Find Parking Meters With Time LeftIf there are parking meters in your area and parking is not limited, try to pull into a parking space that still has some money left from the previous car.
Car CurtainsHere is a way to add shade in your car inexpensively and without tinting or obscuring the driver's view. It helps to give everyone including baby and pets extra shade, plus great for road trips. All it takes are simple curtain rods with small hooks and screws and semi-transparent kitchen window curtains. Some cars may already have hooks in the back, like our van. Stay cool and enjoy!
Free Road Maps and Other Travel InformationNo need to buy a road map from the gas station convenience store. Go to the website for the Department of Transportation for your State. Request a free state road map and it will be mailed to you. You will receive the map very quickly in the mail. I live in Michigan and this was my experience to receive the map.
Which Side of the Car Has the Gas Cap?If you switch cars, rent a car, or just cannot remember, this is a useful tip. The icon of a gas tank on your dashboard will have a triangle on the right or left. That shows you what side of the car you put the gas in. The picture shows my car takes gas on the left.
Remember Where You ParkedUse your phone so you do not forget where you parked. Go to your maps setting menu, and scroll down. You will see a toggle option labeled "Show parked location". Turn that feature on. The maps app will show you a notification that it has dropped a pin for your car location.
Sleeping With Your Car KeysThe red panic button on our car keys is a useful safety protection when we are in our homes. I bring my car keys into my bedroom and leave them on my night stand. In an event of an emergency, I will know where my car keys are immediately.
Perfect Parking in your GarageNot good at predicting how far to drive into the garage to park? Fear no more. This easy tip will help you get the perfect parking every time.
Bread Bag to Store Paper Towel RollUse a clean empty bread bag to store paper towels in your car. The towels stay clean and can't unroll.
Mark Tires To Verify Correct RotationBeing a woman (even a man) you can feel that you're being taken advantage of when it comes to maintaining your vehicle if you have no car experience.
Use Caution When Connecting A Smartphone to a CarWhen a smartphone is connected to a car, you are basically sharing your personal information. It is best to not connect your smartphone to a car that is not yours, especially a rental. If you do, please make sure to erase all your information and clear the history.
Don't Use Metal Valve Caps on TiresI learned my lesson the hard way. Don't use the metal valve caps on your tires. It can end up costing you a lot of money! The tire shop told me that they see a lot of metal valve caps that corrode during the winter due to the salt on the roads.
Coin Purse for Broken Keyless RemoteMy keychain/car remote broke. The small end that had a hole that allowed the metal ring to loop through it broke so I couldn't hook the key ring to the remote anymore.
Store Large Trash Bags in TrunkKeep a couple of big plastic trash bags in your car - trunk, tool box, or gear box - they will help keep the grease and grime off your clothes when you need to change a tire, attach or detach a trailer to the hitch, or add oil/radiator fluid under the hood.
Hide Extra Key in PurseIf you happen to accidently lock your keys in your car, just hide an extra key in your purse and use that one. Works every time!
Coca Cola For Car MaintenanceIf your car battery terminals are corroded, get that can of Coke and gently pour over the corroded terminals to get rid of the corrosion.
Keep Sun Hat in CarI am often driving into the late afternoon sun, and since I am short, the sun visor is not much help. Now I keep a hat with a floppy brim in the car so I can just pull the brim down on my face where I need it.
Homemade Windshield Wiper CoversTake a pair of old socks and keep over your wipers. Then if it snows or rains the ice won't get stuck on them.
Area Rug For Auto CarpetingOur original carpet was looking tacky, and the rubber mats would not stay put, so we bought a 4.5 by 7 foot area rug for $22. We cut it to fit over the original carpet.
Removing Manufacturer Emblems from VehiclesWhen you need to remove any type of emblem, badging, sticker, etc. from a vehicle, consider using a piece of dental floss (waxed is best) and shimmy it back and forth slowly to release the unwanted item without damaging the paint.
Tennis Ball ParkingMy garage has a work bench set up in it and all the extra doo-dads that one keeps stored. I can park my car inside when needed but there is not much space in front before the bumper meets the wall.
Remembering Where You ParkI always park in the same general location no matter what store. To sneak in a little exercise, I park in very back of the parking lot to the right of the door I intend to go into.
Keep Manuals And Car Paperwork In Glove BoxI keep a folder in my glove box. It's one of those that's made to hold checks, only it's a little bigger than the usual ones. Also, it's made from a nylon type of fabric, not cheap plastic, so it lasts a long time.
Laundry Basket For Car ClutterKeep a plastic laundry basket in the back of your car. They're handy receptacles for kids' backpacks, shoes, empty cans, etc., accumulated while running errands or commuting. Baskets also work great for quick trips to the grocery.
"Don't Text Me" App For Your SmartphoneIt's easy to make plans with text messages, but doing so while driving is unsafe, and in fact, illegal in many places. Download the free "Don't Text Me" app from Itunes. It will send an autoreply that says you can't pick up messages.
Trash Bag For the CarI have been able to keep my car cleaned up, by hanging a plastic grocery bag on the back of the front passenger seat with a velcro cord holder. I put the holder around the metal head rest post and attach the grocery bag.
Spare Key For Car DoorI needed a spare car key in case I locked mine in the car. However, the price of a programmed key was over $100. So instead, I took my key to the local hardware store and got a regular key made, put it inside a magnetic box, and hooked it under the car.
Store Sewing Kit in CarMost of us carry a first aid kit in our cars or trucks. The other day my daughter ripped her coat while we were out shopping. I decided to put sewing materials in my car, but what to put in it and where to keep it?
Keep Spare Gas for EmergenciesI had leftover gas in my containers for the lawn mowers and not enough gas in my truck. Instead of throwing this gas away, knowing it was still good, I used it in my truck to get to the closest gas station. It worked like a charm.
Store Extra Paper Towels in Glove BoxSince I am in and out of the car often and have a messy toddler, I have made it a habit to grab some paper towels out of the window wash station at the gas station and store them in my glove box while my gas is pumping. I have thanked myself later when I needed to use them!
Metal Fly Swatter for Locked Car Doors.I think that the metal handle of a flyswatter would work better than a wire hanger when going down through an automobile window to open the door. I am almost certain of it, and I have tried it once already.
Apply Glycerin to Car WindowsIf you buy a small bottle of glycerin at the drugstore or grocery store and apply a thin coating of the liquid to both sides of your car's windshield, you'll prevent moisture and the frost that often follows-from forming on the glass.
Store Tissues In Baby Wipe ContainerIf you like to carry a box of tissue in your car as I do, the box seems to always get messed up. I have found that if you use an empty baby wipe container (large one), you can put the tissues in the container and push the first tissue through the top.
Keep $20 in Your Glove Compartment for EmergenciesI was in Girl Scouts and the Leader for two troops that my daughters were in. I was taught first and foremost to be prepared. I have for many years now been keeping a twenty dollar bill in my glove compartment for minor emergencies.
Use Carpet Scraps as Car Floor MatsCut leftover carpet scraps to size as floor mats in the car for winter use. They can be washed when necessary. For summer use, old terry cloth shower mats can be used to keep floors in the car clean.
Keep Spare Pair of Sunglasses in CarNow that summer's here, keep an extra pair of sunglasses in your car or truck. That way you will have a pair if it gets too hot or you forget yours.
Rubbing Alcohol to Squeak Proof Windshield WipersRubbing alcohol on your windshield wipers makes badly streaking wipers change to near perfect silence and clarity, it makes them "squeak proof"
Under Seat Storage for Your VanThis was a project stemmed out of necessity but turned into something very handy. I have a van with front seats that sit high on their bases. Both seats are enclosed on the back.
Use Lonely Socks to Keep Gas Off HandsWhen filling the gas tank on my vehicle I seem to always get the smell of gas on my hands. For years I carried a pair of gloves to wear just for this and slipped them in a plastic bag in between fill ups, now and then I would take them in and wash them.
Emergency Screwdriver SetMany times, I have been on the side of the road without a screwdriver, or the one I had one was too small. Now I carry a pliers, and some change: a quarter, dime, and nickel.
Cut Potato to Improve Windshield VisibilityIf your windscreen wiper fails during light or heavy rain, try this: If you can obtain a potato, cut it in half and rub over windscreen.
Score Your Car Tags To Avoid TheftTo keep your car tag registration sticker from being stolen. Clean the area where it goes well. Window cleaner works best because of the alcohol. After adhering the new one well, score (cut) it several times with a razor blade. Someone trying to steal it only gets bits and pieces instead of it coming off in one piece.
Make Car Repairs to Save Car PaymentsPut new engines, water pumps, etc. in that old car. It saves 1000s a year without that new car payment.
Use Vinegar On Windshield WipersTo extend the life of your car's windshield wipers, wipe the blade with a rag that was soaked in white vinegar. This softens and refreshes the wiper blade. A cheap and effective treatment.
Fuel Gauge ReminderDo you ever forget what side your gas tank is on? Well look at your fuel gauge inside the car, there should be a little symbol that looks like a gas pump with a little arrow that will either be pointing left or right of your gauge.
Mark Your Antenna With Red For Parking LotsWhen leaving your car in a parking lot that is not marked, (like a school, grocery, etc.), I use a VERY RED sock or scarf and tie it to the top of my antenna. Be sure to loop part of the ID over the top of the antenna so it doesn't slide down! It is not only functional, it's pretty!
Watch Out For Registration Tags Stolen Off Your CarA local pal, whose husband, has been in a hospital in another town, recently had her car's registration tags stolen off her car, while there. She found out the hard way about something that my husband and I heard about several months ago.
Cover Car Seats With A Sheet For Road TripsWhen traveling, I put a clean sheet over the seats, making cleanup easy. At stops, I just shake it out.
Stop Light for GarageThis tip is for people like myself that runs into the wall of the garage. I've tried the tennis ball thing and it didn't work for me. So, my husband bought this "traffic light" looking wall unit that plugs into the wall.
Always Park in the Same LaneDo you forget where you park when shopping? If so, make it a habit to always park on the same parking lane, regardless of the store. For example, I always park on the lane in front of the left side entrance of any store.
Frugal Snack Box For DrivingBuy granola bars and other individually packaged snacks on sale, with coupons or at the dollar store. Then find a lunch box and put a couple of each kind inside.
Place Small Phone Book In CarOur phone company delivers both large and small phone books when new ones are published. I put the smaller one under my car seat and use it to look up phone numbers when I'm out.
Protect Your Trunk From SpillsProtect Your Trunk From Spills. I usually check the lid of a detergent bottle by trying to tighten it. The one time I forgot, the bottle turned over in the car trunk and spilled.
Caution About Ribbon Auto MagnetsCaution About Ribbon Auto Magnets. Around our town, a lot of people have those big (5 to 7 inch) patriotic (or other colored) ribbon shaped magnets on their vehicles.
Quickly De-icing Your WindshieldQuickly De-icing Your Windshield. Instead of using expensive de-icer on your car windscreen in the cold weather, or trying to scrape ice off with a rubber scraper thingie, pour warm water (not boiling!) over all your car windows.
Dry Erase Board Eraser for Foggy WindshieldsKeep a dry erase board eraser in your car's glove box. Use it to clear the windshield from the inside only. It is amazing how good it works. NEVER wet the eraser, always use it dry.
Keep Baby Wipes in the Carven though I have no babies, I carry a cheap package of baby wipes in the car. I always have them for a quick clean up of my hands after thrift store shopping, wipe a spill in the car, or wipe down the dash while waiting in traffic or at lights.
Removing Your License PlateIf you've ever gone to the DMV to trade in your car tag and forgot to take a screwdriver (as I have), a penny will do the trick. Just align it with the slot and turn (clockwise.)
Frozen LocksIf you are having cold weather and one of your locks outside has stopped working, the chances are it has frozen. Try heating the lock with a hair dryer until you are able to turn the key.
Keeping Bugs from Sticking on the CarIf you're going on a car trip and know you're going to be driving through an area with a lot of bugs (like the south), spray some Pam cooking spray on your windshield and radiator grill to keep the bugs from sticking. You will have a much easier time washing them off!
Keep Your Car Upholstery Free From Sun DamageFaded upholstery and a cracked dashboard will lower the resale value of your car. Use an accordian-style cardboard windshield screen whenever you park in a sunny spot, and preserve your investment! These shields only cost a buck or two, and sometimes they are even free when they advertise a local business!
By Becki in Indiana
Thrifty Items For Your Glove BoxHere are some items that you can put in your glove box and save time and money.
WD-40 For Frozen LocksI spray a little WD40 in my locks when the weather man say it's going to be freezing and it will keep all locks from freezing. But if you do have a frozen lock, spray the WD40 in your keyhole and it will unthaw it quickly.
Getting All the Motor OilMake sure to get all the motor oil out of the containers used in oil changes buy letting them drip upside down in a funnel back into one of the containers, letting each one drain for a couple of days.
By Melanie
Comfortable Seat Belt For Short PeopleI am a short person and when I buckle up, the seat belt cuts into my neck. I saw an ad for an item that would help the situation, it was $3.99. Being frugal I thought there must be something as good and less expensive.
Prevent Sliding Car RampsTo prevent your car ramps from sliding across the concrete garage floor while trying to drive up the ramps (to change the oil, etc.), try drilling a half inch hole in the concrete in front of each ramp and inserting a large nail; no more sliding ramps!
