Buying & Selling Vehicles Part 4: Ready to Buy a Camper Van

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Welcome back friends to Education Wednesdays on my B.R.E.A.T.H.S. blog. For this month, I am holding this space to share my financial education journey with buying and selling a vehicle. The last time I bought a car was my Ford Edge in 2010, and I had traded in a lease at the time with never having the experience of selling a car. These blog entries were more like journal posts about the process each week with the end result hopefully buying a business van that can be used as a dual work and living space. 

Week 4 – July 16th – 31st

The first week in July, I discussed researching the type of vehicle I want. The second week, I shared about different financing options. Last week, I shared seven steps to sell your car. This fourth week, I will show you how I narrowed down my must haves and the ten steps I used to buy my van. 

10 Steps When Ready to Buy From a Private Seller

1. Research on RVTrader.com
   • RVs for sale
     • Location
       • Nationwide
     • Type
       • Class B
     • Make
       • Ford
     • Model
       • Transit
     • Fuel Type
       • Gasoline
     • Seller Type
       • Private
2. Google Spreadsheet comparison
   • Year
   • Mileage
   • Price
   • Extras
3. Contact Sellers
   • Email seller original message to see if listing is still available
4. Meet With Bank
   • Discuss financing options with two vehicle choices
5. Check Vehicle History – VIN
   • Accidents
   • Owners
   • Maintenance 
6. Original Equipment or Aftermarket Installations
   • Manual
   • Spare keys
   • Add-ons
7. Ask About Owners Circumstance
   • Moving-quick sell
   • Upgrading-something bigger
   • Downgrading-something smaller
8. Understand the Vehicle’s Value
   • Year vs miles vs price
   • Compare like vehicles
   • Possible mechanic inspection
9. Negotiate the Price
10. Settle on the Sale
    • Make sure they have clear title and registration with their name
    • Get two copies of everything in writing
      • Mileage
      • Agreed price 
      • Any added terms
      • Date
    • Meet at DMV to change title and registration in your name
    • Pay in check or money order when the title is transferred

Conclusion on Being Ready to Buy My Camper Van

This past month, I have been on a journey to find out how to sell my car and buy a new camper van. I have researched all my options, narrowed down my scope, contacted the sellers and banks, and I am just waiting for the final result of making arrangements to pick up my new camper van. I will post a follow up blog on how the sale went as well as refine my car buying and selling processes.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Daily Motivation Draw 

I set up a small indoor altar on my laptop desk with a candle, stick, and some carrots and cucumbers for offering. I lit the candle, lit the Palo Santo stick, and started reading the invocation of Spirit from The Sacred Medicine Oracle Guidebook. I centered myself, took three deep breaths, shuffled the deck three times, cut it in half, and drew the card asking:

• Daily Draw Question: “What medicine is being invited into my life so that I may thrive?”

• The card I drew: 6 – Walk in a Good Way – Realign

• Message integration: Asha (2023) explains that Mino-bimaadiziwin is teaching to remind us how we move through this world. This card asks us to “Anishinaabemowin” or “walk in a good way with all beings,” as we all flow with the same divine energy (Frost, 2023). With unconditional love we are guided back to our paths to realign with our truth and rise (Frost, 2023).

• Healing affirmation: “I return to the truth that source flows through me. I am aligned.“ (Frost, 2023)

• Personal insight: A second night in my room with my daily draw, today, I was focusing on a very specific thought about the van I am ready to buy asking for signs I am on the right path. Suddenly, a path appears in the card and I was overcome with joy. I have been very unaligned lately with this car buying and selling process and this card literally made my day, or should I say night. My dreams are sure to be poppin’ tonight, lol. 

Thank you for reading and learning with me,

Dr. Jaime Brainerd, Ed.D.

Reference:

Frost, A. (2023). The sacred medicine oracle card deck & guidebook. Hay House, Inc.