When you're ready to buy a car for the first time, it's important to be prepared before you head to the dealership. Some first-time car buyers make the mistake of simply going to a dealership and buying the first car they think is right for them. Use ...
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Aftermarket Car Parts: Are They Really Worth the Money You Save?
Do men or women make better drivers? It's a question that I suspect has been debated ever since Henry Ford started mass-producing his Model T at the turn of the twentieth century.
One thing is certain, I know the question has always been a hot ...
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10 More Old Wives’ Tales Masquerading As Financial Rules of Thumb
There are people out there who swear that if you're lucky enough to see the first flower of springtime on a Friday, it's a sign of impending wealth.
I know. I don't buy it either.
Still, let's assume these folks know what they're talking about; ...
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Can Hybrid and Electric Cars Save You Money?
The invention of the car in the late 19th century was a game changer for what the world had been, and what it was going to become. There are few, if any, people who could imagine what it would be like not to have access to a car today. Sure, there ...
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3 Tips for Financially Responsible Audi (and Other Luxury Car) Ownership
Just about everyone underestimates the true cost of car ownership, especially those who can't resist the look, lines, and luxury of a higher-end brand vehicle like Audi. Despite superior design, it's not as if an Audi or similar luxury car can win ...
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Grandfather Says: The Correct Way to Cope with Adversity
Grandfather says someone close to the past disastrous wildfires in California got him to thinking. "Older people know that everything heals," the man said. "Everything gets better if you just keep plugging away. But there are young people who are ...
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Grandfather Says: A Lesson on the Benefits of Working Smartly
Grandfather says he has some experience working hard and working smart.
In 1949, he worked for the Ford Motor Company on the 8N farm tractor assembly line. The 8N had a transmission cover that a hoist operator lowered onto the transmission as the ...
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9 Ways to Make Sure You’ll Always Get the Best Deal on Car Insurance
At some point, we all realize that although car insurance seems purely precautionary, it's absolutely necessary because accidents can be extremely costly.
Smart people make car insurance work for them. Save your money and be astute when buying ...
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Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
A few days ago Jennifer commented on a post I had written entitled 8 Big Reasons Why You're Getting an F in Personal Finance 101. She was lamenting the sense of entitlement she saw in many people. Here is an excerpt:
"I know a woman who is a single ...
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Evaluating the Pros and Cons of 4 Common Car Loan Alternatives
In an ideal world we all want to be debt-free; and borrowing money is something that we all should approach with caution. However, when it comes to living a real life, very few of us will be able to escape borrowing money to finance a larger ...
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Uh Oh: Get Ready for Sticker Shock at the Gas Pump This Year
Until now, rising oil prices have managed to push the market higher, and that has managed keep people who are investing in the surging stock market very happy as they watch their 401(k) and other investment vehicles rise in value. However, that may ...
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100 Words On: Why You’re Better Off Buying A Used Car
Everybody would love to have a new car every couple of years but, for most, that's an extremely expensive proposition -- nor does it make much sense. The reality is you can't beat a used vehicle purchased from a private owner; late model vehicles ...
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How to Get a Car Loan If You Have Terrible or No Credit
Getting a car loan is very easy if you have a good credit score that meets the lending criteria of the financier, but when you have a poor credit report or no credit at all, the exercise can become really difficult. If that's your hard reality, then ...
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Why Premium Gasoline Is a Lot Like Male-Enhancement Drugs
The things I do for this blog in the name of personal finance.
One day last month I got into a lunchtime conversation at work with a contractor who tried to convince me he had good reasons for putting premium gasoline in his Toyota Corolla, the ...
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My Son’s “Free” Car: What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure to Communicate
My teenage son, Matthew, turned 14-years-old last month, so I probably shouldn't have been surprised when he recently broached the topic of getting a driver's license on his 16th birthday while I was driving us to the golf course to play a round with ...
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Is It Better to Buy, Lease or Hire-Purchase a New Car?
Buying a brand new car is one of the bigger purchases we make -- not quite as big as buying a house, but significant none the less.
For many of us, money is always an issue and we can't afford to spend a great deal of it unwisely. As such, when ...
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7 Money Saving Tips for Owners of Mini Coopers (and Other Cars Too)
Of all the vehicles that have been manufactured over the years, there is an elite group that is regarded as iconic and those are instantly recognizable by their nameplates: Mustang, Cobra, Beetle, and Corvette likely come to mind.
However, a brand ...
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7 Tips for Finding a Reliable Used Car at the Lowest Price
If you want a new car for cheap, the best option is a used one.
Aside from the obvious price benefits, used cars are subject to lower taxes, registration fees and dealer fees.You also can't slap a fancy adjective like "vintage" on a new car!
As ...
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4 Money Saving Tactics for Buying Your Next Vehicle
If you're ready to buy a new car instead of a used one, you may want to be privy to several different ways to save money on that big purchase. For example, you'll want to research the type of car that you'd like to purchase, look online for deals or ...
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Comparing a 2008 Camry to a New One: Which Car Is the Better Deal?
Ah, yes. I remember when I took the plunge and bought a new car of my very own for the first time.
I also remember getting an earful from many of my readers after I wrote about it. Of course, I should have expected it; most of my readers are ...
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