If you’re like me, you know what it’s like to want nice things…now!

It makes no difference that we’re young and barely clinging to the bottom rungs of the corporate ladder, we deserve (or at least think we do) the Coach bags, Armani suits and Prada shoes, right?

It’s what my parents refer to as champagne taste on a beer budget. But fear not, my friends, let me give you the inside scoop on how you may be able to afford to drive a luxury car without having to buy it (and no, I’m not talking about stealing it).

So, you have your eye on that hot new BMW but you know there is no way you can afford it on your current salary. Leasing is an option that may let you drive a higher-end car for less than you’d pay per month if you bought it.

A lease allows you to pay to use a car for a period of time, generally around 36 months. What you actually pay for is the difference between the capitalized cost, or what the vehicle is worth, and the residual value, or what the car will be worth at the end of the lease. The difference between these two values represents depreciation. Most cars lose value, making them poor investments.