Dealing with an issue with your vehicle can be extremely stressful, especially if the problem occurs unexpectedly or if you are already dealing with debt in other areas of your life. When you need help from a professional and affordable mechanic, there are a few different routes to consider taking. The more familiar you are with local auto shops and mechanics near you, the easier it will be for you to find a suitable provider for your needs.

Consider Your Needs

Each year, the average individual pays around $356 in repair costs for their vehicle. Anytime you believe your vehicle needs repair work, it’s advisable to take a bit of time to research the estimated cost of the job. While a simple oil change may only require between $20 and $70, depending on the type of oil change you’re interested in, replacing a transmission or installing a brand-new battery will cost more and will vary based on your vehicle’s make and model.

Calculate the Cost of the Repair You Need

The average car or truck will have the ability to travel a distance of 150,000 and 200,000 miles before it requires a transmission repair or replacement, according to the Transmission Repair Cost Guide. You can research the estimated cost of repair work based on the component you may need to replace and labor costs near you by searching online ahead of time.

This will allow you to see a range of potential expenses you might encounter based on the extent of the work your vehicle requires. Whenever you are thinking of visiting a mechanic for the first time, it is also important to inquire about a quote before signing a work agreement or allowing them to begin the repair.

Ask Friends and Neighbors for Referrals

Currently, more than 600,000 professional mechanics are working in the U.S. today, according to Reimagining Education. If you are unsure of where to begin when you are searching for an affordable and trustworthy mechanic near you, turn to your family, friends, and even neighbors in the area who may be familiar with locations in your area. You can ask for referrals to feel much more comfortable once it is time for you to make a decision and schedule an appointment at a shop.

Use Local and Online Listings to Compare Mechanics in Your Area

One of the best ways to get to know more about local mechanics and auto shops near you is to do so on your own, online. Searching online for mechanics near you can be done with basic social media platforms, such as Facebook, as well as traditional search engines, such as Google. Using search engines can help you compare locations and reviews of mechanics and auto shops within minutes and with just a few clicks of the mouse.

When you are comparing auto shops and mechanics online, be sure to seek verified reviews and testimonials from clients in the past. Verified reviews provide valuable insight into the type of work you should come to expect from certain mechanics and shops in your community. In some cases, reviews may also include photos of completed work.

Use social media pages to gauge and compare the professionalism between mechanics in your city or town. Reference social media reviews, photos, and updates to find a location where you are most comfortable taking your vehicle.

Knowing how to go about finding an affordable mechanic in your area is a way for you to address the issues you’re experiencing with your vehicle without breaking the bank. Using both local and online resources, locate the ideal auto repair shop or mechanic near you who has an opening to take a look at your car or truck. The more familiar you are with the resources you have available to you, the less likely you are to encounter issues anytime you require help with your car or truck.

The term ‘frivolous’ means “not having serious purpose or value.” If you’re a frivolous spender, it means your spending habits are highly wanting. In other words, you’re a wasteful spender. All these are harsh adjectives to describe anyone’s spending habit, but it’s better to be told the truth now and change than receive unhelpful platitudes that keep you in debt. Here are six signs you have frivolous spending habits.

1. Your Monthly Income Is Enough To Cover Basic Expenses, But It Doesn’t

Have you ever wondered where your money goes? Nothing is as frustrating as knowing you’re making enough money to cover your bills, but you only ever pay part of them. This indicates that even though you’re making enough to meet your needs, you’re not living within your means. Your personal finance may be in disarray. If this earning and spending pattern continues, you’ll soon be deep in debt, which can easily lead to depression. This may result in the need for costly medical care and visits to one of the 30,000 prescription dispensaries in the United States, according to Envicare.

2. You Lack Spending Goals

Goals keep you focused on the most important things. They keep you from aimlessly spending, which is the quickest route out of debt. Your spending goals must be specific, such as saving for a vacation of your dreams or buying a car or a house. Impulse buying can be considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom. In the United States, 20% of adults have a form of mental disorder, according to Roots Through Recovery

With your spending goals always in sight, you’ll resist the temptation to spend on minor things that strike you on the spur of the moment, otherwise known as impulse buys. Setting up a budget helps you keep important goals in perspective, resisting the temptation to spend on non-priority items.

3. Your Credit Score Keeps Dropping

Overspending is likely to hit your credit score badly. Missed and late payments are the main causes of bad credit scores, with 35% of scores deriving from one’s payment history. Overspending also raises your debt balances. Keep your credit card debt below 30% of your credit limit. High credit card balances could adversely affect your credit score. This is bad news since poor credit scores will make it difficult to qualify for other credit products such as loans, and where you qualify, the interest rates are punitively high.

4. You Constantly Max Out Your Credit Cards

You need help if you keep maxing out credit cards. This is the clearest sign you’re overspending. The higher credit limit is there to ensure you don’t get anywhere near it. Another sign your spending habits are wanting is if you keep juggling between cards to find one with adequate credit for a new purchase. By the time you get to this point, you’re in serious financial trouble, and your credit score will suffer. Getting out of debt is arduous if your debt balances are too high.

5. You Have No Savings

The root cause of a lack of emergency savings is poor spending habits.  If you currently find it difficult to settle your bills, how would you fare should you suddenly find yourself in a financial crisis? To withstand financial emergencies tomorrow, build up your savings today.

People can behave in ways they may not normally, simply to get out of debt. This can include hustles such as drug trafficking, even though drug possession on state charges carries a sentence of about 20 months. Get out of debt today by avoiding spending impulsively, and then start saving, little by little, and you’ll soon achieve personal finance stability. Good luck!

You can’t own a car without encountering a breakdown at some point. That’s part of the reason 47,618 companies and 113,885 workers are active in the car towing industry in the United States, according to Carsurance. Include the following tasks in your maintenance checklist as you plan out your personal finance to lower the likelihood of total failure.

1. Oil Changes

Like blood in humans, oil is your engine’s lifeline. It keeps it cool, prevents corrosion, reduces wear and tear, serves as a sealant against debris, and lubricates moving parts. You must regularly change your car’s oil to keep it clean and ensure your engine works at its best. How often you need to change it comes down to your car and the oil you’re using, but after three months or 3,000 miles should be enough. Some newer vehicles require less frequent changes. Always check your vehicle owner’s manual and ask your mechanic for advice on the best schedule for your vehicle.

2. Tire Check

Proper tire maintenance is key to a safe, fuel-efficient ride whenever you take them out for a spin. Check their pressure at your local mechanic shop every month or before carrying extra loads and embarking on long trips. Remember the spare as well; you’ll be thankful when the need arises.

Tire alignment is another important maintenance task. According to Tire Buyer, you should have your tires aligned once or twice yearly or more frequently if you put them through a lot of wear and tear. This way, you won’t have to tell everyone you give your car to that they have to hold the steering wheel at an awkward angle to keep the car straight.

3. Checking the Lights

If someone was to walk up to you right now and ask when was the last time you had the lights on your vehicle checked, you’ll probably say the last time they malfunctioned. However, this isn’t good for you and your vehicle. They play a key role in your car’s operations.

Once every month, park your car in front of a flat surface, turn on both headlights, and ensure they work properly and in the right position. Walk around your car, inspecting the turn signals and parking lights. Make use of your Sunday evening hangouts by having your friend, family, or spouse stand behind your car while you step on the brakes to confirm if the brake lights are still functional.

4. Check Your Brakes

Your car has several safety features, but your brakes are perhaps the most important on the open road. The number of accidents from brake failure is high, so you should ensure they’re always in optimal working condition. Regularly change your brake pads to avoid finding yourself in a situation where you’re driving fast down the freeway but can’t stop soon enough.

Remember to check the brake disc as well. While this component is typically made from durable iron, you still have to change it annually because constantly using your brakes eventually causes them to reduce in density. You should also check the brake fluid levels; they’re important to their function.

5. Replacing Wipers

Your windshield wipers are a key component of your car’s safety systems. Just think about it, what would you do if they stopped working during heavy rain or snowfall? You wouldn’t be able to see the road clearly, increasing the likelihood of getting into an accident.

According to the Department of Transportation, weather contributes to about 21% of motor vehicle crashes in the United States. So remember to regularly assess the condition of your wipers to ensure they’re working when you need them during extreme weather. Get replacements promptly if they’re faulty.

Purchasing and driving a car off the lot is just the tip of the iceberg of car ownership. You need to keep up with its maintenance needs to get the most service from its useful life. Use this read as a guide for car maintenance tasks to include in your budget.

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Are you planning a wedding? Congratulations! Unfortunately, it can be expensive and stressful to plan a wedding. You have to choose a venue, craft your guest list, find a photographer, a caterer, and most importantly, find a dress! You require simple, practical personal finance management skills to spend wisely on these items. This helps you create a unique, memorable, stylish occasion without breaking the bank. Keep reading for other practical money-saving tips when planning your wedding.

Hire a Planner

An event planner helps you do the homework. For instance, relying on your bridal party or family members to clean up after a wedding would be unwise. According to Thimble, cleaning services typically cost about $150 per job. So, your event planner can help you pick the best cleaning service with the experience and abilities to do the task effectively.

Additionally, specific vendors can provide their pricing, but an event planner helps you understand the overall budget and how to allocate money appropriately. Rather than swimming in a sea of options, an event planner can save money and time by narrowing the list to quality, proven vendors that fit your budget. They understand your event’s budget and priorities. That’s why they recommend areas to cut costs without sacrificing the overall look or quality of the ceremony.

Trim Your Menu

You can whittle down your menu budget by inviting fewer guests or changing what they’ll eat. Most couples prefer sit-down dinners, but buffet-style service has increased in popularity over the last decades. However, sit-down dinners can be even stuffy or overly formal.

Formal is fine if you’re planning for a black-tie event, but the confines of a three-course dish may not work for a more relaxed ceremony. Here are tips to save money on catering.

• Offer cocktails and passed apps instead of a full meal.
• Bring in food trucks and give your guests tickets to use at each vendor.
• Schedule a brunch reception or breakfast instead of dinner.
• Instead of an open bar, limit alcohol to a few types of wine, beer, and liquor, or stick with two signature cocktails.
• Have a theme that embraces affordable food options like taco Tuesday, BBQ, picnic-style reception, summer fun, or comfort food (cheese, macaroni, mashed potatoes, or fried chicken).

Go Paperless

Cutting down on your wedding paper can save you a few bucks and significantly impact the environment. Remember, paper is one of the most recycled materials, according to Reader’s Digest. This minimizes wastage and conserves the environment. Plus, skipping paper invitations can save you money if you have a lot of guests. That price can increase once you add escort cards, menus, place cards, ceremony programs, etc.

In line with invitations, you might reduce your usage by opting for digital invitations from a site that offers wedding-website hosting. This helps you collect RSVPs through an integrated system.

Timing

When considering your budget, it helps to be mindful of time and dates. There is nothing wrong with picking a popular wedding date because they’re popular for good reasons. For example, historically mild temperatures, great weather, and during times when guest travel most.

Consider these factors before selecting a date. How long do you intend to plan till the wedding? Is the date appealing to your guests? Usually, venues and vendors are fully booked on popular days.

So, if your budget is tight, consider choosing alternative dates, as some venues provide weekday or off-season discounts. Selecting the time of the event is an essential consideration too. For example, a daytime brunch ceremony with light mimosas and bites is more affordable than an evening wedding where your guest expect to be served dinner with a sumptuous meal and drink options.

Budget for the Worst-Case Scenario

Your wedding is supposed to be the most unique, refined, and memorable day. But an accident after the reception can sour the sweetest wedding memories. According to CDC statistics, nearly 1.8% of California’s licensed drivers admit to DUI charges due to too much drinking.

So, hope for the best but budget for the worst. Create a weather contingency plan and cost into your budget. In case of a best-case scenario, the unspent funds stay in your pocket! If an issue strikes abruptly, it won’t be a surprise expense that unexpectedly breaks the bank.

Hopefully, these practical personal finance management tips for your wedding have been valuable and inspirational. Implement them to save cash on your big day and use it for the lifetime of new happiness that awaits you as newlyweds.