Over the years, I see many people buying new cars and expecting the best deal…but do you really find it? Friends and others I have known have bought weak and new cars before, which is better for you though? Well, I’ve found a used car is better in the long run, seeing how I bought my 1986 Fiero off Ebay over four years ago for a mere $520.00 and have not even put $1,000 in repairs. Most of the money I placed into fixing it was basic things that wear down after 20 years. My insurance runs $53 a month, my plate is only $32 each year and I have no payments for the car to pay since I own it. My mother has a 2003 Saturn and she pays $300+ for her plate each year, insurance is well-organized expensive. I asked her many times why she cursed herself with the newer car when she had it made in 2003. She now has no warranty to replace anything when it breaks down. I’d hate to see the bills for repairs on her car.
In this article, I will tell you why I think used cars are better to retract. The comparisons are easy and simple:
USED CARS:
1) Costs you less to actually own it if you buy it at once
2) Insurance is lower than new cars
3) License plates are cheaper
4) No monthly payments or over six years to own your vehicle
5) Only money used after is for basic repairs, wear you put on it or even custom work
6) Older vehicles don’t have the sophisticated computer, electronic gizmos that are very expensive to fix in newer models
7) Replacement parts are easier to find at Auto Zone, Advance Autos etc. And won’t run an arm and a leg to buy
Many older cars are safer from collisions with real metals that were used
If you seriously do the math on this, a new car is a financial burden most people could live without. Why pay five or six years for a car that can be taken from you if you miss a payment? Granted, you accept a warranty for repairs…but it’s usually for a year policy, then what? Once it breaks down without a warranty not only are you paying for the monthly bill to own it eventually, but you also have to pay for repairs. That can break most incomes or you place it on the charge card to pay off later.
NEW CARS:
1) You don’t own the car, the dealership does until they are paid off
2) Insurance is higher
3) Plates are higher
4) You pay for years (average 4 to 6 years) to enjoy it unless you’re rich enough to buy at once
5) Once your warranty is over, you have to pay for repairs as well as your monthly payments
6) Maintenance is more expensive on foreign vehicles, imports and specialty cars (Saturn / Mitsubishi / BMW / etc)
7) Parts are usually only available through the dealers making it very expensive to fix your car
Many new cars are fiberglass or too many plastic parts not protecting the passengers as well
Many argue that “older” cars have too many breakdowns or miles, yet newer cars will keep you in debt or you will work your job just to have this car. You can find advantageous used cars in your local paper or as I did on Ebay. With Ebay, you have security from the seller and buyer protection as well. Review over the good and bad above, then think about the money lost over six years compared to a few hundred to maybe a thousand after buying an older model car. So, if you’re in the market for a new or used car, ask yourself:
“Is a new car really worth your money? ” Or would you rather build yourself money by getting an older one and having income saved to fix it? The best bet is to buy an older one, save up money for things you actually want to have in life…opposed to honest working for your car. Myself, I make my car work for me. How about you?
Filed under Compare Car Insurance by on Mar 15th, 2011. Comment. 
Obesity recently became an epidemic, an epidemic that deeply affects the low wage working class because the cost of eating nutritiously is too high. In 1996 the government enacted the Food Quality Protection Act, an act that assign many restrictions on the consume of pesticides, such as prohibiting any pesticides that were deemed hazardous to toddlers, infants, and pregnant women. Because farmers had to find more expensive ways to protect their crops, the price difference was reflected in the high cost of fresh accomplish, a proven staple of a healthy diet. As a result, the cost of produce increased and the low wage working class has resorted to cheaper food (USDA).
Recently fast foods have followed a trend, a trend that plays a major role in contributing to the obesity epidemic. Fast food chains have adopted “value menus”, menus that basically provide more filling food for a lower imprint. However, while the appeal of more food at a cheaper price entices customers, consumers are unaware that the low-priced foods are actually the least healthy options on the menu. Because consumers would rather pay less for unhealthy food than pay more for healthier food, for example a salad that costs three times as powerful as a burger, consumers order the less healthier options.
Companies have also contributed to the obesity problem. In an environment where a person spends a majority of their adult life, especially those working the minimum wage job, the workplace is the second home. It is where they spend hours toiling away to support their family as well as take care of themselves. Very few companies provide a healthy environment. Companies have always been only a place to work; they felt that they were not responsible for the health of their employees. Foods offered at work were of low nutritious value, and those that were adequate in nutrition were expensively priced. An employee’s only options were vending machine snacks filled with chips and cookies, and canteens that served greasy, artery-clogging foods.
The question is: is the blame placed on the consumer or the people who affect their choices? Blame has constantly been placed on the consumer, instigating the notion that it is their fault they are obese and unhealthy. However, is it really their fault if they have dinky income and can only afford the unhealthy options? Do they really have a choice in deciding how healthy they and their families eat if their choices are limited by the conditions set by a higher power?
The government’s Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 and the unhealthy environment offered by employers have effect a strain on the nutrition and health of the employees because the cost of eating healthy is high while the availability of healthy foods in companies are low. Fortunately, a concern for the nutrition of the outrageous wage class has grown thanks to the awareness brought about by the current debate over the Food Notice Program and the increase in wellness programs, for example the Employee Wellness Program adopted by corporations across the country, shifting the responsibility from the victims to their government and their employers.
While the government has done nothing to curb the price of healthy food, the government has begun to prefer action to help in the process of buying food. President George Bush’s administration proposed cuts to the Food Stamp Program, a program that helps coarse income families pay for their food. Beginning at the raze of the great depression, the FSP gives those living at poverty level food stamps so they can go to participating stores to bewitch food. By making cuts to the program, Bush will take stamps away from 185,000 people (The Smirking Chimp). In doing so, Bush will worsen the nutrition problem because unpleasant families and workers will not be able to sustain a sufficient diet, let alone a nutritious
However, thanks to the recent trial of the Food Stamp Program by Gov. Theodore R. Kulongoski who tried to survive a week on just food stamps, there is a growing awareness of the situation and a push for a movement to restore the proposed cuts (Governor). He realized that even though people see food stamps as a freebie for those to lazy to work, living on food stamps is actually a challenge. The trial helped Kulongoski peep that money should not be taken away from the program, but instead, more money should fund it so surviving on food stamps is not a struggle.
Inspired by Kulongoski, Councilman Eric Gioia attempted the same feat in hopes of not only raising awareness, but to bring about more change to the program, including more funding. Living on $1.30 a day, Gioia had to pick the cheapest food that forms the staple of the average diet: bread, peanut butter, and beans. However, he acknowledges that, “often the cheapest food isn’t the healthiest” (ABC 7) and by illustrating the difficulties in buying nutritious food for cheap, Gioia demonstrates that more changes need to be made to the program to allow low income families the opportunity to buy healthier food.
While it is true that in the past cheating has become a major setback of the FSP, government officials are always restructuring the program. A major challenge that the FSP faced in the past was trafficking; the process where recipients would pay with a food stamp and collect the change which they would in turn spend to buy something else (USA Today). The store where the item was purchased would keep the amount of money and add it into the money statements for reimbursement. For example, a customer would pay for a 50 cent item with a $1 food stamp. The store would give them 50 cents in change and add the $1 to the revenue statement that the government would see. Since stores are reimbursed for the amount of food stamps they fetch, which in this case is $1, the store will have just made 50 cents in profit.
To combat trafficking, changes have been proposed to the program, including the use of electronic databases that track a store’s inventory, revenues, etc. Also to combat confusion about a households eligibility for food stamps, changes have been made to simplify the eligibility rules since history has shown that the rules were too complicated, deterring the participation of food stamps.
Companies have recently taken part in the concern to reduce obesity. Companies have adopted nutrition programs, for example the Employee Wellness Program that “provides nutritional education, dietary counseling, and a new fitness facility” (New York Times). By adopting a company program, management makes it easier to extend healthy practices to their employees, giving those who are less fortunate an opportunity to be healthy.
Other companies notice the link between smart choices and price; the lower the price, the more likely that option is picked. An employer in Maine tried an experiment where they offered healthy foods at a lower note, and to pay for that extra charge they added a tax on unhealthy food such as French fries. As expected, the consumption of healthy foods went up and the sale of fatty foods went down (Healthy Eating). The same experiment was done on vending machines, giving very similar results, thus proving that because price and choices are intertwined; to promote healthier eating there needs to be an appropriate price to influence healthier choices.
Many argue that it should not be the responsibility of the company to select care of their employees at the expense of the company. However, recent studies have shown a philosophize correlation between the productivity of company and the health of employees. The healthier and happier an employee is, the less money the company has to exercise on health insurance. Also, a healthier employee means less missed workdays and possibly more efficiency. Even though the anguish for employee health is out of self-interest, it is still making an impact on the health of the workers and therefore, beneficial to everyone. Companies have adopted nutrition programs, for example the Employee Wellness Program that “provides nutritional education, dietary counseling, and a new fitness facility” (New York Times). By adopting a company program, management makes it easier to extend healthy practices to their employees, giving those who are less fortunate an opportunity to be healthy.
Society has made it known that obesity is frowned upon, but they do not acquire into account that it takes more than unbiased one person to save someone’s health. While a person is in charge of making the choices well-known for their well-being, it requires the help of those who are in charge of the prices and their environment which is why it is everyone’s responsibility to effect health a proper, not a choice.
Bibliography
“The Social History of obesity.” American Dietic Association (1995): -. 06/13/07. .
The Original Food Quality Protection Act and Cal/EPA Reactions. 2003. april 27,7007. .
Worksite Wellness Planning: “Strides to a Healthier Worksite. Healthy South Dakota. 2004. .
“Poor Workplace Nutrition Hits Workers’ Health and Productivity.” Online Posting. 18 september 2005. eMaxHealth. 04/19/2007.
“Workplace Nutrition.” Workplace nutrition and physical activity July 2005: . 04.30.07. .
Councilman to Live on Food Stamps for 1. 2007. 05/10/07. .
“Food Mark Program.” Wikipedia. : Wikimedia (2007): -. 5/11/07. .
“Governor to Try a Food-Stamp Size Budget.” The New York Times 22 April 2007: . 05/10/07. .
, . The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. 2007. .
Beller, Anne Scott. Fat and Thin. New York: Farrar,Straus, and Giroux, 1977.
Ehrenreich, Barbara . Nickel and Dimed. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2001.
General Accounting Office. Food Stamp Program.:, 2001. .
Jarvie, Catherine. A brief history of body shapes. 2005. .
Jenkins, Nancy Harmon. “New York Times.” A New Benefit in Workplace is spreading: good nutrition 27 November 1985: .
Leinwand, Donna. “Small grocery stores hotbeds for food stamp fraud.” USA Today 11 12 2006: . .
United States Department of Agriculture. The Role of Economics in Eating Choices and Weight Outcomes. Lisa Mancino, Biing-Hwan Lin, Nicole Ballenger.Washington D.C:, 2004. 05/04/07. .
Filed under Car Insurance Wikipedia by on Feb 27th, 2011. Comment.
Are you seeking ways to get cheap car insurance? Everyone is trying to cut corners due to the economic downturn, and car insurance is a mountainous part of anyone’s budget.
The dilemma is how cheap is defined; the dictionary will give you two options. Cheap can mean having a surprising low cost for the product or service obtained, or it can mean a product that is low-quality and irascible.
Your goal should be to obtain the best quality insurance coverage you can find at the lowest possible price. The alternative can leave you in a genuine bad situation.
If you purchase a poor policy that has inadequate coverage, you can end up financially ruined. That policy will not turn out to be a savings!The most important step in knowing how to get cheap car insurance is to do comparison shopping. You would not think of purchasing a refrigerator without checking for the best options available at the best imprint. The same applies to insuring your automobile. How do you do this? You could call several agencies or go in person; some people prefer to do business this way. The alternative more and more people are using is to accumulate online and net several quotes. You can just search “car insurance quotes” or you can be more specific and search for “car insurance quotes Cleveland” or the name of your town. Unbiased remember to compare apples to apples, not just focusing on the price, but the policy details.
Consider the deductible involved: a higher deductible usually means you get a slightly lower premium. The downside is that at the time of an accident, you must have access to that cash immediately, especially if someone else’s vehicle is involved or if your vehicle is under lien.
Liability coverage is one area where you want to tip-toe. You don’t want to ever be caught with inadequate coverage. Most states have required amounts you have to carry, but that may not be enough.
In a split second that it takes you to inspect off the road, you could cause an accident. Just hospital bills for someone you injured could mount up to an exorbitant amount. And, you must judge the dreadful possibility of a lawsuit. Notice how many law offices there are in your town; they are not operating solely for divorce cases!
While you certainly don’t want to pay for unnecessary coverage, you need to be SURE you are adequately protected. Here is the Most IMPORTANT part of any policy quote you consider when trying to get cheap auto insurance.
I am not an insurance professional, but I have worked as a legal secretary. I do know that this is one dwelling where trying to attach money the wrong scheme could ruin the rest of your life. If you don’t have the money when they sue you, it will be garnisheed out of your salary forever!
Ask lots of questions to friends and family about their liability coverage. Ask insurance professionals and find out what level of liability coverage you should gain, if you are unsure. Having a good driving record will help you regain cheap car insurance. Be sure all records are correctly expunged at the right time, if you have had a few marks against you.
It is reliable if anyone on your policy takes approved drivers education courses, especially drivers under 25 and any drivers with some past problems that are causing higher rates. Take any driver schools available for folks with speeding tickets, whether the court orders it or not. Usually, if the margin of speeding is great or reckless driving is involved, the judge will require it.
If you have younger drivers, it is important that you document their good grades, if they have them. This will often help you get cheap car insurance. Also, you can cover them to impartial drive one vehicle, if desired, but be sure that they don’t drive the other vehicles uninsured. I would be quite careful with that option.
Think ahead about those sports cars; check what the rating of a vehicle is before you win it. Some cars are hurry demons, causing the calmest of individuals to rev their engines! Some vehicles are a car thief’ s choice. Others are classics with very high cost replacement parts. consider all of these issues before purchase, if possible!
This next option sounds really bizarre, but clean up your credit rating. Check for errors. Automobile insurance companies are checking credit more and more, especially since so considerable of this is done online, now. This will effect your ability to get cheap insurance.
Tips & Warnings
- JUST BE SURE, you get adequate coverage, or you could be regretting that cheap car insurance the rest of your life.
Filed under Infinity Car Insurance by on Feb 25th, 2011. Comment.
I am sure everyone has seen the cute slight gecko commercial for Geico car insurance. They have another commercial now using a cave man; advertising that it is so easy a cave man can do it. It is easy. Prior to using Geico, we used Progressive for our insurance. They were quite expensive. We had a problem with Progressive, because they cancelled us without warning and sent wait on our money, so we changed to Geico two years ago. I had just seen the commercial when I decided to go online and get a quote. The rate was fantastic, and lower than any insurance company that I had checked that day. I did the transaction online, and faxed in the information they asked for. I then was issued my insurance receipt which I printed off from the computer. It was so easy a cave man could do it!
Last winter I had a little accident with our minivan. There was ice on the road that I didn’t’ observe and I went sliding off the road and down an embankment. I might have been killed, but a tree had broken my fall. The tree wasn’t very big, but if it wasn’t there, the car would have gone further down the embankment and I would have gone into a stream. It was a good ways down. Anyway, I was rescued by a motorist who saw me go off the road.
I called Geico and the operator was helpful and courteous. Within hours the car was removed from where I went off the road and loaded onto a wrecker truck. I called Geico, and the operator I talked to was very grand. Within several hours an agent inspected the vehicle and took pictures of the hurt. The frame was bent on the minivan, so the vehicle was totaled. Geico handled our claim so quickly that we had a check within a week. We were able to out and purchase another vehicle.
I would highly recommend Geico insurance company to anyone who is shopping around for insurance. Their rates are very competitive. They will give you a quote from their company as well as other companies. I also like that you can talk to an operator any time, because their customer service department is open 24 hours. Just out of curiosity, I talked with a friend of mine that owns an insurance company. He gave me a quote, and I told him I was paying great less than his quote. He told me to stick with the company I am with, because I am getting a great deal.
So, when you glance the funny little commercial about Geico. You can fill what it is saying about Geico. I saved $200 a year by switching. I am so gratified that Progressive cancelled us and we tried Geico! It is so simple, even I can do it.
Filed under Compare Car Insurance by on Feb 23rd, 2011. Comment.
With an economy on its last leg, folks are rightfully searching for a draw — any map — to reduce their monthly bills. It’s only natural that we take a view at one of the only staples of our lifestyles that is competitive on price: car insurance.
However, when you’re shopping for car insurance, you don’t only want to focus on rates. The coverage being offered and the level of service you will receive in the heart-broken event of a vehicle accident is also important. After all, what good is it to save money on your car insurance premium if after a claim the only replacement vehicle you’ll be able to afford is a bicycle? Those streamers definite are pretty! But they will not help propel you to 55 miles an hour to make it to work on time.
Did you know that:
1) Some insurance companies will offer you a discount and additional benefits if you served your country?
2) When you combine your auto insurance with other insurance products, such as your homeowner’s or another vehicle, you are afforded additional overall savings?
3) When you order your insurance online, you not only build but also take advantage of comparison shopping?
4) Six-month auto insurance rates varied significantly from company to company, from an average low of $481 to an average high of $586 across the country between 1999 to 2004 (Progressive Insurance Inspect)
If you never took a moment to check out different auto insurance companies and their programs, you may be missing out on an array of benefits and savings. Not to mention that in this Internet age, it has become increasingly easy to get quotes on car insurance and do thorough research on both local and national insurance companies from the comfort of your home computer. Here are a few suggestions for how to shop for car insurance like a true pro.
Consult Friends
One of the best ways to shop for car insurance is to ask your friends for their own personal quotes. Fortunately, auto insurance is one of those expenditures that folks are generally happy to divulge information about.
If you’ve got a friend in the same boat as yourself, who lives in the same area and has an identical driving record, you may be surprised to learn that he or she is paying much less for auto insurance for the same coverage that you’re getting quotes for.
The next logical question is obviously who your friend holds his or her insurance with! Calling in for a quote and signing up is a no-brainer if it turns out that you can find the same type of insurance for less. If you’re not getting the exact rate quote as your friend, please, don’t have a temper tantrum. Keep in mind that your friend may have been given additional discounts for adding other insurance products or being a member of clear associations.
Comparison Shopping Online
The Internet is a magical place. Think about it — where else can you learn how to cook, visit Thailand, chat with your friend in North Dakota, and search for a new auto insurance policy… all in one sitting!
Use the Internet for all it’s worth. There are gems waiting for you on the other side of Google that can completely change your life. When it comes to shopping for car insurance, there are a wide array of sites available that allow you to comparison shop. You simply pop in your basic information, including the make and model of your car and driving record, and minutes later you have a listing of companies who will be more than happy to serve you.
Again, you want to focus on more than rates – you’ve got to get into the guts of your quote. Some sites will give you a low rate, but what you are getting for the money is not comparable to your current coverage. You’ve got to understand the difference between liability, which only covers the other guy’s damages, and comprehensive coverage, which covers both you and the other guy. Not to mention, it is also distinguished to do research into customer experiences with the company. The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and Consumer Affairs (www.consumeraffairs.com) are colossal places to start. (And boy, those complainants don’t hold anything back, so you’re sure to get a full view of what to expect from your potential insurer.)
Regardless of the quotes you net back, it is always a good idea to periodically achieve your car insurance policy to the test. Are you getting the best deal for the money?
“It really pays to shop around,” says Dick Luedke, spokesperson for Residence Farm Insurance. “Premiums for exactly the same coverage can vary substantially from carrier to carrier.” (MSN Money)
Don’t Forget!
When shopping around for car insurance, there are some actions you can take on your fraction to affirm a better quote. For example, there are defensive driving classes that allow you to sit in for a few hours and enjoy anywhere from 10-15% savings on your auto insurance. Also, for current policies your rates might still be high if your insurance company didn’t bother to adjust your rates when the strikes against your driving record (including accidents and tickets) expired. It is up to you to be proactive about updating your insurer with your new information or shopping around for a current policy with your freshly clean record. Finally, where you live is one of the biggest determinants of how much you will pay for car insurance. So if you’ve been considering a move to a quieter, safer status where you don’t have to peril about waking up to find your car stereo missing, maybe now is the time!
You are smart to want to shop for a well-behaved deal on car insurance, and you know what? You have the advantage here. Take your time when shopping for car insurance and make obvious that you’re using all of the resources that are available.
Filed under Farmers Car Insurance by on Feb 20th, 2011. Comment.
