Posts Tagged ‘car’

Save on Gas

Friday, December 11th, 2009
j0442990With Christmas and New Year’s approaching, travel plans will begin to pick up.  Here are a few ways to reduce your gas costs this holiday season.
 
1.  Cold weather warm-up.  Avoid prolonged warming up of the engine, even on extremely cold mornings, 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.
 
2.  Ice and snow build-up.  During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to the car frame. Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance.
 
3.  Fuel line freeze-up.  Use special gas additives to prevent winter freezing of gas lines.
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Do you anticipate more income or less income next year?

Friday, October 16th, 2009

 Tax Strategies to Consider Before 2010

        If the recession has touched your life financially, you might want to do some tax planning to either postpone or accelerate your tax deductions and/or income.   For those anticipating more income this year than next, it may be prudent to accelerate deductions and postpone income.  For those anticipating less income this year than next, consider postponing deductions and accelerating income.  Here are some ways to do that. 

        One example might be to do a conversion of a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This will result in more income in the year completed, but will reduce taxes in future years, particularly after the Roth has been in place five years.  It will be necessary to look at how the additional income will affect your taxes this year before you do complete the process.  (more…)

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Beware of the “Cash for Clunkers” Program

Friday, August 14th, 2009

           As we have stated in our resource material, buying a used car is most often a better value than buying new.  Will our opinion change with this program?   Let’s assess the value of the Cash for Clunkers program offered by the federal government where taxpayers subsidize the purchase of a vehicle.

           The maximum value offered is a $4,500 voucher, which requires mileage improvement of 10 miles per gallon for passenger vehicles, 5 miles per gallon for light-duty trucks, and 2 miles per gallon for large light-duty trucks.  There is also a $3,500 voucher if the mileage improvement is 4 miles per gallon for passenger vehicles, 2 miles per gallon for light duty trucks, 1 mile per gallon for large light duty trucks and any pre-2002 commercial truck.  (more…)

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Making and Educated Car Purchase

Friday, July 24th, 2009

The average person will make a car purchase within seven days of their decision to buy.  If you are thinking of buying a vehicle, it is best to review your options before making this important decision.   First, ask yourself if you need the vehicle and then decide what kind of vehicle best fits you need. (more…)

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Saving Money on Gas

Friday, July 24th, 2009

gas pump

Here are two ways to save money on fuel costs.

1. Remove excess weight from the trunk.  By keeping an extra 100 pounds in your car, you reduce an average car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.�
  
2. Change your oil regularly.  Clean oil can reduce wear on moving parts in your engine.  Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommended changing schedule.
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