3 Critical Items to Maintain to Save Money

In this hectic, always on the go world of ours, it is easy to forget to do some basic routine things to get the longest life possible out of valuable possessions. Regular maintenance, that keeps major purchases going and performing their jobs longer and more efficiently, can save lots of money over the long run. By properly maintaining these 3 items, you can add years to their lives and allow you to put hard-earned income elsewhere.

1. Car, Truck, or Van-Regular maintenance is a must for the long-term performance of your vehicle. Getting the oil changed and rotating the tires regularly and making sure that all fluid levels are within safe ranges is essential. The owner’s manual will detail for your particular vehicle what correct service intervals are and where to locate fluid containers under the hood. Tires wear much more evenly and generally last longer when tires are rotated and alignment is checked on schedule.

The 7 Essential Car Fluids and What to Know About Each article found at Auto.com will give you details on fluids to check and what happens if they run too low.

2. Home-Home ownership can be a joy, but also does require some work to ensure this major investment’s longevity. Have heating and air conditioning units inspected on a yearly basis if possible.  In the case of gas heating units, this inspection can detect any Carbon Monoxide leaks which can be deadly if enough fumes enter the home. Also, don’t forget to change out air filters every one to three months to ensure best perform of your air unit.

Other regular home maintenance items include:

• Keeping gutters in good repair and free of leaves.
• Repainting wood siding and decking as needed to provide a protective barrier that helps prevent/slow wood deterioration.
• Ensuring that the landscape stays under control. Make sure that trees, shrubs, and other plants are not rubbing up against the house and are not harboring bugs that could be harmful to your home.

This Handy Home Maintenance Checklist from The Art of Manliness (and for womaness, too) is really helpful.

3. Computers and Tablets-Having up-to-date anti virus protection and strong, functioning firewalls on your computers and tablets is so important. Also, regularly backing up data can save tremendous heartache in the event of an electronics failure. Simple things such as keeping the surfaces of your electronics free and clear of dust are so important, as well. And don’t forget to periodically go through and delete files and programs that you no longer use.

Making basic maintenance a regular part of your routine can add up to significant savings in the long run and years more enjoyment of your valuable possessions.

For more savings tips:

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