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Getting regular oil changes for your vehicle is the most important thing you can do to keep your car running smoothly and to get the best gas mileage. They can save you anywhere from $500 to...

Getting regular oil changes for your vehicle is the most important thing you can do to keep your car running smoothly and to get the best gas mileage. They can save you anywhere from $500 to $3,000 in auto repair and maintenance costs over your vehicle's lifespan, plus it will help your car live longer and save you up to 2% on gas costs. 

So what does 'regularly' mean? Traditionally the recommendation was an oil change every 3,000 miles or every 3 months. However for modern cars and less severe driving, your owner's manual may suggest an interval as long as 7,500 miles or 6-12 months which can save money on oil changes. In addition to oil changes, be sure to change your oil filter and to use the recommended motor oil for your car (check your owner's manual).

If you're a DIY kind of person, great! You'll save even more money. If not, the cost of regular oil changes is still worth the investment and should save you money in the long run.

A LOZO expert posted this tip.

It is much cheaper to pay for regular tune-ups than to pay for costly repairs that can result from your car breaking down – and breaking down is much more likely if the car is not properly...

It is much cheaper to pay for regular tune-ups than to pay for costly repairs that can result from your car breaking down – and breaking down is much more likely if the car is not properly maintained. In addition, cars that are poorly tuned use 25%-35% more gasoline, a waste of more than $300 per year for a car that gets average gas mileage.

For cars under warranty, get regular servicing at the dealership – most of this maintenance is already covered by the warranty. For cars without, find a reputable auto shop and become a loyal customer; you will benefit by getting the best service and by using a mechanic who knows your vehicle's history.

A poorly tuned vehicle is less efficient and wastes gas. Similarly, clogged air filters lead to poor air flow & dirty oil decreases performance – both of which worsen gas mileage. Keep your car...

A poorly tuned vehicle is less efficient and wastes gas. Similarly, clogged air filters lead to poor air flow & dirty oil decreases performance – both of which worsen gas mileage. Keep your car running well and your fluids changed & replenished regularly to save money on gas.

Save money on car rental insurance by checking with your regular insurance & credit card companies – you may already be covered.

Many car insurance policies cover you in any car you...

Save money on car rental insurance by checking with your regular insurance & credit card companies – you may already be covered.

Many car insurance policies cover you in any car you drive, including rentals. And some credit card companies include car rental protection when you pay with their card. Additional insurance purchased at the rental counter can double the cost of your rental, so be sure to find out if you are already covered. Even if you are, though, find out specifics on what is covered in the case of an accident, theft or other damage, to make sure you won't be gambling with huge expenses. You can start by checking this chart from CreditCards.com but confirm with your card and personal auto policy to be sure.

A LOZO expert posted this tip.

Summer is a wonderful time to travel with your family, and AAA has been reporting record numbers of us are taking car trips to get to our destination. Gas prices are not quite as high as they were in...

Summer is a wonderful time to travel with your family, and AAA has been reporting record numbers of us are taking car trips to get to our destination. Gas prices are not quite as high as they were in the spring, but they can still put a dent in any family’s budget with fill-ups costing $50 or more. Here are some tips to save on gas and ways to get your whole family involved, just like we do at LOZO!

Before you dive into these tips, here’s something to keep in mind: every extra MPG you save can add $100 or more to your pocket each year. So, even though some of these changes may seem small, they really do add up!

• Lighten the Load: The heavier a vehicle is, the more gas it consumes. Cleaning out your car and storing items you don't need regularly will make your car lighter to drive. We turned our car cleanout into a family activity and encouraged everyone to reduce the number of items they needed on hand (and to vacuum up all the lost Cheerios). Getting 100 lbs lighter can add 1-2% to your MPG, that’s up to 8 cents per gallon saved every time you fill up!
• Slow Down: Speed limits aren’t just for safety, they also make your car more fuel efficient. Driving 55mph saves 21% in fuel economy over driving at 65mph. In fact, every 5 miles per hour you drive over 50 is like paying an additional $0.26 per gallon. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by up to 33% as well. Not to mention, safer driving teaches habits you’ll want your kids to emulate, and they’ll will be even safer in that back seat. 
• Save up to 25% on Gas by Tuning up Your Car: Basic car repair can be very easy and teaching your child these skills is a great bonding experience (as well as a great money-saving lesson.) A poorly tuned vehicle is less efficient and wastes gas. Similarly, clogged air filters lead to poor air flow & dirty oil decreases performance—both of which worsen gas mileage. If you are unfamiliar with what to do, your local auto parts store can give you free advice or you can borrow a free book from the library. Keeping your car running well and your fluids changed and replenished regularly will save you money on gas and at the repair shop. The small cost of these repairs can save up to $500 per year on fuel. 
• Plan Your Route: It costs around 15-20 cents in gas to drive 1 mile, not to mention other wear and tear on your car. Get the family together to plan destinations for your journey, and then try optimizing your route to minimize the miles you have to drive. Use online tools like Google Maps to plan optimal routes with multiple destinations. 
• Properly Inflate Your Tires: Check your tire pressure regularly. Over- or under-inflated tires make your car run less efficiently, resulting in lower gas mileage. In fact, every pound of under-inflation equals a 6% drop in fuel-efficiency, that’s more than 20 cents per gallon wasted. Find the recommended tire pressure for your car in the owner's manual or printed on the jamb of the driver's side door. Most gas stations have free air and tire pressure gauges to use, and having properly inflated tires is like getting an extra ½ gallon of gas for free. Checking and inflating tires is fun for kids, but always make sure your child is fully supervised. 
• Let Kids do the Math: If your kids have learned math and division, let them put it to practical use by figuring out your MPG rating after each fill-up. Here’s how: after each visit to the gas station reset your trip meter to 0. Next time you go to the pump have your child write down the number of miles you’ve driven and the amount of fuel you put ba

The phrase “saving money” and the word “car” don’t seem to fit into the same sentence. Time and time again, car owners wind up spending too much money just to drive back and forth to work...

The phrase “saving money” and the word “car” don’t seem to fit into the same sentence. Time and time again, car owners wind up spending too much money just to drive back and forth to work each day. Yet, there are plenty of ways that you can make your car work for you – and save a few bucks in the process. 

These three tips will put you ahead of the virtual pack for your online shopping!

Tip #1: Fill your cart (or list) in advance! With doorbusters online you need to buy fast to get in before...

These three tips will put you ahead of the virtual pack for your online shopping!

Tip #1: Fill your cart (or list) in advance!

With doorbusters online you need to buy fast to get in before the inventory runs out. Save time by filling your online shopping cart in advance of the sale, and setting up an account with your address & payment info. If you can't add the item to your cart, trying creating a shopping list instead. Check back in once the sale goes live, and the prices should update automatically. Now you can checkout in the virtual express lane!

Filling your cart is also a great way to find sales you might not have even known about. Add any items you have your eye on, then see if the price changes in your favor!

Tip #2: Don't forget cash back & coupons!

In the mad rush to visit each online stores, you might leave some easy cash on the table. Before you visit the site, use one of these links to access your stores. You'll still get all of the same deals, plus a bonus cash back rebate automatically posted to your Ebates account after you purchase.

Here are quick cash back links to three popular stores: Walmart, Best Buy, Sears.
Find all cash back offers here.

And not to sound like a broken record, but ALWAYS USE A COUPON!

Find all the latest coupons here.

Tip #3: Sign up for alerts!

One great way to find out when your treasured item is online and ready for purchase is to setup an email alert (you can find a link on individual product pages of many online stores). Sign up for alerts for all of the doorbuster and other hot deals you're after and get notified when it's available. It's not a perfect system - sometimes the alerts can be delayed by crucial minutes - but a nice alternative if you'd rather not spend hours refreshing the pages by hand!

Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Shopping!

MoneyAisle.com offers a reverse bidding service for getting the best rates on a car refinance, auto loan, CDs & savings accounts. You provide the details of the loan or account that you want...

MoneyAisle.com offers a reverse bidding service for getting the best rates on a car refinance, auto loan, CDs & savings accounts. You provide the details of the loan or account that you want to open or refinance, and they run a "live auction" to select the best rate from among their partner providers.

Be sure to compare the rates to what you can get on your own since they can only show you rates from their partners. The site "holds" the best offer for you for 30 minutes, but in our testing we were able to replicate the same offer at different times so you might not need to act immediately.

The nice part is that you can see the rates immediately and without having to provide any personal information, so it is a useful research tool as part of your financial planning.

LOZO tested and approved! Primospot.com has compiled all of the street parking rules for New York City and Boston, making it easy to scout for the best places to park before you go. Their maps...

LOZO tested and approved! Primospot.com has compiled all of the street parking rules for New York City and Boston, making it easy to scout for the best places to park before you go. Their maps indicate where and when you can park, along with photos of parking signs and more. They also integrate information about bike racks and parking garages, though LOZO recommends BestParking.com for the most comprehensive garage info.

LOZO tested and approved! BestParking.com compilation of parking rates in more than 60 major airports as well as select city centers: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San...

LOZO tested and approved! BestParking.com compilation of parking rates in more than 60 major airports as well as select city centers: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C.. You indicate when you plan to park and retrieve your car, and they calculate the best rates at various garages and show you the locations right on the map. For some garages you can even lock in a rate and reservation online.