When I went to buy my first new car in my early twenties, I was armed with a detailed analysis and breakdown of what I felt would be a fair price. I even included a dealer profit in my price.

I was so naive.

I still shudder at the memory of that salesman smirking over my added profit. Who knows how much I overpaid for that car but I”m sure it was a lot. Maybe because of that, I’ve worried over every subsequent deal in every aspect of my life. I never wanted to feel that foolish again.

As an auth...