Probably not a day goes by that there is not something that needs fixed in your home or on one of your vehicles. Repair expenses can destroy a budget. For example an appliance repair person may charge $50 to $75 just to come to your home for the service call. They tell you we will apply the service charge to the total cost of the repair if additional service is needed. The family knows there is something wrong, so when the person finds the problem, they tell you the cost will be , for example $300 for a washing machine pump. If you look on line that pump can be purchased wholesale for about $85. A way to get around the repair person from inflating the cost of parts is to order them yourself and just pay the repair person for the time they spend installing it. It is easy to see what they are doing they give you credit on the $300 for the service call, say $60, that leaves $240 , and the part probably costs them less than the $85 you could get the part for, so they are getting $155 or more for their labor cost performing the service.

An example on car repairs. We have a 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe with a 3.5 engine. Yesterday when I parked the car in our driveway I noticed the brake lights stayed on and I could not get them to turn off. I went to YouTube and put in “Brake lights on 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe will not go off.” I saw several YouTube presentations on what was wrong , they all said it is an easy fix and showed you how to fix it. It said the brake light switch has gone out and needs to be replaced. It showed where it was and how to remove it and replace it. It explained how that switch also prevented the cruise control and shifting mechanism will also be affected and not work properly. I had noticed I could not set the cruise control yesterday when I was driving to my place in the country. Then I noticed there had been a recall on that model and year of Hyundai. I got the recall number and called a dealer. When I gave them the information they said my car had already been taken in to get the switch replaced in 2013 in Ohio. The dealer said we will do a diagnostic on your car for $149.95 and find out what the problem is. I told the serviceman I know what the problem is , all I want is a brake light switch replaced. The serviceman said , “Oh you do not want to play by the rules, I will have them install the switch, but if that does not fix the problem , we will charge you whatever it takes to find and fix the problem, it will cost you more.” I ask the serviceman if they could do the work today? He said it will will be a week or so before we can do the work. I thanked him and told him I would find someone else to do the job. I have a mechanic in Mesa, Arizona I have used that worked for Honda for many years in Ohio that is very good that I will have install the brake light switch. I called and left a message for the mechanic but decided to try pumping the brakes and letting the peddle pop out. After a few times I got the brake lights to turn off, I drove the car and tried the cruise control and it was working , and it was shifting normal. Hopefully the problem with the switch does not reoccur. At any rate YouTube is a great source for information when you have auto problems. There are also mechanics that have ads when you do a problem search for a particular car model. The mechanics advertise and show their feedback and ask if you would like them to diagnose the problem, they show the amount they want to charge you for their advice. Then you decide if you want to use their services or not.

Appliances such as washers and dryers also have many YouTube videos on how to fix a particular problem. There are lots of videos on how to repair many different brands of bicycles on YouTube. There are videos on TV problems and the possible problems and repair on YouTube. There are many videos with music that can be listened to and some can be downloaded free of charge on YouTube. YouTube has their own television lineup with a large number of available channels and programming for about $50 a month.

Getting familiar with YouTube can save your family a lot of money over time rather than always going to a dealer or calling a repair person.

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