I recently went through this with my car and now I’m having the same debates with my Moving Trucks. Trade in or fix-up. It’s always tough to say. Below is a few things that make help you of your in this same boat.
When should you start thinking about buying a new car? For many people, that decision is coming later and later. Drivers are keeping their cars much longer these days — eight to 10 years on average, according to AAA. The precise moment varies from case to case and car to car, but there are some signposts along the way to the junkyard.
1. Trade-in value. How important is trade-in or resale value to you? Virtually all new cars begin to lose value as soon as they are driven off the dealer’s lot. After the initial hit — a car might lose 25 percent or more of its original sticker-price value in the first year — the speed of depreciation drops off considerably. But there comes a point — roughly around the five- to six-year, or 50,000- to 60,000-mile, mark — when that value takes another plunge. That’s what you want to watch out for. If you want to get top dollar, you should be thinking about retiring your car sometime before it reaches middle age.
2. Price trade-offs. Would you rather have a monthly payment or face the possibility of occasional (and potentially large) repair bills? Once a new car is out of warranty, you start playing Russian roulette with unexpected expenses. Some cars are more reliable over time. Checking sources like Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction rankings and government recall data will give you a good feel for vehicle track records. If you keep track of how much money you’re putting into your car for upkeep, you’ll be able to notice any expense trends that scream, “It’s time for a new car.” A $2,500 repair bill for an older car is the equivalent of more than seven months of $350-a-month payments on a new car.
3. Hassle. How willing are you to deal with more frequent trips to the repair shop? The older the car, the more often you’ll find yourself returning for both big repair bills and regular service. For some drivers, maintenance is a labor of love, but for others, it’s just a hassle. And for those who live and die by reliability — especially one-car families and people who need a car for work — the maintenance challenges of an older car might be a bit much.
4. Peripheral costs. Beyond your monthly car payment, consider the “peripheral” costs, such as insurance and personal property taxes. One of the real downsides to owning a new or relatively new car is that peripheral costs can be high. And many people don’t take them into account when considering a new car purchase. Some states levy personal property taxes that can be $1,000 or more annually on a new vehicle. But a car that’s eight or nine years old might cost you next to nothing in personal property taxes. It’s the same story with insurance. New cars cost more because repair or replacement bills are more expensive than for older cars.
5. Newness. This last factor is the most subjective, but it’s no less important in your purchase decision. Some people are perfectly content to drive an older car, so long as it still runs well and is paid off. But others put a lot of stock in what their wheels say about them. And there are people in some professions, such as real estate, where it’s important to be seen in a car that isn’t a faded old beater. It’s hard to say with any precision when a car has grown too long in the tooth — you know it when you see it. But if you consider these factors before you start trolling the dealerships, you’ll be better armed to make the right choice.
Moving is often considered one of the most stressful activities that an individual goes through. For adults, it is often a time of uncertainty and financial strain; and for children, it can take them out of normal surroundings and comfort zone. Even family pets are affected as they also have to get used to new surroundings.
When moving to a new city or town, psychologists suggest that parents tell children of the move right away. This will affect the children as well as give children enough time to deal with their emotions. Also, this allows them to process this event and ask questions such as where will they go to school.
Out of all the members of a family, children are the ones who will suffer the most during the move. Especially if they have been in the same home since birth. They will have grown up in one area and have gone to the local school, made friends there. For them, even just the thought of moving away from everything that they are comfortable with is devastating. Also, they will have made other friends and they will be leaving them behind too when moving to a new home.
It is therefore considered appropriate when deciding on how to break the moving news to your family. Explain to the children clearly the reasons why the move has to be made. Depending on their ages, appropriate language should be used. so that they understand exactly why the family is moving. Also, the move is not being made because of anything that they may have done.
Moving is also difficult for adults – even if they are the ones that made the decision to move. Apart from leaving their friends, if they are employed they will also be leaving colleagues and, above all, a job they are used to doing in a place where they have become used to the systems and rules.
Moving is also an expensive and time-consuming activity in itself. Packing up everything in the present home which is to be moved to the new location is exhausting unless you are able to afford professional movers to do the job. It can also be an emotional experience if one has to throw or give away items that cannot be taken to the new home. It is important for children that all their possessions are taken to their new home, to create a small sense of stability in their new and unfamiliar surroundings.
Breaking news to your kids is never easy, but Men on the Move has a lot of other tips to help your next move!
Posted in Moving Tips on April 28th, 2011 by We Haul Moving /
Moving can be a stressful transition all on its own, but moving while pregnant takes the cake. There are tips for all kinds of moving dependent on location or timeline, but there are also tips for moving while pregnant that are key to keep in mind.
So while life change is always expected during pregnancy, moving can throw your whole life for a loop. Keeping moving tips for pregnancy in mind while preparing and going through a move is vital. Stay healthy and keep your baby’s health in mind to have a successful, pregnant move.
What is the difference between an affordable move and pricey move? In most cases, the difference is all in how you plan for your moving day. Your movers here at Men on the Move are just like any Michigan moving company. Also, we are more than capable of providing a full-service move. If you’d rather not lift a finger your moving crew can surely pack your entire household up. We can also box up smaller items, wrapping furniture and provide every bit of labor necessary to complete your move.
However; the cost of a truly full-service move is naturally going to be more expensive. Most people prefer to pay as little as possible when hiring movers. If this describes you then you should do your part to ensure the least costly bill.
For a local move, the relocation service provider you hire is most likely charging you by the hour. Therefore; the cost of your move is directly related to how long your movers spend on the job. There are plenty of tasks that you can do prior to your moving day. This will enable your local area professional movers to quickly complete the job you need them to do. If you pack all of your moving boxes on your own, this will save time.
You can even streamline the job by consolidating furniture. Also, anything else going on the moving truck to a designated room close to the front door of your home. If your movers need only collect items from one room in the house, the path between your household items and their truck is short and simple which makes for extremely quick execution of the task at hand.
Saving money on your move is sure to be a goal when you need relocation services. Unfortunately, many people go about achieving this goal the wrong way and suffer the consequences. There are many differences between a professional moving company like Men on the Move and a “rogue mover.” Professional movers like Men on the Move with skilled full-time employees will always charge more per hour than a rogue company which hires temps or day laborers to work your move.
However; by going with the cheapest per hour rates, you’ll receive service which is low in quality and often very costly when all is said and done. The unprofessional workers that a rogue mover will dispatch to your home are not capable of keeping your furniture safe, nor are they motivated to finish your move quickly. Accident prone workers who drag their feet to charge you as much as possible are not ideal for an individual who wants to save money on his or her move!
Adequate preparation for your moving day is best complimented by hiring licensed professional area movers. Professional movers may charge more per hour than rogue moving companies, but at the end of the day, your move will have been completed quickly and carefully. Quickness in a moving company ensures that your cost won’t increase due to time spent on the job, and carefulness ensures that you won’t have to pay to replace any broken furniture after your movers have finished the job! Finally, Men on the Move are licensed and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Finding a legitimate moving company can be quite a challenge, so we’ve put together some ways to make this feat easier to achieve. The Internet can be a great tool to find a trustworthy moving company, but you have to know what you are doing, otherwise, you may fall prey to a moving scam. Keep these ideas in mind when looking for some reputable movers.
Men on the Move is a licensed and insured moving company with outstanding customer service. We strive to provide the best service possible to all of our customers. Get your free quote today and see what Men on the Move can do for you.
If you’re planning to buy a house, rent a different apartment or relocate your family anytime soon, chances are you didn’t think that moving could make you the victim of identity theft.
But during a move, homeowners and renters alike are particularly susceptible to identity theft — a crime which is especially prevalent during the summer, since half of all moves in the United States take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day. So in addition to packing and coordinating with the moving trucks, you also need to safeguard yourself from fraudsters.
“Regardless of what people say, you can’t prevent Identity theft. But you can be a lot more aware and take some strong precautions,” says Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of consumer services for Intersections Inc., an identity protection company.
Schwartz provided a rundown of simple steps that you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft and maximize your safety and security before, during and after a move:
Before you move, make a list of all the personal mail you routinely receive. Tell your banks, financial institutions, creditors and others of the move and redirect all correspondence, statements and sensitive mailings to your new address.
Be sure to notify:
a. Retirement accounts/banking institutions/credit card companies
b. Utility companies (electric, gas, water, cable, etc.)
c. Insurance companies (medical, property, renters, fire and auto)
d. Local government agencies, federal agencies & the IRS
e. Healthcare providers
f. Schools
g. Publications to which you subscribe (magazines, newspapers, etc.)
h. Clubs you have memberships in
Alternatively, consider switching to online statements. According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report from Javelin Strategy & Research, consumers with electronic statements needed less time to detect fraud and paid lower consumer costs ($116 vs. $274) than those monitoring paper statements.
Once your form has been filed, double-check the confirmation from the Postal Service to make sure that they list your new address correctly. Your mail should start being delivered to your new residence within seven to 10 business days after you submit a change-of-address filing.
Don’t leave behind any paperwork, including credit card offers, that con artists can use if they go through your trash. Instead shred them yourself. A good shredder will cost just $50 or so.
Mover fraud is on the rise nationwide. To thwart this crime, properly investigate local moving companies by getting recommendations from trustworthy friends, family members, and real estate agents. Also, check a mover’s rating with the Better Business Bureau. Finally, only pick a mover that is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and that has a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDDOT) number. The most reputable ones will supply you with this information on request.
This may not always be possible, but just being there with the movers could help deter potential identity theft. Plus, you’ll get to oversee any remaining packing or moving activities to make sure things are being handled properly.
6. Transport important physical documents properly
Transfer all sensitive documents – like wills, insurance policies, stock certificates or bonds – to a safe and secure place, such as a locked box, and keep these items with you personally during the move; don’t hand them off to your moving company. You can also transfer sensitive documents to an online secure vault.
Don’t make the mistake of leaving your computers (desktops and laptops included) readily accessible to your movers. Instead, secure those items before the movers even arrive. Take all computers, hard drives and other external storage devices with you during the move.
During his last move, “I packed my computers myself and they went in my car,” says Schwartz, adding, “That’s not a box you want to go with the mover.”
After your move, watch for unexplained charges or suspicious activity on your debit and credit cards. But also be aware that credit-related fraud “accounts for only about one-third of identity theft,” Schwartz says. Non-credit related problems actually make up the bulk of problems, with thieves stealing your personal information in order to open new cell phones or bank accounts, establish utility services, or even get payday loans and fake driver’s licenses in your name.
Use your previously-created checklist to make sure that everyone you notified about your move has, in fact, started sending your mail to your new address. If something is missing, follow up immediately to make sure mail isn’t still being routed to your old address.
After your move, even though there may be loads of boxes and furniture everywhere, carve out a secure zone – preferably one that’s off-limits to movers and others. This is where you’ll store computer items, check your data files or do personal financial record-keeping, like balancing your checkbook or reviewing credit card statements.
Regardless of whether you’re relocating across town or clear across the country, a move can be hectic and stressful. But by taking some or all of the steps above, you’ll help ensure that one important thing – your identity – doesn’t get overlooked during your busy transition.