Dear Savvy, I recently got a letter in the mail from a local car dealership requesting that I trade in my 2001 VW Passat, saying that they are getting lots of requests and stating the blue book value for my car. I wouldn't mind buying a new car, but promised myself I would drive my car until it is unrepairable or I graduate from college, whichever comes first. I still have two more years to go, Read more

Nearly everyone is embracing budgeting these days, even multi-millionaires. Bruce Bickel is a wealth adviser who says his clients have asked him for guidance on regulating spending and he's helping parents talk to children about the change without feeling guilty. He said, "They say, 'My teenager isn't driving a BMW; she has to drive a Ford Focus. I tell them not to worry about it. The need is the Read more

The phrase hot wheels takes on a negative connotation when you're talking about stolen rides. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has determined which vehicles were most reported stolen last year, down to the make, model, and year. The NICB advises car owners to protect their wheels by using common sense and locking their cars; having a visible or audio warning device; getting an Read more

Cost-conscious consumers are more inclined to test-drive the cheapest cars to own and operate, and when you're car shopping it can help to keep in mind vehicles on the other end of the spectrum. Using its True Cost-to-Own calculator, which takes into consideration average starting price and ongoing costs as an owner, Edmunds.com arms car buyers with more knowledge by calling out the rides that Read more

Value is especially important when you're buying something that depreciates almost immediately. Namely, a vehicle. When you're considering how to get the most from your money, it's necessary to look at the overall cost of the car and how much money it will take to operate and maintain your purchase. Edmunds.com is the expert on everything auto, and the website features a True Cost to Own Read more

Grab 'n' go, quickie stops, and drive-throughs are a given in our fast-paced society, but one auto insurance agency says slowing down can save you money. And they're not talking about lightening your lead foot. In response to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Insurance.com prepared a list of the 10 most dangerous foods to eat while driving because they tend Read more

Car manufacturers have been holding on for dear life and coming up with creative ways to sustain their businesses during the recession. The economy has already driven major car companies to bankruptcy, and President Obama is close to signing a measure that would afford more Americans the ability to purchase new vehicles and hopefully prevent more damage to the auto industry. The $1 billion "cash Read more