4 Simple Steps to Your Next Car Loan

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Krissyar

When you go to buy a vehicle, it can be stressful. The loan process can seem overwhelming, but it can be easier than you think. Take these simple steps to getting your next car loan.

Check Your Credit

Before shopping for a car (or a loan) make sure that you check your credit. The better your credit is – the better your interest rate, which means it’s cheaper to borrow money for you. Which also can mean you  can get more bang for your  buck if you have good credit – a lot of people pay MORE for a lesser car than others, because of their credit rating.

A low credit score won’t necessarily keep you from getting a car loan, but I would suggest making sure you know what type of payment you can afford and what payments would be on specific vehicles before making up your mind on a car. If you have your eyes on a specific vehicle take some time to improve your credit score before you apply for any loans.

Know Your Budget

Like I mentioned, knowing what you can afford is ESSENTIAL. I’ve seen too many people say they will give up all these things in their lives for their ‘dream’ car , but let me tell you something – that feeling will go away really fast. Sure you may be able to on paper afford a higher payment than initially thought, but you also have to consider a higher insurance bill, possibly more money for gas – and don’t forget about the other things you left out of your budget – or the other costs that come along with owning a vehicle -regular oil changes and maintenance and of course tires as well (and if you haven’t bought any recently – they aren’t cheap!) Sit down and review your bank statements and make a complete comprehensive list of your outgoing monies before committing to 4-7 years of a monthly car payment.

 

Get PreApproved

After you check your credit, and figure out your budget the next step would be to get pre approved. BE SURE NOT TO GET YOUR PRE APPROVAL UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO BUY. Most pre approval loans are only good for a certain amount of time – usually 15 to 30 days – you don’t want to have to run your credit again, so don’t get it until you are ready to commit to buying. Look for a loan with a reputable company, and look for the best interest rates and loan amounts. If you are set on a particular manufacturer you can always check with your dealership for loan options – sometimes they can find you lower rates than you can find yourself!

Now the FUN part – GO SHOPPING

Before going to look at vehicles, put in a little research and find cars that fit into your budget and needs. Things to consider are size, color, gas mileage and any extra features that you may want. Read reviews and ask around to see which car might be best for you. Once you know what you want, go take a look! Compare prices at the dealership, and check dealer incentives and rebates to get your best price!

 

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Getting Your Vehicle Winter Ready

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Krissyar

Regular maintenance is required to have a well running vehicle – but it’s especially important to make sure everything is up to date before cold weather hits.Here’s a few simple things to make sure your vehicle is winter ready.

Fluids

All vehicles needs proper lubrication in order to work properly. From washer fluid to antifreeze. Windshield wiper fluid is a necessity, clean oil (I always suggest getting an oil and filter change at the start of winter) and top off fluids like transmission fluid and coolant.

 

Brakes

The last step to making sure your brakes are working properly – I suggest that you get them checked by a certified mechanic at your local dealership like East Hill Chevrolet to test your brakes, brake pads, discs, and rotors so that you can be confident in your vehicles ability to stop when needed!

Tires

A lot of us are guilty of overworking our tires- but this is one thing you cannot just let go. This isn’t your roots ladies or nails that need done – tires are very important to the performance and safety of your vehicle. Check the tire tread and see if they are worn, monitor your tires monthly (and if the weather is changing a lot – warmer then colder then warm again) check the tire pressure each time you fill up your gas tank.And of course definitely check them out before a long trip.

 

 

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Traveling for the Holidays? Driving Laws You Need to Know

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Krissyar

There are basic rules of driving that are the same for all 50 states – like we all drive on the right side of the road, and we are all *supposed* to obey the speed limits. BUT there are differences among states, and when you are traveling it is very important to know the laws in the states you will be driving through (like did you know, many states can actually take your license from you even for a minor traffic violation if you are from another state?!).

FindLaw’s State Traffic Laws provide information about the traffic laws and driving rules in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It includes information like statutes for common traffic violations, and state specific driving manuals.

 

Laws in All States

There are driving laws that are  common in all states – like requiring a valid driver’s license, registration and insurance. Of course also you are not supposed to speed, run red lights, leave the scene of an accident, or drive under the influence.

 

Distracted Driving

Hand held cell phone use is prohibited in 15 states including D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, which means an officer can ticket you for using a hand-held cell phone – and that reason only.

There are some states that ban ALL cell phone use (like California) but 38 other states just ban cellphone use completely  for young drivers.

Text messaging is banned in about 47 states now – even if you are just ‘tying in a number” to call, or an ‘address’ to pull up on the GPS system on your phone. (Plus it’s just not safe, whether it’s legal or not, and you put not only your own life in your hands -literally -but others as well, so just don’t do it).

Your best bet is to keep your phone put away, or in a dash holder and use bluetooth to keep yourself

 

Vehicle Maintenance

From tire pressure, to headlights being out, brakes, cracked windshields and more, some states can give you a citation for not keeping up with the maintenance on your vehicle – be sure to visit your local dealership like East Hills Subaru to make sure your vehicle is road trip ready.

 

Car Seats/Infant Seats

Different states have different laws as far as what age your child can be out of a car/booster seat, and also which way the infant seat is facing (front or back) up to what age/weight. They assume it is your job to know these laws before you drive through these states, so it’s very important to check the laws before traveling.

 

 

 

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Posted in Holidays, Travel | 1 Comment

Why The Chrysler Pacifica Isn’t Your Typical Minivan

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Krissyar

My first ‘soccer Mom” vehicle was a Chrysler Pacifica crossover. I never really wanted the whole soccer-Mom van, but with 3 kids and all of them in some type of extra curricular activities – well, it was needed. When I found the Pacifica I fell in LOVE.

Though the Pacifica is no longer a crossover- but a minivan, it still holds the same appeal as it did before – and maybe even more. It still has the sleek sporty appeal it did as a crossover, just more to love.

Besides the amazing features that make driving just more enjoyable, my favorite features on the Pacifica are the safety features -they are par to none.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES

The ABS brakes automatically sense when a tire has stopped rotating under extreme braking and will modulate the brake pressure so the tire can rotate which helps increase the vehicles ability to turn while braking.


STABILITY CONTROL

Stability control senses automatically when a vehicle is having issues handling – or limits have been exceeded – so it reduces engine power and/or applies brakes to help prevent you from losing control.

 

FRONT-IMPACT AIRBAGS

Front impact airbags for both the driver and passengers are designed to protect the head during any type of frontal crash.

SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS

Side airbags in the front seats are designed to protect the torso if there is a side impact collision. I can’t tell you how excited I was to hear that this is starting to be an standard inclusion in the auto industry.

 

OVERHEAD AIRBAGS

Overhead airbags though seem excessive, are there to protect the occupant’s heads in the event of a side collision or rollover.

KNEE AIRBAGS

 

Knee airbags help protect lower extremities from serious injury – which is actually one of the most common injuries in an auto accident.

 

PRETENSIONERS

The pretensioners automatically tighten seatbelts to keep the occupant in the most optimal seating position during a collision.

 

SECURITY SYSTEM

 

The Pacifica is also equipped with an ignition disable device that will prevent the engine from starting if the correct original manufacturer key is not used – which cuts down on car theft.

 

 

Visit your local dealership like East Hills Chrysler Jeep for a test drive and find out for yourself how awesome the new Pacifica is!

 

 

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Using Lasers to Tighten Your Skin and Make it Look Better

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Krissyar

Laser devices have long been used in the skincare industry for many different purposes. Among those purposes are tightening up the skin and removing imperfections through encouraging natural restorative processes within the body. If you want to try using lasers to make your skin better, making a laser appointment is easy because clinics offering such services are everywhere. However, you should prepare yourself by learning what lasers have to offer before you book an appointment.

Lasers Offer Less Expensive Solutions as Opposed to Surgical Procedures

There are several benefits of using lasers to tighten or otherwise revitalize your skin. One of the most obvious benefits in the cost break. If you were to have surgery to tighten your skin you would pay an astronomical amount of money, but laser procedures can often be performed for only a few hundred dollars. Although, you must prepare for the fact that you are likely to need a series of laser procedures in order to significantly improve your skin health.

 

Lasers Treat Many Different Skin Concerns

Another reason why lasers are so prevalent in the skincare industry is that they can treat a variety of issues. For example, there’s tattoo removal equipment as well as lasers for resurfacing the skin and other lasers which work by generally encouraging the production of healthy cellular building blocks like collagen within the body. The latter are among the lasers most commonly used to treat patients with wrinkle concerns.

 

How Lasers Can Tighten Your Skin Cells

Lasers may seem magical, but there is science behind the magic. The lasers heat up the skin cells, causing the collagen that helps to hold them together to contract over time. Also, over time your body will start to make more collagen, as well as other proteins and defensive components to repair any minor damage caused by the lasers. At the same cells which were damaged in the past will be repaired, leaving you better off than you were prior to your laser skin tightening appointment.

 

Calculating Exact Laser Skin Tightening Costs

Calculating the exact costs involved with laser skin tightening can be difficult. How much you will spend will depend on the size of the treatment area and how many laser sessions you choose to have. Each clinic also sets its own prices for procedures. Typically, costs are higher in heavily populated cities. However, in general you can expect to spend as little as $500 or as much as $3,500 per laser treatment session.

 

Verifying Your Candidacy for Laser Skin Tightening

In order to be a candidate for laser skin tightening you must meet certain criteria. First of all, your skin wrinkles must be mild to moderate. Lasers cannot correct severe skin sags, even over multiple sessions. If you suffer from severe sagging you may require surgical intervention instead.

 

Another factor which can influence your candidacy for laser skin tightening is the type of skin you have. For instance, your clinician may recommend against the procedure if your skin is too oily because you will be at high risk for burns caused when the laser beam interacts with your excessively oily skin.

 

All such concerns regarding whether or not you are a candidate for laser skin tightening can be discussed during a consultation appointment at your local skincare clinic. If it is deemed a good idea for you to have your skin tightened with lasers then you will also learn the particulars of the procedure and the expected costs at the consultation appointment. You will be able to ask any additional questions you have about the process before having your skin tightened as well.

 

 

 

 

 

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