The winter months can prove to be harsh on your vehicle especially if you live in an area where snow is abundant. Don’t let the winter weather get the best of your car and your wallet. Here are a few ways you can detect problems before they arise:

Check the Essentials

There are several small checks you can do this winter to ensure your car runs on its best behavior:

Check your oil – Most oil changes are done once every 3 to 4 months – or approximately every 5,000 miles. If you change your oil before the winter season, you may not have to do it the rest of the winter. Plus, there are certain types of oil that may help your car run better in cold, harsh conditions. An oil change can cost as little as $9.95.

Check your tires – One of the worst things that can happen during the winter months is hitting a pot hole and damaging not only your vehicle’s tire, but the rims as well. Have your tires checked to make sure the tread will last through the winter. If you need new tires, it’s less expensive to get a new pair before the winter months and before you have problems, than after you’ve already damaged both the tires and the rims. When shopping for new tires, consider buying some that are built for snowy conditions.

Check your defrost and heating systems – If you live in a state where it snows, you know the feeling of getting into your car on a freezing-cold day and shivering for ten minutes while your car takes its sweet time warming up. Personally, I much prefer a nice, toasty vehicle. Check your vehicle’s heating system before the winter months to ensure that you won’t be left in the cold.

Check your brakes – In the winter months, it’s not uncommon to come across dangerous roads covered with snow and ice. Don’t put your safety at risk with bad brakes! Before winter comes around, check your brakes and make any repairs necessary. Changing your brakes before the winter may save you from an accident – and the time and money it costs to repair a damaged car.

Pack the Essentials

There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a snow storm with a broken down car. Just in case the worst happens to you, make sure you’re prepared by stocking up on the essentials before the winter season approaches. Here are a few of the items you should keep in your car this winter, according to MSNBC:

• Gloves
• Jumper Cables
• De-Icer / Windshield washer fluid
• Snow Brush / Ice Scraper
• Snacks
• Blanket
• Cell Phone
• Spare Tire
• Jack
• Flares
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• First-Aid Kit

Know What to Do

If your vehicle does happen to leave you stranded, the worst thing you can do is panic. By following these few simple tips from AAA, you can rest assured that you will be safe during your time of need.

When you realize that you’re in need of help, pull your car off to the side of the road or into the nearest parking lot. If you’re on the road, make sure you put your hazard lights on and if you have them, light two flares and put them at each end of your car. Next, call for help. The police or your insurance company should be the first people you call; this way you can get quick access to a tow truck. To keep warm, use the blanket you packed in your car for the winter. If help will not arrive for quite some time and you have enough gas, run your engine every so often to stay warm.

It’s never too early to winterize your car. If you live in snowy, cold-weather state like Michigan, you know that the weather can change any second and you could be seeing snow flakes out your window any day now. The next time you go grocery shopping, add a few extra items on your list for your vehicle. Your vehicle and wallet will thank you.

Looking for more holiday money saving tips? Check out the Quizzle Blog:

• Save like Scrooge: Money Saving Ideas for the Holidays
• Protect Your Credit during the Holidays with these 7 Tips
• 55 Money Saving Tips (Your Wallet Will Thank You)

Smart money management is important all year-round. Visit Quizzle.com for free tools and information about your home, money and credit, including a free credit report and free credit score, no catches, no credit card required.

Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/35068121@N08/

The busiest shopping day of the year is just a few days away. While some deals will be the best bargains around, others just might not be worth the hassle. Check out these tips for shopping smart on Black Friday:

Check the Weather

The last time I went shopping on Black Friday, I waited in line at Wal-Mart for 4 hours in about 3 inches of snow.  The weather in my home state of Michigan can be pretty unpredictable; however, it appears that we will not have snow for this Black Friday’s shopping experience. What about where you live?

Make sure you check the weather and dress accordingly. While most stores will make shoppers form a line outside the store, stores like Wal-Mart have recently changed their Black Friday shopping policy. Be prepared to stand outside for lengthy periods of time.

Get in Line Early

In 2008, an employee of Wal-Mart died after bargain hunters breached the doors to the store. To help prevent another accident, Wal-Mart has changed their Black Friday shopping policy. Wal-Mart will open at 6am on Thanksgiving Day and will remain open throughout Black Friday. According to the New York Times, shoppers will be able to enter the store at any time and line up at merchandise displays for the must-have items on their lists. However, shoppers will still have to wait until 5am on Black Friday to purchase the special deal merchandise. We could see a new trend of shoppers waiting in line for 24 hours.

If you plan to shop at a store other than Wal-Mart, plan to wait in long lines outside the store. In many cases, it’s a good idea to arrive at the store location at least four hours before the store opens.

Look for Item Limits per Store

After all that waiting in the snow at Wal-Mart, can you believe I still was not able to get the item I wanted? Most stores will have limits on items that are considered a bargain. Check your local papers ahead of time to see what the quantity limits are per store. If you’re looking for a $200 laptop and each store can only sell a limit of three, chances are if you’re the 150^th person in line, you probably won’t be getting that item this holiday season.

Shop at Stores with Voucher Systems

To avoid accidents at all costs, most stores will offer tickets or vouchers to shoppers prior to the store opening. A few years ago I went to Best Buy on Black Friday and was given a voucher for the item I wanted. Stores typically match the number of vouchers they give out to the number of items they have in-stock. If the store runs out of vouchers for your item, then you can get out of line and go on with your Black Friday shopping trip. Call the store you’re visiting and ask them if they have a ticket system.

Research Items before Shopping

While the item you’re looking to purchase might be a bargain, the quality of that item may not be so great. Take the time to read reviews and research the model number of the item you’d like to buy. CNN Money and Yahoo Finance report that some items may be a “derivative” of another model. While the model you’re buying may seem like a good deal, it may have lower specifications than the model that is sold outside of Black Friday. For instance, the image contrast ratio for a television may be 20,000 in a derivative model versus 30,000 in a standard model. Be sure to compare the model number of the sale merchandise with the original model number.

Looking for more holiday money saving tips? Check out the Quizzle Blog:

• Save like Scrooge: Money Saving Ideas for the Holidays
• 55 Money Saving Tips (Your Wallet Will Thank You)
• Protect Your Credit during the Holidays with these 7 Tips

Smart money management is important all year-round. Visit Quizzle.com for free tools and information about your home, money and credit, including a free credit report and free credit score, no catches, no credit card required.

Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/uggboy/

If you’re in the market for a new home, now is the perfect time to buy.  Not only did the government extend the tax credit until April 30, 2009, but they also opened it up to current home owners who are looking to purchase a new house. Home prices are low and buyers have thousands of houses in their area from which to choose. With the downturn in the economy, many of the houses available are foreclosures or short-sales. So how do you know how much and what type of house you should buy?

How Much House Can You Afford?

Buying your dream home will only be a dream unless you can actually afford it. While your affordable price range depends on many different factors, one way to get in the ballpark is estimating two to two and a half times your annual gross salary. If you make $38,000 a year, you may be limited to borrowing only $80,000. While you may be able to borrow $80,000, a good conservative rule of thumb is to make sure your house payment (including loan payment, property taxes, and insurance) does not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly salary. If you make $38,000 a year, technically you could afford a monthly house payment of $886.

There are also free online tools to help you estimate how much home you can afford, like the Home Affordability Calculator at Quizzle.com.

Keep in mind, lenders take into consideration a variety of factors when making a decision whether to lend you money, such as your income, assets, credit history and debt-to-income ratio. While there are several good guides to help you when shopping for your dream home, you should always consult with a trusted mortgage professional to know exactly how much you’re qualified to borrow.

What Type of House Should You Buy?

If you’re unsure about what kind of house to buy, HGTV has a short 10 question quiz to help you figure out what sort of house fits you.  Things to consider when buying a home are: How long do you plan to live in the home? Will you be having a baby in the near future? Do you mind the up keep of the outside of the home? Do you have pets that need a backyard? Do you enjoy entertaining large groups of people in your home?  Types of housing include single family homes, townhouses/condos and manufactured housing.

What is The Best Way to Purchase a Home?

With the downturn of the economy, thousands of homes are available for you to purchase. But, how do you know what kind of sale you should work with? Many homes in your areas will be sold as a short-sale, foreclosure or an REO (Real Estate Owned Property). Of these three options, buying a foreclosure tends to come with the most risk, whereas REO often carries the least risk. So what exactly do these types of sales mean for you?

Short Sale

A short sale occurs when a lender agrees to take less than the full loan payoff for an owner’s property. Homeowners will often sell their house for less than what they owe to avoid foreclosure. Short sales are very complicated and the outcome is not guaranteed. Many buyers, who start the short sale purchase process, wait three months or more for a decision from the lender. In some cases the lender will not accept the short sale offer and the seller is unable to sell the home. Short Sales are a great way to get a house for less than its true value. You can view Short Sale homes at HomePath.

Foreclosure

A foreclosed home is the process where the lender takes possession of a property due to non-payment. These properties are sold at auctions, most likely at your nearest court house. Most foreclosed home must be paid for in full and often involve various problems. While the price of the house may seem like a great deal, the title to the house could have a lien on it, the house may have back taxes that are due or the house may need to be renovated due to structural problems. While a foreclosure is very risky, it’s one of the best options to get a great deal.  You can view foreclosed homes at In House Realty or MCB Real Estate.

REO (Real Estate Owned Property)

After the property has gone into foreclosure and no one purchased the property at an auction, the home will then become an REO property. The bank that owns the property will hire a Realtor to sell it. To sell the house as quickly as possible, the lender will likely clear all issues on the property, such as back taxes and liens on the title. This is one of the best opportunities to get a good deal.  Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored enterprise owns most of the REO homes currently listed. You can view REO homes at the HomePath website.

Choosing a new home will depend on how much money, risk and time you want to invest. If you’re looking for a safe option, you can purchase a home that’s not listed as a risk, however you may pay more than you’d like. If you’re in the market for a good deal and don’t mind a fixer-upper, then a bank-owned property might be the perfect option.

For more helpful home buying tips, check out the Quizzle Blog:

• How to Save for a Down Payment on a Home
• Senate and House Approve Home Buyers Credit
• 55 Money Saving Tips (Your Wallet Will Thank You)
• Protect Your Credit during the Holidays with these 7 Tips

For other free tools and information about your home, money and credit, visit Quizzle.com. You’ll get a free credit report and free credit score, home value estimate, home loan recommendations, personal budget tool and more.

Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetruthabout/

Just like free food always tastes better, free stuff from the government is more savory too.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best freebies from Uncle Sam to help you with everything from smart shopping and educating your children, to damaged bills and unclaimed money from the IRS:

Become a Smart Shopper

To help you become a savvy shopper, the government has created a guide chock full of handy tips and tricks. The 2009 Consumer Action Handbook includes information about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer and much more. You can order up to 10 copies for free.

Take Advantage of FREE Educational Resources

If you’re a teacher, you know how expensive educational resources can be. To lend you a hand, Uncle Sam has put together the Federal Resources for Education Excellence (FREE) website (free.ed.gov).

FREE is among the most popular K-12 websites maintained by the U.S Department of Education because of all the great resources being offered by contributing federal agencies. At FREE, you’ll get access to more than 1,500 federally supported teaching and learning resources from dozens of federal agencies.

Trade In Your Damaged Bills

Do you have a few damaged bills, dog-eared and torn, that have found a permanent home in your wallet? Turn that money in for usable currency.  The Bureau of Engraving and Printing will trade in your shredded and mutilated currency for money you can actually use. Every year the U.S. Treasury handles approximately 30,000 claims and redeems mutilated currency valued at over $30 million.

Once you send your currency to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, experts will examine it and approve the issuance of a Treasury check for the value of the currency determined to be redeemable.

Find out If You’re Entitled to Money from the IRS

If you’ve filed taxes recently, you may have some free money sitting at the IRS. Millions of taxpayers never receive their refund. This is mainly due to an error with the address or direct deposit information you provided, or a recent move to a new address. If you didn’t receive your refund this year, you can check the IRS – Where’s My Refund to see if cash is waiting for you.

There are also over 5 million unclaimed economic stimulus checks being held by the IRS. Many of the unclaimed checks belong to people who do not normally file tax returns, such as those whose only source of income is Social Security. If you think you may have unclaimed stimulus funds owed to you, find out for sure by visiting the IRS Stimulus payment tracker.

Get a FHA Home Loan Insurance Refund

If you had an FHA home loan in the past, you may be entitled to an insurance refund. FHA loan borrowers were previously required to pay a set amount of insurance premiums up-front, regardless of how long they were going to live in the home. Homeowners are entitled to the refund if their insurance was terminated when a) they sold their home, b) they paid off their mortgage early or, c) the they refinanced their mortgage into a non-FHA loan.

You may be entitled to a refund under the follow circumstances:

Premium Refund

• Acquired loan after September 1, 1983
• Paid up-front mortgage insurance premium at closing
• Did not default on your mortgage payments

Distributive Share

• Originated your loan before September 1, 1983
• Paid on your loan for more than 7 years
• Has FHA insurance terminated before November 5, 1990

Give Your Kids the Gift of Free Stuff

The government offers several free publications for children. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development offers a free Milk Matters Coloring Book. Milk Matters is a public health education campaign to promote calcium consumption.  Parents can order the FREE coloring book and either download it from the Internet or have it delivered in the mail.

Firesafety.gov is another great resource for families to help educate kids about fire safety and prevention. Parents can visit the website to download free publications for their children. Available in both English and Spanish, the site offers coloring book, word searches, and escape plan diagrams.

For more helpful money saving tips, check out the Quizzle Blog:

• Plan the Perfect Wedding on the Cheap
• How to Save for a Down Payment on a Home
• 8 Ways to Stretch Your Money as a Poor, Broke College Student
• 55 Money Saving Tips (Your Wallet Will Thank You)
• Protect Your Credit during the Holidays with these 7 Tips

Looking for more free stuff? Quizzle’s got you covered with a totally free credit report and free credit score, no catches, no trial subscriptions, no credit card required.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a2community/

Every girl dreams of having that perfect wedding. But, when the time comes that perfect wedding might be limited to the amount of money that you can contribute. I am currently planning for an October 2010 wedding and have already spent $6,000 just on my reception alone. A friend of mine is getting married this weekend and planned her entire wedding for under $5,000. So I wondered, in what areas could myself and others save so we don’t spend too much money?

Be Frugal With Your Wedding Reception

Some banquet halls can charge as much as $80 a person on the weekend. If you plan to invite 150 guests, you’re bound to spend $12,000. Look for banquet halls that charge under $20 a person. Most banquet halls will give you a discount if you book your reception during the lunch hour or if you book on a holiday such as Halloween.

Take time to look and re-look over your guest list. Don’t feel like you have to invite every person you think of.  Narrow your list down by who must attend and who you want to attend if there is enough space. Even though some banquet halls require that you have a minimum number of people attend, most halls will waive that requirement if you book with them immediately.

Bargain Shop for Your Wedding Dress

I felt the second most important purchase in your wedding planning is your dress. Though you may be tempted to spend hundreds even thousands of dollars on a wedding dress, that money could be spend in other areas. Take the time to check out sites like Milanoo, which sells wedding dresses at wholesale prices.  I looked over the selection of dresses and found several under $150 that were very comparable to my $1,000 wedding dress. For me, this is the one area where I could have saved the most money.

Print Your Own Invitations

While most invitations don’t cost a lot of money, it is still an area where hundreds of dollars can be saved. Most name brand invitations can cost as much as $3.00 per invitation. By shopping smart you can find invitations that cost under $1.00 per invitation.

Don’t forget that your wedding invitations are not the only ones you will need. Consider all the events prior to the wedding that you will be having such as an engagement party, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner. Since you won’t need a lot of invitations for those events, consider doing them at home. Stores like Target and Michael’s sell custom do-it-yourself kits. I recently had an engagement party and did all the invitations and thank you cards at home.

Less is More in Regards to Flowers

While booking my wedding reception the venue allowed me to view some receptions that were already set up for later that day. In my opinion some of the rooms were so over decorated that it took away from the mood. I found that the rooms with less decorations and flowers looked the best. I have decided to not use extravagant center pieces and stick to something simple. For under $5 a center piece you can create a romantic setting with floating candles and rose petals.

Don’t be Afraid of FREE

When planning your wedding, don’t be afraid to ask for free stuff. When ordering invitations, ask if you get a set amount free if you order over a certain amount. Some sites will give 50 free invitations or free shipping. When researching banquet halls I came across one that included a free engagement party. While I did not want to book with that banquet hall, I suggested the idea to the hall I chose. The hall threw me a 2 hour party with free hors d’oeuvres, cake, champagne toast and bar.  You never know what you can get for free until you ask.