Automotive repairs can restore your vehicle to working order and ensure it doesn't develop any bigger problems. But what if you simply can't afford the repair your car needs? Being faced with unaffordable repairs is a common issue among drivers living paycheck to paycheck, but it's nice to know you have options. more Negotiate the Repairs In some cases, you may be able to negotiate with your mechanic or service center. Inquire about any available discounts to see if you can save money on the total repair costs. This may not always be possible, but it's worth a shot. You may even be able to apply for a payment plan instead of facing a lump sum payment. Shop Around Not every auto shop will hit you with the same estimate. Some mechanics charge by the hour while others provide a work-based estimate based on the extent of the damage. Getting a quote from at least three or four different places will put you in a better position to decide which one you can afford. At least one of these estimates should be from the dealership you purchased your car from, as they're the ones most likely to offer money-saving discounts. Apply for a Personal Loan While it's not ideal to rack up debt, applying for a personal loan from your local bank or credit union usually means getting a better interest rate than with credit cards. Financial institutions always see requests for unexpected expense loans, so your situation certainly wouldn't be unique. Alternatively, you could request a loan from a friend or family member, although this can be an uncomfortable situation. Regardless of which personal loan source you choose, be sure that you can realistically make the agreed upon payments, so you don't end up hurting your credit or relationships. Use a Credit Card Although you won't enjoy competitive interest rates like you would with a personal loan, using a credit card is sometimes the only option. If you already have available credit, then using your credit card to pay for automotive repairs is easy. If not, apply for a low-interest credit card and have the repair bill charged directly. This will allow you to make low monthly payments and double up on them when you come into some extra cash. Shop Around for Discount Parts If your vehicle needs a costly part, you may be able to shop around online for the parts you need. You should take into account the extra charges for state sales tax and shipping, as well as the rate your automotive technician quoted. Some auto supply websites can save you quite a bit of money on parts, but make sure the source has a good return policy prior to ordering, in case you need to send it back. Sell Some Personal Items Having your car in the shop is stressful enough without having to organize a garage sale, but sometimes this is your only option. You can quickly organize a garage sale within a week to raise the extra money you need, plus you get the added bonus of decluttering your home and purging things you don't need. If holding a garage sale isn't feasible, list some items on eBay or Craigslist. With any luck, you'll earn most of the money you need to get that repair bill paid. Barter It's always best to have your vehicle repaired by a factory-trained certified technician, but if you simply can't afford to pay for repairs, ask someone you know who's handy if they'd be interested in bartering. In general, though, this only works if you have a mechanic in the family or have a personal friend who has worked as a technician. Stress that you won't be getting the labor for free, but that you're willing to return something of value in exchange for their help. Trade in the Vehicle If you've brought your car to a dealership service center, it may be a smart idea to head outside and see which newer models they have available. Trading in your old car and acquiring a new monthly payment isn't an ideal situation, but it's often easier to manage a car payment than it is to be faced with a large lump sum repair bill. In addition, a newer model will be more reliable, so you won't have to worry about costly repairs anytime soon. Nobody likes to deal with automotive repairs, especially when they break your budget. At the end of the day, though, it's nice to know that you have options.
With March Madness already kicking into high gear, Infiniti is expecting to see a boost in business thanks to its role as a major sponsor this year. Brands like Infiniti and Buick have placed major bets on the tournament, using the publicity to showcase the latest models. more What is March Madness? March Madness is a springtime phenomenon that grips every sports fan's attention from the second week of March through the early days of April. The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is the highlight of all that fervor, but the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is also included. It is during these tournaments that the national college basketball championships are crowned. Abuout the NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a nonprofit association that regulates college athletes and organizes athletic programs. Most of the NCAA's revenue comes from the Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The NCAA, in turn, distributes that revenue back into various institutions and organizations throughout the country to support current and future athletes. Included in the NCAA are more than 1,100 colleges and universities that put academics first. NCAA athletes can pursue higher academic goals and carve out new opportunities by competing in NCAA championships. Some of them even go on to play professionally. March Madness Sponsors Sponsoring March Madness is a highly coveted position among sportswear and automotive companies, and Infiniti has managed to sponsor the event for several years now. Being a sponsor ensures prominent product placement, so there are billions of dollars at stake. For 2016, Infiniti is sponsoring the NCAA March Madness Android app, which allows you to watch every game line and choose your top picks for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. This app even lets you experience March Madness with your friends, making it one of the most popular app downloads dedicated to this event. In addition to sponsoring the Android app, Infiniti (along with Buick) is an NCAA Corporate Partner. Being a Corporate Partner means being dedicated to promotional activities and marketing surrounding the NCAA championships. By being a Corporate Partner, Infiniti has been able to make a direct, positive impact on developmental and academic opportunities offered to NCAA student athletes. More than merely promoting a brand, it's about giving back and supporting these talented athletes. The 2016 Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge One notable way Infiniti is helping give back during March Madness is through the Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge. Fans vote on their favorite coach remaining in the competition -- at the time of this writing, those coaches are Matt Painter of Purdue University, John Beilein of the University of Michigan, Brad Underwood of Stephen F. Austin State University, and Thad Matta of Ohio State University -- and the winning coach will receive $100,000 to put toward his chosen charity. Each of the non-winning finalists will receive $15,000 to donate to the cause of their choice. What's more, each coach will get at least $1,000 to put toward his favorite cause. In total, Infiniti is giving away more than $345,000 for charity. Without having the prestige of being one of March Madness's Corporate Partners, not to mention the fervent fans voting in the competition, this type of charity work wouldn't be possible. A Rising Viewership Thanks to Mobile Apps Since Infiniti first became the official sponsor of the March Madness Live Android app in 2012, there has been a significant rise in March Madness viewership. In 2015, the app had a record-breaking 80.7 million streams, which could be broken down into 17.8 million viewing hours. For NCAA fans that would have normally missed a game, this has been a huge technological break. In addition to live streams, Infiniti has been engaging consumers through television spots, fan activities, and social media campaigns to gear them up for the tournament. During the 2015 March Madness, Infiniti's efforts paid off, as the brand saw a surge in Infiniti-related searches and social media mentions during the championship. In fact, during the 2015 event, InfinitiUSA.com saw a 300 percent increase in visitors. Unlike a one-time event, such as the Super Bowl, being a March Madness Corporate Partner means enjoying prolonged exposure that has the added benefit of reaching out to affluent and highly educated audience members who might just be in the market for a new Infiniti model like the QX50 or Q30. Last year, Infiniti advertising reached 61.7 million people. March Madness and Infiniti have a valuable relationship. Keep an eye out for the latest Infiniti mentions during this year's exciting tournament.
Florida residents reap the benefits of a state that's warm and sunny all year. The beautiful weather and beaches bring with them lots of tourists, which sometimes means that residents need a weekend getaway from the usual crowded beaches and streets. Get out of the Ft. Lauderdale traffic and away from the Miami tourists; fill up your Infiniti's tank and plan a road trip to one of these beautiful destinations for the coming weekend. more Islamorada For a Keys getaway that doesn't have overcrowded beaches, Islamorada is the place to be. Drive to one of the six islands that make up the village of Islamorada. Coral reefs keep the beach water from having waves or being deep, but when you're already from Florida the beach isn't always the biggest draw for a new vacation spot. Islamorada has some of the best seafood restaurants you'll find, because it's a major sportfishing destination, so be ready to chow down when you get there. Little Gasparilla Island If you're up for a longer road trip from the Coral Springs area in your Infiniti, head to the Gulf Coast, specifically the Gulf Island Chain. Little Gasparilla Island is a tiny and extremely secluded island. Find a luxurious vacation rental and enjoy a weekend on an island that doesn't even have traffic. Don't worry about being far from civilization; Boca Grande and the mainland are very close by. Delray Beach Between Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale is Delray Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that's much quieter than the two tourist destinations bracketing it. Delray Beach has spectacular dunes, sea grapes galore, and lots of space on the sand to stretch out on your towel under your umbrella. The town is small and chic, with local flair and some great restaurants. Everglades Safari Park Drive to Everglades Safari Park to spend a day or two seeing the animals of the Everglades and learning about the fascinating habitat and ecosystem. Take an airboat ride, see some alligators, or sign up for a private tour. Stay on either side of the Everglades each night, either in a Miami resort on the Atlantic side, or on Marco Island on the Gulf side, which boasts several luxury resorts. Warm Mineral Springs Visiting the springs for Floridians is like going to the top of the Empire State Building for New Yorkers: one of those touristy things nobody gets around to. Though the springs may seem like a tourist trap, taking a weekend visit and staying in a surrounding resort means a weekend of pampering and luxury. Warm Mineral Springs is located in North Port, and it's the warmest of the springs in Central Florida, which means it's great for swimming, even in winter. Take a break from life for a weekend, and take advantage of some of the beautiful destinations Florida has to offer. This popular vacation state isn't all tourists, so you can still find a quiet resort, a beautiful patch of beach, or a fun time at the Everglades. Pack up your beach gear, hop in your Infiniti, and get driving!
