Don't get Scammed by your Mechanic

Most of the time when you go to a mechanic, it is a smooth experience but every so often you can get scammed. Someone who is close to me, got new tires recently and they ended up doing something to her car battery. She had no choice but to purchase a new one. She never had battery problems before this. Of course the mechanic would not admit it was his fault. He blamed it on the “cold weather.” Cold weather meaning 50 degrees, which was not cold compared to what the car had been other times. They also set the tires to 40 instead of the suggested 30. Thankfully, she had an oil change and they fixed it for her.  It’s really important that you know what you are getting in to.  The mechanic can be intimidating when you don’t understand what they are talking about.  It’s easy to trust someone because it’s their job. Most of the time, they are trustworthy and don’t try and rip you off, but you need to be educated. Some prey on women or older people who may not know that they don’t need new brakes or that’s their engine is sound.

 Here’s an infograph by Active Insurance to help you know what the warning signs of auto repair scams.  It also gives you an estimate of what certain parts cost and just some good tips. I love the tip about asking for the old part when it’s replaced. I would have never thought of that. It’s to make sure they really replaced it. You are in the waiting room and you never know what they are doing in the garage. 

Are you comfortable with getting car repairs? Do you get them yourself or do you send your husband or dad to take care of it?  Did you learn anything new?

Music about Cars

You can find songs about any topic or thing. You can think of anything and I am sure there is probably at least one song about it. That includes love, heartache, animals and even cars. There are so many songs about cars. Songs you sing in the car, songs about cars, songs dedicated to their cars and even songs that are metaphors using a car. You can also find songs about tragic car crashes and death. Really if you think about it, being in a car is a big part of everyday life. All kinds of things happen while riding in the car. Noah has lost a couple teeth in the car, which ended up lost. Thankfully, the tooth fairy is really understanding. One of my friends recently delivered her great niece in the front of her truck less than a mile from the hospital. I can definitely see why cars are often the topic of songs. I now wonder how many hours of our lives are spent in the car. My mom has spent the last month driving all over the place visiting. I know that she has spent many hours driving her car just traveling. You may have had your first kiss in a car after a date when you were younger. My first kiss was when I was seven, but I don't count that as a real kiss. Everyone has car memories, just some put them in artwork and some put them in songs and share it with the world for us to enjoy.

I compiled a list of some songs about cars that I really like, be sure to go read it.

I Need a Used Car

I am going to be in the market for a new car soon. Buying a car is a very serious deal. It is usually a large purchase and requires a lot of thought and shopping around. You have to be smart about it. You don’t want to be swindled or land on The People’s Court. When you are making a big purchase or any purchase for that matter I know to grab the nearest roll of toilet paper and crayon and get a receipt. I know that cash does not leave this hand without a receipt going in other hand. It is crucial to protect yourself and avoid sites like Craigslist, which you know I don’t use to buy anything. It is pretty risky in my opinion. I will definitely check out dealerships when I am ready to make my purchase. It will take me some time to figure out what exactly I want. Since I am a mom safety is something I think about a lot. I want to keep my precious son safe while we are running errands and traveling. I have some concerns about the safety of the cars on Craigslist because it’s not regulated by anyone. You are also opening yourself up for being a victim of a scam or someone could take advantage of you. Cars are supposed to last a long time so it is vital to not to be careless. It’s not like picking out an outfit. I love to travel so traveling will be done in this new car. I have family all over and I would like to spend more time in 2015 with my loved ones who are only an hour or two away. We have such busy lives, we don’t spend as much time together anymore. Since I have had my health problems, it makes me really think about them. We live in an area where there is pretty much anything you could want within twenty miles away, but traveling in a car is a must. I want Noah to have memories of car travel when he is young.

Be sure to see what you need to consider when buying a used car, it could save you from a lot of stress and grief.