How To Save Money Following A Serious Car Accident

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/07/29 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on How To Save Money Following A Serious Car Accident

If you have just been in a serious car accident, you may be faced with paying medical and other costs while also being out of work. Therefore, it is imperative that you find ways to save money until you are able to get back to work or find other ways to make up your lost earnings. What are some options to help you achieve that goal?

Ask About Debt Settlement

If you have outstanding credit card or other debts, ask to settle those debts for less than you owe. While it may require a lump sum payment now, you may be better prepared to deal with future costs without high-interest debt hanging over your head.

Make Sure That You Fix Your Car

Neglecting to fix your car could lead to more expenses in the future. For instance, failure to repair a dent to your side panel could cause rust to form and eat away at the frame. Failing to fix the car’s brake lines could lead to fluid leaks or frayed lines susceptible to sparking. Take your car to experts like those at Chehalis Collision Center to make sure it gets fixed the right way the first time so you don’t have repair bills adding up over time.

Ask Family or Friends to Move In

Having another person in your home may be helpful if he or she agrees to help share the cost of rent and utilities. Having a friend or family member in your home may also be helpful as he or she may be a good cook or help out with cleaning and home maintenance projects.

Cut Back on Unnecessary Expenses

If you aren’t working, you need to make sure that your savings lasts as long as possible. This could mean cutting out cable TV and not eating out. All of these changes can save hundreds a month without totally depriving you of what you need to live.

Use the Internet to Save on Groceries and Other Common Expenses

The internet is a great place to find coupons, sites selling used goods and sites where people trade or barter goods instead of selling them. This can help you get groceries, tools to help with arts and crafts projects or finding clothes or toys for your kids if you can’t afford to buy them new ones.

No one plans to be in a serious accident. However, if you have been in a wreck, you will need to cut costs and be strict about your budget. Settling debts, asking others to live with you and looking for as many discounts as you can may help you save money without altering your lifestyle too much.

Five Quick Car Repairs All New Drivers Should Know

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/07/27 in Auto Repair with Comments Off on Five Quick Car Repairs All New Drivers Should Know

If you’re a new driver, there are some basic car repairs you need to know in order to avoid problems while driving on the road. If you run out of gas or have a flat, how will you know or be able to diagnose the problems? Though you don’t have to become a mechanic, having some basic repair skills on hand is always a good idea. Luckily, there are many car repair programs offered at places like the Newgate School or even your own high school that can help you learn these five quick repairs.

Change a Tire

Changing a flat tire is one of the most common problems you might face on the road. Knowing where to find a spare tire and how to change it can help save you money and get you back on the road and on your way in just a few minutes.

Replace a Battery

Replacing a dead battery is something that is easy to do, yet many people know nothing about. You should learn to identify and replace one. If you find your car battery is weak or dead, you can remove it and replace it in just a couple minutes with some basic hand tools. It also helps to know some common problems that can cause a dead battery so you’re prepared.

Replace a Belt

Car belts eventually wear out and can break, causing parts like the fan and alternator to stop working. This can create other issues such as a dead battery or engine overheating. Knowing how to change a belt can save you a lot of problems and costs.

Replace Windshield Wipers

Driving in a rain storm is not the time to find out your windshield wipers are not working properly. Windshield wipers are very easy to replace and can save you a great deal of trouble with visibility. You can save some money by knowing how to replace windshield wipers yourself as well.

Replace a Headlight Bulb

Occasionally, a headlight bulb will go out, making it very difficult to see the roadway or any obstacles lying in the road at night. When you’re out on a dark roadway with a headlight out it can be very dangerous as well. You can replace it in just a few minutes and keep yourself and others safe while driving.

These are just a few basic skills that will help you save money and keep you safe while driving. Most car repairs can be easily learned and will allow you to avoid major problems while driving. Keep things up to date and maintained and you’ll be on your way!

Auto Fix: How to Make Your Next Garage Project More Manageable

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/07/25 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Auto Fix: How to Make Your Next Garage Project More Manageable

Many people find working on their own car to be cost effective and can save them a lot more time than going to a mechanic for every problem. Completing a job yourself is satisfying and can keep your car well-maintained if done correctly. If you are already an auto enthusiast or just getting to know your way around an engine, having a good garage setup can be beneficial to getting your projects done faster and more efficiently. Here are some organization and management steps you can take to make the next fix a breeze.

Making Your Project More Manageable

The first and most important thing you can do to keep your project under control is to plan it out. Get an outline set up and figure out exactly what you want to accomplish and in what order. This may sound simple, but most people new to automotive DIY repair overlook this vital step. Remembering to plan will save you time and money on every job.

Parts and Equipment

Another thing you have to do is ensure you have all of the parts and equipment needed for your fix. This may mean ordering the parts well in advance. For example, if you need to weld something, order your stud welders from a supplier like Northland Fastening Systems weeks before you plan to begin the job. Of course, to know exactly what tools and parts you need, you must first plan everything out. You probably can’t plan for everything that comes up, but if you have most the supplies ready, you won’t have to stall a project for weeks waiting on a part.

Ask for Help

While many people who want to take on an auto repair job want to do it themselves, this is often not the best idea for every situation. It can be dangerous if you’re taking on a job without someone to help you if you get in trouble. Many repairs can be accomplished much more quickly with two or more people working as well. There might even be benefits that you don’t anticipate. Working on a car with fellow gearheads can be a real bonding experience.

Auto repair jobs can be difficult and many start a job only to fail to complete it. However, if you plan well and anticipate problems before they arise, you’ll have a much better chance of completing the job and doing it right. You’ll save time and money and may even make a few friends along the way. When done right, auto repair can be a fun pastime and a great way to avoid the very high costs of professional auto shops.

Driving a Hard Bargain: What Affects Your Car’s Resale Value

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/07/21 in Auto Selling with Comments Off on Driving a Hard Bargain: What Affects Your Car’s Resale Value

It’s said your car starts depreciating the second it leaves the lot. And it’s true. You could take that new car to the used lot across the highway and get offered a significantly lower price for it. Resale value is a fickle science. While it does take into account age, mileage, condition, equipment levels, model, popularity and demand, it can often boil down to who you’re talking to. Here are some of the fundamentals that either boost or minimize your vehicle’s resale value:

Brand

Nothing is going to have more of an impact. Regardless of condition, cars not known for reliability aren’t going to get the same prices as ones that are. Well-kept luxury brands will always demand top dollar. A 10-year old BMW can still cost tens of thousands, but no one’s going to pay that kind of money for a decade-old Pontiac.

Regular Maintenance

No one is interested in paying top dollar for a vehicle not given proper TLC. Oil, air filters, brake pads and tires are critical components that need regular maintenance. Taking care of these parts will extend the lifetime of a vehicle and ensure its resale value remains high. Most car owners, though, know when and how to replace these. However, according to the experts at Arnold Motor Supply, many people may not even know when they need a new belt until it snaps on half on the freeway. Pay attention to manufacturer-suggested maintenance schedules, and don’t forget the little things.

Tech

Believe it or not, having all the cool gadgets and a Star Trek dashboard doesn’t necessarily make your car more valuable. People looking at used cars are, by nature, conservative. They’re shopping the used market to save money on something reliable, not to get the latest, greatest, and flashiest tech available. Convincing them to pay for the TV in the back, DVD player or GPS capability could be a hard sell at best and a detriment at worst. Fancy gizmos may be what you want, but don’t expect it to bring in anything extra when you try to sell.

Performance Parts/Aftermarket Accessories

Sporty suspension upgrades and a customized exhaust are cool, but most shoppers won’t know or care what that means, let alone take it into account when considering value. While you may be someone that loves your $3,000 chromed wheels, odds are many will downplay them. Aftermarket performance parts and visual upgrades rarely translate into resale value, and many shoppers may even take it as a sign that your vehicle was driven to its limits, making them more reluctant to buy from you.

Exterior

The first thing about a car that impresses anyone is the look. If you’ve maintained the cosmetic condition, you’re in good shape. If you haven’t been washing it, or use dirty water with a greasy sponge— and it shows—you may have issues. Even if you detail it before showing it off, smart buyers will look for scratches in paint, swirls, and dents or dings. Regular washes and taking care of those dings immediately ensure the resale value is maximized. Lose all the personal touches you added—that Bush-Quayle bumper sticker does nothing except date the vehicle and ruin the paint—and remove any glue residue with a gentle cleaner.

 

When reselling your car, give it the best presentation you can. Take care of it, and it will take care of you. Maintenance, care, and attention can go a long way. However, you may find the most resale value in the art of the haggle. Good luck!

The Advantages Of Buying A New Car Versus An Old One

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/07/19 in Auto Buying Tips with Comments Off on The Advantages Of Buying A New Car Versus An Old One

One of the most important decisions to make when buying a car is whether you want to purchase a brand new vehicle or a used one. Each type of vehicle has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, but buying a new car ultimately offers the best experience.

Customize

The primary reason to buy a new car is that you can customize it however you want. You can select the features that you want and eliminate optional features that are of no use to you and generally drive the price up significantly. You have a much larger selection of vehicles to choose from when you buy new and can get yours made to order with your preferred interior and exterior colors. When buying used, you might have to settle for something that you aren’t really a fan of or have to spend time surfing dealer’s websites and driving from one location to another on your search. It is time consuming and can be mentally exhausting.

Warranty

Another benefit to buying new is that you have an all-inclusive warranty that may cover anything that goes wrong for a specified time period. While used cars offer warranties, nothing compares to the one offered by the manufacturer to the original owner. These bumper-to-bumper warranties typically last anywhere from three years or 36,000 miles to five years or 60,000 miles, but you can also purchase extended warranties to give yourself better peace of mind.

Newest Technology

The latest features and technology are only available in newer vehicles. A vehicle even one year newer than another can have a completely different set of features that make both driving and riding in your car more enjoyable. It’s much easier to buy a vehicle with all the features such as a sound system, back up camera, remote start or navigational systems already installed so you can save yourself the hassle of putting them in yourself.

Safety

New cars also have the latest safety features to keep you and your passengers safe. Laws continue to get stricter as safety standards change, and older vehicles don’t meet the newer requirements. Features such as front and side air bags, brake assistance, blind spot monitoring, rear view cameras, stability control and automatic tire pressure monitoring that are now being installed in new vehicles help keep everyone safer.

Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs are significantly low, if not free, when you buy a new car because many manufacturers include routine maintenance built into the price. It gives you a reason not to put off getting your vehicle serviced regularly since you’re not paying out of pocket for routine care. You aren’t going to need to replace tires, exhaust, and brakes or need a new battery for quite some time.

Financing

Financing rates for new cars tend to be lower than used cars because they’re worth more. The price of the vehicle might be more, but the bank has better collateral for the loan since a brand new car hasn’t depreciated in value.

Last but not least, newer vehicles have the technology to be more fuel efficient which makes them better for the environment and for your wallet with fluctuating gas prices. Buying a new car instead of a used car simply makes sense. Check out Findlay Auto to get started on finding your dream car with all the options you want.

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