Category: General

Our car cleaning products can’t be found in any grocery or hardware store it is available only through a handful of authorized distributors across the country. A new car sounds lovely doesn’t it? Imagine the purr of the new engine and the looks you will get as you drive down the road in the latest model of your chosen car. However, we also know that the new model of today will be the old superseded model in the not too distant future and that the value of the car will go down very quickly.

So with this in mind we really need to be careful when considering whether or not to buy a new car.

Before rushing off to the car yard, you should grab out a large sheet of paper and write up the top “Do I really need to buy a new vehicle?” Then let the brain cells take a journey and come up with all of the reasons that you can to justify going out and getting a new car. Underneath this, write down all of the reasons to justify why you shouldn’t go out and buy a new car.

Here are some ideas to get you started and some common reasons that people write down:

1. Reasons to buy a new car

Car too small / big

• Starting a family and need more room
• Can’t fit in all of my gear
• Can’t transport all of the kids and their friends around
• It is just us now so we don’t need such a large car
• We are going away so we need more leg room and storage capacity

No air conditioning

• It is just so hot each summer we bake in our car

No air bags

• The car has never been fitted with air bags

Lacking accessories (stereo / cd player / gps)

• We need to have a cd player
• Some new vehicles have an in built GPS so we need one too
• The stereo is broken so we need to replace the car

Costing too much money to run

• I am always spending money on this car
• The car always seems to be at my mechanic

Need to look good at work

• My car is a status symbol of my wealth
• My boss would look down on me if I didn’t drive a new car
• Having a new car will portray a message to my clients that I am very successful

Too old

• My car is x years old so it needs to be replaced
• I have had this car x years so it is time for an upgrade to a new model
• This model is old, I need the newer model

Petrol guzzler

• I am always putting fuel into this car
• I checked my credit card statement and boy my car is thirsty
• I used to put in $x of fuel a week and now I am putting in $y

Running too fast / slow

• I can’t keep up with every one else on the road
• My foot is almost flat to the floor and yet we hardly seem to be moving
• If I don’t sell this I am going to do damage to someone as it just zips off so fast I can’t keep in control

Want security of a new vehicle warranty

• I do a lot of travel for work and I want peace of mind if something was to happen
• If the car is under a warranty I won’t have to spend any money on it

No longer road worthy

• The mechanic said the car isn’t road worthy
• I don’t think the car would pass a road worthy test

Want to keep up with the Jones

• My friend has just purchased one of these new cars so I want one
• The neighbours have just purchased a new car so we should also buy one

I have been offered a good trade in

• The new car sales man has offered me a good trade in
• I want to trade now whilst I can get good value for my current car

I want a diesel vehicle

• I want to change from petrol to diesel as I heard it is more fuel efficient

I need a ute / 4wd / sedan

• I want to change from a sedan to a ute
• I need to trade the ute for a 4wd
• I need a 4wd for my upcoming holiday
• I need a ute so I can shift houses

2. Reasons not to buy a new car

Can’t afford it

• The repayments will be too high
• It is a lot of money for me to spend on a car
• The loan will take me 7 years+ to pay back

Don’t really need a new car

• I am being silly, I don’t really need a new car
• There are other things I need ahead of getting a new car

Old car is going well

• My old car works just fine
• I can always get from A to B so what else do I need

Too expensive

• Although it is new, I feel it is still very expensive
• There is a big gap between 2nd hand cars of 2-3 years to the price on these new cars

Will drop in value too quickly

• I have heard as soon as you drive a new car out of the show room they drop significantly in value
• 2nd hand cars seem like a much better alternative, I have seen they are much lower in value

Expensive on-road costs and stamp duties

• When I buy a new car I will have to incur extra fees such as on-road costs and stamp duties. Aren’t these costs in the thousands?

Insurance will increase

• When I get a new car, I know my insurance premium will increase significantly

Young family

• I don’t know if my kids will look after a new car or treat it well; they are always banging the car doors into things
• I know that kids are kids and it is hard to keep a car nice with them around

Have better things to spend my money on

• I do have a lot of other important items on my wish list; a new fridge, high school fees, reduce mortgage, etc

Work may provide a vehicle

• Work may offer me a car as part of my package at my next salary review

3. Then you need to carefully look at both lists and to analyse all of the reasons you have written down

• How important is the reason you wrote down?
• Look through your list and decide which reasons you have written down contain something that is a must have – this might be for safety reasons or security
• Be careful here and very honest with yourself with what you consider to be absolutely critical
• Look through your list and decide which items you have written down is a nice to have but something that you could do without – this might be a gadget or feature of the car that isn’t absolutely critical
• Take the time to rank each item from 1 to 10 in level of importance
• Look through your list of reasons not to buy a new car. How strong and valid are these reasons?
• It is important that you spend a decent amount of time doing this exercise and that you are somewhere nice and quiet where you can really think about yourself very carefully. This exercise could save you thousands of dollars!

4. As part of your analysis you should now spend time looking for alternatives. Start with the items that are of highest importance to you.

Car too small / big

• Consider hiring a trailer
• Consider hiring a car for the holidays
• Clean out your car and see what space you then have

No air conditioning

• Check out the cost to have this fitted to your current car

No air bags

• Check out the cost to have this fitted to your current car

Lacking accessories (stereo / cd player / gps)

• How much will it cost to have one fitted
• Can you use a portable cd player / stereo
• How much is a portable GPS
• Can you make do with the radio

Costing too much money to run

• Work out how much your car has actually cost you over 12 mths
• Seek a professional opinion on the vehicle from your mechanic or local automobile club
• Look carefully at how you treat your vehicle. Are you causing some of this cost?
• What about your driving habits? Is this the cause of costing you money? Ie heavy braking or is your foot too heavy on the accelerator

Need to look good at work

• You can still look good in a later model vehicle
• Talk to your boss about being provided with a company car when you need to entertain clients
• Talk to your boss about hiring cars / taxis when you need to entertain clients or travel
• It seems pointless trying to look wealthy by owning a new vehicle if it is causing you financial grief and hardship. You will not be successful in your career if you spend all day worrying about how to pay your bills
• Consider that a new car may put some clients off – your services may appear too expensive or that you don’t value money as you spend it on unnecessary items that decrease in value

Too old

• How old is too old? There are some decent vehicles on the road that are 7-10 years old that are still running perfectly
• Who states that there is a set time frame that you need to replace your vehicle
• What will the newer model provide you with that your current car doesn’t provide you with

Petrol guzzler

• Look at how much running around you are doing and whether or not you can seek alternatives such as car pooling, doing multiple tasks whilst out
• Has your car been serviced recently? You might have a problem with your car that is easy to fix that is causing the extra fuel consumption
• Consider how much the price of fuel has risen recently. Is this the real reason your petrol has increased
• How much of the fuel bill on the credit card contains other items such as food and drink that you bought at the petrol station?

Running too fast / slow

• Has your car been serviced recently? You might have a problem with your car that is easy to fix that is causing this to happen

Want security of a new vehicle warranty

• Understand what is offered under the warranty
• Consider having road side assistance from your local automobile club in case of break down
• Keep your vehicle regularly serviced
• Travel with a mobile phone so you can call for help in the case of an emergency

No longer road worthy

• Get a couple of opinions on the road worthy status of your vehicle from a mechanic or your local automobile club.
• Establish how much it will cost to get the vehicle road worthy
• Seek a professional’s opinion on this matter

Want to keep up with the Jones

• Why why why, do you need to keep up with what someone else is doing?
• Be an individual and live your own life and not those of others

I have been offered a good trade in

• A trick / marketing strategy for selling new cars is to lure people in by offering a high trade in
• You either get a high trade in or low purchase price – it generally doesn’t happen that you get both
• Is the salesman playing around with figures? They sometimes up the price of the trade in and lower the discount on the new car OR they sometimes lower the price on the new car and lower the price on the trade in
• If you waited a year or two before swapping vehicles, what do you think you might get as a trade in then

I want a diesel vehicle

• How much will it cost to get diesel fitted to your current car
• Are there any government rebates in relation to diesel fitouts

I need a ute / 4wd / sedan

• Can you hire the ute / 4wd / sedan for the particular period of use if it is only short term / one off
• Can you borrow a friend’s ute / 4wd / sedan
• Is it worth paying a tradesperson to do your job to negate this requirement

Detective Heather Wood is Managing Director and writer for Money Detective Pty Ltd.

Money Detective can help you with all of your money troubles. From our website full of factual information and articles, to our one on one personal money coaching, Money Detective can help you with all aspects of money management. Sign up for our Newsletter today and get yourself 6 free Money Clues [http://www.moneydetective.com.au].

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Many tourists flock to well-known destinations in Southern California like San Diego, Disneyland, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara. Give your next summer gathering a little something special with a picnic party that’ll make you the envy of the neighborhood. These are all great places to visit, but if you’re looking for somewhere different that’s a bit off the radar, check out the following incredible destinations:

The Channell Islands

My husband and I have lived in California most our lives, but somehow missed these spectacular islands that are classified as one of the U.S. National Parks. After seeing some stunning photos on the Internet, we took a short boat ride to Anacapa Island from Oxnard as part of a weekend anniversary trip.

If you decide to go, be prepared and bring supplies. This trip is for adventurous people in good physical shape. You will need to climb 157 stairs to the top of this rugged little island where there is no food, services, water, or flushing toilets. Now, I HATE outhouses, but I’m telling you – the views of the rocky shoreline, massive cliffs, and jagged peaks were worth it. You can easily hike around the rim of the island in just hours with Inspiration Point a grand reward for your efforts.

We visited in June when bursts of bright wildflowers covered the small island and thousands of adorable baby sea gulls were to be found around every corner. Just beware of their protective mamas who will swoop at your head if you get too close.

We returned a couple of years later and visited the larger Santa Cruz Island for an exciting kayak tour of the historic sea caves. On the boat ride there we saw a whale and two large schools of dolphins. The waters can be rough at certain points, but the caves were amazing. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Some people consider these islands desolate, but if you have an adventurous spirit and love nature, the Channell Islands are considered the Galápagos of North America.

The Huntington Botanical Gardens

This is yet another stunning place that we failed to visit for decades. Located in Pasadena, the magnificent estate is home to more than a dozen spectacular gardens spread across 120 acres. Hard to say which garden is the most dazzling, but the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the California Garden are a few of my favorites.

We didn’t even get a chance to check out the art galleries. The Huntington Art Gallery, houses 18th- and 19th-century British paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, and includes the famous Blue Boy. And to my shame as a writer, we did not visit The Huntington Library itself, one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States.

Next time.

Ventura County Wine Trail

Napa may get all the attention as wine country in California, but my husband and I enjoyed sipping our way through the coastal rolling hills near the seaside town of Ventura. We visited two of the nearly 20 wineries and tasting rooms.

You can book one of the many wine tours offered. However, we decided to get a map and explore on our own. Beginning in Ventura at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 101, we drove up Highway 33 toward Ojai.

Surprises await on this somewhat lonely but charming road – from the “USA’s Smallest Post Office” to the last place anyone saw James Dean alive. Our favorite find was Old Creek Winery which felt like returning to a simpler place and time where friendly folk and dogs welcomed us. We enjoyed our purchased bottle of wine and a picnic outside on tables enjoying the Americana view.

By the way, both Ojai and Ventura are worthwhile stops with charming inns, luxurious spas, and bed & breakfasts along with a wide array of outdoor activities. In the summer time, the Ventura Harbor Village is a hubbub of activity with festivals and live music on the weekends.

Laguna Beach

This charming beach town is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. With over 20 different scenic coves, this beach area offers everything from surfing, paddle-boarding, snorkeling, kayaking, and whale watching excursions.

Just beware, the surf can be rough in places. As a teenager, I decided to body surf despite the churning waters and wiped out on a massive wave (think Beach Boys’ song: Heheheheheheee wipe oooout!). Actually, I blame the Beach Boys for this entire mishap since they went and romanticized this whole surfer chick thing with songs I grew up on like Surfer Girl. SO their fault.

However, the scenery can’t be beat. Add ultra-chic restaurants and shops and one-of-a-kind art galleries and you get the picture. There’s even a Baby Boomer Club with Saturday Night dances. Every summer, they host the Laguna Woodstock where baby boomers party like its 1969.

Heisler Park is a good place to start, located just north of the main beach, with an easy half-mile stroll along a paved path with spectacular views of the coastline and the soothing sound of crashing waves. You can take one of the paths to the beaches and tide pools. Benches, picnic tables, and barbecues abound where you can enjoy the magnificent views. Hubby and I had a picnic on one of the grass areas and it was perfect!

Treasure Island Park is another great spot, located on the grounds of the five-star Montage Laguna Beach, where the truly rich stay. Exquisitely landscaped, several lookout benches line the easy-to-walk winding path. Stairways and ramps lead you down to the beach, where you can walk through a beautiful rock archway during low tide, find a spot in the sand for sunbathing, and a large tide pool. In addition, there is plenty of grass areas for a picnic. I’d suggest bringing some wine and cheese to catch a romantic sunset.

Big Bear Lake

I live in the desert, so nearby Big Bear is a great mountain escape with its gorgeous lake and pristine forests. Boating, fishing, and hiking are just some of the activities in this small, laid-back village.

Last summer, my husband and I cycled around the lake, enjoyed a picnic, zipped down an alpine slide, drove go-karts with speeds up to 30 m.p.h., and took a ride on the scenic sky chair for terrific views. After watching people take the chair lifts to mountain bike down the trails, we put this on our to-do list for next time.

For the adventurous at heart, parasailing and ziplining are also available.

El Matador Beach

Looking for a spectacular shoreline with white sands, towering cliffs, crashing waves, and craggy rock formations in a semi-hidden location?

Look no further than El Matador, located north of Malibu off the winding Pacific Coast Highway. It’s easy to miss the small, brown sign pointing toward the small parking lot at the trail-head, so watch carefully between Broad Beach and Decker Canyon Roads. Once you find it, be prepared to hike down a 150-foot bluff with the help of some steep stairs.

Not for small children or those who are physically challenged, but if you can make it down the steps you’ll be treated with breathtaking views. The locals know about this beach and you may see some photo shoots taking place – we did!

There is blissfully little to do on this small but glorious stretch of beach, so bring a picnic lunch or some wine and find a hidden nook to enjoy an incredibly romantic setting.

Redondo Beach

By now, you’ve probably noticed that my husband and I are beach bums. We found this beach on accident while looking for a nearby place to stay the night before flying out of LAX the next morning.

The Redondo Pier is a landmark with panoramic ocean views and water activities that include harbor cruises, seasonal whale watching, kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats. Truth be known, we didn’t try any of these out, but we loved the views from Tony’s on the Pier where we enjoyed Happy Hour!

The pier is also home to a 16-foot great white shark affectionately known as Georgette, on display in a large tank at Shark Attack on the Pier. If you have grandchildren with you or are young at heart, you may enjoy the semi-submersible yellow submarine (darn, now I’ve got the Beatles song stuck in my head) for underwater viewing of the local sea life.

Sure beats staying at an airport hotel if you’re flying to or from Los Angeles.

Catalina Island

This island is more well-known than some of my previous recommendations, but a sentimental favorite. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there 40 years ago and have returned several times. This is a small, quaint island, with no stoplights or fast food restaurants. A typical traffic jam involves two golf carts and a bicycle built for two.

On our honeymoon, we blissfully rode bikes around Avalon, went horseback riding, toured the famous casino, and sunbathed on the small beach. We also took a bus to Two Harbors, the only other village on Catalina Island. Snorkeling, parasailing, fishing, glass bottom boat rides, paddleboarding, Segway tours, golfing, and hiking are other popular activities.

Decades later, we sailed our boat to the island from Long Beach – which turned out to be one wild ride. My husband and grown children returned again for our open-water dives to become scuba-certified amid the famous kelp forests surrounded by the bright orange Garibaldi fish. Next time we visit, I want to try the new zip-line that’s 600 feet above sea level with one run that is 1,100 feet long with speeds up to 30 m.p.h. Wheee!

As you can tell, Southern California has so many great places to visit, it’s impossible to list them all. But hopefully I’ve given you some ideas to get you started!

Julie Gorges is an author, freelance writer, and blogger. During the past 20 years of professional writing, she has authored three books, had hundreds of article published in national and regional magazines, and won three journalism awards. Click here as you can visit her blog at http://www.babyboomerbliss.net.

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