5 Car Maintenance Tips To Keep You Out of Debt
In this day and age, owning a car is an absolute necessity for most people. Because it’s a “must-have” item, many end up spending thousands of dollars on basic maintenance costs, just so they can get themselves to work and buy groceries. With repair after repair of that old car though, its easy to take on a great deal of debt. Purchasing a new car and entering into a whole other payment plan that you can’t afford, is not the best financial strategy – especially if you want to avoid bankruptcy. Instead, here are a few car maintenance spending tips to keep your car going and going.
Safety First
When you’re pondering whether or not to take your car into the shop, ask yourself “does my car’s problem threaten my safety and the safety of my passengers?” When all is said and done, your car must do two things, get you from point A to point B, and keep you safe. Obviously if your car simply doesn’t run, you’re going to have it repaired, but it’s vital to ask a trusted mechanic about any of your car’s problems that might be hazardous. Have those taken car of immediately! If your mechanic is not reputable ,they might suggest an extraneous tune-up that isn’t necessary, and that will be more money out of your pocket.
Make Sure Your Money is Going to the Right Mechanic
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to find a trustworthy mechanic you can build a long-term relationship with. Certainly, some repairs are the same cost with a mechanic as they are at the dealership, but it’s better to find a mechanic who truly cares about you and your car. This is the person you are trusting with your family’s safety, so it’s in your best interest to develop a close repore with him. After a few repairs you’ll start to realize whether or not he’s giving you the most for your money.
Chances Are, You Don’t Want to Buy a New Car
If money is tight for you, as it is for many people these days, buying a new car just isn’t realistic in most cases. When you look at the repair expenses compared to having a brand new car payment each month, paying for the repair is usually the cheaper choice. The key is to save properly for these repairs and make it a regular aspect of your budget.
Stay On The Route To Getting Out Of Car Debt
With proper savings, you can avoid using a credit card and pay with cash for repairs. Keep in mind a new or used car payment would cost more than the $1000 repair in 2-3 months. Just develop good relationships, think about your safety, save, and you can definitely conquer car repair debt!
If you are having trouble keeping up with payments, and find yourself severely in the hole, don’t hesitate to contact The Adkins Firm. We’re the Georgia bankruptcy firm you can can count on!
