Photo Credit: Kevitivity
It’s been a bit since we had to dip into the emergency fund, but this week we’re going to have to use it. We have two used cars that have been pretty reliable, a 2000 VW Jetta and a 1994 Acura Integra. It’s about time to replace the timing belt on my Jetta.
I scheduled the repair with my mechanic for Thursday.It should be done by 6:00pm. I wish I could postpone it a bit more, but the worst case is the engine is ruined when the timing belt goes out. In case you will have some huge car repair due down the road, here are some tips to help reduce the price of your car repair and increase the value of the service.
DIY Car Repir Tips
How to Find a Reliable and Affordable Mechanic
- Look for a quality mechanic before you need a big job done. Make sure the shop has ASE certified mechanics and experience dealing with your car’s make and model.
- Start small and build a relationship with a shop. How was the customer service? How well did they do the job. Did they go the extra miles? If they do well with smaller repairs, it gives you a bit more peace of mind.
- Consult your owners manual for the schedule of replacement. You want to check the recommended miles and time for replacements.
- Price shop to double check that your price is reasonable. I still called around to see what the price range is for the repair to make sure I’m getting a good deal. Cheapest doesn’t mean quality, but I don’t want to be at the top end either.
We’ve anticipated the car repair, but it’s still hate to see the amount decrease. I just remind myself that this repair will keep the car in good condition for years to come. Once we knock off the car loan, I’ll switch the car payment money into savings which will speed up its growth.
Related Posts -
Welcome MSN Readers Welcome! I noticed last night that quite few visitors came from MSN. Thank you Smart Spending and Karen Datko. Special thanks to my fellow bloggers for their great articles. I also want to thank friend and long time reader Neal (You know you always have an open invitation...... -
DIY Car Repairs Can Save Money Photo Credit: kozumel If you live in an area with a good transportation system, be thankful. You've just saved some money. Owning, maintaining, and insuring a car can be expensive. Getting repairs done a car can add up very quickly. The average rate for labor is $50-$120/hour. If you......
Here are Some Other Great Thoughts - 11 Tips For An Accurate Vehicle Repair Estimate. This is a guest post by coupon sleuth and deal digger Coupon Sherpa. Visit CouponSherpa.com to find automotive coupons to stores like Auto Parts Warehouse and Auto Anything. Check out the Ask Coupon Sherpa blog for more money saving tips. My car knows when I get paid. Like clockwork it......
-
Arming Ourselves to Save Money on Car Repairs Compared to the frugalistic skills of many other personal finance bloggers, Mr. ToughMoneyLove is a rank amateur. On the other hand, I am not one to sit back and accept being taken advantage of by entire industries. Case in point: My complete disgust with the credit score industry, something I......

Subscribe




Post a Comment
[...] Green Panda Treehouse is facing a car repair bill, for which she’s going to have to dip into the emergency fund. Sounds familiar! [...]
[...] savings with ING Direct is went down a bit as we spent money to replace the VW’s timing belt (it has over 120, 000 [...]