      In other words, do you have discretionary income available or any money saved? And if you need to borrow, is your credit up to the task?The moment you conclude that your car is worth nothing monetarily but very valuable to your financial life, you must begin to craft a plan to solve the problem on the horizon. Is this easier said than done? Peter Dunn is an author, speaker and radio host, and he has a free podcast: "Million Dollar Plan.Email him at AskPete petetheplanner. Facebook Twitter Email. When's the right time to replace your clunker with a new or lightly used car? Letting oil change intervals stretch way past the recommended amount is an excellent way to shorten the life of your car.Sometimes the manual will also have a service schedule for extreme use. If you live in the city or a harsh climate, you may want to consider following this schedule over the basic one. Saving a few bucks here and there on cheap fluids and parts could cost you a lot more in the long term. Using inferior oil filters, the wrong oil or generic parts could cause premature breakdowns and damage. Your car's owner manual should tell you what type of oil it needs and what fuel it will allow it to perform best.When replacing parts, it's a good idea to use OEM parts whenever possible. That especially applies to vehicles still under warranty, but in general, OEM parts are made for a precise fit and should last as long as the original part.If your vehicle doesn't require premium fuel, you won't get any benefit from using it. However, if your car does require premium fuel, you could have some serious problems if you don't use it. With proper maintenance habits, you can probably get nearly , miles or more on just about any car. However, there are specific makes known for long-lasting vehicles, including Lexus, Buick, Audi, Toyota, and Honda.Another thing to remember is that you should pick a car that you want. If you compromise on features, buy more or less than you need, or settle for a vehicle that you don't actually want, you'll likely be tempted to get rid of it sooner than you need to. Look for a car that you'll enjoy having for a long time.You can also choose a car based on its proven reliability. Consumer Reports puts out an annual list of the most reliable cars, trucks, and SUVs for each model year. Consumer Reports arrives at its rankings based on recent vehicle performance data provided by more than K vehicle owners.The vehicles on the list are those whose owners reported the fewest problems in the previous year. For , if you're looking for a reliable car, the organization says to choose:. That's not to say that choosing one of these cars guarantees that you'll want to keep your car longer. It just means that the chances of getting a reliable vehicle are more likely, which may make you want to hold on to it for more years than if you choose a car that gives you lots of headaches and needs continual repairs.On the other end of the spectrum lies the cars, trucks, and SUVs that Consumer Reports' data shows to be unreliable. While making the list of least reliable cars is certainly not something to be proud of, that's also not the only factor to consider when purchasing a new or used vehicle. It's a utility that should be driven as long as it remains safe and reliable.Paying less helps you pay off the car faster. While Orman says it's best if you can buy a car outright, if you do need to take out of a loan, she suggests choosing a car you can fully own within three years.That way, once the loan is paid off, "all the money you used to pay for the car loan can be redirected toward other financial goals, such as retirement, or saving up for a home, or building a down payment fund for when you do need to get another car. Orman learned the hard way the financial havoc that can result from choosing a too-fancy car. Back in , she leased a BMW iL. The second factor in deciding to repair or replace a car is this question:. And when we do buy, we patiently watch and wait to find someone who has a gently used, well-maintained car that they desperately want to get rid of.For instance, our full-sized Ford van was purchased from a hotel that used it as an airport shuttle. We wanted a full-sized window van and they wanted to get rid of the vehicle. The combination of having the money in the bank and finding a motivated buyer will usually result in a great deal for both parties involved. Money Saving Tip: Quoting your auto insurance ever 2 or 3 years can really save you some cash.It also has a link to a site that has a comprehensive used-car checklist. We have learned that not everyone we encounter on our used car-buying journey is honest. We want to trust people, but we have been burned. But with newer technology and better construction standards, cars are lasting longer than in the past. The average age of a car on the roads in was 8. But now, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics , people are keeping cars running longer. In , the average age of a car on the roads was  This chart shows the average age of cars on the road from to  According to Statistia people are keeping cars longer:.It was no surprise that Volvos were kept the longest. But we were surprised that Mercedes and BMWs were traded in after so few years. According to the research, many of those cars were leased and then traded in for newer models. The ISeeCars.  

Should i keep my car

      Therefore, the only runners who benefit from stretching before running are those who feel the need due to stiffness or have chronic conditions or injuries that tighten and predispose you to injury. The average runner, however, need not worry about stretching before a run, there is simply no scientific evidence behind it.When it comes to stretching after running, the same holds true. Once you have finished your run, your muscles are likely already lengthened, and all warmed up. If you feel tightness in your hamstrings, IT bands, hip flexors, or calves, then you may benefit from stretching.Therefore, the conclusion is that the notion that every runner should stretch both before and after a run is simply not warranted. And, in some instances, stretching may do you harm.The best way to know whether stretching is something you can benefit from is by listening to your body. If you feel a tight muscle and a little stretching helps to alleviate it, then by all means, stretch away. Just remember that stretching should be, at a minimum, mildly uncomfortable. If you are feeling pain, then it is never a good idea. Training, Health. You have already subscribed to our newsletter! Terms of service. Privacy policy.Cookie policy. Because exercise can shorten your muscles , skipping your post-activity stretch can decrease your mobility over time. Stretching keeps the muscles in the body flexible, so that they can stay at their fullest range of motion. Most doctors also recommend that you warm up before stretching and running. Warming up can be as simple as walking for 5 to 10 minutes, just enough to get the blood flowing through the body.Stretching is typically divided into two different types: static and dynamic. Static stretching involves moving a joint or muscle as far as you can and then holding it there for a period of time.For example:. Dynamic stretching involves moving your joints or muscles in specific motions for a set amount of reps. But the general consensus seems to be that dynamic stretching is most helpful pre-run, and static stretching is most helpful post-run. Below are 10 crucial muscle areas for runners, and some post-run stretches that help keep them healthy. Often referred to as your quads, your quadriceps femoris muscles covers most of the front and sides of your thighs.You can also use a chair to balance yourself. This stretch should be felt in the front of your thigh, and from your hip down to your knee. Some sort of stretching is very important prior to running or any exercise for both injury prevention, as well as to improve the quality of your workout.Ideally, your pre-run warmup should include some dynamic activity that replicates the motions of your workout. This allows the muscles to be slowly stretched in a controlled manner. These can be done either before you start your run, or after five to 10 minutes of a gentle jog. Static stretching is what you likely remember from gym class. It is reaching down to touch your toes, or stretching your arm across your body to stretch your shoulder.Typically, these stretches are held at the point of mild discomfort for at least 30 seconds. Dynamic stretching, on the other hand, involves performing gentle repetitive motions in a way that gradually increases motion, circulation, and muscle length. Arm swings that start small and gradually increase to become bigger but always remain within the normal range of motion are a good example. When these replicate the activity that you are about to perform, such as running, they allow the muscles to stretch and the blood flow to those areas to be optimized.Maintaining symmetry in the movement and strength of the body is key to avoiding both overuse and acute injuries. It is important that both sides of the body move the same way to allow for an even and consistent movement pattern, such as a running gait or weight-lifting motion. Here are five good stretches. Side lunge. With both feet pointing forward, bend your left knee, allowing your hips to sit backwards, and shift your weight to over your right foot as you step to the right. As you move, keep your upper body upright and your core engaged.Coach Nick Anderson shows us what else we need to do besides running: warm-up drills, core exercises and post-run stretches. Why not stay on the move with cross-training? Does stretching before running reduce injury?For a quick summary: Static stretches are generally what we picture when we think of stretching. Dynamic stretches feature repeated movements that will progressively promote flexibility and mobility. Think of these two in the context of a quadriceps stretch versus a leg swing. Next up Stretching When, What, How?  

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