Mechanics on a Budget: Our Best Money-Saving Tips

Each month, the blogosphere brings a new list of mechanics on a budget like fedex tool box. Maybe you’ve heard about them. But even if you use an oil change shop or are lucky enough to live in a home with an attached garage, we’ll show you how to save as much money as possible on your vehicle’s upkeep without sacrificing performance and value. Plus, we’ll also take some time to explain how all this saves time–and maybe even make it more enjoyable!

This month, our ten tips will help keep your car running efficiently and help avoid common problems that come with increased wear and tear.

Anyone who is interested in maintaining the maintenance of their car knows that the different oils can cost hundreds of dollars per year.

1. Oil Changes:

Time saved: 2-3 hours per year. 

For those who take their car to a professional oil change shop, we don’t mean to argue with your judgment, but here are some interesting facts: It costs about $10 at the most to buy oil (plus another $25 for other chemicals). You can change it yourself in five minutes in the driveway. Or if your driveway isn’t level, you can get a cheap jack for about $30 that lets you do it safely and easily on the street or even on the subway (when parked of course).

Unlike the time you spend driving to and from your oil change shop, changing your own oil will save money. And since many of these shops will discount the amount you buy, you can buy in bulk and get discounts.

2. Auto Parts:

Time saved: 2-3 hours per year.

Get the best deals on auto parts from places like AutoZone and Pep Boys . There are a lot of places to shop for auto parts for cars, but we’ve found that these two chains allow you to buy in bulk and typically have better prices.

3. Time Spent in Service:

Time saved: 1 hour per year. 

There are a lot of places to service your car, but we recommend going with a company with a great reputation. For example, you can visit The Tire Rack .

4. Auto Repair:

Time saved: 2-3 hours per year.

This one is easy! Look at CouponCodes4U for the latest offers and promotions for mechanics on a budget. With the amount of money you save by doing your own repairs, you’ll be able to spend more money on things like oil changes, brake pads and rotors, air filters, etc., so that these shops get paid more to actually do the work themselves!

5. Auto Parts:

Time saved: 2-3 hours per year.

You can actually buy some of the best used auto parts online or at auctions. For example, we’ve found some used brake pads at auctions for around $5 each (we paid a dollar more). We’ve also bought a whole set of worn out struts for $15!

6. Auto Maintenance:

Time saved: 1-2 hours per year.

Just like auto repair, you can do most of the work yourself for much less money and avoid the cost of a mechanic. For example, you can replace your own oil filters . (A cheap computer from Walmart will show how much damage has been done so that you don’t have to take it to a shop or waste time looking on google. It really is a cheap and wonderful tool.)

7. Tire Maintenance:

Time saved: 1 hour per year.

Take a few minutes each month to check your tire pressure . This is especially important for those who drive often (truckers, delivery drivers, etc.). You’ll save a lot of time on tire rotations and you’ll be safer on the road from dangerous blowouts. Also, use air shock pumps . Don’t let your tires end up like this! 

8. Auto Repairs:

Time saved: 5 hours per year. 

When your car is making a strange noise, resist the urge to ignore it. Fixing things early can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. 

9. Auto Financing:

Time saved: 3 hours per year. 

If you’re constantly bouncing between five credit cards with ten different financing plans and warranties, it can be hard to tell what’s going on with your auto financing. Online services like Quizzle help you quickly set up a budget and learn how much you can spend on car payments without endangering your finances. 

10. Car Repairs:

Time saved: 30 minutes per year (or more). 

Use Yelp and Google to research reviews before going in for auto repairs. Alternately, go with a trusted mechanic for repairs when needed.

Sometimes, we get so busy that all of our time just melts away! With little or no money to spare, we find ourselves getting stressed from trying to do too many things at once . Even if you are just a little stressed out from day-to-day life, you can save money on auto maintenance by making some easy changes.

Conclusion:

Use these tips to save time and money on auto maintenance without sacrificing quality or your safety. If you need some more ideas or want a second opinion on one of your auto repair projects (like whether you can do it yourself or not), visit The Tire Rack .

These tips will also save you time! For example, if you normally visit a mechanic once every four months, over the course of a year that’s an extra four hours of wasted time. Put that time to better use by spending more quality time with family and friends doing things that you enjoy.