Getting Used to Saving Money
It’s car show season, the time of year when people pay to see the latest versions of one of the fastest-depreciating items known to man (can you tell I’m not a “car guy?”). A recent article by Yahoo Finance columnist Laura Rowley encouraged readers to save their oohs and ahs for the savings they’ll generate by buying used instead of new. And she offered up a helpful list of resources for finding the best “pre-owned” ride from the comfort of your own home. Among her recommendations: Review the safety reports on a make and model you’re considering through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ; find out what a vehicle is worth via the Kelley Blue Book ; shop for cars on AutoTrader.com ; and learn about the history of cars you’re considering with a one-month subscription to CARFAX .
Matt’s View
In a related item, I just noticed that Merlin Muffler & Brake has re-branded itself Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops . The company says its strategy is to help people achieve the “full life of their vehicle.” Now there’s an unusual marketing message if I’ve ever seen one, turning on its head decades of auto industry advertising bent on keeping our relationships with our cars short-term. I plan to give their service a try just to support their message.
This article filed in: Vehicles
Managing Money by The Book
- "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
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