Archives - February, 2010



21 Feb 10

Along with credit cards, automobile debt is an area that gets a lot of people into financial trouble.

Most people never figure out that one of the most money-making parts of the car dealership organization is in the financing from the motor vehicles they sell. Incredibly, sometimes the dealership can even make more from the financing than from the sale from the vehicle itself!

And want to guess who pays for all this extra income for the dealership?

You do! And you spend considerably more for this financing than you would from many other sorts of credit. You are probably paying interest on not only the purchase of the vehicle but also the insurance, the warranty and just about any other additional items that the dealer talked you into buying at the point of sale. This makes for a very expensive automobile and they know it many people find themselves having difficulty just making the monthly payments.

If this applies to you, you may be asking yourself what the best way is to get out of this fix.

You need to think about what alternatives you have to reduce your automotive debt. Unfortunately the biggest thing you can do to reduce those payments is to sell the car! You may have to drive something a little more realistic considering the situation you’re in, both in the cost of the car and the cost of the upkeep and insurance.

Cars are very typically an emotional purchase, where the impression that your new automobile may have on friends, family and neighbors may influence your decision into purchasing a more costly vehicle by borrowing more. But if you are having trouble making the payment, you are just kidding yourself. Why are you trying to project an image that is false? You need to come back to reality before you get buried any deeper.

Sadly, many people are “upside down” in their cars. This means that they owe more on the car than it is worth. Some people have even gone back to the dealership and traded in an upside down car on another one, and now they are not only paying for the new car, but the balance owing on the old car!

Dealerships thrive on foolish behavior like this. They will do everything they can to make you feel important and pump up your emotions about purchasing a car. Their number one objective is to get you to test drive the car, so you’ll be hooked before you know it!

You need to realize that this is not only costing you the car payment each month, but it is costing you the ability to invest in your future. Perhaps you could earn more if you went for additional schooling, but you can’t afford it because of the car payment. Maybe you stumble upon an opportunity to buy a house at a great price, but you can’t afford to because of the car payment.

If you look at the background of people who quietly get rich over the years they have one thing in common. They drive older cars! They have resisted the urge to invest any more of their money than they absolutely have to in cars or anything else that loses value over time. Instead, they invest their money into buying a house, stocks or other investments that tend to increase in value over time.

There is one positive note here, though. The cars being made today are way better than they were say 30 years ago. If you get rid of your expensive car, you can find a really reliable, economical car that still looks pretty nice for not a lot of money. You may find that, especially if you can get into a used car for cash an have no monthly payment, the money you are saving will make you feel better than having that new car!

Alan Gardner has been writing articles on many diverse subjects for over a year now. Although he specializes in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out his latest website at http://www.lecreusetoutlet.net which reviews and lists the best Le Creuset Outlet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Gardner


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21 Feb 10

A serious problem on our roads today is aggressive driving. Drivers who get behind the wheel and are either in a rush, irritable, or impatient are more likely to be a menace on the road. Drivers in this mindset will follow too closely, will change lanes without notice and drive beyond the speed limit. For aggressive drivers, the car horn is not used as a means to communicate, but rather as a weapon.

The number of drivers on the road is always increasing. The fact that new roadways are being built at a rate slower than the increase in new drivers, it can be concluded that the number of aggressive drivers on the road is also increasing. It is hard to gauge the number of fatal accidents cause by these reckless drivers. It is certain though, that defensive drivers cause far fewer accidents than careless drivers.

Aggressive Drivers – A Profile

This type of driver can easily be recognized as someone who expresses frustration where there is probably no need to be frustrated. The most common example is a driver who will follow too closely even though you may be following the speed limit. Their concern for your welfare is limited.

Speeding seems to be a hobby for this type of driver. They will often ignore poor road conditions and traffic signs in general. It would be considered a thrill to disobey traffic laws.

Driving is something that requires attention; it takes more brain power than walking and chewing gum at the same time. This is another characteristic of an aggressive driver, their lack of focus on the task at hand. They are capable of performing other tasks while driving, such as texting from a cell phone, fiddling with their ipod or putting on makeup!

As hard as it is for these drivers to focus on driving, it is just as easy for them to become distracted. If there is an accident a reckless driver will likely stop in the middle of a high traffic area, in order to get a closer look. If you see nothing wrong with this type of behavior, visit a driving school near you so they can help you correct your behavior.
And finally, the most difficult facet of road safety for an aggressive driver to understand are basic traffic lights.

For a normal driver, traffic lights register in the brain as follows;

  • Red means ’stop’.
  • Green means ‘go’.
  • Yellow means ‘proceed with caution’.

And for the abnormal driver;

  • Red means ‘I am going to be late!!!’
  • Green means ‘Put the pedal to the floor!’
  • Yellow means ‘Put the pedal to the floor!’

In all seriousness, driving is a privilege that responsible drivers want to protect. Do your part and be safe on the road.

My name is Kris Kolanko. I am co-owner and operator of the site http://www.wannadrive.com. Our goal is to provide new and current drivers with information and education products that will help them obtain a license or find a driving school, anywhere in the United States. Feel free to explore our site and take advantage of all we have to offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Kolanko


Filed under: auto

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21 Feb 10

How many of you have ever tried shopping for new car with your spouse? Not too complicated, you have an idea of what you want, you go to a dealership or if your like us, a used car lot. If you have done your homework, you will have a list of must haves, and list of wants and a list of could totally do with out BUT would like to have, for example a sun roof maybe or a moon roof? Now, try going car shopping with your spouse who is also a mechanic. Now your options have completely been changed. In short, here is an idea of things to keep in mind when you are doing said car shopping.

First of all, do NOT panic! It is not the end of the world when the spouse tells you that a certain car or truck that you find perfectly acceptable is now on the absolutely NOT list. Chances are, your spouse, after spending 10 hours a day, turning wrenches, working on vehicles, has a pretty good idea of what is ok and what vehicles they see a lot of or in other words, stay the H-E double hockey sticks away from. Ask them instead, what kind of vehicles do they not see a lot of? What is easier to work on? Are parts easily accessible? Reasonably priced?

In other words, is this going to cost you a lot to repair when something goes wrong? Those are the things that your spouse is thinking of when they are car or truck shopping and to make the experience easier on you, prepare yourself that the vehicle you may want is not necessarily the vehicle you end up with. That does not mean that you wont get one Better than what you intended. Just be sure you have asked your questions first, you have prepared yourself for the “look” when you suggest a forbidden vehicle and know that in the end, the one you drive away in will make you both very happy.

At WrenchesPlus we specialize in the everyday hand tools needed to get your job done. Whether it is at home or at your shop, we have your tools covered. For a a great selection of wrenches, check out website today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Shogren


Filed under: auto

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