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Posted
Sep 05 2008, 04:17 PM
by
Karen Datko
There's an interesting debate going on at Prime Time Money about whether it's smarter to buy a new or used car. Right now, used seems to be winning. What do you think? Before you jump in, read the exchange between "PT" and contributor "J." It's instructional and highly amusing. PT also gives great tips to use whether you're buying a new or used car. Here's a serious part, with J arguing for a new car: PRO (J): Interest rate of 1.9%.
CON (PT): The rate may be low but your monthly payment is almost certainly going to be much higher. Not to mention off-the-lot depreciation. That's money you could be using for retirement savings or your kid's education.
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Posted
Sep 03 2008, 02:12 PM
by
Karen Datko
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Better gas mileage can be had from what used to be standard in cars -- the manual transmission, or stick shift. But how many drivers know how to use one these days?
It's a lost art, but a very efficient one. For its October issue, Consumer Reports bought two versions of seven different cars -- ranging from a $15,800 Scion to a $24,000 Mini Cooper -- and found a gain of 2 to 5 mpg with a standard versus automatic transmission in the same model.
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Posted
Aug 28 2008, 02:50 PM
by
Karen Datko
The blogger who brought us a blow-by-blow description of how to make a month's worth of lunches in 25 minutes now tackles another great do-it-yourself project: how to change the oil in your vehicle. OK, the post about a 23-day supply of PBJ sandwiches was funny. Mike's oil-change post at Clever Dude is the real deal for those who want to cut spending by tackling routine chores they now outsource. After your initial purchase of equipment, he estimates how long it will take before you begin saving money.
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Posted
Aug 14 2008, 03:19 PM
by
Karen Datko
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We have great memories from our many travels across the country by bus: the image of the first working cowboy we'd ever seen as we crossed into New Mexico, a new card game we learned from fellow passengers as we pulled out of the Chicago terminal, our first visits to New Orleans and San Francisco. As Amy L. Fontinelle at Two Pennies Earned says, the bus is an affordable alternative to plane and train travel. The round-trip fare between New York City and Washington, D.C., is about $20 to $40 depending on which bus company you use.
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Posted
Jul 31 2008, 07:06 PM
by
Karen Datko
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"Brainy Smurf" at Pants in a Can isn't unhappy to see car leasing apparently going the way of the dinosaur. In fact, he's practically gloating. After seeing an NBC News report on the Big Three automakers' moves to discourage or totally eliminate leasing, he wrote: "Only being able to drive something that you can actually afford? "How dare they!" he added, snarkily.
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Posted
Jul 30 2008, 04:03 PM
by
Karen Datko
File this under: Sometimes you don't get what you pay for. Thousands of passengers on American Airlines, which now charges $15 for the first checked bag, were forced to depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport and leave their luggage behind. Because of a computer glitch, American's state-of-the-art baggage-sorting system stopped working about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday. Passengers could board flights without their luggage and rely on the airline to get it to their destination, or hang around until the problem was fixed -- not a viable option for many. Meanwhile, workers began sorting suitcases oh so slowly by hand.
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Posted
Jul 29 2008, 04:42 PM
by
Karen Datko
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Call it a desperation move or marketing genius. A Florida car dealer is offering a free energy-efficient car when customers buy a big truck or SUV.
BOGO in the showroom seems to be working. Dealer Jack Holcomb at New Smyrna Chevrolet in New Smyrna Beach said he's generating interest in his previously shunned gas-guzzling inventory. (And, as you'll note by reading the comments section below, it's not a unique idea. Readers are reporting similar promotions across the country.)
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Posted
Jul 29 2008, 12:19 PM
by
Karen Datko
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Here's something that hadn't happened in nearly 30 years: The number of miles driven by Americans has fallen for seven straight months. And if things keep going the way they've been, we might see something we haven't experienced as a nation since 1961: a drop in annual traffic deaths below 40,000. It should be no surprise that both are related to the high price of gas and other essentials like food.
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Posted
Jul 25 2008, 12:49 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
We've read about how more people are running out of gas on their way to wherever. Were they short on money for gas, or were they employing one of Punny Money's "5 incredibly stupid ways people are trying to save money on gas"? The fact is, with gas at more than $4 a gallon, auto clubs all over the country are reporting an increase in calls from stranded travelers. Some truly didn't have enough money for gas. "A select few morons are even running out of fuel on purpose -- just to get that free gallon of gas their automotive club or roadside-assistance program provides to get them going again," writes Nick at Punny Money. He's right.
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Posted
Jul 16 2008, 06:47 PM
by
Karen Datko
"Vh" at Funny about Money adopted a new policy when gas prices started their hideous climb: She would shop for necessities only at stores along her commute to and from work. She was surprised to see that she is now spending a lot less money on food and other items. In fact, she's actually spending less overall even though gas is eating up a lot more of her budget. Why? For one thing, Home Depot -- her favorite self-indulgence store -- is not along that route.
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