Are you planning a vacation in the near future and plan on bringing your pet?  When taking a driven vacation there are many things on a person’s mind.  There is always a worry about forgetting something, not locking up the house or forgetting to run a certain errand beforehand.  Vacations are meant for a time to relax and a time to get away.  You don’t want to spend your vacation time worrying about these silly little things when you’re gone.  To make things a little easier and one less thing to worry about check out the check list below.  What items do you need for your pet?

Items to bring for your pet on vacation:

• Pet food.
• Pet treats.
• A seat belt to keep them safely buckled in the car.
• Pet bed.
• Pet leash.
• Water and food bowls.
• Any necessary pet medications.
• Pet carriers.
• Pet toys.

You may question the item “seat belt”.  If you’re unaware of a pet seat belt, be sure to check them out online.  They are just like a real seat belt you find in the car.  You simply hook the seat belt up to the car’s seat belt.  Once you have it hooked up to the seat belt you want to attach the pet seat belt to your pet’s harness.  Having a seat belt for your pet is one of the best things you can do for your pet.  You want to make sure they are safe at all time when riding in the car.  Also try to never let your pet ride in the front seat.  Buckle them in in the back seat just like your child.

As you can see there a lot of little things to bring for your pet!  It’s almost like packing for another person like yourself.  To make your vacations run more smoothly be sure to check off all the items on the check list above to avoid any hassles and forgotten items.  You don’t want your little pet to suffer because of forgetting a certain item.

When planning a vacation a common question usually pops up, “Should we drive or fly?”  Vacations are a great time to get away from home, enjoy new scenery, and relax.  To make sure you’re vacation runs as smoothly as possible you want to make sure you choose the right decision for your transportation.  Show which one should you consider?  There are many pros and cons for both.  Need some ideas to help decide?  Read below and find out what would work best for you!

Driving -

Pros:

• You usually get to take your time.
• You get to see all the nice scenery.
• You see more cities and exciting places you normally wouldn’t when flying.
• It may be a first time to go to/drive through a new state.
• It’s a nice way to spend family time.
• May be cheaper depending on where you’re going.

Cons:

• May shorten your vacation if it’s for a limited time.
• May be more expensive depending on gas (how far your drive is and spending the night at hotels).
• A long car ride if you don’t like riding in a car.
• Uncomfortable car rides
• Traffic jams

Flying –

Pros:

• Takes less time than driving usually.
• May be cheaper depending on how far away it is.
• More time to spend in your destination spot.
• No driving required.
• No unnecessary spending (food, gas, hotels).

Cons:

• May be more expensive depending on the flight and how far away it is.
• You may get plane sick.
• You have to deal with getting a ride to the airport.
• Spending time at the airport.
• Delayed flights.
• No parking
• Traffic crowds

Choosing whether you want to drive to your vacation spot or fly can change your whole trip.  Think about your situation, how much you want to spend, and how long you have to vacation.  Go over the pros and cons to help make your decision.

Is it time to buy a new vehicle?  If so you may be wondering whether or not you should lease a vehicle or buy a vehicle in the near future.  There are many advantages and disadvantages to both, which makes the decision hard. 

First, you want to ask yourself who the car is for.  If you are buying for a teenager it is usually a good idea to buy instead of lease.  Since they are a new driver it is always a worry they may crash a brand new car through a lease.  You want to give your teenager time to adjust and feel comfortable driving on the road.

What if you’re not buying for a teenager and you’re buying for yourself?  Buying or leasing a vehicle can go either way.  If you need to make a decision fast and you’re unsure about it try writing out the pros and cons for both leasing and buying.  Need some ideas?  Read below to find out some ideas for disadvantages when it comes to buying a vehicle.

Disadvantages for buying a vehicle –

Outdated – Many people today like the new features and technology that comes out year to year.  If you are one of them, you make not want to buy a vehicle.  Your car will soon become outdated since there are many ideas for the future.  If you’re not one to really care about features and technologies you don’t have to worry about this one!

Mileage goes up – Once you buy you start to watch all the miles you put on your vehicle.  When you have a lease there is usually a certain amount you can’t go past but after you turn it in it doesn’t affect you.  If you want to make money on your vehicle in the future it may be hard due to mileage.

Selling – If it comes time for selling you will have to do all the work to sell it.  When you lease a vehicle they take care of all the work after you turn it in. 

Maintenance – When you own a vehicle you have to make sure you keep up with all the maintenance over the years yourself.  If you have problems there usually aren’t warranties like a lease.  This can call for a huge payment in the future.  Ask yourself if you’re okay with taking charge of the vehicle now.

Money upfront – When you purchase a vehicle the payment up front is usually more.  Although it’s not always that way it usually is.  If you don’t have a lot of money to start off, leasing is the way to go.  Many dealers approve even if you have no money down or if they do require money it’s usually no more than a thousand.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to buying a vehicle.  Buying a new car is one of the most expensive payments you’ll ever have.  Buying a new car is close to buying a house.  You want to make sure you make the right decisions and keep all the pros and cons in mind!

When it comes to the time of buying a new vehicle the question “Should I lease or buy” usually comes to mind.  There are many advantages and disadvantages to both.  To help you decide whether you should buy or lease a vehicle the best suggestion is to write out the benefits and negative aspects of both.  Need some help?  Read below to help you make a decision. 

Leasing –

Pros:

• You get a new vehicle every couple years.
• There is no damage from a previous owner.
• You get to keep up with the new technology and features that come out.
• It’s not yours so you don’t have to worry about selling it.
• Less money for a down payment usually.

Cons:

• Best/most expensive insurance required.
• Limited mileage plan usually.
• You’ll never see the money for the lease again.
• It’s not yours.
• You’re stuck with the lease until it ends.

Buying a vehicle -

Pros:

• The vehicle is now yours.
• You can customize anything you want.
• Unlimited mileage.
• Don’t need the best insurance – lower payments.
• You can sell later for money.

Cons:

• The vehicle becomes outdated over time.
• You have to keep up with more maintenance.
• You have to worry about selling it yourself if you wanna get rid of it.
• Usually bigger payments up front.

Making the decision of whether you want to lease a vehicle or buy one is a huge decision.  There are many pros and cons to both but even then it is a hard decision.  Look at your lifestyle to see what would work best for you.  Keep in mind what you like in vehicles to help make your decision easier.  Do you want to own a vehicle or do you not want to worry about handling all of that?  Do you like new features that come out in the future or do you not care?  There is a lot to ask yourself to help make your decision.  Read of the pros and cons and see what out ways the other one.  Good luck!

With so many auto shows going on around the world, I put together a list of all the top auto shows and where you can find more information on them, along with the dates these auto shows generally run.

Chicago Auto Show- Located in Chicago, Illinois, this show is generally ran in mid-February at the McCormick Place.

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America.  In 2009, the Chicago Auto Show will be holding it’s 100th show, the most held shows related to automobiles in North America.  Here, you’re going to find over 1,000 vehicles that range from SUVs to compact cars from every leading manufacture.

Detroit Auto Show- Located in Detroit, Michigan, this auto show is ran in mid January at Cobo Hall.

Since 1907, the Detroit Auto show has grown to one of the biggest auto shows in the world.  Held at the Cobo Hall center in Detroit, the Detroit Auto Show features cars from leading car companies such as Toyota, Honda, and others.  No matter what kind of car you’re looking for, the NAIAS will have it.

LA Auto Show- Located in Los Angeles, California, this auto show is held in late November at the LA Convention Center.

Since 1907, the LA Auto Show has been catering to thousands of car consumers each year.  The LA Auto Show is held at the Convention Center and is now held in November.  This show used to be held in January but recently LA changed it to November, so that it wasn’t in the shadow of the Detroit Auto Show.

New York Auto Show- Located in New York, New York, this show is held in mid April at the Javits Center.

Possibly the most attended auto show out of them all, the New York Auto houses more than one million people over the span of the show, which is held in mid April.  The New York Auto show houses all major car companies such as GM and Toyota with just about every car imaginable.  Here, you’ll be able to be hands-on, where you can sit and try out the car.