Cyber Week: The New Week of Deals!
Black Friday and Cyber Monday… they are gone. The crazed shoppers have returned home and the lines are shorter. They load times of your favorite websites are faster and the checkout process has sped back up. But are the deals gone with the passing of these well-known shopping holidays? Not a chance! Black Friday and Cyber Monday have gone through a transformation. Now we are seeing Cyber Week referenced by retailers and the deals are still here. We are witnessing the shopping and deal finding time that retailers are now calling Cyber Week.
In an effort to capture more shoppers many online retailers are extending the period of Black Friday and Cyber Monday type savings through this week. They have appropriately named it Cyber Week. Online retailers are promising new deals and restocking deals that sold out. For a hard core bargain shopper and professional deal finder like me, this sounds wonderful! I hate paying full price for ANYTHING. (Really, it is true!)
Cyber Week should help more than just the hard core bargain hunters. The hard core bargain hunters are the ones who were in lines early on Black Friday and/or camping out online for Cyber Monday. Not everyone can do that and Cyber Week is the answer for those shoppers. That’s part of what I like about Cyber Week, it gives another great deal finding opportunity to the many shoppers who missed out on the earlier and limited deals. It also gives the hard core bargain hunters a chance to find even more great deals. It’s great shopping news all the way around. Now that we you this great shopping news, how do you take advantage of it and get the most out of Cyber Week? There are a few things to remember to make Cyber Week shopping truly great.
Don’t Overspend
Going into Cyber Week you need to have a good grip on your budget. Stick to that budget. Don’t be swayed into extra impulse purchase by the hot prices and good deals.
Know Your Gift List
Who are you buying for and what do you need to buy? If you stay familiar with these things you will be much better at sorting through the thousands of deals during Cyber Week. You will be able to avoid buying extras or duplicates if you know what you already purchased.
Take Your Time and Compare
Cyber Week is not filled with many deals that are good only for an hour here or an hour there. The majority of Cyber Week is filled with day long or multi day deals. Compare the prices at different online retailers and look for the best prices. Look for shipping deals too. Avoid paying too much for shipping, inflated shipping costs can ruin a good deal. Pay attention to coupon codes and other promotions that might sweeten the deal at a certain retailer.
Check PYP for Deals
Make sure you check Pinching Your Pennies for updates on the best Cyber Week deals. Watch our blog and our forums. Subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest. We’ll help you find the best Cyber Week deals!
Get Discounted gift cards to save more $ for the holidays! Lots to choose from!
This is a pretty great deal. Buy the discounted gift cards now and then use them while shopping with Pinching Your Pennies through the holidays! Use them online or in stores (but seriously who wants to get dressed to go shopping?)
You can even buy them to use on groceries & dining out!
New customers can use promo code RAISE60AF to take an extra $5 off orders over $60. (new customers only, expires 11/30)
Black Friday Online Shopping Tips
Remember when I asked if you are a true bargain hunter? One of those people that everyone turns to when they are looking for a deal? Does the thought of paying full price make you feel a bit ill? Do you live for the trill of finding a great deal? If so, then chances are good that you are already on top of the latest Black Friday shopping news. Are you ready to shop online? If so, let’s talk about some Black Friday online shopping tips.
Black Friday online shopping tips? That’s right. Beyond the things we have talked about like looking at ad scans, making lists and setting a budget, there are a few things you want to do now. Let’s talk about what you can do now to make Black Friday online shopping easier.
Create accounts at websites
Make a list of the websites you plan to shop on Black Friday. Go to those websites and create an account there if you don’t have one. Make sure you enter and store all of your shipping and billing addresses. At most websites I usually enter my payment information, credit cards numbers, each time I make a purchase. For Black Friday shopping I change this and store my credit card information too. If you are going to be trying to get a limited quantity or timed deal having this info all stored and ready to go will make checking out much faster. This is one of the most important Black Friday online shopping tips.
Get credit or debit card ready
Most websites will take multiple kinds of payment. Decide now what kind of payment you will use. Even if you store the credit card information in your accounts online, keep the card handy or write the numbers you need down. If you plan to shop with a credit card make sure your credit card has enough available credit to cover your purchases. This is another of the important Black Friday online shopping tips.
Find out about store cards and their perks
There are lots of stores that have their own store credit cards. Some of these store cards have perks like discounts, rewards, free shipping or cash back. Some like the Target Red Card offer a percent off and free shipping. Right now there is still time to apply for and receive a store credit card at many retailers. This is one of the Black Friday online shopping tips that can save you even more on Black Friday.
Learn when sales go live
Very few of the online Black Friday sales will actually start on Black Friday morning. Follow the Black Friday sales information on PinchingYourPennies and you will know when your favorite sales should start online. This is another of the important Black Friday online shopping tips because it will keep you from missing the best deals from your favorite sales.
Take a few minutes and get ready with these Black Friday online shopping tips with us at PinchingYourPennies. Bookmark our links and sign up to stay up to date! You’ll be glad you did!
Shop Black Friday – To Shop or Not to Shop?
Every year people ask me if I am going out and shopping on Black Friday. They look at my job and assume I am a huge bargain hunter and deal finder. They then assume I must be one of the first to hit the stores to shop Black Friday. Every year I surprise people with my answer. My answer is not what they expect to hear. My answer is that I avoid it. I try to NOT shop Black Friday in the stores.
I’ll admit I used to go out and shop Black Friday years ago. That has changed over the last few years. Some friends assume that I don’t shop Black Friday because I am here glued to my keyboard helping all of you find the best deals for the weekend. They are partially right BUT if I actually wanted to get out and shop, I’d find a way. I just don’t want to go out and shop Black Friday. There are lots of other reasons I avoid the whole to shop Black Friday rush.
Shopping Online
Online shopping has blossomed in the last ten years or so. Almost all of the shop Black Friday deals that are available in the stores are also available on their websites. I LOVE being able to shop online and get the hot deals from the comfort of my home. There are even sometimes coupon codes that give further discounts and free shipping. There is no longer a need to leave home and family to get the good to shop Black Friday deals. PinchingYourPennies will help you shop Black Friday online. Check out yesterday’s blog HERE to find out how.
Fighting the Crowds
Every year we see it on the news. The crowds that go out to shop Black Friday are getting bigger and bigger. They are also getting more rude, crazy, selfish, mean and dangerous! Even in my small and normal well behaved town people go just plain nuts. (Check out THIS MESS at my local Wal-Mart a couple of years ago.) Risking your safety for a deal is just plain stupid. If going out to shop Black Friday is risky – don’t do it.
Limited Quantities
It seems more and more of the best deals are limited in quantity. I remember talking to a manager last year who admitted that their large store was given just five of a hugely popular item. Hundreds of people turned out to get it and they had only five to sell. People were very close to rioting in anger. (Once again, dangerous crowds!) If you skip the urge to shop Black Friday around town you can avoid running all over town for items that will be impossible to get.
Overspending is Easy
Retailers count on you overspending and buying more in the frenzy of the shop Black Friday experience. All of the displays with their bright signs motivate shoppers to make impulse purchases. What is the point of saving $30 on that one item if you buy 10 other impulse items while you are there? Retailers are counting on you doing just that as you shop Black Friday.
Mediocre Prices
With the exception of the few big deals at each store, most of the prices are actually very mediocre. This shop Black Friday point ties back into the shopping online point. Many things can be found at better prices online throughout the holiday season. Shop with us at PinchingYourPennies and we’ll help you find the best prices.
Have I convinced you to let PinchingYourPennies help you shop Black Friday online? Watch for more blogs in our shop Black Friday series.
Are You Ready – Black Friday Shopping?
Are you a true bargain hunter? One of those people that everyone turns to when they are looking for a deal? Does the thought of paying full price make you feel a bit ill? Do you live for the trill of finding a great deal? If so, then chances are good that you are already on top of the latest Black Friday shopping news. Are you ready?
Did you answer no to the question above? Does all of the Black Friday shopping talk stress you out? Are you overwhelmed by the ads from all of the different stores? Are you confused about when and where to find the best deals? Don’t you worry! At PinchingYourPennies we will guide you through the maze of Black Friday shopping deals. We have so many ways to help you get the most out of this Black Friday shopping season.
There has been so much talk about how early sales are starting and how many people are hitting the stores instead of staying home with family. We have an easy answer to the questions surrounding Black Friday shopping. Shop online! It is SO easy! Almost all of the same deals are available online and sometimes the online deals are even better than the in store deals. Sound tricky or troublesome? No way! We will make it easy, just follow along and you’ll make Black Friday shopping EASY.
There are a few different ways to hear about the Black Friday shopping deals from PinchingYourPennies. I recommend using ALL of them to stay in the loop on all of the deals. Here’s what you need to do to make Black Friday shopping a success with PinchingYourPennies.
Black Friday Ad Scans
We are putting copies of the Black Friday ads up on our website as soon as they are available. They ads are just beginning to break and we are adding new ads every day. Black Friday shopping is so much easier when you can look at the ads ahead of time and plan ahead. Find the Black Friday ads here at THIS LINK.
Screaming Penny Newsletter
Sign up for our daily newsletter, The Screaming Penny. It will come to you every day and contain the latest deals and information. Follow The Screaming Penny and Black Friday shopping can be easy! Sign up at THIS LINK.
The PinchingYourPennies Blog
If you are here on our blog, congratulations! You’ve found a great source for deals! Don’t forget to check often because we’ll post when your favorite Black Friday shopping sales go live.
The PinchingYourPennies Forums
Have you been to our forums? There is lots of discussion and information on Black Friday shopping in the forums. There are store lists and sale start times – all in one easy to use place! Find the forums at THIS LINK.
The PinchingYourPennies Facebook Page
Do you follow PinchingYourPennies on Facebook? Make sure you do! We’ll be posting Black Friday shopping news and information there too. Don’t miss the deals! Find our Facebook page at THIS LINK.
The PinchingYourPennies Pinterest Boards
Did you know PinchingYourPennies is on Pinterest? We’ll be posting Black Friday shopping news and information there too. Don’t miss the deals! Find our Pinterest Boards at THIS LINK.
Take a few minutes and get ready for Black Friday shopping with PinchingYourPennies. Bookmark our links and sign up to stay up to date! You’ll be glad you did!
Christmas Shopping Prep! Make a list!
If you have been shopping lately it is hard to miss the fact that the Christmas shopping season is just around the corner – or in many cases, it is already here! The stores are lavishly decorated and the Christmas music is playing to put shoppers in the buying mood. There is nothing like a Christmas song and pretty display to make you start buying your Christmas gifts. Have you done your Christmas shopping prep?
Exactly what is Christmas shopping prep? Christmas shopping prep actually includes a lot of different things. Christmas shopping prep as a whole is the one thing that you have to do first to avoid Christmas shopping chaos which includes too many shopping trips and overspending. Sound confusing? It isn’t! Follow these simple steps and your Christmas shopping prep will get off to the right start.
Make your list
Do you know everyone you need to give gifts to this year? There are probably more people than you think. The best way to get an accurate picture of your gift giving plans is to list ALL gift recipients. Be sure to list family, friends, coworkers, teachers, coaches, everyone and anyone that you will give a gift to this year. Don’t skip this important step in your Christmas shopping prep.
Set a budget for each person
After you have listed all of your gift recipients, decide the maximum amount you will spend on each person. This will help keep you from overbuying gifts. This step in your Christmas shopping prep is important to keep your holiday budget from going bust.
Find out likes, sizes or wants
I like to give people things that they will love. I always try to do a bit of research and find out what people like or want for Christmas. If you are giving clothing or something with a size, find out what size your gift recipient wears. This part of Christmas shopping prep will help make your gifts a hit.
Look at last year’s gift giving list
If you need ideas or don’t want to duplicate a gift, check last year’s gift giving list. This also may help you remember what a person likes. Christmas shopping prep starts in the previous year. If you didn’t keep last year’s list, remember to save this year’s list for use next year.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm a few different ideas for each person on your list. Your first idea isn’t always your best. Don’t be afraid to play with lots of different ideas and think outside the box. As you do this part of your Christmas shopping prep jot down lots of possible ideas.
Narrow it down to favorites
Now it is time to narrow down your gift ideas. Take all of your ideas and pick a couple of the best ideas for each person on your list. List them in the gift giving order you prefer. I try to stick with about 3 ideas for each gift I need to give. After I have done this I usually toss the other Christmas shopping prep I did and just keep this one clean and organized list.
Decide on a few extras
Think about picking up a few extras to have on hand for surprise gifts. I always seem to need a small gift or two that I didn’t think or know about when I made my list. I always try to add a few small items to my list to use if I need a last minute unexpected gift. I like grabbing a couple of inexpensive but fun gift cards to this purpose.
Follow these Christmas shopping prep steps and you’ll have a great list to help you begin your Christmas gift shopping. Have ideas to share? Let us know! Stay tuned as we feature more Christmas shopping tips.
Shop Amazon Lightning Deals! Save Big!
I’ve been talking about shopping on Amazon for the last couple of days and today we are going to look at Amazon Lightning Deals. I LOVE shopping on Amazon. Love, love, love! I also talked about getting Amazon Prime. When you have Amazon Prime all of your qualifying orders get FREE Two-Day shipping. This would be an awesome time to try Amazon Prime. There is a 30 day FREE trial available! Amazon Prime Free Trial members enjoy all the same benefits as paid members. If you sign up today, your Amazon Prime FREE trial will take you through the Black Friday shopping period. You’ll be able to take advantage of all of the great deals we will bring you, and not worry about paying shipping.
Many of the great deals on Amazon are Lightning Deals. These are limited time deals, with limited quantities. Some of the best prices and hottest deals are Lightning Deals that sell out FAST! Here are is brief “How To” with lots of tips and tricks on how to best get these awesome Lightning Deals.
Amazon LIGHTNING DEALS – Tips & Tricks
CLICK THIS LINK to see what’s current and what’s coming – ALL Lightning Deals.
Or click one of the links listed below to go directly to a category link (easier to navigate).
If there’s something you really want… here is what I would do:
SET AN ALARM on your phone or whatever – just a few minutes before the deal to remind you to check back. All Lightning Deals times listed on Amazon are in Pacific Time so adjust to your time zone accordingly.
DON’T go to the product page – just stay on the Lightning Deals screen you go to from here and find the product on the list. Start clicking the area where the “add to cart” button is going to appear a few seconds before it appears (really fast). You can take it OUT of your cart if you don’t want it – but if you get it in your cart you have several minutes to purchase it if you want it. I have done this before with good results! I hope you all get the Lightning Deals you want! You may need to be on a computer for best results and a fast internet connection is very important. Hope this helps!!
Joining a Waitlist
1) Log in to your Amazon.com account.
2) If a Lightning Deals item is already all reserved but not yet sold out, you will see an option to “Join Waitlist”. Click the “Join Waitlist” button on a Lightning Deal to place yourself on the waitlist to receive the promotional discount. The waitlist is a list of people who are waiting for one of the reserved items to not be purchased. It then becomes available again.
3) If you are the next customer on the waitlist, you will be notified when a promotional discount becomes available. An alert will display in the upper right-hand corner of your Amazon.com page. You will see that the deal is available to add to your Cart, and you will see the time remaining to do so.
4) You are now ready to claim the Lightning Deal. If you don’t add the deal to your Cart within the time limit, you will be removed from the waitlist.
If you get on the waitlist you just want to keep an eye on your Amazon account, because if you are next in line it will pop up and tell you that you have the chance to put it in your cart and you are given a certain amount of time to do that.
*Amazon’s LINK about LIGHTNING DEALS
Category Lightning Deals LINKS
*If it doesn’t show Lightning Deals then there aren’t any lightning deals today in that category. Check back tomorrow!
Amazon TOY Lightning Deals
ARTS, CRAFTS and SEWING
BABY
BOOKS
Cell Phones & Accessories
Clothing & Accessories
Computers & Accessories
Electronics
Groceries
Health & Beauty
Home, Kitchen & Garden
Jewelry
Music
Musical Instruments
Movies & TV
Pet Supplies
Shoes & Handbags
Software
Sports & Outdoors
Tools & Home Improvement
Watches
Video Games
Why Get an Amazon Prime Membership? Lots of Perks!
Yesterday we talked about Amazon Prime. I told you how much I loved the FREE Two-Day Shipping. I told you about the 30 day FREE trial that is available! Thinking about trying Amazon Prime? This would be an awesome time to try an Amazon Prime membership. Remember I told you that if you sign up today, your FREE trial will take you through the Black Friday shopping period. It is a perfect time to try Amazon Prime. You’ll be able to take advantage of all of the great deals we will bring you, and not worry about paying shipping.
Still not convinced? There are many more perks to having an Amazon Prime membership. I have to tell you that I think they are REALLY good perks too. Here’s a quick look at these perks and what they offer.
FREE Two-Day Shipping
FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items. Need a last minute gift? Can’t get out of the house? Realize you forgot to pick up something? With FREE Two-Day Shipping from an Amazon Prime membership, your shopping problems are solved. You get unlimited deliveries with no minimum order size, and with 20 million eligible items, the options are practically limitless. Your Amazon Prime membership also includes a variety of shipping benefits, including several shipping options if you need to expedite your delivery.
Prime Instant Video
With an Amazon Prime membership you get unlimited instant streaming of over 40,000 movies and TV episodes. You can instantly stream Prime Instant Video titles from your computer’s web browser, Fire phone, Fire TV, Fire Tablets, iOS devices, and hundreds of other Internet-connected TVs, Blu-ray players, set-top-boxes, and gaming consoles.
Prime Music
When you get an Amazon Prime membership you get unlimited, ad-free access to over a million songs and hundreds of playlists. With Prime Music, you can listen to ad-free music including over a million songs from top artists and old favorites. Amazon is adding more music all the time.
Prime Photos – NEW SERVICE
With an Amazon Prime membership you now get unlimited photo storage in Amazon Cloud Drive. This is a brand new perk just announced this week. You can store your photos safely in Cloud Drive and you can access them anywhere, from almost any device by signing in with your Amazon account.
Prime Early Access – NEW
Your Amazon Prime membership now includes Early Access. With Amazon Prime Early Access you will get 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals on Amazon, and new events on MyHabit.
Kindle Owners’ Lending Library
Borrow one Kindle Book per month from over 500,000 titles for free on any Kindle device with no due dates. The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is available to Amazon Prime memberships who own a Kindle device. Books borrowed from the Lending Library have no due date and can be delivered to other Kindle devices registered to your Amazon account. Books that are borrowed from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library can be read only on Kindle devices.
Amazon Mom
Amazon Mom members get 20% off diapers subscriptions, a 15% baby registry completion discount and access to Amazon Mom exclusive discounts and deals. Amazon Mom is aimed at helping parents and caregivers in the prenatal through toddler years use Amazon to find and save on products that families need. Amazon Mom is open to anyone, whether you’re a mom, dad, grandparent or caretaker.
Amazon Student
Amazon Student members get FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items and a 6 month free trial. After your free trial, your membership will upgrade to Amazon Prime for 50% off. As with a regular Amazon Prime membership, you can cancel at any time. You will need to have a .edu email address to participate in this program.
Share Your Amazon Prime Benefits
When you have a free or paid Amazon Prime membership you can share your shipping benefits with up to four additional family members living in the same household. Other Amazon Prime membership benefits such as Prime Instant Video, Prime Music, and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library can’t be shared.
Sounds great doesn’t it? Sign up today for your 30 FREE Trial and see if you love Amazon Prime as much as I do. Follow any of the links in this blog to get started.
$35 for a One-Year BJ’s Inner Circle Membership and a $25 BJ’s Gift Card!
$35 for a One-Year BJ’s Inner Circle Membership and a $25 BJ’s Gift Card ($75 Total Value)
The BJ’s Inner Circle Membership can be activated and used at any BJ’s location. Click here to find the BJ’s nearest you. The Membership includes:
Access to exclusive savings and in-Club promotions
Free second Membership card
Additional discounts on specialty services
The $25 gift card can be used toward both in-Club purchases and BJ’s Gas, and it is also valid at all BJ’s locations. BJs stocks electronics such as smart watches and curved TVs as well as holiday items from turkey and other seasonal fixings to gifts and party decorations.
LAST DAY!!! One-Year Sam’s Club Plus Membership with a $20 Gift Card & $22.18 in Free Merchandise Vouchers – All for Just $45!!!
• Complimentary spouse or other household member
• $20 Sam’s Club gift card
• Four free fresh food items (a $22.18 value)
– Rotisserie chicken
– Artisan Fresh spinach artichoke dip
– Daily Chef cookies
– French baguette
• $142.18 total valueOffer valid for new Sam’s Club members only; not valid for those with an active membership or for a previous membership that has lapsed within the last 6 months.
Get your car ready for winter part two
Yesterday I told you about my latest get ready for winter task, getting my car ready for winter. Today I am looking at getting my car ready for winter part two. Lately I have talked a lot about winter weather preparations. We looked at getting our yards, homes, food storage, emergency supplies and more ready for winter. All of these preparations will be worth it once winter temperatures and weather hits. When preparing for winter weather it is always best to prepare for the worst possible conditions you may be facing. When preparing for winter weather I think it is always better to be over prepared than under prepared.
In the bad weather it is definitely better to minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keeping your car ready to operate safely in severe weather is a must. I can’t say that enough. Winter weather can provide a variety of unexpected vehicle emergency situations. These are some of the things I am doing, follow along and get your car ready for winter part two.
Window washer fluid for cold temps
This is easy and inexpensive but the results are huge. Change your windshield wiper fluid to a fluid with deicer. It makes keeping a clean and clear windshield so much easier. Being able to see well is a huge safety issue, obstructed vision can contribute to accidents. Spend a couple of dollars and check this get your car ready for winter part two item off your list.
Windshield wipers
While you are changing your windshield wiper fluid, check your windshield wipers. Do they appear to be free from tears and cracks? Are they brittle or flexible? Replace your windshield wipers if they are damaged or worn. You need good windshield wipers to avoid obstructed vision, which can contribute to accidents. Again, spend a couple of dollars and check this get your car ready for winter part two item off your list.
Gas tank de-icer
This is sold at most discount and big box stores. Adding it when you fill your car up with gas can help you avoid having your fuel line ice up. One more time, spend a couple of dollars and check this get your car ready for winter part two item off your list.
Keep gas tank at least half full
Remember to always keep your gas tank at least half full. This helps keep condensation from building up in your gas tank. Condensation in your gas tank equals water and ice, something you do not want. If you become stuck in traffic or stranded having at least a half tank of gas can help you avoid an emergency. This is a freebie, you don’t have to spend any money to check this get your car ready for winter part two item off your list.
Spare tire
Check your spare tire. Is it in good shape? Is it inflated properly? If you have to use it, you want it to be ready to go. This is another good thing to remember as we work through the list to get car ready for winter part two.
Brakes
How about the brakes in your car? Brakes are not something you want to ignore in winter weather. Stopping on less than ideal road conditions requires brakes and a braking system that is in good shape. If you notice anything unusual when braking, have your brakes checked by a professional.
Heater and defroster
These are probably working just fine or you would have already noticed. It is easy to tell because you are cold and your windows fog up. If for some reason you haven’t checked these yet, now is the time. Also check to be sure the vents are not covered or obstructed. Hopefully this is another freebie and you don’t have to spend any money to check this get your car ready for winter part two item off your list.
After we’ve checked all of these things on our get your car ready for winter part two list, our cars should be ready to get through winter weather and driving a bit more safely. Have an idea or tip that wasn’t mentioned? We’d love to hear it!
One-Year Sam’s Club Plus Membership with a $20 Gift Card & $22.18 in Free Merchandise Vouchers – All for Just $45!!!
• Complimentary spouse or other household member
• $20 Sam’s Club gift card
• Four free fresh food items (a $22.18 value)
– Rotisserie chicken
– Artisan Fresh spinach artichoke dip
– Daily Chef cookies
– French baguette
• $142.18 total valueOffer valid for new Sam’s Club members only; not valid for those with an active membership or for a previous membership that has lapsed within the last 6 months.
Get your car ready for winter
Over the last couple of weeks I have talked a lot about winter weather preparations on our blog. We have talked about preparing our yards, homes, food storage, emergency supplies and more. I have one more area of preparation I am tackling this week. I checked my car for emergency supplies and got it stocked with everything I need for winter driving. Now I need to get my car ready for winter.
In the bad weather it is definitely better to minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keeping your car ready to operate safely in severe weather is a must. Winter weather can provide a variety of unexpected emergency situations. When preparing for winter weather it is always best to prepare for the worst possible conditions you may be facing. In my area this is blizzard conditions and iced over roads. My car needs to be ready to face these hazardous road conditions. Here are some of the things I am doing, follow along and get your car ready for winter too.
Snow tires or all-season tires with good tread
Check out the tires on your car. How is the tread? There is a big difference between tread that passes state safety inspections and tread that will drive well with icy and snowy roads. On bad roads, bald tires are a hazard to you and to all of the other cars around you. If you already have snow tires, put them on your car now. If your car’s tires have unsafe tread, get new tires or get snow tires. Tire preparation is a big part of getting your car ready for winter.
Antifreeze
When was the last time you checked or changed your antifreeze? This is another important vehicle preparation that often gets overlooked. Antifreeze keeps for car from overheating and keeps your engine from freezing during extreme weather. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to replace the antifreeze in your car. Checking and changing the antifreeze is important when you are getting your car ready for winter.
Battery
A good battery in your car is essential in winter weather. Winter temperatures are hard on a car’s battery. One battery website states that “Your vehicle’s battery loses 33 percent of its power when the temperature dips below freezing, and over 50 percent of its power when the temperature falls below zero.” That is enough of a change to make a marginally functional battery useless in cold weather. Don’t chance being stuck and left stranded in the cold. Replace any car battery that isn’t in great shape. The battery is another thing you don’t want to forget when you are getting your car ready for winter.
Don’t warm up car in garage or unattended outdoors
This item is more of a reminder than a preparation. Each year there are reports of people who have an emergency situation because they try to warm up their cars in a closed garage or unattended outdoors. There are carbon monoxide poisonings and car thefts. Avoid the possibility of these situations by deciding now to warm up your vehicle safely. Keep gloves and a blanket in the car if necessary to stay warm when warming up your car. Do whatever it takes to mentally prepare to warm up the car safely. It is another important thing to remember when you are getting your car ready for winter.
These are a few of the ways I getting my car ready for winter. I’ll share a few more tomorrow in part two of the blog. Have some ideas to share? We’d love to hear from you!
One-Year Sam’s Club Plus Membership with a $20 Gift Card & $22.18 in Free Merchandise Vouchers – All for Just $45!!!
• Complimentary spouse or other household member
• $20 Sam’s Club gift card
• Four free fresh food items (a $22.18 value)
– Rotisserie chicken
– Artisan Fresh spinach artichoke dip
– Daily Chef cookies
– French baguette
• $142.18 total valueOffer valid for new Sam’s Club members only; not valid for those with an active membership or for a previous membership that has lapsed within the last 6 months.
One-Year Sam’s Club Plus Membership with a $20 Gift Card & $22.18 in Free Merchandise Vouchers – All for Just $45!!!
• Complimentary spouse or other household member
• $20 Sam’s Club gift card
• Four free fresh food items (a $22.18 value)
– Rotisserie chicken
– Artisan Fresh spinach artichoke dip
– Daily Chef cookies
– French baguette
• $142.18 total valueOffer valid for new Sam’s Club members only; not valid for those with an active membership or for a previous membership that has lapsed within the last 6 months.