Dave Ramsey says this 'really, extremely' stupid purchase is the No. 1 thing new college graduates get wrong

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Dave Ramsey doesn't pull punches, but one advice seeker who recently wrote in to The Ramsey Show seemed primed for the host to make a blunt assessment when they asked if their decision to buy a new car was "stupid."

Ava, 23, from Massachusetts, just graduated from college and is in a seemingly great financial place for someone just out of school: no debt, $25,000 in stocks, $3,000 in cash and a new job lined up for the fall that will pay $130,000, with the potential of $30,000 in bonuses (1).

Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one

JPMorgan still sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA. Learn more with a free guide from Priority Gold

The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won't act in time. What to do before the window closes

What could be the problem? Well, Ava is considering financing a Tesla Model Y. "Dave's favorite car," co-host Rachel Cruze joked as she read Ava's letter.

Ava was quoted an out-the-door price of $53,000, with an APR of 2% on her car loan. "If I put down $23,000 [the] monthly payment will be $442 for 72 months," Ava wrote.