Put money back in your pocket by slashing your automotive costs. You can save thousands of dollars a year by applying these money-saving measures.

1. Buy a good quality car. Cars depreciate quickly and you lose money on the trade-in when you replace your car frequently.

2. Be informed before you make the purchase or sign a lease. Get the facts online by visiting automobile- related websites. Specifications for the different car models are available at auto dealers' websites.

3. Shop at the end of the month. Salesmen are anxious to make a sale or lease a car at the end of the month to meet their quota.

4. If possible, delay shopping for a car until January. It's usually the slowest month for car sales. I didn't realize this until I needed a car by the end of the month of January a few years ago. My friend, who is a car broker, let me in on this secret. I waited to negotiate until the end of January and got a fantastic deal!

5. Shop around. Check out at least four car dealers for written car price quotes.

6. Calculate potential costs such as repairs and fuel efficiency. Parts for foreign cars can be very expensive. Also, the fuel consumption for a smaller car is more economical.

7. Look up a car's reliability record. D'ont make an emotional decision. You may love the car's appearance, but it may have a poor performance record. You can find ratings on car models in a car buying guide.

8. Inquire about rebates. An offer of a rebate may be the determing factor in your decision to choose one car over another.

9. Buying a used car without a warrenty? Have a mechanic, that you trust, examine the car. It will prevent you from being stuck with a "lemon".

10. Once you've narrowed down your choice to two cars, negotiate with the dealers by letting them know that you will only choose the best deal. D'ont look too interested in the car.

11. Don't rush to buy extended warrenties or service contracts on new cars through your dealer. Make sure that what they're offering is not very limited.

12. Read the contract carefully! Look over all the details of the contract so that you are aware of all the costs. Take your time because once you sign the contract for your new car, you are obligated to buy the car.

13. Once you have the car in you're possession, you can reduce your car-related expenses by doing the following:

-Compare gas prices. Check the price at different gas stations in your area. Determine which one offers a lower price consistently and stick to them.

-When choosing a mechanic, find one that is well-established or recommended by someone you know. See if he's up-front about repair costs & options.
In that way, you won't throw your money away on poor-quality car repairs.

-Join a car pool. By sharing the driving, you save money on gasoline and cut maintenance costs.

-Take public transportation. If you are heading to an area where parking is difficult and costly, leave your car at a train or subway station. Go by public transportation. The price of the ticket will be much less than the cost of parking in a lot for hours or all day.

-Maintain your car. Having regular maintenance checks & oil changes will extend the life of your car and save you money on gasoline. A poorly-tuned car can cause you to waste money on gasoline.

-Balance your tires once a year. This can add thousands of miles to the life of your tires and prevent damage to your suspension system.

-Fill up with the lowest-possible octaine gasoline. Unless recommended by the car manufacturer because of a high-performance engine, do not fill up with premium gas.

-Check the tire pressure once a month. For every pound, under the recommended pressure, you can lose up to 5% in gas mileage.

-Drive smoothly. Unless you accelerate slowly from a full stop, you can increase your fuel consumption. Also, more gas is consumed when driving fast. Maintain a steady speed on the highway.

-Pay attention to road signs and drive within the speed limit. Don't waste your money on moving violation tickets. Be alert and you'll also reduce your chance of a car accident.

-Read the parking signs. Paying for parking tickets is like throwing money out the window.

-Turn on the airconditioner only when necessary. It might be cool enough by keeping your car windows open.

-Planning to drive a short distance. Why not walk or bicycle instead. You save money on gas and it's better for your health.

-Listen to traffic reports on the car radio. Avoid heavy traffic and other delays.

-Do you need the rack on top of the car? Take it off if you're not using it. Adds unnecessary weight to the car.

-Clean out your car trunk. We tend to forget about the trunk's contents. Heavy items weigh down the car, causing reduced gas mileage.

-Do you use your vehicle for business-related trips? You can be eligible for a tax deduction. Don't forget to consider this when filing your taxes.

-Don't want to wash the car yourself. Many car washes have senior discount days or you can purchase a yearly discount book with coupons to be used once a month.