4 Must-Have Apps for Car Owners

Most people own a car, maybe even a couple of them. As we all know, a car can be a considerable expenditure - even more so when it comes to visiting a local repair shop, performing scheduled maintenance service, and refilling the gas tank each month. Luckily, mobile developers have taken care of us and today there plenty of handy mobile applications that will simplify much of what we do in our cars. From pointing you towards a gas station with best prices in the city to analyzing your vehicle’s computer, here are four free mobile applications that qualify as must-haves for car owners:  

Waze - Most everyone has Google maps or some other navigation system on their phone, but sometimes the traffic situation isn’t taken into account very well. Thankfully, there’s an awesome app that crowd sources information about the traffic status.

FEATURES:

• One tap navigation
• Shows alerts on your route
• Allows you to report traffic to help others
• Let’s you easily send your ETA to friends

GasBuddy - GasBuddy helps you find the cheapest gas prices with one tap. Submitting gas prices helps everyone save money on gas. GasBuddy uses gas price information provided by users to bring drivers together to support the common goal of saving money on gas.

FEATURES:

• Shows cheapest gas stations near you  
• Finds cheapest gas by city/zip/postal code
• Let’s to report gas prices to help other people find cheap gas
• Saves money every time you fill up at the cheapest stations

RepairPal - This app tells you the right price to pay for your repair, finds you a RepairPal certified mechanic in the area, tracks all your repairs, and gives you one-touch access to roadside assistance.

FEATURES:

• Gives an accurate and unbiased repair and service estimates. You’ll know the fair price to pay before you take your car to the shop.
• Helps you find a recommended repair and maintenance shop near you.
• Keeps your complete repair history with you. Record what you've done and make a checklist of what you need to do next.

CamSam- Helps to save on traffic tickets. It warns you of speed traps and red light camera warning system!

FEATURES:

• Alerts in real time of mobile radar traps
• Directional alerts for all fixed
• Automatic updates every 5 minutes
• Visual and acoustic warnings
• Indication of device type and of legal speed limit

20 New Year's Resolutions to Consider in 2016

New Year’s Eve is often seen as a time of rebirth, the chance to start anew. We all come up with the regular resolutions for the upcoming year (losing weight, seeing family more often and/or fallisng in love), but often our ideas of what should change are too broad. This New Year’s Eve, we should all vow to take a closer look into our lives. These are the 20 New Year’s resolutions you should consider in 2016:

1. Leave the country. If you don’t have money, look into doing charity work abroad. Some programs will sponsor you. Look at helpx.net, for programs you can get involved with.

2. If you hate your job, get a new job. Money is not worth sacrificing your happiness. Food and shelter are important though, so make sure you have another job lined up before moving on.

3. Stop beating yourself up for skipping the gym on days you truly didn’t have time. But also, stop skipping the gym on days you had plenty of time to go.

4. Rid yourself of enemies. Apologize for what you did wrong and forgive those who have wronged you.

5. Rid yourself of “frenemies.” Don’t spend 2015 surrounded by people you secretly despise.

6. If you find someone attractive, be confident enough to say “hi” and introduce yourself. Every relationship you have ever had started with a greeting.

7. Leave your phone number for someone. Worst-case scenario: you won’t get a call and maybe you’ll feel a tiny bit embarrassed. Regardless of the outcome, you put yourself out there and probably made the other person’s day.

8. Stop caring about how many people “like” your social posts. If you like the photo enough to post it, what else matters? Social media anxiety is a waste of time.

9. Cross something off your bucket list this year! Sky dive, bungee jump, scuba dive, etc. Don’t make excuses as to why you can’t accomplish something, and finally do it.

10. Stop hating yourself for eating dessert. Dessert is delicious.

11. If you’ve never done it before, try keeping a journal. It doesn’t have to be something you use 

daily, but documenting your experiences is incredibly important. You’ll appreciate it later.

12. Strengthen relationships with family members. Don’t regret not spending enough time with the ones you love and admire.

13. Help strangers. “Pay it forward,” do good things for the world — and don’t post a Facebook status about it.

14. Conquer a fear. There’s nothing better than triumphing over your old fears. Go for it!

15. Turn off your smartphone at dinner.

16. Don’t check your social media feed when you’re with friends. Enjoy the present, and live in it – not the virtual version.

17. Try a fashion trend you never thought you could pull off. And, do it with confidence. Floppy hats, snap backs, Harem pants; you can do it!

18. Shop locally, eat locally and recognize where your money is going. Consumers control the economy, so visit the mom-and-pop coffee shop down the street instead of Starbucks. 

19. Stop being so shallow. The next time you find yourself judging someone based on his or her appearance, imagine that person standing in front of you saying, “I’m beautiful.” You’ll start to believe it.

20. And finally, if you want someone to commit to you, vocalize it. Purgatory shouldn’t last forever.

This list is meant to give you ideas on how to help yourself and those around you in the year to come. We hope that some of these ideas can give you the inspiration to make 2016 your best year yet! 

Drive Safely This Winter

Falling snow can be picturesque, but it can also wreak havoc on the roads. While no one enjoys driving in snowy or slippery conditions, there are steps you can take to help improve your safety with these winter driving tips.

 

Here are some guidelines that can help you stay safe when driving in adverse winter conditions:

• Make sure your car is prepared for cold temperatures and wintry conditions like snow and ice. Keep your equipment properly maintained and include a winter survival kit in your vehicle: an ice scraper, snow shovel and sand/salt.
• Clear snow and ice off your car – including windows, mirrors, lights, reflectors, hood, roof and trunk.
• Drive with your headlights on, and be sure to keep them clean to improve visibility.
• Use caution when snow banks limit your view of oncoming traffic.
• Avoid using cruise control in snowy or icy conditions. In adverse conditions, you want as much control of your car as possible.
• Know how to brake on slippery surfaces. Vehicles with anti-lock brakes operate much differently from those that do not have anti-lock brakes. You should consult your vehicle's owner's manual for instructions on how to brake properly if your vehicle should start to skid.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season. This helps ensure you have a source of heat if you are stuck or stranded.
• If you do venture out or are unexpectedly caught in a snowstorm and encounter problems, stay in your car and wait for help. You can run the car heater to stay warm for 10 minutes every hour, but make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow. There is a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning if snow blocks the pipe and enables the deadly gas to build up in your car. Open your window slightly to help prevent the buildup.
• Keep your windshield washer reservoir full, and make sure your car has wiper blades that are in good condition.
• Remember that speed limits are meant for dry roads, not roads covered in snow and ice. You should reduce your speed and increase your following distance as road conditions and visibility worsen.
• Be cautious on bridges and overpasses as they are commonly the first areas to become icy.
• Avoid passing snow plows and sand trucks. The drivers can have limited visibility, and the road in front of them could be worse than the road behind.
• Monitor road and weather conditions by checking local news stations or Internet traffic and weather sites.
• If you must travel during a snowstorm or in blizzard conditions, be sure to let a relative, friend or coworker know where you are headed and your expected arrival time. Avoid the temptation to check or be on your phone while driving as all of your attention should be on arriving safely.

Source: Travelers Insurance

Cold Weather Car Prep

Winterizing your vehicle is a wise idea, says the Car Care Council.  An investment of an hour or two to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and hassle of a breakdown during severe weather.

 “The last thing any driver needs is a vehicle that breaks down in cold, harsh winter weather,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A vehicle check before the temperatures drop is a sensible way to avoid the inconvenience of being stranded out in the cold and with the unexpected expense of emergency repairs.”

The Car Care Council recommends the following nine steps for winterizing your vehicle.

1. Have the battery and charging system checked for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on batteries.
2. Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
3. Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
4. Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.
5. Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in a cold climate. Have your technician check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.
6. If you’re due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.
7. Have the brakes checked. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.
8. Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
9. Check to see that exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.

Motorists should also keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication.

Resource - CarCare.org