Avoiding Foreclosure Tips-Saving Money On Car Repair

When trying to avoid foreclosure, it comes down to one main thing; you need money to pay your bills on time.  With today’s economy, low paying jobs and lack of available work every penny you earn counts.  It counts towards, keeping or saving your home and giving your family a secure future.

This is my third article on money saving tips to stop a foreclosure.  The first article tells you how you can save several thousand dollars a year on grocery’s, article number two tells you how to save on clothing and this particular article will deal with saving money on car repairs.  If you have a car it doesn’t matter if it’s a couple years or twenty years old -- you going to spend money on keeping it in shape.  There are some tips and tricks of the trade though that may help cut down on some of your mechanical expenses.

Get A Second Opinion and Estimate
If you were going to a doctor and they told you, that you would need to get this, that and this done; you would probably get a second opinion, before you just jump onto an operating table.  Treat your car the same way; get a second opinion.

By getting a second look at your car by a different mechanic, you can confirm what the first mechanic told you and you can get a second estimate of costs.  This is very important because most car mechanics prices can vary significantly.  One person may quote you $1800 for a job, while a second mechanic may do for only $900.  That is a big difference so it is very important to get a second opinion and estimate on your car's repairs or maintenance.

Watch Out For Scammers
How often have you gone into a car shop to get your oil changed and all of sudden you find yourself buying brake lights or a new spark plugs or a oil filter?  It is always something, isn’t it?  Make sure if someone is examining your car for one thing, they don’t try to up sell you something you may not need.

This is another reason why a second look at your car with another mechanic is important.  Especially if every time you visit your current mechanic for one thing, they prescribe ten things.  See how many times this happens where you do business; if it starts becoming a pattern, it may be time to look for a new mechanic.

Buy Your Own Car Parts
Some mechanics have been known to charge a 50% mark up on parts.  This is good chunk of change and worth looking into alternative options for parts.  Even if you don’t know how to do the labor on a car, you can bring the parts you find for a cheaper price to the garage and just pay for labor.

Check out major auto parts stores since they will usually be cheaper then your mechanic's garage.  Or look in the classifieds if it is a major part because someone may be selling just what you need.  Or possibly, check out a scrap yard and see what they have.  This could just save you several thousand dollars.

Learn To Do Some Of Your Own Repairs
There are some simple repairs you can do on your own car, which can end up saving you saving you more than 80% on labor prices.  For instance, if your car light goes out, a dealer will charge your $20 just to change the bulb.  If you buy your own bulb at an auto store it is probably around $2.  Then just do a little online research or look at some auto repair books and learn how to replace the bulb yourself.

So if you have any money concerns or are possibly worried about facing foreclosure in your future, read of the money saving tip articles and make every penny count.  How would you like to have an extra $10,000 in your pocket every year?  This can happen, if you put the time and effort into learning the tricks of the trade.  If your boss offered you a pay increase of $10,000, but you would have to do more work, you would likely take it.  This is same thing, put the work into saving money and you will have more money.