HOW TO RUN A CAR ON A LOW BUDGET-10 TIPS -

This article will give some tips on how to run a car on a low budget.

In other words, how to keep your car going in tough times when the money is scarce.

All too many of us have been in this place, I’ve been numerous times and perhaps will be again, who knows, so what you’ll read comes from experience.

I hope all this helps you since the car, like it or not, has become an irreplaceable sidekick in everyday life.

Not having it can be a serious problem.

Besides reading articles, you can also watch our YouTube videos where you can see the car and driving-related videos that may help you.

DISCLAIMER

Since car maintenance is a matter of safety we must mention that this article does not encourage cutting any corners or being cheap regarding maintenance.

On the contrary.

The fact is that most drivers, when faced with a lack of money, do not do any maintenance, totally neglect it, and thus eventually cause problems both for themselves and others.

Hopefully, this article will help in preventing that.

Simply, see this as help until better times come and you have the means to do proper and timely maintenance.

So, let’s get to it.

HOW TO RUN A CAR ON A LOW BUDGET?

1. BUY CHEAPER OIL AND FILTERS

Changing the engine oil and various filters is the most frequently done part of maintenance.

In most cases, they are cheap to replace in the first place, but if your budget is really tight then you can make some significant savings here.

There is a whole range of middle-class oils and filters that offer pretty good quality and also satisfy all of the car manufacturer’s standards.

The downside is you may have to change the engine oil and filters more frequently but you can’t have it all.

For more information about how to do an oil change click here.

2. BUY CHEAPER SPARE PARTS AND MATERIAL

When talking about how to run a car on a low budget some serious savings can be made when choosing car parts for the repair.

The main difference in price and quality is between the OEM and aftermarket parts.

In most cases, the OEM parts or so-called originals are much more expensive than the aftermarket ones. Of course, there is a good reason for this.

When it comes to saving money, go for the aftermarket parts. The most important thing to consider with these is to choose the right manufacturer as there is a wide specter of them.

If you choose right, you’ll get car parts of decent quality, and durability at a much lower price.

For more information about how to buy car parts click here.

3. BUY USED PARTS

This tip applies only in cases of emergency and lack of certain aftermarket parts.

Nevertheless have it in mind, especially if you’re scraping the bottom of the money barrel.

Junkyards are a gold mine regarding this and if you know where and what to look for you can oftentimes solve your problem for a very low price.

Also, you can bargain. To see more about used parts click here.

4. ASK AROUND BEFORE THE REPAIR

Before repairing ask around, make a few phone calls, go on the internet, and gather information.

When thinking about how to run a car on a low budget, good information is worth the money.

How much are the parts and what could be the price of labor? Ask someone who has had the same or similar problem.

All of this will paint a good picture of what lies ahead of you, mainly in terms of money.

Also, you can make comparisons thanks to this and maybe save some money.

5. ALWAYS ASK FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE

Closely related to the previous tip is this one.

Since your budget is tight always ask for a repair estimate before you drive the car for repair.

In most cases, you should get it, mostly in the form of a bill for payment in advance, with all the costs clearly stated.

It may be annoying, perhaps embarrassing, but better than getting a huge repair bill that you can’t pay and get yourself in a really awkward situation.

6. GO TO CHEAPER GARAGES

Just like with parts, try to find an affordable garage.

To be honest, when running a car on a low budget, this is perhaps the trickiest part.

Mainly because lower prices usually mean lower quality although this isn’t a rule.

Look around, make queries, and just know that lots of times a less fancy and less known garage doesn’t mean shady work. On the contrary.

7. WASH AND CLEAN THE CAR YOURSELF

If you drive your car to a specialized shop for cleaning, perhaps consider doing it yourself until the money situation gets better.

This tip goes double if you use this service frequently.

For the time being, you can use a self-service car wash which is cheaper or you can do the washing, vacuuming, and other cleaning at home.

It can even be fun to do. Click here to see our article dedicated specifically to using a self-service car wash.

8. DO SOME DIY REPAIRS AND WORK

Regarding the car, the mother of saving money is do-it-yourself work.

As this website and our YouTube channel have shown you many times, there are a ton of things you can do on your own, especially if you’re good with tools and repairs.

It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular but changing your own oil, various filters, spark plugs, various bulbs, serpentine belts, doing some cleaning, and else will save you some serious money especially if you make higher mileage with your car.

Of course, know your limitations regarding repairs, don’t do anything you’re not certain of and that may endanger safety.

9. HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND FOR REPAIRS

For most of us, the financial situation is like a roller coaster ride. It goes up and down all the time.

When it’s up and you perhaps have a money surplus, try and put some cash aside for car repairs.

Know that car maintenance, for the majority of repairs, is predictable.

When you watch the mileage, pay attention to certain things so you can predict when oil changes, filter changes, and other repairs are coming.

You can make these predictions almost on a yearly basis (excluding emergencies and mishaps) so you’ll know for what that money surplus may come in handy.