Nifty Thrifty Thursday: Vehicles

These days, our vehicles are a necessity. It is rare for a person to work in the same town or city that they live in. According to the US Census Bureau, the average American commutes 24.4 minutes to work. Add a couple of kids to take to the sitter or school to that and it becomes completely impractical to walk or ride a bike in most cases. We need our cars.



Taking proper care of your vehicle can save you tons of money. Cars are one case where the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is absolutely true. This week I've included some links and ideas to help you save money where your vehicles are concerned.



You might consider doing some of your vehicle repairs yourself to save money. Local vocational schools often offer adult classes in such areas. Investing in a class to learn how to do it yourself makes perfect sense. If you aren't mechanically inclined, ask a friend or family member to help you out or teach you.



With that in mind, Money Blue Book has posted about making repairs yourself in How To Cheaply Repair Auto Window Glass With Used Junkyard Parts. Its a lesson we can all learn from. From the article:
At the junkyard I only paid $18 for the used car window pane. Some car enthusiasts know how to install the glass pane themselves. Since I’m no car expert, I chose to pay another car repair shop $30 for installation labor. All in all I spent $48 to fix the window. If I had gone to an auto glass repair shop, parts and labor would have cost me $200 or more.

Lawnmowers may not be vehicles that get you from A to B, but they share many of the same components and, therefore, maintenance requirements. There's a lot more to them than just filling the tank with gas and sharpening those blades. Here are some lawnmower tips from DIY, Associated Content and Bob Vila.

Don't forget those boats! Proper maintenance on your boat will provide years of enjoyment for you and your family. Check out the tips at DiscoverBoating.com for caring for and winterizing your boat.

While we're on the subject of leisure vehicles, check out RV Tech Tips to learn more about RVing and get tips and tricks from experts!

And what about motorcycles? They can get much better gas mileage than many cars and are becoming the frugal choice for people who have them. Here are some tips for keeping them in top condition from CycleMaintenance.com and About.com.



If you are planning on buying a new or used vehicle, consider the long-term. How much will maintenence on this car cost? The newer hybrid models may save you more in gas for the short term, but their parts and the cost of repair may actually make them more expensive down the road.

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Now get out there and $ave $ome money!!!