Raising VC is kind of like buying a car. If your destination is decently far away, it makes a lot of sense.
The problem is that a lot of these folks don't know how far they're actually going. They end up buying a car to drive around the corner or just down the block. And now they have to deal with parking, gas, insurance, etc.
Even worse, they're usually going in the wrong direction initially. It's a much better strategy to start on foot, go for a quick walk, and then get a bicycle. When the bike's tires are bald, then it's time to think about buying a car.
If you've driven there before (or somewhere very similar) either alone or in the passenger seat, then maybe you can skip straight to buying a car. But then again, it's a different time of day and traffic is unpredictable.
And once you're driving, don't be afraid to pull over and ask for directions!
Alternatives: taxi, Zipcar, rideshare, Uber, renting a car, leasing a car. It's a pretty good metaphor because you really don't need to buy a car to go "decently far away" at all. A one-time car service charge of $1k is a lot better than a $20k loan.
The problem is that a lot of these folks don't know how far they're actually going. They end up buying a car to drive around the corner or just down the block. And now they have to deal with parking, gas, insurance, etc.
Even worse, they're usually going in the wrong direction initially. It's a much better strategy to start on foot, go for a quick walk, and then get a bicycle. When the bike's tires are bald, then it's time to think about buying a car.
If you've driven there before (or somewhere very similar) either alone or in the passenger seat, then maybe you can skip straight to buying a car. But then again, it's a different time of day and traffic is unpredictable.
And once you're driving, don't be afraid to pull over and ask for directions!