Saving's Tips from Ken's Book

A new car for $100?

Saving's Tip for buying Cars Seems unlikely, right? Well, I think it‘s possible, at least an ‘almost’ new car. I know a number of people of who purchase or lease a new car every couple of years - mostly to keep up with styling.

The problem, as I see it, with purchasing a new car every couple of years or leasing a new car every couple of years is, as you may know, the expense – the actual cost, the fees, the insurance. As soon as a car leaves the showroom, it is estimated the car's worth is down about 20%! One of my clients shared with me his penchant for a new car and how excited he becomes each spring with the debut of the new models – the indecipherable updates most of us don’t even notice – but once he calculated the costs versus detailing - he opted for the detailing. So, how do you get a new car (or almost new car) for $100?

Have you considered car detailing? No, not cleaning but detailing. The next time you contemplate purchasing or leasing a new car consider detailing your current car. For around $100 a detailer will clean every crevice of your car. Those stains or marks from the spilt coffee or the home improvement center venture can, in most cases, be removed by most competent detailers. You will be surprised to find your car looking almost brand new when detailed. And you may defer buying or leasing for another year or two – a huge money saver. I have had my car and my wife’s car (which takes the brunt of our family’s travels and my children’s activities) detailed each of the last couple of years and am more than satisfied with the results.

So, my tip for the day is to consider a visit to your local detailer. Or a visit to your local dealership for detailing (which may be a bit more expensive). If you car is in good mechanical condition detailing may satisfy your penchant for a brand new car and ultimately save you money that can be invested or used for other interests – travel, home improvements, grandchildren, charity. Don’t forget, you purchased the car you drive right now because you liked it in some way, whether for its styling or economic value, so why throw away a good thing? Have your car detailed, save yourself some money, enjoy the savings and happy motoring!