Life can be full of surprises. Although we might have a general idea of how things are going to go in our head, there are always a few changes here and there, some minor and some major. Although these deviations from the plotted course can sometimes end up beneficial, at other times they can turn out to be real expensive setbacks.
The best way to prepare for any setback is to make sure you have some emergency cushion to support yourself. In the case of most things in our world, that cushion is 99% of the time money. You want to get into the habit of saving money away in case of emergencies and just in general. Because without some savings to dig you out of a hole, you can end up in a pretty low place.
We should all be just a little frightened about something happening to our vehicles. A car is a huge investment for yourself and to have it break down in an inopportune moment can cause a very stressful moment. Having the money to make sure any repairs that need to be made can be made and investing in the longevity of your car with maintenance work can end up saving you money and headaches in the long run.
If you have a vehicle that is currently damaged that you would like to sell, it has never been easier than it is today. In the past you would have had to negotiate with junkyards or take the time to solicit a private buyer. Now the process of selling a damaged or even totaled car can all take place online and fast too.
Maintenance
The best way to make sure you don’t end up out of pocket for car repairs is to keep your car in good shape. Preventive measures in the form of regular maintenance on your car can mean the difference between your vehicle breaking down and not.
Cars today are much better in quality than the ones of old. This constant increase in quality, safety, and technology also translates to better longevity. You can keep the same car for a much longer time than in the past. The only thing you need to do is make sure you are taking proper care of it.
Some automakers offer warranties and will even service your car for you. However for the most part, you are going to be responsible for taking care of your vehicle and dealing with the costs to do so. Depending on the age and make of your car, getting your oil and filter change can be $30 using just conventional oil or as much $150 if the vehicle needs synthetic oil. Of course you would not need to pay for labor if you get into changing your own oil.
Making sure you are on top of your tire pressure by checking at least once a month can keep your vehicle in top shape. Being on top of your car’s maintenance and reading through the vehicle’s owner manual can keep you aware of what your vehicle needs so that you can prevent breakdowns before they turn into expensive surprise repairs.
Emergency Car Repairs
In the case that your vehicle breaks down or won’t start, or you see an ominous check engine light followed by a noisy engine, you need to be prepared to deal with the repair costs. A typical surprise repair could end up being $500 to $600 and not all of us just have that money lying around.
Keeping money saved for auto repairs will keep you from stressing out as bad. Take $50 out of your income once a month and after a year you will have $600 saved. In the grand scheme of things you’re not going to miss out on much with just $50 taken out and you are avoiding the headache of an expensive repair job.
If you already have got money saved up from a year or 2 of no repairs needed, you can even save less for repairs. If you just recently put up money for a big repair job, then chances are you are going to be in the clear for a while. If you are using an older car then you might have to save more since they are more likely to break down.
It is also important to recognize that your car could end up totaled. That is when the cost to repair exceeds the value of the car itself. This would mean you would have to end up paying for a new car and having a nice reserve of cash for automobile emergencies will help out a lot.
