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I recently received a letter in the mail from a professional organization I belong to, telling me that if I signed up with GEICO for my car insurance, I would be eligible for a discount of up to 8% on my car insurance premiums.
Wait a minute, I already have my car insurance through GEICO! How did I miss this extra discount?

I am not sure how I missed this in the past, but apparently there are well over 100 “partnering organizations”, which, if you are a member of one, you may be eligible for a discount of up to 8% as well.

There are categories of partnering organizations, including:
Accounting Organizations
 Alumni Associations
 Attorney Organizations
 Credit Unions
 Educational Organizations
 Engineering Organizations
 Federal Organizations
 Financial Organizations
 Medical Organizations
 Military Organizations
 Professional Development Organizations
 Scientific Organizations
 Student Organizations
 Technical Organizations
 Other Organizations
That’s just the list of categories, it appears there are over 200 groups which are listed.

Check out the full list of Partnering Organizations to find out if you belong to a group eligible for a discount.

Looking around the GEICO website, there are several other discounts available that you want to make sure you are getting if they are your insurance company. Check out the main GEICO discount page .

There are other companies, such as most cell phone companies, which offer discounts if you work for a certain company or are a member of a certain group. Are you getting all of the discounts you are eligible for?

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Saving Money by RC - No Comments →

 Finding cheap gas prices is no longer only for the frugal-minded among us, it is now becoming a necessity for everyone. It seems like prices have gone up $0.10 to $0.15 per week for the last few weeks.  The more you drive, the more you spend on gas, and the more important it is to find the lowest price possible. Even though I travel the same route to work everyday, I often find myself driving around town, and of course, I notice when a certain gas station has lower gasoline prices than others, and of course, I always seem to see a lower price right after I fill up! With prices changing so frequently, it is hard to find the station that is the lowest. Some change their prices at different times of the day, and even though you may go to a station that is usually the lowest, it may not be the lowest the time you go there. Even a difference of a few cents per gallon can add up of a period of time. I have used one of these websites in the past,  Gasbuddy, to look up prices, but the other,  Mapquest Gas Prices,  is new to me.

 Gasbuddy: Allows you to search by city, state, or zip and brings up list of the cheapest prices in your area. Gasbuddy also gives you an overview of historical prices, trends, and includes Canada as well.

Mapquest Gas Prices: Allows you to type in an address, intersection, or zip-code, and pull up the gas stations with the lowest prices in that area, all on the same map. Additional features include a gas price calculator, browsing by city and state, and alternative fuels such a E85 and bio-diesel. The map feature on mapquest is great, and it seems as though it would be very useful when travelling or on a trip.

While I like being able to see multiple stations on Mapquest Gas Prices, both sites are quite useful for finding cheap gasoline in your area or on the road.

image by a siegel

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Frugality, Saving Money by RC - 2 Comments →

 One of the problems of being unorganized is that it can frequently cost you money. Yesterday, on the way home from work, I noticed flashing lights in my rear-view mirror. I pulled over, and while I was waiting for the police officer to walk up to my vehicle, I wondered what I had been pulled over for. I had just pulled away from a red light, so I wasn’t speeding, had my seat-belt on, and really couldn’t think of what I had done. When the officer approached, he asked my if my registration was current, and I told him that I though so. He told me the registration sticker on my license plate expired in 2007. When I reached in to the glove compartment to retrieve my registration (which was obviously expired), I grabbed my insurance card, and I suddenly felt panicked. My insurance card expired a week ago! Now, I pay my insurance online, and knew I was current, but in Louisiana you must have proof of current insurance in your vehicle, or you can get a ticket or even towed. Oh Boy……

The police officer explained what could happen-my car could be towed, according to him (although I believe it is rare-they usually take your license plate, which is pretty bad as well) and then went back to his vehicle.  He returned a short while later, and told me that as a favor he had called my insurance company, Geico, (the phone # was on my expired insurance card) and confirmed I had coverage. He then presented me with a ticket for the expired registration, and strongly suggested I put my new insurance card in the vehicle and get my registration renewed. So, I guess I  did end up getting a little lucky by only getting one ticket.

However, all of this was entirely avoidable if I had paid the renewal, which I had received in the mail, when I received it in Dec. 2007. I am now looking at an additional $100 to $150 because I procrastinated, and then misplaced the bill due to my being unorganized. The irony of it all is that I have been working on organizing my bills and finances, and have been pretty good at paying them fairly soon after I receive them, but apparently my past caught up with me.

Photo by conner395

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Productivity/Organization by RC - 2 Comments →

Even though my commute is only 3 miles one way to work, I do drive quite a bit on the weekends, and frequently take longer trips.  My wife does quite a bit of driving throughout the week as well. With the price of a gallon of gas having risen to about $3.10/gal. in my part of the country, I have been trying to adjust my driving habits to increase my mpg’s. Here are a few tips to remind you how to drive more efficiently and increase your gas mileage.

1. Combine errands- Instead of running 3 or 4 errands on the weekend, try to
   take care of everything in one trip. This can actually help you plan your shopping better as well.
2.  Make it a habit to pick things up, if possible, on the way home from work or when you are already out. Make a list to remember things you need, or call your spouse to see if you need to pick anything up.
3.  Go inside, don’t use the drive-thru- At the bank, fast food places, etc., you can frequently spend 10 minutes or longer in a drive-thru line.  When you idle you get 0 miles per gallon-Try not to idle (except at a stop light) for more than 20 to 30 seconds.
4.  If possible, avoid stop and go traffic-Consider altering your normal route (depending on how much longer it may be.) to avoid lost of stopping and starting.
5.  Accelerate slowly-Even acceleration and braking is the key to maximum fuel efficiency.
6. Use cruise control while on the highway.
7. Consider adopting the safe hypermiling techniques (I would consider some of these -such as drafting behind an 18-wheeler truck-to be dangerous) But coasting well in advance of a red light when there is no one behind you, driving slower when there is no traffic, etc. are quite OK and can boost your gas mileage.)
8. If your car actually runs better on a higher octane gas (mine does) consider try filling up 1/2 with higher octane and 1/2 with the lower octane to see if helps.
9. Keep your trunk empty-Carrying extra weight will decrease your gas mileage.
10.  Inflate your tires to the recommended psi-This can usually be found on a sticker on your vehicle’s door jam.

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Frugality by RC - 4 Comments →

One of the ways to save money with your auto expenses is to be prepared for the mishaps  or breakdowns that often happen while driving. By being prepared, you can often take care of minor problems yourself, or at least be able to limp home or to your mechanic’s shop without an expensive towing bill. This can also save you time, as you will be able to take care of some problems without waiting on someone to come help you.  In addition, by taking care of things when they happen, you can avoid potential damage to your vehicle by continuing to drive it. Its a good idea to keep certain items in the trunk of their car, such as the following:

Jumper Cables- This is a necessity, as sometime in your life you will need them after you have left your lights on or your battery dies.  I am still surprised that many people do not have or carry them. Of course, you will need someone to give you a jump, but if you and they do not have cables they will not be able to give you a jump.

Water- Keep a gallon or two of water in your trunk. This can come in handy if your car starts overheating.

Duct tape- Duct tape has a multitude of uses, such as wrapping a rubber hose which is leaking, holding a part in place, etc.

Tools- a basic socket set, screwdrivers, and wrenches are a good idea.

Fix-a Flat- While simply changing a flat tire may be the best alternative, there can be times where, for various reasons, including space limitations, or an unstable ground surface, you do not want to jack up your car.  Fix-a-flat can come in very handy in these situations.

Motor Oil- Keep a quart or two, along with a funnel, of the recommended weight of oil for your car with you, especially if you are driving an car over a few years old.

Towels- Towels can be used to keep yourself from getting dirty while changing a tire, or doing other things to your car, potentially helping you to avoid ruining your clothes.

Even if you have little to no interest in doing any minor car repair or maintenance while you are out driving, or your spouse is not, having these items in your car can allow someone who is able to help you or them as well.

Another item to consider, although more expensive than those listed above, is AAA membership. They can assist you with jump-starting your car, they will help if you lock your keys in your car, and you can receive free towing or towing at a discount, depending on the distance.  While this can cost $50.00 or more dollars per year, depending on how many members of your family are covered, using their services once every year or two will cover the cost. It can also provide you with peace of mind, for your spouse or another family member. You can also get maps for trips or vacations from them, as well as discounts on a variety of travel related and other items and services.  I am considering rejoining myself after not being a member for the last few years.

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Frugality by RC - 1 Comment →

(This is the first in a series of articles on car maintenance and do-it yourself car repair to hopefully help keep a few more dollars in your pocket and keeping your car running longer-so far it has worked pretty well for me)

There are many things on a car requiring regular maintenance. Many of these things you can do yourself, without previous skill or specialized knowledge, or a large tool collection. I don’t know about where you live, but where I live mechanics are paid very well.  As with any aspect of life, becoming educated is the key to making financially sound decisions regarding your car. The more you know about how a car engine operates, what are they key components and fluids that wear down, require maintenance, or need to be changed, etc., the better off you and your car will be.  This first part of hopefully an on-going collection of posts goes over the basics of car maintenance, i.e., what you need to do.  You need to know what needs to be replaced on a regular basis to keep your car in top shape. 

For the basics, here are several things you can do to keep your car in good running condition.

1.  Follow your car’s maintenance schedules.

• This should be located in your car’s owner’s manual. If your car didn’t come with one (i.e., you bought the car used), Look on the internet, as some are available as pdf files from the manufacturer, such as Ford.  Search the web, other car-manufacturer’s are available as well.  The only problem with the owner’s manual is that it may or may not contain all of the things you should change on a regular basis .  Haynes or Chilton’s manuals, invaluable resources for beginning do-it –yourselfers, are also available online and will have full maintenance schedules, as well as enough information to tackle just about any car repair you should choose.  I would recommend buying them used online, they are frequently only a few dollars for older model cars .

 The following items (not just oil!) should be part of your regular maintenance schedule:

• Air filter, oil and oil filter, transmission fluid (and filter as required), fuel filter (if applicable to your model car), power steering fluid, coolant flush, inspect and replace belts and hoses, rotate tires, and brake fluid change/flush. Figure out when your car manufacturer recommends these be changes, and stick to the recommended schedule.

• A great generic maintenance schedule can be found at Goss’ Garage website.

2. Educate yourself about your car’s make and model, using the internet.

• Research your car’s make and model.  You can find a plethora of information on the internet, and learn about recalls, common problems and fixes with your model  car, and many other tips which can save you money.

3. If your car is out of warranty, find a good independent mechanic, preferably before you need it.

• Doing a little research, before you are forced into finding a mechanic, can save you a bundle later on. I find that many dealerships (or stealerships as some like to call them), or franchise car repair places, try to force certain services on you, many of which are unnecessary. They are usually more expensive than an independent shop.  If you find a mechanic shop which is too busy to take your car the day you call, I would recommend trying it out.  They are probably busy for a reason.

4. Stop and start smoothly.

•  Accelerate smoothly from a stop, and conversely, brake smoothly as well. Punching the accelerator too hard wastes gas and puts stress on the engine.  Braking too hard can cause the life of your brake pads to decrease significantly,  frequently by a factor of 2 x or more.

5. Keep the interior and exterior of your car clean and protected.

• Vacuum the interior and clean the cloth or leather seats and the carpets on a regular basis. Doing this regularly will keep the dirt and grime from getting “ground in”. Wash your car regularly, and clay  and wax your car ( Meguiars and Mothers are two of the better line of car products),  2 to 3 times a year to keep your paint protected.

Filed under: Cars/Auto, Frugality, Saving Money by RC - 2 Comments →