Latest Posts
New Rules for Credit on Campus
A new law will make it harder for credit card companies to market to college students.
Way to Save #39: Use The Lowest Octane You Can
Always use the lowest octane gas your owner’s manual suggests. While only 15% of cars require premium, 25% of gasoline sold is premium. Why? Probably because some people respond to advertising instead of reading their owner’s manual.
Way to Save #38: Negotiate Your Trade-In First
Whether you’re buying or leasing a car, negotiate the value of your trade-in before you negotiate the new car. Actually, you should never trade in a used car. You’re nearly always better off selling it yourself. But if you are going to trade in your old car, establish its value first before you start on … Continued
Way to Save #37: Watch Out For Lease Fees
Be aware of the fees for excess mileage and excess wear and tear. They should show up in microscopic print somewhere in the contract. Understand them, and realize that average lease return fees total more than $1,000. Think about that before you lease.
Way to Save #36: Know Your Lease
Leasing is more complicated than buying. But when you boil it down, leasing is essentially like financing part of a car’s life. There are three main components to a lease: the capitalized cost (“purchase” price), the money factor (interest rate), the residual value (what it’s worth when the lease is up). You should be familiar … Continued
Way to Save #35: Inspect Cars Before You Buy
Don’t think of buying a used car without a thorough inspection. Even if your car of choice was driven only to church on Sundays, have it thoroughly inspected by a qualified mechanic before you think of buying it. This cannot only help you avoid a nightmare, it could also help you negotiate a better price.
Way to Save #34: Get A Mechanic Friend
Make friends with a mechanic or two. Mechanics often hear of people who want out of their car. They cannot only help you find a great car at a great price, but they can sometimes vouch for the condition of the car.
Way to Save #33: Check Private Car Sellers
Check with private car sellers. Dealers offer the advantage of broader selection and in some situations, warrantees. Private sellers may offer you a better deal, however, and you also get to see who’s been driving the car and how it’s been kept and maintained. But the greatest advantage of private sellers is that you don’t … Continued
Propane Co’s Under-Fill Tanks
Propane companies are saving money by under-filling the tanks they sell.
Way to Save #32: Do Your Homework
Do your homework. Check the cost of repairs, maintenance, licensing, fuel and insurance before you decide on a make and model. Then arm yourself with the suggested retail and wholesale prices. You can find them at car websites, in used car guides at the library or through your credit union or other lender.
How To Ask For A Raise
Now is a great time to ask for a raise… If you know how.
Way to Save #31: Know Your Loan Before You Shop
Always be pre-approved for a loan before you shop. Like with new-car shopping, you want to have all the loan details worked out before you go shopping. That way when you find what you’re looking for you can pounce before it gets away.
Way to Save #30: Always Buy Used
If you’re going to buy a car, always buy used. A two-year-old car may have depreciated in price by 50%, but it’s still got 70% of its useful life left. That’s why used cars are nearly always a better deal than new. Plus, the insurance cost is lower.
Get A Better Body For Less Money
Breaking out of the couch potato mold doesn’t have to break the bank.
New Program Lowers Student Loan Payments
A new federal program aims to reduce student loan payments for graduates.
Way to Save #29: Get Pre-approved
Always get pre-approved for a loan before you shop. Even if you end up using dealer financing, it’s important to know how much you can borrow and what the rates will be. That makes you a tougher negotiator. You’ll especially need to know this information in order to choose between a rebate and low-interest financing. … Continued
Way to Save #28: Say 'No' To Fees
Just say NO to fees. One of the main ways dealers make money on cars is to pad prices with extra fees like “documentation,” “advertising” and all kinds of others. Eliminate the ones you can, understand the ones you can’t, and check the final contract to make sure that eliminated fees don’t magically reappear.
Way to Save #27: Get The Dealer's Invoice
If you’re going to buy a car, get the dealer’s invoice price before you shop. You can find it at many web sites (like the ones above) or in new-car guides at the library. Your objective is to pay no more than 3% over the invoice amount. Don’t forget to also get the dealers invoice … Continued
Mortgage Shopping 101: Locking In The Best Rate
Part 4 of a 4 part series on shopping for a mortgage focuses on locking in the best mortgage rate.
Way to Save #26: Research, Research, Research
When buying a car, choose your make and model carefully. You obviously want to buy a car that’s within your price range, but don’t forget to consider other costs, like insurance, gas mileage, maintenance and repair. These numbers are available in new car guides at your library or online at websites like www.kbb.com and www.edmunds.com.
26,061 - 26,080 of 26,380
