online research before we even stepped onto a car lot. Here is how she handled the process:

• Knowing Her Budget: She knew exactly what she could afford to pay each month.
• Picking the Right Brand: After reading reviews for reliable used cars, she decided on a Toyota.
• Standing Her Ground: When the dealership presented a financing rate that was too high, she was completely ready to walk out and find another car.

My Struggle as a Gen X Parent

My role in this was to go with her to the dealership as a second set of eyes. Let me tell you, it was hard to stay quiet.

• I had to do a lot of mental work beforehand to manage my own stress.
• I wanted to steer her toward certain choices, but I knew I had to let her figure it out on her own.
• I did step in to remind her to slow down and read all the paperwork the salesman was throwing at her.

Her dad also had a hard time at first because parents always want to rescue their kids and provide for them. But once she brought the car home, he was the perfect cheerleader. He rode with her and pointed out all the great details of her new car.

Our Weekly Wonders

We end the episode with the things that are bringing us joy right now:

• Faith is loving two songs for her commute: “The Great Divide” by Noah Kahan and “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen.
• I am still completely obsessed with the Bad Bunny halftime show. It was beautiful and brought so much joy to everyone watching.

https://youtu.be/zm_vHO3vYNA