4 Great Ways to Keep Your Car from Becoming a Money Pit

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Is your car turning into a pit that consistently requires more and more money be thrown into it? Most vehicle owners have experienced the nightmare situation of saying, “I get one thing fixed another falls apart. It’s costing me a fortune!” If this sounds familiar to you, don’t get too frustrated - there are steps you can take to make your vehicle not such a hassle or strain on your budget. After all, a vehicle should make your life more convenient, not more stressful.

Taking matters into your own hands

First off, performing general maintenance is an essential part of owning a vehicle. A well-maintained vehicle will simply need fewer repairs. Not a do-it yourself type person, you say? Fear not! Even if fixing your own car is not an option, there are a number of useful resources to help make your car less expensive to maintain.

To begin, it can be as simple as taking your car in for routine checkups to a trusted mechanic so that your fluids and tire pressure can be checked periodically. If you’d rather undertake basic repairs yourself, comprehensive repair manuals are available for every make and model of vehicle. These guides give simple instructions on how to do routine maintenance - changing the oil filter or the air filter, for instance - and describe telltale symptoms of trouble to watch out for. These manuals also include in-depth illustrations of the more complicated repairs, broken down into simple steps that anyone can follow.

Even if you cannot make the time to play mechanic yourself, it is still smart to read up on the repairs your car may need. It will help you understand better how your car works so that when you take it into the shop, you can ensure that you are not overcharged. Remember, knowledge is power - smart shoppers always find better bargains.

How do I find a mechanic that won’t rip me off?

The most effective way to prevent your vehicle from turning into a financial burden is to find a garage that you can trust. It is essential to find a reliable mechanic and build a business relationship with them. Many mechanics out there can fix your car, and they all want your business, but unfortunately not all of them are 100% honest. With a little research, you can find a trustworthy mechanic with a solid reputation of excellence in your area.

Many options exist to help consumers find businesses that they can trust. Review sites such as Yelp.com and Yahoo! Local are a great place to start. The mechanic with the best reviews will usually be your best bet. The responses from real people to the service they received is quite revealing to how they were treated in the business transaction. Do not rely solely on reviews, though. You should always check with the Better Business Bureauto make sure that the mechanic’s local reputation matches the description found in the reviews. A little bit of reading can make the difference between spending a fortune on pointless repairs and getting a reasonable price from a respected garage.

Also, it is important to know the going rate for repairs in your area. For example, if you need a new radiator, you can use Google or Bing to look up the make and model of your vehicle with the words, “repair cost for radiator replacement.” This will give a general idea of what mechanics are charging for these services in your area. Many mechanics will also perform a free estimate, so do not feel bad about shopping around. It is important to know who will give you the most reasonable deal.

Reducing the cost of those repair bills

Another way to reduce the cost is to order the parts yourself from a reputable auto parts store such as AutoZone or Napa Auto Parts. You can always get a free professional estimate from a garage and then order the necessary items yourself. Believe it or not, this requires practically no automobile repair knowledge or experience. A mechanic will normally order the parts for you and inevitably charge a fee for performing this service. Ordering the parts yourself only requires that you know the make and model of the vehicle and the name of the part that needs changing. This will allow you to supply the mechanic with the parts needed. By providing the parts yourself, you will only get charged an hourly labor rate for the actual work the mechanic performs. You make the mechanic’s life easier and save yourself a bundle at the same time.

You might also consider seeking the advice of friends and family. You may find that your cousin, brother, or father is knowledgeable about vehicle repair. You may be able to work out a deal with them that would be beneficial to you both to get your car the maintenance and repair it needs. Instead of paying $25 an hour (the going rate for a mechanic) you might offer to mow their lawn, pay them at a discounted family rate, or help them do something that they can’t do on their own.

The last resort

If all of these techniques fail, and you still find yourself pouring money down a bottomless automotive pit, then maybe it is time to consider a new vehicle. Eventually all cars will fail. It may be sooner or it may be later, but they are only machines, and they will wear out. Depending on the year and mileage of your vehicle, it might be time to consider if reasonable payments on a better car might be less than the money you continuously spend on repairs. It really is a question of math.

No matter what course of action you choose, you don’t have to live as a slave to your vehicle! There are ways to break free of the money pit.

(Photo courtesy of Poolie)

Seven Cheap Halloween Costumes That Will Have the Whole Town Talking Witches, ghosts, and vampires, oh my! Halloween is right around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about what your kids are going to dress up as for the big day. Even if you are on a budget this year, as many Americans are, that does not mean that your family can’t have the coolest costumes around. In fact, with a little creativity you may be able to get away without having to spend any money on your Halloween costumes at all. Of course, there are always the staples, such as witches, ghosts, and vampires. But don’t you want your family to stand out this year? If you do, here are seven ideas for easy and cheap DIY Halloween costumes that will satisfy even the pickiest child. Miss Cellaneous Does your little girl love to dress up in fancy gowns? If so, this is the perfect creative costume for her. All you will need is an old gown (either from your closet or the thrift store), random clothing pieces from your child’s closet, and some felt and fabric paint. The concept is that your child will be Miss America, with a little more spunk. Accent the gown with random socks, shoes, and even a t-shirt underneath the gown. Then make a simple sash out of the felt, and use the fabric paint to write out Miss Cellaneous across it. Of course, no pageant princess would be complete without a crown. You can easily make your own with some cardboard and spray paint. Mad Scientist If your child loves exploring how things work and is always mixing up concoctions in the kitchen sink, the mad scientist may be the perfect costume for him. And the good news is that you probably already own everything you need to make this outfit complete. Dress your child in khaki shorts and a plaid button-up shirt. Next, add one of dad’s bright-colored bow ties into the mix. And finally, you can use one of your white button-up shirts as a lab coat. To complete the ensemble, grab out the rubber gloves and a glass measuring cup from the kitchen. You can even add some gummy worms into the measuring cup to finish off the look, and don’t forget to mess-up your child’s hair for the full effect. Spelling Bee Is your daughter in dance class? If so, she probably has a plethora of black leotards and tights lying around, but ballerinas are so overused at Halloween. Instead, steal this brilliant idea from Real Simple. Confiscate the oldest ones for this costume and you are already almost done. Next, you need to get some yellow duct tape, which can now be found in almost every hardware store and mass-market store around. Use the duct tape to create yellow lines across the leotard. Now you need to cut out random letters to place on the leotard to get the spelling part added into the bee. You are almost done, but no bee would be able to fly without wings. To create your own wings, grab some wire hangers from the closet and wrap clear plastic bags around them. The easiest way to attach them to the costume is with Velcro, but you can also use safety pins or even staples. Your child will be the buzz of the town in this unique costume. Rocket Man Does your little boy dream of blasting into space to explore the skies? Help make his imaginary dreams come true by making him a rocket man this Halloween. First, you will need to gather up a white shirt and pair of pants from his closet. If he doesn’t have any, thrift stores are your best friend when it comes to completing cheap Halloween costumes. Once your little guy is dressed all in white, add some silver duct tape accents to his attire. Stripes down the leg and around the biceps are the perfect options. Finally, no rocket man costume is complete without a rocket pack. To make one, grab two empty Pringles cans and two party hats. Attach them using hot glue and spray paint them silver. For the full effect, add some yellow and orange streamers to the bottom of the Pringles cans. You can easily connect the rocket pack to your child by creating duct tape straps. Three, two, one, blast off! Artist If your child is always coloring and painting, you should harness her creativity by making her an artist this Halloween. First, you need to raid Dad’s closet and get one of his old work shirts to transform into a smock. Parents Magazine then suggests streaking and splattering paint on it to make it appear that your little one was hard at work creating his latest masterpiece. Artists are known for their creative style, so you will also want to get some colorful leggings and an accent scarf to finish up the outfit. Complete the ensemble with paintbrushes in the pockets and an empty paint can to collect the treats. Safari Guide If your child is an animal lover, you could always go the veterinarian route, but this Halloween is all about creativity, so why not go for the safari guide instead. You will need some wardrobe staples from your child’s closet to get started. With some khaki shorts and a white shirt, the base of the costume is started. Next, you need to create a safari vest and binoculars. For the vest, use a paper grocery bag that is cut to fit. You can create large pockets on the vest using an extra paper bag or brown envelopes. For the binoculars, connect two toilet paper rolls with some small felt pads between them using hot glue. Finally attach a string to the binoculars so they can be used easily throughout the night to find animals of all sizes. To finish off the look, have your child carry a stuffed animal of an exotic variety, such as a lion, tiger, or giraffe. Chef If you do any baking yourself, this will be one of the easiest costumes for you to whip up, and your kid will be proud to be taking after their mom. First, you need some pajama pants from your kid’s wardrobe to create the appearance of chef pants. You will also need a coordinating t-shirt. Next, choose one of your aprons and add a little flavor to it. You can do this with self-adhesive felt or duct tape. Of course, no chef costume is complete without the famous chef hat. You can either buy one for a minimal amount of money at a kitchen supply store, or you can make one using some cardboard and an old sheet. Give your child a wooden spoon or a whisk and don’t forget to sprinkle some flour on your kid’s cheeks and outfit to make it look like she has been hard at work. Finally, a large mixing bowl makes the perfect treat basket. As you can see, with a little bit of creativity and time your children will be the talk of the town this Halloween. (Photo by kevinpoh)
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Seven Cheap Halloween Costumes That Will Have the Whole Town Talking

Witches, ghosts, and vampires, oh my! Halloween is right around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about what your kids are going to dress up as for the big day. Even if you are on a budget this year, as many Americans are, that does not mean that your family can’t have the coolest costumes around. In fact, with a little creativity you may be able to get away without having to spend any money on your Halloween costumes at all. Of course, there are always the staples, such as witches, ghosts, and vampires. But don’t you want your family to stand out this year? If you do, here are seven ideas for easy and cheap DIY Halloween costumes that will satisfy even the pickiest child.

Miss Cellaneous

Does your little girl love to dress up in fancy gowns? If so, this is the perfect creative costume for her. All you will need is an old gown (either from your closet or the thrift store), random clothing pieces from your child’s closet, and some felt and fabric paint. The concept is that your child will be Miss America, with a little more spunk. Accent the gown with random socks, shoes, and even a t-shirt underneath the gown. Then make a simple sash out of the felt, and use the fabric paint to write out Miss Cellaneous across it. Of course, no pageant princess would be complete without a crown. You can easily make your own with some cardboard and spray paint.

Mad Scientist

If your child loves exploring how things work and is always mixing up concoctions in the kitchen sink, the mad scientist may be the perfect costume for him. And the good news is that you probably already own everything you need to make this outfit complete. Dress your child in khaki shorts and a plaid button-up shirt. Next, add one of dad’s bright-colored bow ties into the mix. And finally, you can use one of your white button-up shirts as a lab coat. To complete the ensemble, grab out the rubber gloves and a glass measuring cup from the kitchen. You can even add some gummy worms into the measuring cup to finish off the look, and don’t forget to mess-up your child’s hair for the full effect.

Spelling Bee

Is your daughter in dance class? If so, she probably has a plethora of black leotards and tights lying around, but ballerinas are so overused at Halloween. Instead, steal this brilliant idea from Real Simple. Confiscate the oldest ones for this costume and you are already almost done. Next, you need to get some yellow duct tape, which can now be found in almost every hardware store and mass-market store around. Use the duct tape to create yellow lines across the leotard. Now you need to cut out random letters to place on the leotard to get the spelling part added into the bee. You are almost done, but no bee would be able to fly without wings. To create your own wings, grab some wire hangers from the closet and wrap clear plastic bags around them. The easiest way to attach them to the costume is with Velcro, but you can also use safety pins or even staples. Your child will be the buzz of the town in this unique costume.

Rocket Man

Does your little boy dream of blasting into space to explore the skies? Help make his imaginary dreams come true by making him a rocket man this Halloween. First, you will need to gather up a white shirt and pair of pants from his closet. If he doesn’t have any, thrift stores are your best friend when it comes to completing cheap Halloween costumes. Once your little guy is dressed all in white, add some silver duct tape accents to his attire. Stripes down the leg and around the biceps are the perfect options. Finally, no rocket man costume is complete without a rocket pack. To make one, grab two empty Pringles cans and two party hats. Attach them using hot glue and spray paint them silver. For the full effect, add some yellow and orange streamers to the bottom of the Pringles cans. You can easily connect the rocket pack to your child by creating duct tape straps. Three, two, one, blast off!

Artist

If your child is always coloring and painting, you should harness her creativity by making her an artist this Halloween. First, you need to raid Dad’s closet and get one of his old work shirts to transform into a smock. Parents Magazine then suggests streaking and splattering paint on it to make it appear that your little one was hard at work creating his latest masterpiece. Artists are known for their creative style, so you will also want to get some colorful leggings and an accent scarf to finish up the outfit. Complete the ensemble with paintbrushes in the pockets and an empty paint can to collect the treats.

Safari Guide

If your child is an animal lover, you could always go the veterinarian route, but this Halloween is all about creativity, so why not go for the safari guide instead. You will need some wardrobe staples from your child’s closet to get started. With some khaki shorts and a white shirt, the base of the costume is started. Next, you need to create a safari vest and binoculars. For the vest, use a paper grocery bag that is cut to fit. You can create large pockets on the vest using an extra paper bag or brown envelopes. For the binoculars, connect two toilet paper rolls with some small felt pads between them using hot glue. Finally attach a string to the binoculars so they can be used easily throughout the night to find animals of all sizes. To finish off the look, have your child carry a stuffed animal of an exotic variety, such as a lion, tiger, or giraffe.

Chef

If you do any baking yourself, this will be one of the easiest costumes for you to whip up, and your kid will be proud to be taking after their mom. First, you need some pajama pants from your kid’s wardrobe to create the appearance of chef pants. You will also need a coordinating t-shirt. Next, choose one of your aprons and add a little flavor to it. You can do this with self-adhesive felt or duct tape. Of course, no chef costume is complete without the famous chef hat. You can either buy one for a minimal amount of money at a kitchen supply store, or you can make one using some cardboard and an old sheet. Give your child a wooden spoon or a whisk and don’t forget to sprinkle some flour on your kid’s cheeks and outfit to make it look like she has been hard at work. Finally, a large mixing bowl makes the perfect treat basket.

As you can see, with a little bit of creativity and time your children will be the talk of the town this Halloween.

(Photo by kevinpoh)