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Tips on how to avoid being scammed by your mechanic

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Each year, over one-fourth of Americans report being dissatisfied with their repairs from a mechanic, with costs being the biggest source of satisfaction, followed by improper repairs. In fact, unnecessary car repair is consistently ranked among of highest causes of consumer complaints in the United States, and repair costs have been estimated to be in the tens of billions- even as high as $40 billion. These expenses pile up on top of all the other costs of owning a car. Owning a car can cost an average of $9,122 for sedans (which comes out to 60.8 cents per mile over the vehicle’s lifespan) to $9,795 for a minivan (65.3 cents per mile) to $11,599 for an SUV (77.3 cents per mile). Maintenance costs increase the cost of owning a car even more; upkeep cost Americans an average of 4.97 cents per mile in 2013, equivalent to about $750 per year. Interestingly, these hundreds of dollars of repairs stem from the same few areas of your car. Your engine, for example, is the most importan

6 Budget-Friendly Organization Ideas for Small Spaces

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It seems as though we need more items than ever to accomplish our daily activities, but if you live in a small space, all those items can quickly become an organizational nightmare. Quantum Storage understands that getting organized is about more than having a place to put things; it is a state of mind that can lead to a harmonious, happy home. These 6 ideas will help you stay organized while keeping your budget happy, too. 1. Go Vertical When you incorporate vertical storage in your design theme, you greatly increase your potential storage space. For example, toys can be hung in nets in the corner of a bedroom. In the kitchen, opt for magnetic spice containers and store them on the side of the fridge to clear up entire shelves in the cupboard. 2. Drawer Organizers For small items in drawers, make or buy organizers so that you can keep things in their place. This gives you easier access and often frees up space as things find a place to belong. Cardboard can be

Kid Disasters: 4 Tips for Getting the Kid Stains Out

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Parents with small children often find themselves with stains and messes to clean up. Right when a new outfit goes on the baby, stains are sure to appear shortly. Many parents can resonate with this concept, since children are not the tidiest of people. The following tips are sure to make a parent’s life easier, since they help treat every day stains that are common to children. Wet Wipes Keeping wet wipes around is very important when you have small children. A mess is bound to be made, and a moistened wipe often works better than a dry one. Picking up any excess residue with a wet wipe and immediately blotting the area lightly is a good step to take. This can be especially helpful during a trip outside the house, where washing in the laundry is not possible. Immediate Stain Treatment Immediately treating the stain produces the best results. Food stains can be sprayed with water with a paper towel behind the stain. Rinsing a fresh stain with cold water normally removes

5 Design Secrets of World Class Interior Designers

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When interior designers are trying to make homes and businesses look their best, they use the five tricks listed below. Designers know how to make the most of a space, and they know how to create the illusion that a space is larger and more illustrious than it actually is. You can use any of the five steps below to change the interior of your space today. White Walls The color of your walls make a huge impact on a room’s visual appeal, but the color of the walls also use help give the house a sense of scale and lighting. The largest houses seem large because they have pristine white walls and shadows created by light fixtures and pictures. If you are an art collector, using white walls also allows you to display your pieces much better.  There is simply no better alternative to going with white as your background. This is the same reason why art galleries always go with white backdrops. Plaster The plaster on the walls can create a feeling like the people in the house are