One of the best ways to save money on buying a car is to buy a used one. That doesn’t mean you should buy something that is a clapped out old rust-bucket. This will only cost you more in the long run for repairs. But if you buy a used car that is in good condition, then you’ll be ahead by at least half the new purchase price plus the interest you would have paid on the loan.

Another way to save on buying a car is to buy it at the end of the month, but never wait until then to show up. Salesmen have a monthly quota to sell and if they haven’t filled it they’ll be desperate to do so - to the point that you may not be able to resist their sales ploys. After all, they are trained to sell - you’re not trained to resist.  While the end of the month is a good time to buy, you should be smart and show up mid-month, take away all the details, get your own financing and then go back towards the end of the month.

Once you have that car home, you’ll need to look after it. Keeping it under cover will extend its life both inside and outside. Rust will soon appear in a car that’s kept on the street and the high temperatures inside will fade and wear out the dash and seats. Always have regular tune-ups done as these will increase the life of the engine and save on costly repairs. It’s not hard to learn how to check the air filter; it should be done every month. Clean it by blowing out the junk with an air hose or replace it altogether. A clean air filter will save on the cost of fuel consumption by up to 10%.

Steel-belted radial tires will also save about the same on fuel consumption. Find out what the inflation pressure should be and check it regularly. Under-inflated tires can cost you another 6% in fuel consumption. Making sure your tires are properly balanced will increase their life by preventing unnecessary tread wear.

Keep your car hydrated with the fluids it needs. Battery, radiator, clutch, automatic transmission and brake fluids all need to be checked. To save money running your car, always buy the correct gas and other fluids for it. If the engine was built to run on regular gas then use it, not something else.

The way you drive is also important for fuel economy. If you start off by stamping on the accelerator you will use much more gas than easing smoothly into your preferred speed. Driving with one foot on the brake will tend to wear out those brake pads faster then needed, while holding your foot down on the clutch - e.g. at the traffic lights - in a manual car, will cause it to wear out quickly.