New car average cost in 2015 in the US is $33,560
The goal is to pay yourself first those payments of that 30k car then once you have it go buy that car.
In my case, I made the mistake of leasing my girls car for 3 years, then had to eat the buyout bc of the .09% offer along with the car was in mint shape with only 20k miles after 3 years. So I make the 225 payment to VW, 250 payment to myself (for future car so I dont have to get loans or lease) at the same time. Over the course I now have 18k aside for her next ride. 12 or so months the 225 will go away, the payment becomes 475 to myself and in no time I will have that 40k needed for a new ride (aslong and nothing crazy happens to our Tiguan the next 2-5 years.
As someone who saves a large portion of my income and strict about not touching it, there are days and months of living like a monk and others feeling more normal and even fortunate.