Financial and Lifestyle Resources for Vermont

It might seem easy to make money on your trade-in—just get your car in tip-top shape and you’ll get the most money for it, right? Well, that’s not always true and can sometimes lead to spending more money than you’re getting back, so I’m going to walk you through the basic steps of how to get the most for your old car.

Negative equity. Upside down. Under water. All have a similar meaning—you owe more on your car than it’s worth. This is the last situation you want to be in after buying a vehicle. There are some common reasons you may end up upside down on your loan. Doing your research ahead of time can help you avoid buying a car that’s not worth the payments!

Shopping for and buying a new car can be stressful and time consuming. Buyers often rush through the buying process because they can’t wait to drive away in their new rig. But when the dust settles, they realize they could have found a better interest rate or bargained for a better price. A great way to get a better deal and save money on your car is to refinance your auto loan.

If you are a woman, you may have ambivalent feelings about negotiating. I’ve found that many women don’t practice their negotiation skills because they see negotiating as either taking advantage of others or asking for more than they deserve. The truth is, negotiating is about advocating for yourself. It is about getting what you need at a fair price. And, when done with respect for yourself and the person you are haggling with, negotiating most often results in a win-win situation, from which both parties walk away smiling.

  What is the Difference between Hybrid and Electric Vehicles? Hybrid vehicles rely on more than one form of fuel for power while electric vehicles (EVs) run exclusively on electricity. Most commonly, the two types of fuel used by a hybrid vehicle are gasoline and electricity. Hybrids and EVs are often more powerful than vehicles that are powered entirely by petroleum or diesel, and they use less fuel and require fewer trips to the engine repair shop.

Don't Spend Your Money on Unnecessary Automobile Insurance, Warranties, or Other Extras Car buying can be exhausting. You research all of your options, narrow your choices, and talk the automobile salesperson down on the price, all the while waiting for that blissful moment when you can plant yourself behind the wheel of your new car and drive home.

An Argument for Buying Used We’ve all heard the age old expression, “Abject Poverty ain’t just a river in Egypt,” or something to that effect. Yet on a day-to-day basis, incredibly smart people make choices that hurtle them towards it; purchasing a new vehicle when an older model would suffice is one of those choices.

Statistics suggest that more people are leasing now than ever. As car prices increase and lease rates decrease, Americans (and millennials in particular) are opting to take on an auto lease rather than taking out a car loan. Auto leasing is a valid choice for some but may be the more expensive option for others. Before you settle on one option, consider the benefits and drawbacks as well as the overall costs of each.