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February 29, 2008

5 Ways to Stop Getting Hosed at the Gas Pump

Filed under: Car Care — Blogman @ 11:00 pm

Each year gas prices reach record highs and it’s become an incredible financial burden for consumers. In order to combat this, here are five tips that will help you save both gas and cash.

1. Washing and waxing your car not only makes the vehicle look better; it also improves aerodynamics, which in turn benefits your fuel economy. Gas stations that also have a car wash will sometimes offer coupons good towards money-off at the car wash. This is done as an incentive to get you to refuel at their station. Little do they know that in doing so they are saving you money at the pump. Keep your eyes open
for bargains such as these and you can easily reduce the drag on your vehicle and increase your fuel efficiency.

2. When parking your car try to position it so that you can pull out of the space in forward gear rather than reverse. As incredible as it may seem going in reverse actually uses more gas than going forward.

3. In situations where it is practical, you would do better to travel to your destination via a highway, rather than taking city streets. By being able to travel at a constant speed your car will operate much more effectively than it would when traveling through the constant stop-and-go of city
driving.

4. While driving, don’t rest your left foot on either the brake or the clutch. Applying even the slightest bit of pressure will cause your vehicle to use more fuel. This practice also causes your car’s equipment to wear down sooner.

5. As soon as your vehicle reaches a high enough speed you should make use of the overdrive gears. Using overdrive will conserve gas and minimize engine wear by allowing your vehicle’s engine speed to decrease. Consult your owner’s manual for more information on this feature and how best to use it.

The preceding tips were excerpted from the ebook Gas Station Savings. Visit http://www.gasstationsavings.com to learn more, such as how your dog is adding to your fuel expenses and how reading a book or solving a crossword puzzle save you at the pump.

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February 26, 2008

Car Insurance Discounts

Filed under: Car Care — Blogman @ 11:00 am

Trying to save money wherever you can is important to us all. Insurance should be no different. Do not assume that your agent knows everything about you and your vehicle. CarInsurance.com goes out of their way to find all the possible discounts that are available to each customer.

Drivers should take advantage of all discounts that many providers offer, that can significantly reduce the cost of car insurance. Understanding discounts and how they can affect auto insurance premiums can help smart shoppers make better decisions about their coverage and possibly save themselves some money in the process.

Read below to identify possible discounts that could help you save on auto insurance this year. Other than discounts, there may be some other ways for you to save on your insurance premiums. We will go over several discounts that can help with your current situation.

First, there are discounts for Auto Safety features. Certain states will give you discounts for anti-lock breaks. Make sure you know if it is two or four wheel anti-lock break vehicle. Automatic seatbelts and airbags are frequently discounted on your insurance premiums. In most states, a defensive driver class discount may apply. If the principal driver usually 55 years old or older has completed an approved defensive driving class a discount could apply. Keep in mind that most states will only approve this class if it is voluntary meaning that it was not the result of a violation or infraction.

Some insurers will give you a discount for having multiple vehicles. In some cases, this will only apply if you have two or more drivers. If you have a clean driving record, meaning you do not have any tickets, accidents or suspensions in the last three years (some companies require five years) then you could be eligible for a safe driver’s discount.

Many companies will reward you with staying with the same insurance company for many years without any accidents reported. They will offer you a renewal discount. It makes sense, you have carried insurance with a company for several years, and have not had an accident, your insurance company likes you and wants to reward and keep your business. Some companies honor you with a discount if you had prior limits on your previous policy. They discount you because they understand you are a better risk.

Conversely, if you do decided to change insurers a proof of prior insurance discount may apply. Most insurers request at least 6 months of consecutive insurance from the previous insurer. If you are a full-time student who meets certain grade requirements and are unmarried and usually under 25 years of age (some states the age is 21) you could be eligible for a good student discount. If you own a home, including condominium, town home, or mobile home, which is used as a principal residence, a discount could apply. Military personnel either currently active or retired from any branch of the US military a discount could apply. If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft device, a discount could apply.

You could lower the cost of your insurance in other ways.
For people who own older cars, it may not be necessary or cost-effective to protect them with collision and comprehensive coverage. By comparing the book value of your vehicle and the premium that the insurer has offered, you may find that it cost as much for the insurance as it does for the vehicle. If the car is worth less than $2,000, you will probably spend more insuring it than it is worth. The whole idea of driving an older car is to save money, so why not get what is coming to you.

In addition, keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy could greatly affect your premium. A flashy red sports car is usually going to cost more to insure than a mid sized sedan. This is also true of vehicles that are on the list of most stolen. There are many ways that policyholders can save on their insurance. Knowing more about auto policies and premiums can help consumers take advantage of less obvious discounts while ensuring that they have the appropriate protection for their vehicles. The last way to save is to assume more risk. If you chose higher deductible on your Personal Injury Protection or Comprehensive and collision coverage will lower your premium as well. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company begins paying the rest.

Understanding how discounts affect your insurance rates is important to save you money.

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February 22, 2008

A Guide to Garage Door Openers

Filed under: Car Care — Blogman @ 11:00 pm

Garage doors are no longer the regular roll-top ones, which have to be pushed up by hand. These days, garage door openers are provided with various accessories to make opening easier. No matter how heavy the garage door, it can be fitted with the right kind of opener. These openers ensure utmost safety and security for garages under any conditions. They are also provided with several options and in various designs to suit the exact requirements of the user. The best thing is, they can be installed within 3-5 hours (even do-it-yourself ones). A professional can install a garage door opener in 1 hour!

Garage door openers are of two kinds depending on the use: residential and commercial. In the commercial range of garage door openers, the main models are: Trolley, Jackshift, Hoist and the Slide models. While Trolley openers are used for standard lifting on sectional doors, Jackshift is used for grilles, rolling doors and shutters. Hoist operators are similar to Jackshifts but they are also suitable for heavy duty industrial doors. The slide door openers are meant for single and bi-parting slide doors and also for fire doors.

The main step in purchasing a garage door opener is to determine the actual drive system. Garage door openers are of three kinds depending on the drive system: belt driven, chain driven and direct drive. The most important points to be considered in a garage opener system are the kind of motor and the horsepower. Garage door openers differ in speed also. The average speed is 7 inches lift/drop per second. There are openers that operate at even double this speed.

Garage door openers are provided with different kinds of warranties. Safety is another important aspect while choosing the right garage door opener. It is mandatory that all automatic door openers should be equipped with a non-contact invisible beam system that can sense the approach of a person and make the door to reverse back to the open position. Other mandatory features of garage openers are: automatic lights, a timed reversing feature, a manual emergency release cord and a force adjustment feature.

Garage door openers are usually noisy but some advanced models are being designed to be really quiet. Proper maintenance and lubrication would also lessen the noise made by garage door openers. On the whole, garage door openers should be weather resistant, safe, and should have the least wire exposure for long life.
Garage doors can also be operated by a remote control. This is especially useful for people who have homes with multiple garages. However, it is better to have a rolling radio signal code for the control as it is easy for thieves to capture the code from thin air. Garage door openers can also have an automatic light, remote control and a wall operator, as well as the option of single/two/three button transmitters.

About the Author

Garage Door Openers Info provides detailed information about best garage door openers, as well as garage door opener parts and repair Garage Door Openers Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

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February 19, 2008

Buying a Car and Saving Money

Filed under: Car Care — Blogman @ 5:00 pm

Aside from their home, most Americans will spend more money on their car than on anything else they will buy. And yet, when it comes time to buy that car, most people spend far more time researching the engine, the stereo and the moon roof than they will the finances of the purchase. By failing to do a little homework on the finances, many people end up spending more money for their car, truck or van than they otherwise might.

A little bit of work ahead of time can help you save quite a bit of money on your car purchase. Here are some tips that might help:

Check your credit report - A few months before you decide to buy you should check your credit report for errors. Mistakes on your report could adversely affect your credit score, which will prevent you from obtaining financing at the lowest possible interest rate. While you are checking your credit report, check your credit score, too. That way you can avoid an occasional scam where the salesman tries to trick you into paying a higher rate by falsely claiming that your credit score is too low. You can’t fall for that one if you know your score.

Arrange your financing in advance - While you can sometimes get competitive financing from the dealer, you may do better at your bank, credit union, or online lender. Check with those sources ahead of time to find the best possible deal.

Watch for factory incentives - Sometimes, the manufacturer will offer inexpensive financing. In the past, such deals have gone as low as 0%. If such a deal is available, no bank or credit union will be able to match it, so keep an eye out for such incentives. Cash back bonuses are often available from the manufacturer, too, and those can be applied to your down payment.

Check the pricing - A number of Websites, such as Edmunds.com, offer information on pricing. With that information, you can negotiate the best possible deal.

Ponder the extras - Undercoat? Extended warranty? These are things you may wish to consider before the salesman asks you if you want to buy them. Whether you do or not is your own choice, but you don’t want to get caught with the extra expenses if these are things you do not need.

Buying a car need not be a complicated procedure, but it works best if you know ahead of time how you intend to go about it. The better your preparation, the less harrowing your experience of buying a new car will be.

About The Author

©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including http://www.End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling and http://www.homeequityhelp.net, a site devoted to home equity loans, mortgages and home refinancing.

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February 16, 2008

A PRIMER ON GASOLINE PRICES

Filed under: Car Care — Blogman @ 5:00 am

Gasoline, one of the main products refined from crude oil, accounts for just about 17 percent of the energy consumed in the United States. The primary use for gasoline is in automobiles and light trucks. Gasoline also fuels boats, recreational vehicles, farm equipment and various type of other equipment.
While gasoline is produced year-round, extra volumes are made in time for the summer driving season. Gasoline is delivered from oil refineries mainly through pipelines to a massive distribution chain serving 167,000 retail gasoline stations throughout the United States.
There are three main grades of gasoline: regular, mid-grade, and premium. Each grade has a different octane level. Price levels vary by grade, but the price differential between grades is generally constant.
What are the components of the retail price of gasoline?
The cost to produce and deliver gasoline to consumers includes the cost of crude oil to refiners, refinery processing costs, marketing and distribution costs, and finally the retail station costs and taxes. The prices paid by consumers at the pump reflect these costs, as well as the profits (and some- times losses) of refiners, marketers, distributors, and retail station owners.

In 2003, the price of crude oil averaged $28.50 per barrel, and crude oil accounted for about 44% of the cost of a gallon of regular grade gasoline. In comparison, the average price for crude oil in 2002 was $24.09 per barrel, and it composed 43% of the cost of a gallon of regular gasoline. The share of the retail price of regular grade gasoline that crude oil costs represent varies somewhat over time and among regions.
What Do We Pay for in a Gallon of Regular Grade?
Federal, State, and local taxes are a large component of the retail price of gasoline. Taxes (not including county and local taxes) account for approximately 27 percent of the cost of a gallon of gasoline. Within this national average, Federal excise taxes are 18.4 cents per gallon and State excise taxes average about 21 cents per gallon. 2 Also, eleven States levy additional State sales and other taxes, some of which are applied to the Federal and State excise taxes. Additional local county and city taxes can have a significant impact on the price of gasoline.
Refining costs and profits comprise about 15% of the retail price of gasoline. This component varies from region to region due to the different formulations required in different parts of the country.
Distribution, marketing and retail dealer costs and profits combined make up 14% of the cost of a gallon of gasoline. From the refinery, most gasoline is shipped first by pipeline to terminals near consuming areas, and then loaded into trucks for delivery to individual stations.
Some retail outlets are owned and operated by refiners, while others are independent businesses that purchase gasoline for resale to the public. The price on the pump reflects both the retailer s purchase cost for the product and the other costs of operating the service station. It also reflects local market conditions and factors, such as the desirability of the location and the marketing strategy of the owner.

About the Author

Pierre Schexneider is president of The Schexneider Group, LLC an E-commerce consulting business. As a consultant his research abilities have afforded him many opportunities to expand his knowledge base. For gas saving tips please visit:

How to Save on Gas

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