Here are a few quick tips when buying a used car.

1. Financing – Keeping your loan term to the shortest amount of time will save you money in the long run. Generally, it is wise to keep the term within 36 months if possible.

2. Loan – Obtain a loan for a used car via a third party lender. Generally used car dealers will charge higher rates or tack on additional fees, plus it puts you in a weaker position when negotiating the cars price. If you are in the military or work for the government, there are lending institutions which provide good rates to government personnel, which are unavailable to the general public.

3. Private sale – Generally you can obtain a used car for a lower price from a private seller. The vehicle may not have a warranty and almost never comes with a guarantee. However, since there is no middle man in the transaction, both the buyer and seller of the used car come out better in the long run.

4. Inspection – Have a friend who is a good mechanic? Have them inspect the used car for less. Throw a few dollars his way and skip the expensive used car inspections. Additionally, you will be building a relationship which might come in handy in the future.

5. Car Fax Reports – If you search online numerous websites list discount coupons for car fax reports for your used car. The discount rate isn’t much, but every penny counts!

6. Wear and Tear Items – Most used cars have worn out parts: tires, brakes, cracked glass, broken/burnt out bulbs and exhaust leaks. Check the car over rigorously as these items add up. Additionally, make sure all items needed to pass inspection are in good condition; or have the seller knock off a few dollars to compensate. Also, used cars with broken inspection items are harder to sell, so the owner may come down in price.

7. Change your own oil – Changing your own oil can save you money, especially if you use synthetic.

8. Application Fees – When obtaining a loan for a used car normally there is an application free. See if the loan officer will waive the fee. Tell the loan officer you just had a kid and times are tuff. Heck, flirt with the person; you might be surprised how far you can get.

9. Ladies bring a guy – While this will sound sexist, it is strongly advised that ladies bring a guy when buying a used car. Some individuals are of the opinion women are not knowledgeable about cars, and will try to push you into a bad deal. Having a guy with you, even if they are just a friend or relative will help to eliminate that problem. Additionally, having two sets of eyes is always better than one.

10. Buy out of state – Some states do not require you to pay tax up font when purchasing a used car. Buying out of state can save you money initially; additionally your state of residence might have a lower tax rate.In fact there is a good resouce for locating out of state cars LocalCarHub.com.

11. Bonus – Know what you are buying. Do the research; learn what similar cars are selling for. Check the blue book value of the car.

Enjoy your used car.
By John Rover

• Crazy Savings: Saving Money on Pickles
• Making Your Own Bargains

• Free 1-Day Sam’s Membership
• Additional Writers Needed

If you are interested in writing about saving money and you can provide me writing samples, and can convince me you are not going to just come in and post a bunch of ads, I am interested in talking with you.  It’s an opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills on a blog that already has a following.  Also, if your writing is good enough to build a larger audience, you will be able to have a share of the web site profits.  Keep in mind that this position is initially unpaid.

If you are interested, drop me a line at john@spendingless101.com.

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• Keeping your money in your wallet
• Today’s Freebie

• Saving Money Isn’t Everything

Last week, I decided to loosen the purse strings a little.  The girls and I ate out a time or two last week.  Friday, we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens (unfortunately NOT in 3D).  On Saturday, I took the girls to Dave and Busters, where we at then played games (at least until my oldest lost all of the tickets and had a fit…so we left).

What I am getting at is that you should not save money to the exclusing of all else.  You can spend a little money to make the people in your life happy.  Last week, we went to D&B’s (which I had a coupon for a free $20 game card if you bought one).  This week, we are going bowling.  I have a coupon for an hour of free bowling for up to 4 people.  Grandma is going with us.

My idea is simple.  I am going to give myself 1 month get get the site ready for a sale.  During that time, I’ll be driving traffic, improving the existing content, and anything else I can think of to improve the site.  I am hoping one of two things happens:  either I like the end result so much that I decide to continue forward, or someone likes the site enough to purchase it.

Please give me your thoughts and comments about this.

Thanks for your continued support.

• Free Food
• Is buying a refurbished product a bad thing?

Used is not always a bad thing

Have you ever purchased a used car?  Do you buy things on the clearance rack at the store?  Do you buy items when the packaging has been ripped or is open?  I do.

I was recently considering purchasing two boxes of cereal that had open boxes.  The inner packaging was still sealed.  It looked like the bottoms of the boxes had not been properly glued shut at the factory.

There was probably nothing wrong with that cereal, just like there is nothing wrong with most products that are marked “remanufactured” or “refurbished”.  I purchased a refurbished 22inch monitor a couple of years ago and it’s still working.  I’ve had no trouble with it.

It’s been a while, so I can’t be completely sure, but I believe my laptop was a floor model.

A lot of times, when an item is marked “remanufactured” or “refurbished”, people automatically thing “USED”.  Used has a negative connotation, most-like brought on by the perponderence of lemons in the used car market.

When it comes to saving money, “refurbished” or “remanufactured” products can be a BIG money saver.

Some reasons for a product being marked as such can be:

- The box came open at the factory, therefore the packaging did not pass quality control
- The box arrived at the destination open and was sent back
- Someone purchased the item, then returned it.  Although the product may have been used, it was sent back to the factory and went through quality control and testing a second time.

Companies want their products to work when you recieve them.  They don’t want to have to take a product back because it did not work.  In fact, there may even be additional scrutiny in items that come back to the factory for that exact reason.

By the way, if this is a high-dollar purchase, you will most likely get the full manufacturers warranty on the product, even if it has been refurbished.  Make sure and check into this before making your purchase.

• How To Enjoy The Good Life While Living On A Budget
• Quick Tip

Living On A Budget

Do you always feel the shortage of money before the next pay packet? Do you want to upgrade you television set since last couple of years but are always short of cash? If you aim for a better standard of living and are targeting for a long term financial security then a proper budget planning is a must. You should try living on basic budget and start investing the surplus for a better return.

The most common problems faced across majority of working household in America is their inability to meet the basic living expenses which in turns speaks volumes about the economic health of the country. Living on basic budget means having sufficient amount of funds which will help you maintain and sustain a decent standard of living in a safe and secure community. Family’s basic budget is dependent on the number of factors like the number of children in the household, if you are a single parent, number of earning members in the family and state where you are residing in. While planning a budget the expenditure on following essentials should always be kept in mind:-

• Accommodation – Set aside an amount which you need to pay as a rent if staying in a rented apartment or keep aside the amount you need to pay as you monthly installment if you own private property.
• Food – You need to plan your budget to provide your family with a balanced nourishing diet
• Health care – It always better to have medical cover in case of emergencies for all your family members so do make plans to pay regular premiums for renewing these medical policies
• Taxes – Taxes which needs to be paid to the federal and state government should also be taken into account
• Education and child care – If you are pursuing any part time course or are paying education loan consider that amount in the budget. If having children in the family then a definite amount should be set aside for their education and health care need
• Other needs – Other factors such as transportation, personal grooming, clothing and other miscellaneous expenditures like paying of bills should also be included while planning a budget

You can plan you basic budget using simple pen and paper or Microsoft excel spread sheet. Alternatively, you can also download budgeting software from net. By keeping a track of your income and your expenditure, you can easily find out the surplus cash which can be used for investment and savings. In this way you can also be made aware of the shortages which will prompt you to cut the corners. Neilson research shows that, if you are living on basic budget and keeping track of all the inflow and outflow of cash you can actually save 15-20% of your yearly income. Keeping a track of your personal expenditure will also help you in faster clearing off your debts , plan for all the fun stuff like movies , basketball match tickets , keep a track of spending habits of your children and also instill in them the value of money.

So keep a track of your income and spending habits and plan your budget, this will definitely let you enjoy all the goodness of life while still living on basic budget.

• Free $10 Gift Card
• Rediscover Your Local Library

I’ve been coming to the library for years.  It seems that as the economy got worse, more and more people showed up at the library.

I am typing this post on the library’s WiFi (once it finally started working…must be the weather).  Both of my daughters are on the computers here also.  We have a “library night” one night a week.  They get to check out books, movies and catridges for the leap frog and leap pad.

The library is safe, warm when it’s cold out and cool when it’s warm out, well lit, and quiet.  I’ve always loved book stores…and libraries are a close runner up.

• Does insulating your garage save you money?
• New Years Resolutions Don’t Work
• Is your cell phone bill too high?
• End Of Year Message
• Now that the holidays are over…
• 9 Recession Survival Tips

In 2009, I have decided to make my online presence larger. My ultimate goal is to work 100% online and not have to go to an employer’s location 9-5 M-F. I feel that I am on the right path towards this goal, and with your help, I can make it.

With the economy the way it is, these words may be worthless, but I hope you had a great 2008 and I hope your 2009 is even better. If you ask my opinion, I think the economy has reached the bottom of the curve and things are turning around.

If you want to follow me even more, my exploits and spoutings can be found on Twitter, by email, on Facebook, or on LinkedIn. I can also be found on digg and can be reached by paper cup and string.

Happy New Year

• Saving Money At Christmas

I have to admit that I did not follow my own money-saving advice this Christmas.  In an effort to please the kids and make their Christmas fun, I dipped into my savings and spent more than I had planned to.  I guess a lot of parents feel that way and kids can be naturally ungrateful.

I bought them a Wii.  My main reason for doing this was to fulfill a promise I made to them last year.  Since I dipped into savings, I am going to be working some additional hours to replenish what I spent, and then some.

2009 will be a better year for my family, financially and otherwise.  The girls deserve to have a full family (mommy and daddy) and they deserve to be happy.  Since mommy is not in the picture, I have to compensate as best I can; not with things, but with time and with love.  I’m doing the best that I can.

Merry Christmas to all.