What Are the Long-Term Cost Benefits of Newer Cars vs Used?

It is time to purchase another car. This is when the question of buying new or used tends to surface. Generally, people tend to lean towards a used car in hopes of spending less. Unfortunately, financially speaking, this may not be the best option to take. 

In fact, there are cost benefits that come with buying new cars that are often overlooked. Here are four cost benefits of buying a new car versus a used one.

Low Mileage

A newer car has low mileage on it. This makes a newer car far less likely to break down than a used car. It also tends to ensure that a newer car has not been in any accidents. As a consequence, a newer car will usually be more reliable, because it has not been driven as much as a used car.

The New Car Warrantee

One of the most important cost benefits of owning new cars is that they come with a warranty. This warranty is usually good for many thousands of miles, depending on the manufacturer’s terms. 

This way, if there is a major problem with the car that costs thousands of dollars to repair, chances are it will be covered by the warranty and not cost the owner of the car tons out of pocket to get fixed.

User Neglect

The problem with buying a used car is that you rarely know what the former owner did to that car. You also do not know what their driving and maintenance habits were like either. 



If they neglected the car considerably, this may not become evident until many months after the purchase date. This can lead to a number of expensive surprises with the car that ranges from oil leaks to a cracked master cylinder. 

Increased Resale Value

Another overlooked cost-benefit of buying a new car is that newer cars tend to resell for more than used cars. When a person buys a used car for between 1000 to 2000-dollars, chances are they will get little to nothing if they need to trade it in on another car purchase. Where a newer car, even after it has been driven for a few years, retains greater resale value.

Aside from all the cost benefits of purchasing a new car, newer cars tend to look and ride better than used beat-up cars. Plus, you want to feel good about making a quality car purchase even if it does initially cost you more upfront. There is something to be said about knowing you are driving a newer, reliable car and the peace of mind that comes with that decision.

Things to Ask Yourself Before Opening an Automotive Shop

Do you have a passion for working on vehicles? Have you ever dreamed of owning your own automotive shop? Starting a business can be costly, but ultimately rewarding. You could start from scratch, or purchase an existing automotive shop. 

An existing auto shop could best benefit you since it will already have an existing customer clientele and all the equipment necessary to start. Overall, research and experience are important. Here's what to ask yourself if you're thinking of opening your own shop.

Have you found the right location?

Having a few original locations picked out for your future auto shop is vital. No matter which state you live in, there are many (and different) zoning laws. Some laws prohibit auto shops from being located too close to residential properties. 

An auto shop in town will be more convenient for your potential customers. Choose an area that will provide easy access for vehicles of all shapes and sizes (avoid narrow streets, for instance). You’ll probably have lots of enormous trucks coming in and out with things like parts and tires.

Should I get certified?

Although it’s not required, getting your ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification tells potential customers you have two years of experience under your belt. ASE mechanics have the knowledge it takes to fix your vehicle. When customers see the white and blue labels, they will feel relieved knowing you are serious about your trade. 

Technicians must be tested every 5 years to keep up with the changing automotive technology. Depending on what type of auto shop you have, some technicians might need automotive and diesel certifications.

Do I know the initial costs?

It’s wise to have a plan in place around what exactly you want in your shop. If you’re buying an existing shop, it might only need minor upgrades. But a recent building could be more costly. Take into consideration things you’ll need like: 

• Insurance - $ 4,000/year
• Essential tools - $ 15,000
• Lifts (installed) - $ 4,000 each
• Diagnostic machines - $ 5,000–$ 10,000
• Rent – this can vary

It can cost around $50,000 to start your own auto shop. Note that this is not including employee salaries, potential space remodel fees, or marketing. Things can add up fast and you’ll want to make sure you have enough funds to cover the ultimate costs

What type of services will I offer?

While there are many types of automotive services, decide which you will offer. Regular auto servicing shops would be a place customers bring their car regularly for routine services. Other shops specialize in only specific services like mufflers and brakes. You may come across an auto shop that might buy used cars in Nigeria. 

This online auction mall auctions off used cars from all over the world. An auto shop can fix used cars to re-sell if that's something you're interested in and have to experience with. Used cars could also come in handy if the shop needs spare parts for specific cars. It’s best to know of an automotive shop that offers a wide verity of services.

Who should be hired?

The type and size of your shop will determine how many people you should hire. Hiring certified technicians who have years of experience will help maintain a stable and trustworthy team. It’s important to make your shop a place technicians want to be. Offer fair pay to those with adequate experience. Hire a receptionist to keep up with the front desk. To help recruit your team, try attending job fairs, or posting job listings online.

Creating a new business can be stressful. Most people are leery about who they trust to work on their vehicles. Be sure to be the most trusted shop in town. Advertise your new shop online or on the radio so people will know your open. With determination and knowledge, you’ll be up and running in no time.

These 5 Tips Could Increase Your Lifespan

Staying healthy requires an ongoing effort. You need to have a plan and stick to it if you want to change your life for the better, but knowing where to start planning in the first place can be difficult if you haven't already had the opportunity to both learn and practice a healthy lifestyle. If you feel like you need to live a healthier life but don't know how, here are five things to consider.

Food

One of the main ways to improve your health is to make sure that you are consuming a diet that is healthy for you. Adding more vegetables to your meals can lead to big improvement by itself, and you don't need to resign yourself to a meal that tastes bad if you find them unpalatable. 

Replacing salt with other spices can go a long way in making your food more interesting, and some spices like cinnamon even boast an impressive number of antioxidants.

Fitness

Whether you are getting enough exercise or not is another important factor to think about. Many people try to fit more exercise into their schedules with varying degrees of success, and many fitness-related New Year's Resolutions end up being abandoned by mid-January. 

While this might highlight the difficulty most people face when trying to be more active, the benefits both for your health and your wallet are substantial. If you end up needing to search for life insurance with iSelect, you have a decent chance of being considered for a lower premium as a result of your healthier lifestyle presenting a lower risk of becoming a liability.

Hydration

Water composes a large portion of our bodies, so staying hydrated is essential as well. While you don't need to go as far as to constantly be drinking water, it turns out that it is likely that not enough people are getting enough to drink. 

Making sure you drink enough water can help you stay energetic and attentive in addition to other basic health benefits, like the replacement of the water you lose through sweating. So don't be afraid to keep lots of water in your car if you are going to be out all day.

Avoiding Stress

Stress, while necessary in some circumstances, is not healthy to keep around if you can get rid of it. Being stressed all of the time can cause quite a few health problems in the long term, like heart damage, a less effective immune response, and weight gain. Being stressed on occasion is normal, but if you find yourself stressed out too often, then you should take a moment to relieve stress by taking a few deep breaths or somehow finding humor in your situation. 

Vacations might not be out of the question, either, as staying focused on something you enjoy can be another way to relieve stress—be it through painting, bodyboarding lessons, or even a particular aspect of your job that keeps you focused.

Sleep

You should also do your best to get enough sleep. Sleep is often underestimated, and trying to avoid it too often can cause memory problems and make you more emotional overall. Make sure that you get to bed and wake up at a consistent time every day after sleeping for eight to ten hours.

While there are peripheral benefits to staying healthy, like lower costs when you compare life insurance, you should mainly try to focus on what is important to you. This article is no substitute for a professional medical opinion, but people generally tend to live longer if they try to stay optimistic or generally remain in high spirits. There is, indeed, a value in comfort, and this should be a factor when you decide to improve your life.

Interesting Things You’ll Appreciate Knowing About Living In Edmonton

Apart from being one of the most sought-after places to live in Canada, Edmonton is the provincial capital of Alberta. There’s more about this city than meets the eye. The city offers a lot to make you appreciate living here apart from the trails through river valleys and the immense dining experience. This article has some interesting things you’ll appreciate about living in Edmonton.

Cycling

This is a popular activity in this city. It is no wonder that Edmonton has more than 170 km of trails in the river valley alone. The paths run beside the North Saskatchewan River and contributing tributaries and connect to various areas of the city. 

These beautiful routes make a great adventure on a weekend. Cyclists in Edmonton share 275 km of paths and sidewalks with walkers. Equally important to note is the 450 km of unimproved trails and unpaved single track.

West Edmonton Mall

This is the largest mall in North America spanning an equivalent of 48 city blocks and housing about 800 stores and services. West Edmonton Mall was the world’s largest shopping mall until 2004. 

There is a lot to look out for here including a mini-golf, movie theatre, bowling alley, and underground aquarium. The mall accommodates two hotels alongside more than 100 dining places. Some of the major attractions at this mall include:

• Galaxyland
• An ice palace
• World Waterpark
• Adventure golf

Rat-free city

Rats are pesky creatures that cause significant damage quickly in households. Luckily, one of the reasons to make you get looking for rent to own homes Edmonton is freedom from rats. There are no rats here and in all of Alberta. 

The western province in Canada has been rat-free since the 1950s. This means people here don’t have to worry about rats spoiling and consuming food, grain products, electrical wiring, and damaging building. There is no threat to people’s health posed by the rats.




The rat-free status of Alberta stands strong because of the aggressive rat control program. This ensures that the vermin is outside of the province’s boundaries. Given that a pair of rats can lead to a colony of about 15,000 rats annually, people in Alberta understand the need to call an exterminator on seeing a rat. Acting aggressively and quickly maintains the rat-free status of Edmonton as well.

Summer

In Edmonton, the first day of summer has daylight lasting 17 hours and three minutes. Here, sunrise is at 5:04AM with sunset at 10:07PM. This allows feeling like soaking up all the energy from the largest north-most metropolis. During winter, it’s another story. The sun rises at 8:49AM with sunset at 4:16PM. This allows just 7 hours and 27 minutes of daylight.

Golfer’s paradise

Edmonton is a golfer’s paradise with the city bursting with beautiful golf courses. Metropolitan Edmonton has more than 70 golf courses that appeal to people regardless of age and skill. The best thing is the availability of courses to give everyone a chance to hone their skill. Regardless of your level, you can indulge in any of the following:

• Mini golf
• Country club golf courses
• Beginner courses
• Advanced courses

Great Divide Waterfall

Designed by local artist Peter Lewis, the Great Divide Waterfall was made to mark the city’s 75th anniversary. This was installed in 1980 with a height of 64 meters making it 7 meters taller than Niagara Falls. The waterfall could pump out 50,000 liters of water each minute when turned on during long summer weekends. However, its operation during those five long summer weekends would cost the cist about $2000 hourly or $30,000 annually.

Elk Island National Park

Despite its name, this park isn’t actually an island. And, you are likely to find more bison than elk at Elk Island National Park. The name of the park is after the various tiny islands dotted in the lakes. This park was originally a sanctuary for elk before the introduction of bison. The park is a great spot to relax and enjoy nature in Edmonton.




Reaching the park is an hour from Edmonton for a chance to catch amazing glimpses of free-roaming bison, elk, deer, and moose. The 194 sq km is quite small according to National Park Standards but the largest fully fenced park in Canada. This park is filled with parkland, grasslands, boreal forests, lakes where bison, pygmy shrew, and terrestrial mammals roam in North America.

Mosquitoes

These are quite a big problem in the Edmonton area with about 30 species. Summers are quire miserable at dusk because of the mosquitoes. The warmer weather encourages mosquitoes to develop faster. These are usually more active with emerging adults seeking bloody meals immediately.

During warm and rainy weather, mosquitoes are in plenty and active. However, the mosquitoes are usually less active in warm and rainy weather. The authorities do whatever it takes to get rid of these pesky creatures using helicopters, ditch trucks, and ground crews. These lessen aquatic larvae from developing.

Conclusion

There are various reasons to make you consider rent to own a home in Edmonton. From the friendly people to the endless shopping at North America’s largest mall to enjoying cycling, there is a lot for anyone. Expect no worry about rats attacking your home and destroying the property and structure of your new home.

How to Get the Highest Return on Investment on Your Home Remodel

Remodeling your home is a smart move if you want to ensure a higher resale price. So many of the benefits of owning a home come when it's time to leave it; the financial gain and equity that you can build in a home can add a ton of value to your financial portfolio. 

If you have recognized that your house is going to need a bit of work before it heads to the market, it's time to start remodeling. If you're like many people, you might be questioning how you can make sure that you don't waste your money when it comes to the remodeling process. 

Don't worry -- here's a handful of our best tips for getting a great return on investment in your home remodel.

Take care of the big issues first

Structural and functional issues with your home will make it instantly unattractive to potential buyers. Bite the bullet and get the large and expensive projects out of the way. If your roof is damaged or leaky, hire a roofer. You don't want to risk trying to tackle projects that you are unfamiliar with on your own and risk damaging your house further.

Focus on aesthetics

Beyond the functional issues that need to be taken care of, the next area of focus should be how your home looks. Some projects are of course more time consuming and expensive than others. One of the least expensive and most beneficial projects that you can tackle is landscaping. 



Trimming overgrown shrubs and maintaining a neat and orderly lawn can add major curb appeal to your home. Your home's exterior is its first impression, so make sure that you spend some time improving it.

Replace the siding

Replacing siding is relatively cheap and easy and adds a ton of quick value to your home. Don't want to replace it altogether? Spend an afternoon power washing. This will make it look brand new without the need to reach for your tool belt.

Add outdoor elements

Adding a deck can make your home instantly more appealing to potential buyers. While it's certainly more expensive than other projects on the list, it's fairly reasonable when you consider the massive value that it can add to your home. Most buyers are eager to have an outdoor space to entertain.

Minor Kitchen Upgrades

Even just replacing cabinet doors and fixtures can drastically change the look and feel of your kitchen. You don’t have to spend a lot to get kitchen cabinets that will increase your home’s value and the quality of your kitchen.

Make the most of your remodel projects, and follow the above tips for getting the highest return on your investments.

What You Need to Know About Getting a USDA Loan

A home is the average family’s most expensive investment. Saving for a down payment can be difficult in today’s economy, but there are programs that can help you acquire your home with only a minimal amount. The USDA loan program was initiated to help individuals and families in some suburban and rural areas afford their own homes.

What Is a USDA Home Loan?

A USDA loan is issued to eligible individuals who want to purchase or improve a home in a designated area. These loans are guaranteed by the U.S. government, which allows individuals to purchase a home without the need for a large down payment. USDA loans can also be used to renovate homes in these areas. Mortgage funds can be acquired in the form of loans or grants, to a designated level.

Benefits of USDA Home Loans

One of the greatest benefits of a USDA home loan is that you don’t have to accumulate a large amount of money for a down payment. Another benefit is that you can acquire a loan if you have a credit rating of 640, which is generally below the rating needed for a conventional loan. In addition, the interest rate you will pay for your USDA loan will be much lower than a conventional mortgage, which makes it easier to afford.

Eligibility For An USDA Home Loan

To be eligible for a USDA Home Loan, you must fulfill certain requirements:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• You must have dependable income for at least the past 24 months.
• You must have an acceptable credit history, with no collections actions for the past 12 months.
• The monthly payment for the loan must not exceed 29 percent of your monthly income, including the principal, interest, insurance and taxes. In addition, other debts should not be more than 41 percent of your income.
• The property must be used as a primary residence.

Documents Requirements For USDA Loans

You will need to have proof of citizenship or permanent residency. You should also have at least two years of pay stubs or your tax returns. Papers regarding other debt obligations will also be needed. Your credit report and alternative records of credit, such as rental records or utility bills will be needed to establish your ability to repay the loan.

If you are interested in buying a home, a number of mortgage options are available. Some options are designed to promote homeownership in special areas or for particular groups. The USDA loan offers many benefits for individuals who are interested in living in rural areas of the country.