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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.
Mortgage Shopping 101: Negotiating
Part 3 of a 4 part series on shopping for a mortgage focuses on negotiating your mortgage.
Way to Save #25: Negotiate Price, Not Payment
Always negotiate price, never payments. Payments can be manipulated so that practically anything is affordable. Salespeople will always try to get you to talk payments. Good negotiators always talk price: the payments will take care of themselves.
Way to Save #24: Avoid New Cars
Avoid new cars. Because cars are made better now than they used to be, buying used isn’t as risky as it used to be. Buying a car even two years old can save you from 25% to 40%.
Mortgage Shopping 101: Finding the Best Deal
Part 2 of a 4 part series on shopping for a mortgage focuses on finding the best deal on your mortgage.
Way to Save #23: Don't Buy Until You Try
Avoid buying sports accessories until you know that the activity is a fixed habit. For example, don’t buy a gym bag until you’ve been to the gym 20 times. Don’t buy good inline skates until you’ve racked up 200 miles on the cheap ones. Reward yourself with a Walkman after you’ve jogged 20 miles with … Continued
Way to Save #22: Trial Memberships
If you insist on joining a health club, try joining for a month or buying a series of single-day passes first to make sure you’re going to have the time and discipline to stick with it. Avoid long-term membership contracts.
Mortgage Shopping 101: First Things First
Part 1 of a 4 part series on shopping for a mortgage focuses on the basics of your mortgage search.
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