Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
Your tip this week is a little tricky. It will save you money, but you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. Possibly really dirty! Changing your own oil might be more for the mechanically inclined, but I believe everyone can learn how. It’s a handy thing to know how to do, even if you never plan on doing it yourself. But if you do want to save some cash, it’s definitely something to consider.
The How:
You’ll need some supplies: oil, specialized wrench for your vehicle, and a drip pan {a discarded kitty litter tray works great!}. There will be an upfront cost to buy the right tools, but the money you save will more than make up for it.
Once you’ve gathered you’re supplies, hit YouTube. You can type in “How to change the oil in a Honda Accord {or fill in your car type}” and BOOM: instant knowledge. The videos will walk you through step by step on how to drain it, replace it, etc.
You will need to discard your yucky oil properly, but most auto part stores will take it for no charge.
The Why:
While I might sometimes choose convenience over DIY, I think the knowledge is so important. Being self sufficient is so important, and changing your oil is one piece of that. I’d much rather have the knowledge and never need it, than need it and not have it.
Another big perk is the cost factor. Depending on your vehicle type, an oil change can run you anywhere from $30-$100. Let’s say you change your oil every 3 months, that could add up to some pretty significant saving through the year, even after factoring in the cost of your own oil, etc.
Plus, there’s the satisfaction of getting your hands dirty! I like to dig in the dirt and I know how satisfying that feeling is. I suspect many will feel the same way about a little elbow grease.
The Alternative:
So maybe you’re all about the convenience of a shop oil change or you simply have no desire to crawl under your car. Or maybe you have an older make or model and an oil change is pretty dang cheap. There are still a few ways to save some serious cash when getting a professional oil change.
1. Skip the extras. Sometimes that smiling mechanic will upsell the heck out of every add-on imaginable. Just say no! Most of the time, what they are suggesting is not essential.
2. Ignore the “every 3,000 miles” nonsense. Every mechanic I know says that is some crazy myth and it’s not necessary. Most newer cars will tell you when it’s needed with some indicator lights, but older vehicles don’t even need an oil change every 3 months or 3,000 miles. You can cut costs by more than 50% if you decrease your frequency to a recommended 5,000-7,500 miles or more.
3. Look for coupons. I see so many oil change coupons in my mailbox, online and in the newspaper. Snag them for some pretty significant savings.
How Much Can You Save: $400/year per vehicle minus costs. The average household has 2+ vehicles so a possible $800+/year minus costs.
Do you change your own oil? If not, why do you prefer to take your car in?
~Mavis
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
$1.99
$2.99
$0.99
Free
Free
$1.99
How this all started
