Still trying to pare down your household budget? Here’s an option you might not have considered—doing more of the regular maintenance on your car.

The idea can be a little intimidating—even scary—for some. The website, womens-finance.com, reports that one-third of women have some sort of “car-phobia” when it comes to servicing their cars.

You’ve learned DIY for your home, so why not for your vehicle? We’re not talking about a brake relining, but simple things that not only can cut your service expenses but also extend the life of your car, save on gas and keep you and your family safer on the road. Here are seven tips to get you started:

Making sure you and your family are safe on the road this winter is of course a high priority, but who has the time to think about this, let alone do what needs to be done? 

Don’t fret. Taking action doesn’t have to be all that complicated or time-consuming. Do you ever use those so-called “30-Minute Meal” recipes? Here’s the winter driving tips version: 10 simple and easy-to-follow precautions you can take to be better prepared—come snow, rain or shine.

Remember Your Sunglasses

The glare of the sun reflecting off snow or ice can be more blinding.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

Did you know that, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, each 10-degree drop in temperature will cause your tires to lose one pound of pressure? Check yours regularly, especially when arctic blasts arrive. 

Every mom knows that “prep time” isn’t just for meals. You juggle schedules and parental responsibilities for your kids’ time at school, music or dance lessons, team practices and other activities. And unless you’re a famous Hollywood actress, you’re probably not lucky enough to have a personal assistant (though you could use one!).

So with the holidays just around the corner, you’ll be on double-duty; maybe even triple-duty if you’re planning a road trip. What should you put on your to-do list for your upcoming trip? Here are some tips to help you before and during your holiday travels.

Remember me and my story this Holiday Season. Buckle Up and Say No to Buzzed Driving !!!

We left for home Thanksgiving day in the twilight, filled with Grandma Cleo’s cooking, lots of hugs and our heads filled with family stories shared in laughter.

The drive on Palmdale Highway 138, a two land undivided road, was lined with cars coming and going like bumper cars. I always hated this part of the drive and kept checking my speed to stay at 55 MPH, which was not my normal routine driving practice.

After about ten minutes,  feeling overly cautious, I looked over at my son in the front passenger seat and noticed his seatbelt was not fastened and sharply told him to “Put on your seatbelt, NOW!”, and glanced over my shoulder to make sure my other son was buckled up!”

Thirty seconds later a small car driven by a drunken women with five children, only one two year old in a restraint system, swerved from the oncoming traffic right in front of me. There was no way to avoid the accident. I slammed on my brakes to attempt to stop in time. Her oncoming speed and my oncoming speed were equal to at least 110 miles an hour. Not enough time to stop.

That moment of impact will be imbedded in my soul forever. Three of the five children were killed instantly. The woman driver killed her only daughter and two of her sister’s children. The driver (She) survived along with the two year old in the car seat and one other young boy cousin.

A frosty chill in the morning air. Dark clouds on the horizon. A tingly feeling in your bones. Whatever the signal, you don’t have to be a weatherman to know that before some snarky storms soon will be heading your way.

When the weather outside turns frightful, driving is anything but delightful. Rain, snow, sleet and fog all affect road conditions, visibility and the performance of drivers and their vehicles. Luckily, there are some time-tested tactics you can take to keep yourself safe behind the wheel during inclement weather.

Did you hear about alligators living in the sewers of New York City? How about the dangers of consuming soda and Pop Rocks? Of course, you know these ridiculous urban legends are completely untrue.

But consider this: If those alligators were tooling around town in a brand new red convertible, would they be paying higher premiums for their auto insurance? No, but many people may think otherwise.

You’re not alone if you thought that was true, as many people have preconceived notions about auto insurance that don’t match up with the facts. While these “myths” don’t stir up primal fears, they can prevent you from making smart buying decisions—or even from getting the discounts you deserve. So let’s debunk the top five now:

Dreaming of the perfect summer getaway? You can see it now: Cruising on the open road, strolling on the beach or camping under the stars—but a trip to the ER or getting stranded at a service station? That’s definitely not part of the plan! Below are six pre-road safety tips to make sure nothing spoils your summer trip.

You’re ready for a new car. Great! But for every one friend who says buying a car is the way to go, you have another one telling you to lease. What to do?

Leasing is on the rise—more than one in four consumers now lease their ride in the U.S., and the number of women who lease is growing. LeaseTrader reports that 51.2 percent of the website’s current luxury car leasers under 30 are women—an almost eight percent increase from the prior year. And, more women are leasing cars overall. While leasing is on the rise for women, the question is—is it right for you?

At AskPatty, we keep a keen eye on social media as it relates to the auto industry, and it looks like we're not the only ones. Social media is an interesting venue - success here is not gained by spending money on ads - the big gains here come from out-thinking, not outspending.  So how are the big automakers doing in this new arena? This infographic courtesy of CarInsurance.org breaks it down for you.  It's pretty large, so allow it some time to load.  Hit the jump to be enlightened!