Tag: Car

Three Top Ways to Avoid Car Collisions

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Any time you go onto the road, you’re unknowingly at risk for an accident of some sort often times at no fault of your own. It’s thus critical to think about driving as defensively as possible so as to minimize the potential for collisions. The following contributed post is entitled, Three Top Ways to Avoid Car Collisions.

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There is no one that wakes up and thinks that they want to crash their car today. However, because of our actions, poor driving skills, and rushed decisions, there are a lot of car accidents out on the roads each day. From a small fender-bender to larger collisions, there are several ways that you can cause damage to your own car and to your own health, as well as to someone else’s car, and someone else’s health.

As more and more of us hit the roadways and increase the highway congestion over the summer, it is important to make sure that you are doing things to slow things down, not get distracted, and keep any car accidents to a minimum. Of course, you can’t control other people out on the road, and you may need to read more about making a personal injury claim if you get hurt and it wasn’t your fault. But if you take steps to improve your driving, then it can limit your chances. Here are some things to think about.

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Pull into traffic slowly

It is important when driving to not rush into anything and to not make a decision like pulling into traffic without assessing the risks. You should take extra care to be more aware of blind spots, as often there can be cars that you can’t see because of the car design or because of road signs. When you come to an intersection, then you should look in both directions, but do so at least twice before you come to your decision to pull out. Cars can appear sometimes, almost out of nowhere, so it is a good idea to exercise caution when you are pulling into any traffic.

Be aware of red light runners

As has been mentioned before, you can’t control other people out on the road. Which is why, to avoid any collisions, it is best to be aware of anyone who may be running a red light. Although any collision would be their fault, you won’t want to even be in one if it can be avoided. When going into an intersection on a green light, it is best to be a little cautious and not head off at full speed. Another thing to be wary of is trucks. They are huge, and as a result, have huge blind spots. The general rule is that if you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, then they can’t see you.

Keep looking backwards when reversing

A lot of collisions can happen when you’re reversing, from another car trying to rush past you if you try to reverse park, to people or children running out in front of you. Plus, other cars can be backing out of a parking lot at the same time as you, which can be dangerous. So it is a good idea to not just rely on mirrors when backing out, as there are some blind spots with mirrors. Physically turn your head to check, and combining that with checking your mirrors can make a big difference.

Essentials Every Business Should Have in Their Company Cars

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Some businesses use company cars. If you business uses them, there some basics you need in your cars. The following contributed post is entitled, Essentials Every Business Should Have in Their Company Cars.

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Company cars can be a great investment for any business to make. At the end of the day, your employees will often have to get from one place to another. This can vary according to your business’ field of specialism. Some may need to attend meetings with clients. Some may have to visit different sites. Whatever they need to do, a company vehicle can prevent delays that are so common with public transport. This not only helps them to do their job as expected, but it can also help to maintain your business’ reputation. Now, there’s plenty of help out there when it comes to choosing a company car. But what about once you’ve got one? Very few talk about how you can combat problems that you may experience with a company car. Here are a few essentials that you should make sure are present in your company car at all times!

Breakdown Cover

Technically, you don’t store breakdown cover in your company car. But it’s a good idea to have some. If the vehicle breaks down or experiences problems, they can simply call your company’s breakdown cover provider and be back on the road as soon as possible. It’s a good investment to make.

Jump Leads

Sometimes the battery in a vehicle will die. Perhaps lights have been left on. Maybe the engine’s been running too long. Sometimes people just can’t figure out why the battery’s gone. Regardless of the reason, jump leads and a helpful passerby can help to get the vehicle running again!

A Spare Tyre

Every car should have a spare tyre on board. Flats can happen at any time. There’s glass and debris present on many roads and a flat can prove extremely dangerous. Having a spare tyre on hand can allow an employee or a breakdown assistant to replace a punctured tyre and, again, have the car up and running again in next to no time.

Snatch Straps

Driving in a muddy area? Or near ditches? Hopefully, you don’t find your company car stuck anywhere. But if this does occur, heavy-duty snatch straps can allow a tow truck to get the car out of its sticky situation quickly.

A First Aid Kit

First aid kits are always useful. Whether that’s for a small issue, such as a cut, or a much bigger issue that requires more serious first aid to be carried out. You can purchase ready-made kits with all the basic equipment a first aid kit needs already packed up in them.

A Warning Triangle

Should the car break down, it’s a good idea to have a warning triangle on board that can be placed metres behind to alert other road users that they are approaching an incident where the car may be blocking a road.

All of these additions can come in extremely useful in any road situation that you or your employees may encounter when using the company vehicles. So, invest in them and make sure to have them in your company car at all times!

How To Look After Your Vehicle To Make It Last Longer

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. Financially, transportation is considered to be one of the ‘four walls’, food, shelter and clothing being the other three. Owning a vehicle is something you can wisely manage or you can end up blowing a lot of money. Understanding how to take of your vehicle can save you money and extend its life. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Look After Your Vehicle To Make It Last Longer.

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Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash

Most people couldn’t do without their cars. They’re our ticket to freedom, our transport to work, they carry around our family, but we aren’t very good at taking care of them.

A little bit of regular care and attention can go a long way towards reducing running costs and avoiding costly repair bills. In addition to your regular servicing, which you should do in line with the manufacturer’s recommendation, here are some top tips on how to keep your car running smoothly.

Repair Any Bodywork Damage

Not only do dents and scratches look unsightly but even small areas of damage to the bodywork can lead to rust which, if left, can affect the structural integrity of the car. Visit somewhere like The Collision Center to get these things taken care of before you end up with a much larger repair bill.

Change Your Filters

Oil and air filters need changing regularly to keep your car running efficiently. On most cars, this is easy to do yourself. Make sure you buy quality replacement filters rather than cheap alternatives, they are a false economy and can do more harm than good.

If you get your car serviced regularly, they should be changed as standard during the service.

Top Up Fluids

Checking and replacing your car oil, coolant, and screenwash can save you a fortune on repair bills should you let them run out and cause damage to the car.

Some modern cars will alert you automatically if you’re running low. If you don’t have one of these cars then you’ll need to check once every few weeks.

Replace The Spark Plugs

Replacing spark plugs and tension leads is another one of those little jobs that you can do yourself.

When checking the plugs, make sure there are no signs of damage, melting or deposits. If you find you’re replacing spark plugs more often than your vehicle manual recommends, you could have another issue with your engine.

Check Your Tire Pressures

Having properly inflated tires is important for handling, fuel consumption, and safety. You should check them once a week and make sure the pressures fall within the recommended guidelines in your car manual.

Having your car’s wheels professionally aligned may reduce tire wear, too – with the added benefits of improved steering response and handling.

Clean Your Car

It’s great to have a nice clean car inside and out. Not only will it get admiring looks on a commute, beyond the superficial aspects, regularly cleaning the bodywork of the car will remove any residue and dirt that can damage the paintwork, causing dullness, cracking and rust.

Use a protective polish or wax every six months to keep the paintwork vibrant and protected.

Get Rid Of Excess Baggage

People store a lot of unnecessary items in their trunk. Driving around with all that extra weight can have a huge impact on fuel economy. It will also affect the brakes and suspension.

Keep the emergency essentials that you need in there, and ditch the rest.

How To Make The Most Of Your Car Commute

A key focus of my blog is Career Discussions. Many of us spend significant amounts of time every week commuting to and from work. That time can actually be used constructively if properly planned for. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Make The Most Of Your Car Commute.

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Pixabay. CCO Licensed.

Some of us spend hours a week commuting to work. This can often feel like time wasted – especially for those of us who drive to work. While those using public transport may be able to read a book or play on their phone or even get work done on a laptop, you can’t do this while driving a car. Fortunately, there are still ways in which you can occupy your time and be productive without taking your concentration off the road. Here are just a few ways to make the most of your car commute.

Entertain and educate yourself with audiobooks

While listening to music is a reliable way to occupy a car journey, audiobooks could be an alternative way to pass the time. These could be audiobooks as a form of entertainment such as novels or autobiographies – or they could be educational audio-guides such as language learning audiobooks. There are lots of platforms from which you can download and stream audiobooks. There are even places where you can download free audiobooks as listed at this site Book Riot. Not everyone is able to concentrate on audiobooks while driving, but for many it can be a relaxing way to pass the time.

Take advantage of voice command and smart technology

Using a smartphone while driving is dangerous and in most cases illegal. However, voice command and smart technology have made it possible to use many phone functions safely and legally. Many modern cars are able to be linked up via Bluetooth to your phone – using voice command you can then do everything from making calls to setting calendar reminders to even dictating texts hands-free. Even if your car doesn’t have this technology, you may be able to use wearable tech such as Amazon Echo glasses to link to your phone. In fact, you can also link up this technology to other smart devices that you own. This could include your home’s heating or even your home’s garage door – using voice command, you could turn on the heating remotely while driving back home so that you get back to a warm home, as well as using voice command to open your garage door as you pull up so that you don’t have to get out your car or press any buttons.

Buy yourself a thermal flask

Being able to drink coffee on your way to work could help you to stay energised and offer some comfort. With a thermal flask, you can keep your coffee warm for the whole journey. Of course, coffee isn’t the only thing you can put in a flask – you could also put soup in here or even porridge. Take some time shopping around for the most decent flask you can find and consider buying a clip-on cupholder if your car doesn’t already have one (this will ensure your flask doesn’t spill and that you can easily access it while driving).

How To Find The Perfect Company Vehicle

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. An important company cost to figure out is the company vehicle. Cost has to be factored in, in addition to practicality. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Find The Perfect Company Vehicle.

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Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

Whether you just have a couple of company cars for the directors of your business, or you have an entire fleet of cars and vans that are used by a range of employees, there is a lot that you need to consider when it comes to buying, owning, and managing your company vehicles.

The decisions that are associated with the vehicles will start when it comes to working out which vehicle you would like, and whether you would prefer to buy or lease it.

Whether To Buy Or Lease The Vehicle

Vehicles are expensive to buy and there are a lot of associated costs in terms of running. You will need to decide whether the cost of owning a vehicle is really worth it, or if it may be a better option to look at a lease hire option.

When you buy a company vehicle, the advantages are that it becomes a financial asset. The problem with vehicles as an asset is that they very rapidly diminish in value. The amount that you pay for the vehicle new, will be so much lower after just a few months of ownership. If you were to sell the vehicle on after a year or two, you would not get a good return on your investment.

On the other hand, leasing will mean that you and your company will be able to use the vehicle as and when you need it, and after a set period of time, it will return to the company you took the lease out with.

With a lease vehicle, you would be required to maintain a certain standard to the vehicle, and there may be limitations on the milage that you can do. Any deviation on these points could mean that you have to pay out at the end of the agreement.

Buying New Or Used

If you did decide to go down the route of buying your vehicle, you have the choice of buying new or used. There are definite pros and cons to both options.

As previously discussed, a new car does not hold its value. However, you will get the benefit of the manufacturer’s warranty which may mean a reduction in repair costs should anything go wrong with the vehicle during the warranty period.

Used vehicles can often be much cheaper, with the biggest percentage decrease coming from the first year on the road, buying something that is only a year old will be much cheaper than buying the same model brand new off the dealer’s lot.

Of course, if anything goes wrong with your used car, you won’t have the manufacturer’s warranty to fall back upon and you will have to manage any costs incurred in maintenance yourself.

Selecting Your Vehicle

When choosing the vehicle, work out what you want from it before you decide on the make and model. If you are going to be driving long distances, then you will want an engine that is built to last. How many people will need to ride in it? If it will be used for carrying things, think about the size. If you’re buying a van, decide whether it is important to have a tail lift. You may not currently use pallets to load your vehicles, but if you are likely to do this in the future, having the ability to raise a pallet truck to the level of the van is going to be vital. Fuel efficiency and environmental impact should always be a factor in your decision making, but you may also want to throw in insurance costs, and availability and cost of spare parts. Some vehicles have very cheap generic parts available, while others can be a lot more proprietary.

If you are buying a used vehicle, have it thoroughly inspected and do your due diligence to check that it has never been written off following a major crash. Try and find out about any work that has ever been carried out on the vehicle and ask to see the service history. This will give you an indication of any potential problems that may emerge in the future so that you can factor repairs.

Getting Your Vehicle To Your Business

There are of course practicalities to contend with when buying your vehicle. Getting the car or van from the dealer’s lot can prove to be tough. The vehicle may be coming quite a distance, and it may be that you are unable to go and get it yourself. Or, it may not currently be road legal yet. Whatever the reason, you will no doubt want to look for reliable and cost-effective car delivery options.

Vehicle Insurance

Before you buy your vehicle, you will need to factor how much it will cost to insure it. You will need to get a comprehensive level of cover to ensure that you do not have to pay for any repairs in the instance of a crash where your driver was at fault.

The next thing to decide will be who can drive the vehicle. If it is for a certain person, for example like a company car that a member of your team working in the field will drive, then this is fairly straightforward. You may want to have a pool car, which can be used by anyone with permission, or you may be looking for a delivery vehicle which may be assigned to multiple drivers. Being clear about the way in which the vehicle is used will help to determine how much it will cost to insure it.

Conclusion

There are a great many decisions surrounding the purchase or lease of a company vehicle, and it is important that you weigh everything up to work out what is right for you. The way that the vehicle is used, and whether you wish to view it as a company asset will be vital. Make sure you do your due diligence into the specific vehicle you are buying to make sure that it is the most cost-effective option available.

Things You Need To Know: Basic Car Repairs

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. One of the most valuable but costly pieces of technology most of us own is a car. Understanding how cars work and having the skill sets to repair them can save you a lot of money and make you lots of money as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Things You Need To Know: Basic Car Repairs.

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There are many necessary skills in which we are equipped in life, but unless we are all learning the basics of car maintenance, we’re facing costly repairs when things go wrong. The good news is that there are many different repair jobs that you can do for your car without having to take it into the garage. It’s an excellent skill to have under your belt if you know how to make the most basic repairs on your car, and you only need a few tools to make sure that you get the job done.

It’s going to take some time to gain experience with your car, but if you’re careful about learning about the different brands of parts, you’re going to be fine. Companies like Automotive Stuff offer a wide range of car parts, which means you can buy and replace parts easily yourself. Are you ready to learn which repairs you should know for your own learning? Let’s go!

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1. You need to know how you should change the engine oil and the filter. It doesn’t require you to have special tools, but you do need to have an oil filter wrench. Your car manual should have straightforward instructions on how to change the engine oil in your car.

2. Windshield wipers are a must on your car, and it only takes ten minutes to change yours, and you should be doing this twice a year to keep yours fresh! Here’s how to change your windshield wipers yourself.

3. Keep checking the wiring of your car – they need to be inspected for burns and cuts in the plastic covering. If corrosion gets into the electrical connectors, the electrical flow can be compromised, and that is dangerous to your car.

4. There is a range of belts in your car, from the steering pump and radiator fan to the alternator belt. Checking them ensures that there is no cause for worry with any shredding in the belts, and once you see any signs of wear, check your manual for instructions on how to change them over.

5. Swapping the fluids in your car, from the engine oil that we mentioned earlier to the transmission fluid, brake fluid, and steering fluid, is vital. It would help if you replaced the liquid on a regular schedule, and this is listed in your car repair manual, too.

6. A battery service won’t be in every car manual, but it’s something you do need to check – and regularly. Without a battery that is in good working condition, you are going to find that your car doesn’t run as efficiently – if at all. Learning how to service and check your battery may feel too far beyond what your expertise allows, which is why knowing the best garage to do it all for you will be crucial!

7. There are other things that you’ll be able to do for yourself as well, such as changing the tires and replacing the brake pads. Water pumps and fuel pumps are also simple enough tasks to manage alone. The key is to ask for help from the experts, and it’s always essential to get your advice from qualified mechanics where you can.

What You Should Keep in Your Car

The principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. A key focus is Health/Wellness. Regardless of where you’re driving, there are a few select items that you always want to keep in your car. Doing so will assure yours and your passengers’ safety under most circumstances. The following contributed post is entitled, What You Should Keep in Your Car.

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Is your car filled with old receipts, dirty jumpers, empty drinks bottles, and food packaging that should have been in the bin a long time ago? Or, are you a super tidy car owner? Do you clean your car out every time you get home, and take it to be washed and vacuumed every few weeks? Most of us fall into one of these two camps. Your car is either very messy, so that you are ashamed to offer anyone a lift, or always clean and tidy and ready for guests. But, whichever camp you fall into, chances are your car is missing a few of the things that you should always have with you.

There are a few things that you should have with you in your car at all times. Things that could keep you safe in an accident, help you out if you get lost, or even save your life if you end up stuck somewhere. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you should always have in your car.

Credit – https://unsplash.com/photos/IAc1x02D9K0

Contact Numbers

Do you know What happens in a hit and run? Would you know who to call if you broke down? Or if you were involved in another accident? Have contact numbers like your breakdown service in your phone all the time in case you need them quickly.

A Map

You might use your phone or a satellite navigation system. These are great and exceptionally useful. But, they’re not always accurate, and cell signal still isn’t 100%. It’s a good idea to carry a map too, especially if you are traveling to somewhere new.

A Phone Charger

Your contact numbers are in your phone. Your map is on your phone. There’s a torch on your phone. If you have an accident, you might use your phone to photograph the damage. You might even use it to play music. What if your battery died? Take a car charger wherever you go, and you’ll never need to worry.

Water

If you breakdown or find yourself stuck waiting to be rescued, you can manage without most things. But not water. Take a bottle of water on all long journeys. Snacks and spare clothes are a good idea too, but at least take water.

A Basic Tool Kit

You’d be amazed at how much you can repair, or patch up enough to get to a garage yourself by the side of the road with just a basic tool kit and some car repair videos on YouTube. A first aid kit might come in handy too.

A Spare Tire

You should always have a spare tire, that’s pumped up and in good condition, or if you drive a newer car, an emergency repair kit, just in case. A jack can also be handy in case you need to change it yourself by the side of the road. It can also be a good idea to carry an air pump and pressure gauge. Sometimes just adding a little air is all that you need to be able to drive it to a garage, which can be a lot easier than trying to change it yourself.

Buy Or Lease A Car: What’s Best?

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A major financial decision most of us will have to be make is whether to buy or lease a car. There are caveats and nuances to both. The following contributed post is entitled, Buy Or Lease A Car: What’s Best?

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When it comes to getting a new car, you have a few options available, these include buying a new car and leasing one, but you may be wondering which option is best for you, and whilst both definitely have their upsides and downsides, it’s really up to you to decide which option works best for you, so in this post we’re sharing with you a few different points for both buying and leasing so that you can decide which the best option is for you.

Buy:

You can sell it when you want:

If you buy your car then you obviously own it outright and can do what you like with it, which means you can sell it anytime you want or need to unlike with a car you’re leasing, so this is definitely a point to consider when thinking about whether or not you want the option to have more control over your car and sell it at a later date.

You can customize it as you like:

One of the best things about having your own car is that you can customize it with anything you like. This means you can paint it, add new wheels, and even find the best dash cam, sat-nav or TV’s to add to it – if that’s your thing. When you lease a car, you’re obviously not able to do this, but if you own it, you can do as you wish, so there’s no limit on what you’re able to do, and especially if you’re planning to sell your car, then giving it a bit of a make-over can really help you add some value to it and make the sales process a good bit easier.

It can be cheaper over time:

Although buying a car certainly isn’t always cheap, you won’t have the extra monthly payments to pay that you’d have on a lease car, and although you’ll have other associated costs such as insurance and repairs, these are going to be without an additional payment that you’d have on a lease.

Lease:

You can drive the latest model:

If you’re not able to afford a new car and also don’t want to buy something second hand, then a great alternative is to lease a car since this ensures that you’ll be driving one of the latest – if not the latest model without having to pay a fortune for it, and then once your lease is up you can trade the car for the next latest model, so it’s a great way to always have the latest car without the expense of one.

Less stressful:

Leasing a car is a bit like leasing an apartment, although it’s your responsibility to not damage it, you’re not going to be hit with things like crazy repairs bills if anything needs fixed, and you also don’t need to worry about how you’re going to sell it since that can be quite a stressful process in and of itself, so leasing a car can definitely be a good bit less stressful than owning one.

New Car Tech From CES 2019

A key focus of my blog is Technology. As our world continues to technologically evolve, the automotive industry is evolving right along with it. Many of the new automotive tech will be showcased for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show. The following contributed post is thus entitled, New Car Tech From CES 2019.

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The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is almost upon us and, as a result, automakers all over the world are releasing teasers for what’s in store for 2019, a year when many expect to see big leaps forward in automotive tech.

Let’s take a look at what the various car makers are promising and what we can get excited about in the days to come.

Emotional Recognition Technology

Wikimedia Commons

When face recognition technology first began to mature back in 2014, technologists predicted that it wouldn’t be long before it could start assessing our moods. And lo and behold, that’s precisely what happened. AI-powered technology soon learned what a stressed-out or happy human looked like and could theoretically be programmed to respond.

The market applications of this weren’t clear before, but now Kia has introduced what it calls an “emotional recognition system” that’s designed to pick up on cues from drivers and then adjust things like lighting automatically. No, the mood options are not yet installed on any Kia vehicles, but the company will be showcasing the technology using a pod at CES this year. Visitors can try the system, whether they’re feeling happy, sad, angry or pretty much indifferent. https://www.zigwheels.com/ gives more details.

A Modular Car

Mercedes-Benz has long been at the forefront of automotive technology, but at this year’s CES, the car company is looking for a way to outdo itself once again. It’s come up with such a wacky concept that it’s hard to imagine how it would work in practice, but the company wants to push the idea nonetheless.

The idea is for a modular car. The car would be small – perhaps only large enough for a single occupant – but would have an expandable bay at the rear so that people could take more luggage with them when they wanted to. The car would also run on batteries, making it one of the smallest cars in the world. It’s clear that the vehicle is inspired by Smart, a subsidiary of Mercedes that produces small, compact, eco-friendly city cars.

New Autonomous Tech

Flickr by Steve Jurvetson

No, we’re not likely to see fully self-driving cars from any of the major manufacturers anytime soon, but companies are looking at ways to make life safer. According to emrochandkilduff.com/fredericksburg/virginia-automobile-accident-lawyer/, car manufacturers still have a long way to go to protect drivers and pedestrians. But Audi says that it’s working on technology that will expand on the current array of autonomous driving options to help protect pedestrians too. Audi says that it will be introducing sensors that will help prevent an accident involving a collision with a pedestrian, as well as other road users.
The car company also wants to update its infotainment system to make it less demanding to use while on the road. Expect to see gesture technology as well as voice activation.

CES looks like it’s going to be another interesting year for the automotive sector as it plays catch up with the tech industry. Greater integration with tech products is leading to more opportunities to improve the driving experience.

I still don’t have a car in 2018: A story about playing financial chess

“Most successful people operate off a healthy fear of failure!”

Three of the principles of my blog are: Creating Ecosystems of Success, Wealth Building and Long-Term Thought. Hell, I’ll also pull in both Creative and Critical Thought. As we’re riding into December of 2018, I’ve wondered what to write next. A friend of mine who runs her own magazine and has her own audience suggested that I write something about budgeting. I do intend to do that, but my mind thought back to something I wrote on the Examiner several years ago which will serve as a nice prelude to budgeting. It involves several important considerations when budgeting, and it might admittedly ‘trigger’ some people, but try to keep in mind the overarching messages.

I originally published a series called, You Still Don’t Have a Car Yet? around 2012. It was inspired by a question from a lady friend who went to my church and whom I briefly dated. We bumped into each other again one Sunday and she was surprised that I still didn’t have a car after getting rid of my old Saturn SL2 which was on its last leg. I heard in her voice that there was more to her question – something I’d experience again in the future.

Now, driving is expensive. It’s by no means cheap to get on the road. You have to undergo a series of driving lessons with a professional to ensure you have a proper license and don’t face issues revolving around Complaint Fraudulent License/ID down the line. When you get a car, it costs. On top of the original outlay, you need to make sure you can afford fuel, maintenance, tax, insurance and more. Upgrading really does require a lot of thought and financial commitment.

It’s a topic that never gets old, and instead of resurrecting and republishing the entire series, I’m simply going to pull out its main points and discuss why I still don’t own a vehicle six years later. Keep in mind that this piece was written from the perspective of a single man (due to life circumstances), and your life may be different. I hope you enjoy it and that it inspires discussion in your own circles. So, let’s dive in.

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My personal finances crashed and hit rock bottom right around 2011 – two years into my federal science career. I started my career with very little savings based upon my educational path and life circumstances. I was still a new homeowner and just paid out my entire $8,500 “Obama Tax Credit” for a condominium project I didn’t know about before closing – the first of many ‘assessments’ over the years which ended up equaling the price of a brand-new car. I also tried my hand in the investing world, at one point trying to do too many things at once, both money- and time-wise. The result was getting into a debt hole of greater than $20,000 on top of my student loan and other bills.

Around that time, I was fortunate that two friends shared Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University (FPU)” with me and over the course of the next five to six years, they invited me to help teach the class with them at our church. I was also fortunate that I met a mentor who ‘adopted’ me into his group of proteges. He was very strong-willed and had a business background. He both taught me and stayed on me about some important aspects of money including: understanding what a ‘Net Worth’ is, saving into my retirement account and getting my ‘Matching Contribution’, and understanding the ‘Law of Compounding Interest’.

Now armed with this new information, it started guiding my decision making. FPU is admittedly just one of many financial programs out there, and it works very well. There are several others, but for the sake of my familiarity with it I’ll discuss it. A major pillar of it is budgeting – numerically think about your ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ with the aim of getting out of debt, building up an ‘Emergency Fund’ and then positioning yourself to stay ‘liquid’, invest, and give. To get a feel for why this important, I’ll once again refer you to back to Ylan Q. Mui’s 2016 article from the Washington Post entitled; The shocking number of Americans who can’t cover a $400 expense.

This is a good place to introduce the concept of ‘Cash Flow’. Cash flow is simply the amount of money you have left over once all your monthly bills and obligations are paid. The greater your expenses and debts are, the less cash flow you’ll have. The less they are, the greater your cashflow will be and the more life choices you’ll have. You’ll probably also have a healthier state of mind and body as financial stress can impact your overall quality of life.

When I looked at my budget in 2012, I sought to identify where I was trying to go in life and then what my needs and wants were. I wanted to live in a place of abundance, and I didn’t ever want to feel the shackles of debt again. I also didn’t want to be in position to have to ask relatives or friends for financial help ever again. Finally, I wanted to go that next step where I had an emergency fund, where I could get some investments, and lastly where I could help others – giving back to my alma maters for example.

While there were quite a few surprises in my condominium complex, it was a smart buy because it was right next to the metro. As such owning a car became less of a priority. Let’s unpack that a little bit. Keep in mind that I’m not telling anyone that they should get rid their car.

For you it might be something else and this would admittedly my approach may not work in cities like: Atlanta, Buffalo and Charlotte. In any case when I looked at my budget, getting rid of my car meant getting rid of: car insurance, gas charges, upkeep and maintenance, having to renew the vehicle’s registration, and any other associated costs. The state of Virginia charges personal property taxes on vehicles for example.

Yes, it was strange at first not having a car in my parking space and not being able to jump in a vehicle and drive off whenever I wanted to. As I describe later though I adjusted. It was a ‘trade off’ as the great Dr. Thomas Sowell says – giving up something in the short-term for what I saw as a greater gain in the long-term. I included the game of Chess in the title because like this, winning that game involves an understanding of the value of the pieces in your army, and in some cases, sacrificing your lesser pieces early on to ultimately win the game.

Let’s move on to some other important concepts. Among the things I learned from Robert T. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad books were the concepts of ‘Assets’ and ‘Liabilities’. Under Robert’s definitions, assets are things that put money in your pocket every month, while liabilities are things that take money out of your pocket every month.

One of the things he described in his books under liabilities was cars. Was he saying not to buy cars? No, but he was encouraging his readers to look at finances in alternative ways – in this case while cars are symbols of power for some people, they also ultimately take money out of our pockets.

Speaking of which, something that’s been documented in numerous books and which wasn’t explained to me early on was that brand-new cars depreciate significantly as soon as you drive them off the lot. This is something I pondered as I decided to get rid of my car and not immediately get another one. I also realized that I was never really a ‘car guy’ meaning that I never really fantasized or obsessed over them. In fact, I got to a point where saw them as ‘necessary evils’ in a way which were put here to keep us dependent on the energy and auto industries, and at the mercy of those running them.

I’d like to now introduce the concept of ‘Minimalism’. Though this was always a part of my nature, I didn’t know what exactly it was though I had been called both ‘cheap’ and ‘frugal’ in my lifetime. Minimalism is basically the practice of getting what you need, and not wastefully looking to consume more. I credit writer and YouTube content creator Aaron Clarey for the term because I first heard it from him – something he encourages – something which goes against the grain of most of our society. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, his video content on culture and economics are both very funny and insightful.

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“If you live right next to the metro, why would you own car?” I’m going to say something controversial here. I’ve gotten this reaction from a certain group of people. It’s the same group of people who are content to eat soup and sandwiches according to my Dad as described in my piece entitled; Challenging Misconceptions in Wealth, Income and Privilege. I’ve gotten the ‘side-eye’ from another group of people, and for the single guys reading this, I’ll just say that many ladies frown upon a man who doesn’t own a car. Interestingly the other more important aspects I described above usually don’t come up in conversations about why I don’t own one.

I’ve also been ‘clowned’ about it in some instances. When you’re doing something like this, knowing in your heart why you’re doing it, and keeping your goals in mind is very, very critical when someone challenges you. Oh, and if you’ve thought it out and it’s working, don’t argue with anyone over it. It’s not worth it. This is an instance where even in adulthood, being the leader of your own life and not caving into peer pressure is key.

How does one get by without owning a car? Well again it helps to live right next door to a metro system. My first year of college at SUNY Brockport, I was amazed by the number of classmates from New York City who didn’t have their driver’s licenses. Where they were from, they just didn’t need them and openly admitted that.

Once I got rid of my car, I now noticed that there were quite a few other people in the Washington, DC metro area using “Zipcars”. Then within the last couple of years ‘ride share’ programs and ‘apps’ like “Uber” and “Lyft” became prevalent. Admittedly if you need to go to an area that’s further out, it usually requires some planning – maybe using a Zipcar, or maybe just renting one, but again you must keep your overarching goals in mind.

Again, it’s a tradeoff. There’s a definite convenience to getting in your car whenever you want to and zipping off some place, and that’s what you’re paying for when you own one unless of course it’s giving you some sort of social prestige or personal confidence boost. How much is that convenience worth to you?

So in summary, again I’m not telling anyone what they should do with their lives. I chose to make a tradeoff (a car and certain people) with specific goals in mind. Now that I had a grasp on money and finance as described above, my new ‘drivers’ (no pun intended) were:

• To become ‘financially peaceful’ and to build wealth;
• To be able to handle all the costs associated with homeownership – something I stumbled into which came with its own set of financial costs and surprises and;
• To maximize my cashflow so that I could save, invest and to be able to give.

In terms of giving, we often think about giving to our churches and alma maters but sometimes there are other needs. A fellow alumnus from Johnson C. Smith University recently needed to raise money to buy winter clothes for the students at his school in Grand Rapids, MI. Because of some of the personal choices I’d made, I was easily able to support his effort and help the kids in his community stay warm this winter.

Again, major components to all of this are long-term thought, and budgeting which I’m going to cover shortly in its own blog post. Another important piece is being a secure individual, following the beat of your own drummer and not being peer pressured into keeping up with other people’s thoughts of what’s acceptable for your life. The other piece is being malleable and willing to continue to learn more information and applying it to your life.

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I’m going to end this post with some quotes. The opening quote for this piece is from the popular and outspoken sports talk show host Colin Cowherd who weaves life parables into his sports commentary. This one involves our personal drivers and motivations. “My investing advice to the average individual, is don’t be average,” is a quote that has stayed with me from Robert Kiyosaki’s books. It involves thinking outside of the box and doing the opposite of the crowd.

Dave Ramsey’s famous quote is, “We’re going to live like no one else, so later we can live like no one else!” It involves making temporary sacrifices for greater gains later. Finally, one of the content creators on a YouTube show I regularly watch often says to, “Keep your savings high, and your overhead low!” I think you get the picture. What are your motivations and where are trying to go in your life?

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. If you enjoyed this one, you might also enjoy:

• Your Net Worth, Your Gross Salary, and what they mean
• A look at the Law of Compounding Interest and why you should care
• My personal experience with Dave Ramsey’s Debt Snowball revisited
• The difference between being cheap and frugal
• We should’ve bought Facebook and Bitcoin stock: An Investing and technology story
• Challenging misconceptions and stereotypes in class, household income, wealth and privilege

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