Tip #4 — Don’t Focus on Monthly Payment First

"Focusing on the monthly payment is like picking a house because the mortgage sounds cute — but the roof’s caving in and there’s a raccoon in the bathroom." - Chase Jordan

Let’s be real — everyone’s got a budget.

It’s totally normal to think in terms of, “What can I afford per month?”

But in the dealership world, leading with your desired monthly payment is like giving away the cheat sheet to the test.

At Deal Guard, your trusted car buying concierge and deal protection service, we help clients focus on the total deal, not the monthly smoke and mirrors.

Let’s show you why it matters more than anything.

🎯 Why Dealers LOVE Monthly Payment Talk

Here’s what happens when you say, “I can afford $500 a month.”

Dealership math kicks in:

• Stretch the loan to 84 months? Check.

• Add $2,500 in junk fees or add ons? Hide it in the payment.

• Inflate the interest rate by 1, 2, even 3%+? You’ll never notice...

As long as the final number lands near $500/month, you think you got what you asked for — but you actually just paid way more.

They structure the deal to fit your monthly payment — not your financial best interest.

💡 The Trick of Term Manipulation

Let’s say:

• You want a nice pre loved car that’s $35,000

• You say, “I want to be around $500/month.”

They come back with:

• $499/month for 84 months

• Interest rate: 8.9%

• Total paid: over $41,000 😳

You think: “Perfect, that’s my payment.”

Reality: You just overpaid by thousands — quietly. Millions of people do this annually, don't feel bad.

This is why monthly payments are the last thing to discuss, not the first.

🔢 What You Should Focus On First

When Deal Guard negotiates for our clients, we focus on:

1. Vehicle price — locked down and fair

2. Out-the-door price — all fees included (Tip #1)

3. Trade-in value — negotiated separately (Tip #2)

4. Financing terms — APR, loan term, and lender transparency

Only after all that do we look at what your monthly payment will be.

We never back into a payment. We build a deal that makes financial sense — then calculate payments based on that.

🛡 How Deal Guard Protects You

As your professional car buying advocate, we:

• Block the “monthly payment” trap from the jump

• Get price and finance details in writing

• Use real math to compare payment scenarios

• Call out shady amortization tricks

• Keep long-term affordability and resale in mind

We don’t let flashy numbers fool you. We make sure the deal works in the long run.

💸 Why Longer Terms Can Be Dangerous

Stretching a loan to 72 or 84 months might feel nice upfront — but the long-term costs stack up fast:

• More interest paid over time

• Slower equity build-up

• Higher chance of being upside down (owing more than the car is worth)

Plus, dealerships push long terms to make higher profit on interest. You might drive away with your dream car — but a nightmare of a loan.

💥 The Deal Guard Game Plan

Here’s what to say when the salesperson asks what you want to pay monthly:

“Let’s start with the total price first. Then I’ll look at financing options.”

Or:

“I’m more focused on value and terms. I’ll share my budget once we’ve locked in the car and deal.”

It’s not rude. It’s smart. 🎯

😎 Final Word from Chase

Monthly payments feel easy to focus on — but they’re a trap if you don’t understand how they’re built.

At GetDealGuard.com, we help you build a deal that makes sense long before talking payments. That way, your money goes further — and your peace of mind lasts longer.

🎯 Want a deal that actually works?
Start with Deal Guard — not the monthly number.