Preventive Maintenance Saves Cash on Car Repairs in Long Term

Taking care of your vehicle properly can help you avoid a huge hassle (and a huge repair bill) later on. Even those of us who are not car savvy can learn some basic things to make our cars last longer and to prevent future problems.



Unless you have a car with space age technology that does not allow you to work on it yourself, you should invest in a car repair manual from the auto parts store. Even if you do not know how to fix the problem, you can at least have an idea of what it is. This made a huge difference for me when a repair person tried to tell me my transmission needed replaced. Based on what my car manual said, the linkage was just stuck and the repair was covered under the warranty I had. It's sad but mechanics do try to take advantage of those that do not know the basics of how a car works. It pays to do your research!



It is also a good idea to keep a few other things on hand in your vehicle so that you are prepared for simple repairs on the road.

• Keep a battery jumper in car and know how to use it
• Screwdrivers (flat head and Philip's)
• Flashlight
• Tire pressure gage
• Car jack
• Tire iron
• Quart of oil
• Container of Antifreeze
• Old rags
• Water
• First Aid Kit

*Unless you have AAA or some similar type of service, you should consider knowing how to change a tire. This could save you $80 or more alone.



Once a month, you should take some time to check out the components under the hood to see if they need any servicing. This can help you catch problems early on to avoid a large hassle (not to mention the bill on top of it) and more inconveniences than necessary.

• Check tire pressure and know what is recommended
• Know what types of fluids the vehicle is required to use (consult owner's manual)
• Check all fluids including oil, antifreeze, brake, transmission/clutch. and windshield wiper fluids
• Make sure all belts and hoses do not feel brittle, are swollen, or have cracks or shreds

Different Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

Besides collecting coupons, you can also look for sales and special deals at the grocery stores in your area. Here are a few ideas that will also help you pinch your penney harder!

• Obtain a store card of any place you shop, even if you don't go there often. Later, they may have a super sweet deal that you can get only with the card.
• Get on mailing lists for your favorite grocery stores.
• Invest in a deep freezer to store all of your frozen food and meat deals.
• DO NOT go the store hungry! It will be easy to entice yourself with all of those needless items in the store.
• Don't forget your grocery list and coupons.

Thrifty Living is in Style Again

Thrifty living is now more popular than ever since the world has hit an economic crises of a lifetime. Thrifty living is becoming a "badge of honor" with those who used to snub their noses at thrift and discount stores.  People are starting to change the way they view their spending habits and are trying harder than ever to make that dollar stretch like it has never done before.


I would like to share my ideas on how to save money to help those out who are new to living on a limited budget and learn some new things from those of you that are already thrift savvy. We can all help each other out with new and fresh ideas on how to save when shopping.

There are literally millions of ways to save money on an every day basis. I feel that it is definitely worth the time to do a little extra research. It doesn't hurt to have a thrifty living manual (notebook)to be used to record lists, sales, savings, comparison shopping, Internet sites, or wherever you get your deals at. It is helpful to save this information for future reference allowing you to remember where you got that great deal!