Add cold weather essentials to the trunk: First make sure you’ve got your Winter Car Emergency Kit organized. Secondly you’ll need the following – kitty litter for better traction on ice and snow, heavy gloves, an ice scraper, jumper cables, and if your area requires them, chains.

Fill up: Your routine maintenance should be done asap for example a full oil change and other fluid top-offs, but at the very least make sure you keep your wiper fluid filled. Plain old water can freeze up in there.

Check the tires: If you don’t know how to check your own tires, have your mechanic or a reputable auto shop check them out. They need to be in good shape and be properly mud and snow rated for your area.Make sure you check your tire pressure each time you fill your tank now, as cold weather can cause them to deflate.

Wax up: Wax your car now to protect it against salt, wind, sand, and all the other icky winter elements.

[image via free pixels]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

In a word no. Your car manual may tell you to buy premium or a specific higher octane brand but you can safely ignore that recommendation. CBS Money Watch and AAA are just two of the many outlets who have called this out as a myth. CBS notes, “Unless you have a job that requires regular sessions on a racetrack, there is no legitimate need to ever put premium fuel in your vehicle… Your engine’s fuel-management system is perfectly prepared to handle lower-octane fuel.”

AAA notes that fuel is basically fuel no matter the brand. If you’re fueling up at the local mom & pop shop or a high profile gas station, you’re most likely getting exactly the same brand of gas in your tank. This is not a huge shock because the EPA mandates that all unleaded contain the same detergents to keep the gas cleaner. Since most gas comes from the same sources, gas stations buy from those said sources – i.e. it’s not as if each gas station has their own mix of gas from some specialty source.

Also consider this; when you buy cheaper gas you’re doing your wallet and the planet a favor. Aromatics, harmful pollutants, are added to high octane gasoline – so really, why not save a few bucks when you fill up.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The bill is poised to be signed into law as part of a $106 billion wartime spending bill. New car buyers will be able to trade in their old clunkers for vouchers worth up to $4,500 that can be used towards the purchase of a new, fuel efficient car. The bill is basically passed. On Thursday, June 18th the Senate voted to for the Cash for Clunkers provision and now it’s on it’s way to President Obama to sign (news venues are reporting he’s for it). If passed 100% consumers will be able to buy cars that qualify on July 1, 2009.

Some basic facts:

• The car you trade in cannot be older than 1 1984 model.
  
• The car you buy with one of these vouchers must be new and cannot exceed $45,000.
• Vouchers are tax-free for consumers.
• It’s looking like you’ll only be able to get one voucher per new car, so if you have two cars you’re out of luck (unless you’re buying two new cars).
• You can’t go buy some old car and trade it in, you’ll have to show proof of at least a year’s worth of ownership.

Of course there are plenty of other rules and your local area may not be participating so visit Cash for Clunkers to learn more.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Click before you fill up – check out online gas prices before you head to the pump. Gas Buddy and MapQuest Gas Prices are two good places to start.

Get gas at the store – In my neighborhood, we have some grocery stores that also have corresponding gas stations. If you swipe your store card at the pump you save 10% on your total purchase and score points towards free gas. Check around and see if you can get deals like this  – BUT make sure it adds up. If the store pumps charge a lot more than another gas station the discounts may not add up.

Roll up the windows – I actually hate driving with my windows up. I pretty much drive with them down year round, but it’s not smart money wise. Your drag is decreased when you roll up, which means you save gas.

Don’t idle - Besides being bad for the environment, idling is bad on the wallet. Why waste gas? If you’re not moving for over a minute, turn the car off.

Declutter the car – Having lots o’ junk in your trunk (wow- that sounded bad) is no good if you happen to be a car. Extra stuff weighs down a car and increases the gas you use.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Let me say quickly that I do understand that if they go under, we can’t handle the aftermath.  Too many jobs will be lost and our economy will tank.  I understand that.  But what I don’t understand is that if Detroit doesn’t get our tax dollars, then they will restructure under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Seems to me like I don’t want to throw my good money after bad decisions.

Am  I missing something?  A pay cut would be a heck of a lot better than no paycheck at all.  What do you think?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So have you heard about the Arab Sheikh who flew his $400,000 Murciélago LP640 Lamborghini to London for an oil change.  This is the same car used in Dark Knight.  I must be missing something.  Here is how The Business Sheet breaks it down in US dollars:

• $400,00 – The cost of the car
• $40,000 – The flight to London to get the oil change
• $7,000 – The mechanic’s price to do the oil change
• $? – It doesn’t mention how much the oil cost
• $447,000 – Oil change

I just got my oil changed today for a total of $26.  I pay that much because the oil place I goto donates to our church’s mission fund for every member of our church that goes there.  I feel it’s worth it.  But $447,000!  Come on, I can’t even pay the $75 to fill my gas tank for my mini-van.  BTW, I get 18-18.5 mpg with my 20 gallon tank.

Don’t get me wrong.  There isn’t a person out there that doesn’t wish they had the money to throw around like that.  But why does it seem that there is such a big gap between them and the every day regular people we know and love?

Image source: ENI and Google Images

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I couldn’t believe how high gas prices went right after Hurricane Ike. So I took this picture on Saturday. On Sunday, prices stayed put. On Monday, prices went back down to $3.99/gal. Today I paid $3.89/gal. I never thought I would be happy to pay $3.89/gal. It is so sad!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A recent trip to Wal-Mart left me questioning what is going on around here. Murphy Express is selling gas for thirty cents less per gallon than the other gas stations. Thirty cents!!!! Unbelievable! Yes, it is definitely worth driving the few extra miles for the savings.

Needless to say, the competition has been great and other gas stations are lowering their prices as well. A little competition is always good for the pocketbook.

What do you think about all this?

images by Karen

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

After several emails, the buyer finally agreed to come and look at the bike.  In a “nice way” he said that he would drive 2 1/2 hours to look at the bike, but if anything was different than described, my husband should be prepared to pay him for his time and that he would receive negative feedback and be reported to ebay for fradulent selling. 

Are you kidding me?  This guy didn’t want to buy the motorcycle, so he was going to do anything in his power not to purchase it.  This is the part that ticks me off – Sellers cannot leave buyers negative feedback!!!!!

Buyers, you can no longer receive negative or neutral Feedback from sellers.
You should leave honest and accurate Feedback without the fear of receiving negative or neutral ratings.
Sellers can no longer leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers.
Buyers should leave honest Feedback without the fear of receiving negative or neutral ratings.

This is insane!!!  How is this feedback system supposed to work, if they won’t allow you to use it? 

The buyer is even trying to bargain with my husband.  He said if my husband would leave him positive feedback, then he would pay him the ebay listing fees.

My husband has contacted ebay and is trying to get this resolved, but it doesn’t look good.  This makes me so mad!  Have you had problems like this with ebay?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy