My $100,000 Van - Explained (MMM Show Episode 13) 

Bro keep posting the people need you right now!

Been FIREd for almost five years thanks to this guy. 👍🏾

My 1993 Toyota Corolla saved me 1 million dollars because I did not buy a Bugatti Veyron

Looks great. Talk about getting your money's worth! Wish you would post more often... I know, you're busy enjoying life.

I've been on the verge of buying a model Y but just decided to buy a new house instead that is located close to a city recreation center that has a very inexpensive gym, library next door, a shopping center with grocery store, Kohls, coffee shop & restaurants and a walking trail around a pond. I'll be able to walk/bike to almost everything I need, and I'll keep my 2012 Chevy Volt for now.

Man, you should make a 15 minute video every week. This was a lot of fun. Pick a topic! Pick old MMM articles and refresh and do them video style. IE: DIY home stuff you've done that is value-add vs. wasteful with examples, smart spending tips for the grocery store with prices for the new to cooking at home crowd (what is a good price for chicken? simple go to meals), camping tips and how to have fun on a budget, etc. Keep 'em coming. Sorry I use adblock!

Good stuff Pete! Using your approach I FIREd a year ago at 33 and I'm loving it. Thank you! Great camera btw, very clear picture.

I buy a new vehicle every few years (because I am an automotive enthusiast and I love driving a nice vehicle) but I still manage to save at least 50% of my gross income every year. For me it's about deciding what makes you happy and spending your 'joy' money only on those things, while still making sure you maintain a high savings rate at all times. I fell into the typical spending traps early on and didn't start saving for retirement until I was 43 but I will still retire a millionaire at 58. No, it's not 31 like MMM, but it's just fine for me. There is no cookie cutter financial plan that is perfect for every individual, but most of the advice offered here is great advice.

Great video! Ive been a big fan of the blog for years now and would love to see more youtube content. Regardless, I am grateful for all of the money/lifestyle advice you have given over the years. Thanks to you I am in a much better place than most people my age. Cheers!

Great stuff. I was def inspired by MMM and fire community to make the switch. I went from leasing a 20k vehicle to a 13 y/o Prius with 115k miles for $3.5k. Such a weight off and I don't have to worry about keeping it so pristine.

Enjoyed the video! Nice to see you back after taking a year off - I hope you will post again soon :-)

My husband is a parts manager at a Honda, I’m sure he’d love this!🤣🙌🏻 Even the coors light! Now if only I could get him to absorb the message and realize what a mistake his $60k truck was. 😏

Hey MMM I'm glad to see you are doing well. There are a lot of ways to get things done and there is something to be said for a vehicle that is versatile. Minivans are great although I haven't owned one myself yet. I like my F250 because it can haul a lot in the bed, even dirty stuff. When I trim my trees the branches are piled 5' above the cab. I cut down a whole 2' diameter tree that was in my yard and hauled it away to the landfill in one trip. It is a diesel and gets 20 mpg highway when empty with 6 speed manual with 257k miles now. I also use it to haul a camper which slides into the bed and I go on weeks, sometimes months long trips in it. See my videos of some trips I've done, just got back home from Colorado. I have time for that because I am also FIRED, being a reader of yours since you started the blog and others before that. I used to have a super efficient car, a Geo Metro that got over 50 mpg (and you have been in it). I like to change it up a bit and had a midlife crisis so my smaller car has a V8 now but still gets 30 mpg highway.

When you wrote the true cost of commuting you actually changed my life - moved within biking distance of work (as a young professional) and ditched the vehicle. I anticipate this saves me $3000 a year between insurance, depreciation, maintenance, gas, etc

Best use of Coors Light 👍👍 Good to see you back on RU-vid

Whilst I will never be able to go full hardcore FIRE, you have inspired me to keep my old car another 12 months.

Glad you're back! I love my $5k little ford ranger - saves me $40/mo hauling trash to the dump ourselves and has helped myself and others move quite a bit of furniture and building supplies over the 4 years I've had her.

MMM, With your blog and videos, you have helped several people including myself from making financial mistakes and appreciate the value of efficient living. Your blogs are a must-read for everyone, preferably before they start working and making money. I wish I found your blog a few years earlier. Still it helped a lot and allowed me to see the wastage of money happening around us. Thank you for the practical advices through your posts and videos!!

18 months and counting down to start my FIRE journey...

Yes, he's back! The world needs your videos MMM :D

finally another MMM upload! Thanks for all that you do. Ive learned a lot from your blog

Great to see you back making videos, good sir!

I came across your car buying advice several years ago, and I got a 2004 Caravan. We are a family of 7 so every seat is filled and we use it maximally weekly. At 17 years old, it has 110,000 miles on it (we bought it from a lil ole lady who drove it very little). Having this van has allowed us to save a car payment each month, so that our next car buy will be in cash. It's one of the best financial decisions we've made.

I bought a Scion bc of MMM 2004 xB. 111k miles. Manual. It offers a ridiulous amount of cargo space. Love it. July 2023.....sold my 2014 honda CRV with 134k miles. Had it for 5 years. Was ready for a new vehicle. Was lookin for a 1st gen honda Fit (06-07). Was also lookin at Scions.....and then found and then jumped on my xB. I get laughed at a little from fam n friends but i dont care. I love my 1st gen xB. I even tinted the front windows on my own!

My wife and I made it to F.I. in 8 years following these common sense principles. It was your "The True Cost of Commuting" post that was the catalyst that started us on or path to financial freedom back in 2011.

Mr Money Mustache changed my life. He shares common sense advice to anyone willing to listen. Thanks MMM!

Finally some content from MMM! I've been waiting for the next blog post.

Thanks MMM! I have been obsessed with getting a new Vehicle for about 6 months now. I came to your channel to stop myself from getting into another car payment. Luckily you just released this one! I’m going to hold onto my 10 year old vehicle and make the necessary repairs to keep it going. Great advice and I hope to see more videos from you soon. Thank you -AC

Thank you so much for your video. Retired 5 years ago, because of the confidence building of your blog. Now your video continue to affirm my choice and life is good, real good. You rock the bad assery!

In the past 5-6 years we've aquired 2 cars. 1st was a $10k, 5 year old (2010), 75,000 mile car 2nd was a $6k, 8 year old (2011), 95,000 mile car The 2nd was bought with the expectation of placing a ton of highway miles on it. It was replacing my daily driver (engine broke down, tried fixing but the machining was going to cost more than the value). Since I'm a 40 mile one way commuter, the requirements we gas mileage, cup holders, and an aux input. Got all of those for $6k. While going through that process, a lot of people (family, friends, and car sales people) basically said I'd be driving a death trap lemon 🍋 that would break down in 1 month and a day... People really need to recognize that cars are supposed to last a good while. Today, "they" were considering a used car as 1-2 years old with 20k miles. TLDR, were keeping our 2 older cars until they can't drive any more.

Good to see you back. Pete. Keep it coming, the FI community needs MMM!

Love you work Pete! Had never heard of you until my early 30s, but started my fire journey at 17 lol. Retired at 39 last year,and sold my 2018 duramax for a 99 subaru outback (30k mi). If you ever want to come to IL you've got a place to hang as long as you want. Appreciate your efforts.

If my memory is correct, I believe the Honda van suggest a timing belt replacement between 80-120 K miles due to it being a zero tolerance engine. The reason I bought the Toyota Sienna ( timing chain motor)

I really enjoy how you break down your thought process on your practical choices. Thanks for sharing!

THIS VIDEO IS A 10/10 Great editing little mmm, great energy all around

Inspiring man. Thanks for this. I’m working towards a life like yours. Thanks for bringing this to the world.

I have a Toyota Sienna 2005 paid 5k had it 3 years now it had just a little over 100k when I bought it. It’s also a limited so it has lots of room and seats warn up lol. Best vehicle I ever bought. I also have a Toyota Corolla it’s a 2010 bought it in 2012 it had 30k miles it cost 9K and it’s still purring like a kitten. 40 miles per gallon in the city. You got a great deal on that Honda van. Love your videos!

This was awesome. On my way to CO to start my FIRE journey, see you soon!

So glad to get this reinforcement!! I just changed a parking light bulb in my 9-year-old mini. It was my victory for the day/week!

Lol when you poured the Coors light on Vanna. I call my blue 2003 Odyssey the Party Barge, and Party Barge approves your message.

I was toying with the thought of trading in my 15 year old car for a younger one and I realized through your video that I can drive it for at least 5 more years, so thanks in advance for your tips and money saving 👍

I do the same with my car, my friend. You open my mind about vans, now I will think about it. Cheers from Brazil.

Awesome video Pete, keep them coming.

It's about time you made a new video! Good stuff, keep it up more often.

The lighting and colors are popping in this video! Impressive

Thanks for the video! Bought my 2001 Tundra in 2008 and at 55K miles, it was the newest vehicle I had ever bought. It is almost to 200K and still running strong. Last week I rented a carpet cleaning machine for $30, unbolted the seats, pulled all the trim and gave it a well deserved cleaning. Hoping to get another 5 to 10 years at least.....As a tile installer, a van would have been nice for organization, but tile and thin-set is very heavy.

Thanks for talking some sense into me MMM. I was thinking about upgrading my 2010 Kia, i think I'll procrastinate on that a bit.

Yes! I have an 05 Odyssey we bought for $1900 b/c it needed a rear main seal replaced ($1200). So for $3100 we have a low mileage van that is ENORMOUS and coupled with my $400 kit trailer from Harbor Freight I never need a truck. Bonus: it came with hail damage, so I never need to worry when it hails!

We bought a 1998 model new (I know...) But we've pledged to drive it until it dies. We use it for everything, lend it out for friends to haul stuff, even hauling wood. Such a great video! We love our 100k mommy van!

Amazing Pete, so nice to see new content from you. ;D Nice drawing btw!

Your videos are so helpful. Please make more!!

Thank you for starting your website and movement!

That is a fantastic looking shirt! ;) Nothing wasted. =) Hope you are having a great summer.

Glad to see you back, i've missed your content. Battery Tender also makes a solar panel charger kit, i believe it has the ability to float the battery once charged. That will cut your energy consumption. I have one i use for my tractor from time to time. Cheers!

Such discipline. We are older. We finally figured out the car thing in our late 40s. We currently drive a 2010, 2013, and 2016. These are older for us. We plan to keep them for quite a while yet. I used to get a brand new car every two-three years. Much improved.

Such a vital lesson. My car isn't quite as old, but it's almost 10 years now! Much older than many would have.

Yes! I love watching your videos. Love gaining some great knowledge and life tips! 👍

Thank you for this badass video - loved it

This video cured me of my Bronco rage

hey Mate ! Great video ! I was really hoping to learn more I could do from your video, but I just realised I already do every tip you haev mentioned lol ! well done anyway !

"Purchase procrastination" love it! I use that when I want a new smartphone. Also my sister just bought a 1991 Honda Civic, which makes it 5 years older than her!

I sold my car last summer because my bicycles solve all of my transportation needs. At my workplace I see guys that live 45 minuts from work commuting with they're big puck up trucks. Most of them obviously don't use they're truck for part time work because they are grossly out of shape! I mean some of these guys can't see they're own feet because of the size of they're gut! Oddly THEY seem to think that "I" am the crazy one on the bike. If so , I am mush happier since I'm crazy 😄 Thanks for the inspiration to rid myself of my clown like car habit.👍

I have a 2005 odyssey with over 350,000 miles. Use it to haul about 2 tons on a trailer often. ( use 3rd gear)

Welcome back 👌

yessss! keep videos coming, just love your philosophy and way to thunk. You are one of my biggest inspiration to start my journey out of debt into wealth! Hopefully in a couple of years can lean fire and quit my job to do whateved I like.

Kudos! A very wise man :) Thank you for sharing.

Great info. I like your comment about purchase procrastination and keeping it fresh.

this is the best car video i've watched. great lessons

Love your work dude

This is the video I needed right now! Thanks man

Thanks @MMM - you are an inspiration !

1 year later? Holy crap.

Glad to see another video MMM! Delay Delay Delay those purchases to FIRE Victory! I loved the painting of the van roof. Its so true when fixing old stuff you care less about imperfections and it just lets you have fun and learn something new. Then you rekindle the joy for the old item. Could be anything from a van to an old computer to polishing a pair of work shoes. Looking forward to more videos. Great music as always. Do you use free video editing software?

And of course, most important to buy used because of the shape of the depreciation curve. That's why I bought my 2012 Corvette used. LOL, I know, a stupid car. But we also have a 2009 Honda CR-V that looks like new with 140,000 miles. But we bought that new. Also my son is still driving my 1997 Lexus ES300 that I bought new, now has 220,000 miles. Great advice in the video! But some people can't handle even basic maintenance. I love to work on my cars, but I do have a history of occasionally trying to fix something but actually making it worse and being forced to bring it to a professional. RU-vid videos are great. Several jobs were made possible only by the availability of a detailed how-to video on the exact year/model car that I own.

Great tip on the battery!

I bought my Honda Odyssey in 2007, brand new, for $35k then. It still runs great, it’s done several trips around the US and many trips to San Diego from Denver and back, since my daughter moved there., fully loaded. The vehicle runs great, no major issues, since I bought it, accept a few minor repairs. I think the newer models are more troublesome, but at the time, this van and the Toyota Sienna were the Consumer Reports top rated vans in the US. Since then they rated the newer models as less reliable. Mr MMM is right, when you drop those back seats the space you have is unbelievable, no SUV comes close.

Another advantage of keeping 1500 dollar that works is that you know it's history and future potential costs. When you buy a 1500 dollar car on the market, the future costs are unknown.

Love my Honda Odyssey! 215k and still driving as well as the day we bought it 8 years ago with 80k miles. I’m hoping to keep mine until I can get a Model Y too.

My car is 2 years younger than me and can start drinking next year :D Greetings from Germany!

Does your sun still do the editing? If so, he's improved significantly over the past year or so! Always good to see another MMM video too!

I ran my cheap cars down to the bone. Saved lots of money. Finally splurged for the Tesla, which I'll keep for a LONG time with minimal fuel and maintenance requirements. Don't regret either decision. Thanks Mr. Money Mustache!

Love your content and such awesome advice! In the exact same boat of wanting a Tesla and procrastinating every year🤓! However we are in contact for a new v3 glass roof and 3 powerwalls so that may have to be my Tesla for while. I’ll just ride my bike and be happy 😊 Ty MMM!

Thank you for snapping me out of it! My mind was trying to convince me I 'needed' a new truck....... Incase I might need to buy a bulky item sometime...lol

Love your style well done

Great tips. Keep delaying and delaying buying anything new. Bought my 2005 pathy in 2009 as a one owner lease return. Bought with 50k, has 90k on it after 11 years of driving. Looks new and not old at all. Body style still looks new IMO. The Colorado winters make me change the the oil due to condensation in oil pan usually accumulates water in bottom of pan when draining.

CONDESCENDING PAUSE! hahahah :D such a great video Pete! Bikes are freedom!

every young adult needs to learn this stuff ----wish I learned purchase procrastination in my peak earning years - wasted a few $$ on new cars every 5 yrs.

Dude!, where have you been? Missed you and thanks for the video. I would like a new/used car, but am keeping my '88 Toyota Celica alive with 197K. I have been goaling to get to 200K, but hardly drive it. Bike around town mostly. Minivan would be a good next choice for my occasional scrap metal hauling needs and bikes inside. Hope you are doing well and staying safe in these crazy times. How about a video of how your stocks are doing and what if anything, you are doing/will do different going forward? Best!

Vanna seems like a sweet ol lady. But I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm looking forward to MMM's posts about that Tesla. No disrespect to Vanna

The late 1990s Honda vehicles are supreme. I've been driving a 1998 Honda Accord that my grandmother gifted me when she bought a new car for about 5 years now and it's been the best car I've ever owned. 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT has been a nightmare (also a gift) burns a lot of oil and something is always going wrong.

Our 2013 Toyota Sienna SE I paid cash for is named Van-Essa lol

What a great video and great useful content. I see you haven’t posted vids recently ao hopefully you and yours are well enjoying retirement :) Keep it up. Those of us who also want to retire need you! :-)

Great video! Wondering if this is an advertisement for the model Y to bring the price down with higher volumes! Either way that procrastination tip is super valuable!

Hey MMM, when practicing wheelies on your bike you should keep your arms stretched when the front wheel lifts. It is a common mistake to bend the arms when the front wheel goes up. Just keep em stretched and pedal smooth :-)

I agree! My Volvo V70 (a k a "Bloody Mary") from 1997 is still going strong. Best spent 15000 SEK (1800 USD) eight years ago.

Your story about the used Honda Odyssey sounds exactly like mine. Don't drive a lot of miles my wife uses it everything is fairly close by and I fix everything myself. I could probably keep it for another hundred thousand miles which would take another 25 years

I drive a 2005 F350 I paid $1250 for at an auction and it has been the best investment I have ever made!

Agreed on the 'delay the purchase' theory. I've been wanting to replace my car for the last 18 months, but have been delaying it and delaying it. Five and a half years from a $3000 car has been a good run. With COVID affecting the prices of used cars, I'll probably end up delaying some more. Probably better off first looking for a bike that doesn't have a slightly bent frame... Have you had to replace any rubber hoses, belts or bushes? Surely they'd perish with age, regardless of miles driven.

Love this.

That's a good tip on the battery. Especially in covid times. We had to replace a battery in our old Honda. This is also a good reminder that my car needs a cleaning. I've been jonesing for a minivan, but the Matrix is just fine as our big car. She's still a baby, really. My last day of work in March she was at 149,450 miles and I thought "I'll hit 150k in April! " Well with working at home, she's at 149,670. Grocery trips every 10 days is it.