Hi all,
So, I'm just getting started on the boards, having just found MMM, but I have lived a fairly frugal lifestyle since college, and had some great $$ habits impressed on me by my parents well before then (live below your means, minimum debt, save for retirement, shop for deals and only when you need something, etc.).
Anyway, I'll do a proper intro post later, because I have some questions for you guys, but one place I thought I could help contribute some knowledge is in the automotive area. I know most people here consider cars a necessary evil, and for them I'll try to help be a resource, but undoubtably there are others like me who are very Mustachian, with the exception of loving mechanical conveyances.
Some background, my love of cars began the first time I drove one. My first car was a little mid-90s Ford Escort, and I LOVED that thing, first time I got behind the wheel it was like someone clicked on the lights of my view of the world, and I suddenly realized the universe was a million times bigger and more exciting than I thought. Since then, I've had 20+ cars, from all manufacturers (American, Japanese, and European), V8s, V6s, I6s, I4s, manuals, automatics, AWD, FWD, RWD, just about everything....and I'm 28. I also worked 4 years as an engineer for a major OEM in their R&D department developing new cars.
Sadly though, cars (and road racing (track, not street), which I got into after college) is one of the most expensive forms of entertainment there is, exceeded only by air racing, yacht ownership/upkeep, and burning hundred dollar bills to heat your house, and the last is probably only slightly more expensive. So, how to scratch that itch without foregoing FI and the possibility of retiring before 80? Well, here are some things that I've found effective over the years:
-Do your own maintenance, as much as you can stomach. If you don't have tools, buy some. People sell complete sets of basic mechanics tools used on CL, or at yardsales all the time. Snap On, Matco, and Cornwell are all commercial-level lines of tools that can occasionally be a good buy USED. New, they are eye-wateringly expensive. Craftsmen (Sears), Husky (Home Depot), and Kobalt (Lowes) all offer lifetime warranties, with no receipt required, so even if you buy a set used, if you break something, you can walk into the store and swap it for a new replacement, no questions asked. I bought a used car, and discovered a set of Craftsmen screwdrivers in the trunk that looked as though they'd been stored at the bottom of the ocean for 20 years, Sears guy swapped the whole set out with a smile on his face! If used tools are not available for a reasonable deal, it is worth shopping Craftsmen, Home Depot, and Lowes at various times of the year (Father's Day and Christmas are good ones), or peruse their websites for online only savings. Many times you can get the fantastic online deal and arrange to pickup from your local store that day for no charge, but they won't match the online pricing if you try to buy from the local store directly. Go figure. A NEW mechanics tool set should be between $200-300 for a good, complete set of wrenchs, sockets, ratchets, allen wrenchs, and few other niceties. Take this set for example:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-239-pc-easy-to-read-mechanics-tool/p-00934239000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5Only thing I would add to the above is a screwdriver set, since that seems to be lacking:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-23-pc-screwdriver-set/p-00931796000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2And of course, a decent hydraulic jack and jackstands. NEVER NEVER NEVER go under a car without jackstands, no matter how safe or sturdy you think the jack is, Murphy's Law says it will slip or break at the worst possible time! I like Northern Tool or even Harbor Freight aluminum jacks, they're lightweight, easy to roll around, and all the brands (Northern, HD, Lowes, Craftsman, HF, etc.) seem to be the same anyway. Wait for a special:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200221974_200221974http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200305227_200305227The side benefit is tools are tools, and the same set that you use on cars can also be used in home repair or improvements, working on your bicycle, or impressing members of the opposite sex with your mechanical prowess (ladies, there is NOTHING hotter than a girl who's mechanically inclined).
Now you've got your tools, and its time to start working! Great! Presumably, you already have a car that is semi-reliable and a good source of transportation. Perfect! If you've never done this before, start small. Ask a friend to teach you how to change the oil, or look it up online. Usually doing it yourself is $20 or so for oil and filter, vs. $50+ at a shop. I always use synthetic oil, so it tends to be a little pricier at ~$35 or so, but a shop likewise charges more for synthetic, usually $100+!
Next, it's probably worth learning to change a tire. Again, friend, google, or youtube your way to the required information. I like to have friends practice with the spare, jack and tools that came with their car for a couple reasons: 1.) if you have a flat unexpectantly, that's probably what you'll be using, 2.) the tools, jack, and spare that came with your car will probably be different or less effective than your home tools you just bought, so its a great time for questions, 3.) if the spare, jack or tools are missing from your car, better to find out on a sunny day in your driveway than at 3am on the side of the highway in the rain.
Once you've learned to change a tire, you can start rotating your tires to improve their wear and life, saving you time and money before replacing a set. Beyond that, you can consult your car's owner's manual for other maintanence items such as air filter replacement, spark plug replacement, fuel filters (this can be messy), and others. It should tell you the task and recommended interval. Air filters, for instance, are typically 15K-30K miles. Knowing how to jump-start a car safely is also well worth learning. Carry a set of jumper cables in your car and you'll probably make someone's night (including your own, when your battery unexpectedly goes dead!).
If you can do all the above, you are likely ahead of 99% of the population when it comes to car maintenance and repair, including a fair number of people who fancy themselves gearheads. Congratualtions! Some stop here, and bask in the money savings their DIY skills have netted, while others move on to bigger repairs and sportier cars.
Next post will cover those unfortunate folks, I'll try and post that bit after I get out of work this afternoon.
Have a great day!