My wife has a crazy idea that we should just rent a car when we get to Bohol. She wants me to drive them around the island visiting all the important places. The thing is, I am not familiar with the roads and the important places that we want to visit are not clearly marked on maps. A gps tomtom might help, but being a province I doubt I’ll even get GPS response. So for now, I will have to say no, and just get a country side tour package.

I went with my dad to take his car for a change oil. Instead of the entire process ending within an hour, it took us hours because of a few simple mistakes on the part of the technician and my dad. Its not as complicated as changing thrust bearings, the mistake was in getting the write oil filter model. Which meant that we had to go to the store a second time to buy the right model…

The word “Traffic” is alive again in my social network. Most of my friends are probably stuck in the crazy December traffic. I’m not sure why but last year, I did feel the wrath of December traffic – it was crazy, main roads turn into slow moving car parks!

Malls are probably to blame because of the many great shopping deals and discounts they offer. They even offer deals that can match home depot coupons in terms of savings. However people do not save anything – its just an illusion. What happens is the customer will simply spend the “saved” money onto something else.

Thankfully I am now working at home and far from heavy traffic at the comfort of my own house.

I recently finished processing my car registration at the LTO office last July, and it was such a breeze.

Here are a few things that I figured out which could help car registrants:

- Set aside some money before hand for your car registration, don’t wait for salary to register, the reason will be explained by the next items.

- Pick the best date to register, I have learned through experience that the best date to register is around 3 to  4 days before payday.  I had a hunch that people register right after they get their salaries, so when I tried this method, it  was no surprise that I didn’t have to wait or fall in line at all.

- If you don’t want long lines and wait time, avoid registering your car on or right after paydays.

- Car problems should have been fixed before the registration date.

- Check your LTO car registration requirements (you will need to xerox some documents) the day before your schedule, and double check on the actual day to be sure that you have everything you need.  It usually is just the old/original registration.

- Get to the LTO office nearest you at an early time or right after lunch to avoid rush hour.

- Be attentive at the LTO office and ask the tellers or guards when not sure.

- Follow the instructions, first someone will get the “sketch” of your engine details. Then you will fill up a form and pay for the car Wholesale Insurance. Next step will be the smoke test, after that you just have to wait for a few minutes to pay the fee

- Finally you are done with registration.

Our friend is thinking of transferring to a mobile home. He has already raised his children and has now since retired. His wife has passed away a few years back. He feels so alone in his big house now that all his kids have a family of their own. A motorhome is ideal for someone like him so he started looking for one a second hand vehicle. A second hand motorhome can be as reliable as a brand new one especially if it was taken good care of by the previous owner. Paying for motorhome repair once it gets broken will still be cheaper than paying for a brand new. I advised my friend to check the vehicle carefully before purchasing or better yet buy from someone he trusts.

Because of a difficult financial climate, people have been looking for cheaper car insurance options. However, it must be mentioned that a cheap auto insurance quote may not necessarily mean that you are getting the best deal for your money.

When buying car insurance, there are two important factors that you must take into consideration, namely 1) the rates that you are going to pay annually (also known as the premiums) and 2) the terms of coverage of the policy.

Many reputable insurance companies and consumer welfare agencies have websites that offer car insurance quotes. By filling out an online form with pertinent data about your car and your financial capabilities, you are provided with a list of insurance companies that can provide you with coverage based on the amount that you are capable of paying annually.

It is not enough, however, to know the quote. The next step is to know the terms of the policy. While some policies offer cheap premiums, the coverage is woefully insufficient to cover damages and parts/total vehicle replacement in the event of accidents, calamities (such as flood or hail), and theft. One way to get good coverage and more affordable premiums is by checking the terms for discountable factors. These would include having a good driving history, being a student driver (supposedly student drivers are more careful on the road and are unlike to get into any fender benders), the location where the car is being driven has well-paved roads (thus minimizing damage to the car), and the installation of safety and security devices, such as air bags and car alarms.

Always remember that cheap may not necessarily be the best when buying car insurance. Make sure to get auto insurance quotes to be able to compare rates and then study the terms of the policies for adequate coverage and discounts.