With the First Day of Winter having been on Thursday (December 22) and increasing forecasts for snow and winter conditions it is important to remember safe driving tips. You may be familiar with the driving hazards associated with winter months. Slippery roads, storms, freezing rain, snow, reduced visibility and high winds. Winter weather presents a new set of challenges for drivers that is most often best if completely avoided by not getting out on the roads. However, if you find yourself in the position to have to be out on the roads be sure to take all necessary precautions before doing so. Simply driving at a safe speed and buckling up is not enough when facing hazardous road conditions.  It is important to have a mechanic check your vehicle’s heating and exhaust systems as well as the brakes, antifreeze, battery, oil and windshield washer fluid.  Depending on your location your mechanic may recommend installing snow tires or purchasing chains to put on your existing tires.  By ke ...

With Christmas only a few days away trips to the mall to do last minute shopping has become quite a production. This year shoppers said they were planning to spend on average over $600 for gifts. Sharing joy with family and friends shouldn’t involve feeling guilty when you get your credit card bill in January. Here are a couple ways to give great gifts without draining your wallet: 1.    Make it yourself.  Everyone has a special talent they can use to make a gift for someone special. Whether it is jewelry making, lawn mowing, carpentry, cooking, or painting everyone has something to offer that others can appreciate.  If your talent involves giving them a gift that cannot be wrapped simply write up a certificate that they can redeem for the gift whenever they wish. 2.    Do research online. If you know ahead of time what the gift is you are looking for taking a look online to compare prices cannot only save you money but also time when finding the store with t ...

Everyone should be aware of the dangers involved in not properly storing a winter emergency car kit in your vehicle as well as items one should include in a kit. As the winter months approach, I find myself spending more time each morning scraping my windows off and defrosting my car. With harsh weather on it's way, individuals should begin preparing in case of an extended stay in their vehicle resulting from a winter storm or an emergency. With the proper equipment, you can easily turn an unfortunate event into a more desirable situation.   Car Emergency Kit We may be more fuel-economy-minded than ever, but Americans still drive a total of more than three trillion miles a year, which is around 15,000 journeys to the sun and back! Not surprisingly, a car breaks down every couple of seconds (not the same one each time, we hope!). Mostly, we are able to get back on the road swiftly, but there are times when we have to endure a longer wait, either because we don’t have the right equipment to get go ...