You need to consider your budget before you purchase a used car. If you will not paying for the car with cash, then you will have to finance it. The monthly payments are not the only thing that you have to consider. You also have to think about the maintenance costs and insurance. You should also make a list of all of the used cars that you are interested in. Keep in mind that it is still possible for you to get your dream car even if you buy it used.
Furthermore, you should narrow down your list. Do some research on the vehicles that you are interested in buying. Things that you should pay attention to include the fuel economy, performance, safety ratings and reliability. It is also a good idea to look at the Carfax report.