In our last segment, we discussed five ways that your vehicle can help you save money. These included: car pooling, maintaining consistent speeds while on the road, not buying “Premium” gasoline unless your vehicle requires it, keeping your fuel filter AND air filter clean, as well as keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure and ensuring that tune-ups occur on a regular schedule. But, believe it or not, we have even MORE money saving tips for you…so, read on!
1. Roof racks hurt!!! Your mileage, that is! Seriously, roof racks ruin the aerodynamics of your car in a massive way. So, if you’re not actively using your roof rack, take it off and store it in your garage. Removing the rack comes with the added benefit of lightening the load of your vehicle, which will help with fuel efficiency as well.
2. One of the best ways to save money on cars is to keep yours for as long as you’re able to. And, the best way to do that is to make sure it’s in the best mechanical condition as possible by having it serviced regularly…by a good mechanic. Also, if you notice a problem – say a dashboard light comes on or you start to hear a funny rattle – make sure to get it checked out sooner as opposed to later! What starts out as small problems that are typically easy to fix and not super expensive can morph into something entirely different if left unchecked.
3. Used and/or rebuilt parts are a fantastic option if they’re in great condition and if they’ll work just as well as the Original Equipment Manufacturer parts. Your mechanic will be the one to guide you on this. If it turns out that OEM parts are necessary and/or desirable that’s just fine. But, if they’re not, you can save a bundle by using non-OEM substitutes.
4. Make driving a little less taxing by keeping a notebook in your car so that you can easily record your mileage on your tax deductible trips. These can include trips to the doctor, job-hunting trips, or trips for charity – all of which have the possibility of being tax deductible, which could mean lower taxes down the road for you. However, if you don’t record the trips, you won’t know how much you drove…and, knowing your mileage is a necessity if you plan on using it as a tax deduction.
5. Avoid tickets and unnecessary fees by making sure to always keep change in your car. That way you’ll always be able to plug the meter without fear of getting fined, which totally costs more in the long run…and, let’s face it, is a pain to resolve.
So, that’s it! If you could, what would you add to this list? We’re always interested in knowing what our readers have to say!!!
source: moneytalknews.com
