7 Tips for Saving Money on Car Rentals

Renting cars does not have to be as expensive as you'd imagine and sometimes you can a great deal just by working with the car rental companies systems to get the best deal you can without compromising on the service you receive.

Car Rental companies have many complex operations and fees that they need to take into account when setting their rental charges so, if you know what these are and how to avoid them, you can get a car rental, very similar to the one you ideally want , at a greatly reduced price.

Follow these simple tips and use as many of them as you can while still getting the rental you need and you should be able to save a lot of money on your next car rental.

- Picking a Car up at the Airport

Car Rental companies have to pay what's called an "Airport Concession Fee" for all the cars they rent from their airport locations. This is basically a charge made by the Airport to the rental company to allow them to rent cars from the Airport. Obviously the rental companies pass this on to their customers, so if there's a rental location close to the Airport you can use, you could save money by booking there instead.

- Book the Most Popular Car Group

Car Rental companies have to manage a complex stock system to make sure they've got the right cars in the right places at the right time. The more popular the car group, the more difficult it is for them to maintain stock. Generally, if they do not have the car you booked they'll give you a free upgrade. This is because the larger, more expensive cars do not get booked as much as the smaller cheaper cars. If you book the smallest car that is acceptable to you, there's always a good chance of getting a free upgrade if you're picking it up at a busy time.

- Book Well in Advance

Because it's much easier to forecast how many cars they need if they've got all their bookings in advance, the car rental companies will very often have their cheapest rates loaded for rates well in advance, so book your car as soon as you know your travel dates and save more.

- Always Get a Discount Code

Apart from during peak periods (Christmas, Easter and the height of Summer), you should always able to get some kind of discount code, although you might have to hunt around a little to find it. Always check the terms of the offers as often, even though an offer may say it's for a weekend rental, you could still use the offer for other times. It's worth searching a little to find one.

- Watch Your Collection and Return Times

Another trick to watch out for is that most rental companies charge daily rates. That means if you pick up a car at 10am and take it back at 11am the next day you'll get charged for 2 days rental. Wherever possible try and ensure that your return time is always the same, or preferably just before your collection time. This way you'll never get charged the extra day.

- Where Possible, Book When They've Got Too Many Cars

If your travel plans are reasonably open try and book when they've got too many cars and you could land yourself an absolute bargain. Book just after Christmas and you could find that all the cars that have just been returned are very cheap to book. In car rental terms, a car sat in their car park is a huge cost and they'd rather let you have it very cheaper than just have it sitting there.

- Always Ask for More

The one golden rule to bear in mind is to always ask for more, the worst they can do is say no. When you get to the counter always ask if they have any free upgrades. Often, this prompt may be all they need to remember that they can not shift that big Mercedes out the back, and if you had it, they would not have to worry about it anymore!

Each one of these tips should save you some money the next time you rent a car. If you can combine all 7 of them into one rental, you'll be amazed by how little you need to pay to drive a very nice car for your rental!

GMC Trucks - 100 Years of Heavy-Duty Trucks

History of GMC Trucks

When it comes to trucks, GMC is known the world over for its production of a variety of trucks from service trucks and commercial vehicles to pickup trucks. It had its beginnings with a commercial hauling truck company created in 1902 by Max Grabowsky called the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company.

Seven years later, General Motors bought out Grabowsky's business because they wanted to form their own trucking company, which was called General Motors Truck Company. They added Reliance Motors to their inventory in 1911, and in 1912 GMC (General Motors Corporation) Trucks was born out of those two acquisitions.

GMC - The Early Years

GMC produced a mere 372 trucks out of the nationwide total of 22,000 trucks that first year, which pales in comparison to the millions of commercial vehicles they produce today. An interesting note though is that GMC was a forerunner in battery-powered electric model trucks and made nine different models varying from one-half to six tons capacity.

In an effort to bring up their popularity, GMC Trucks put on a public stunt in 1916 featuring one of their truck models. William Warwick drve a loaded GMC 1-1 / 2-ton truck from Seattle to New York and back, making it the very first truck to cross the entire USA in less than 32 days.

GMC During World War I

The venture may have worked, as that same year the Army went with t ton GMC trucks as part of their fleet of vehicles. In fact, WWI bought major breakthroughs for their business, as 90 percent of all its production was bought by the military from 1917 and 1919. GMC delivered 8,500 vehicles to the Army during those years.

GMC Trucks After World War I

The next few years bought more innovation in the GMC Truck production as pneumatic tires replaced solid rubber tires in 1920, and their K model trucks came out that year as well with a capacity between and and five tons. The following year electric lights replaced what had been oil lamps as standard gear on all trucks as well and seven speed transmissions became the standard for heavyweight trucks.

By 1923, GMC trucks had capacities ranged up to 10 tons if you count the trailer. Rear wheel brakes were starting to be used on some models by 1925.The company expanded by 1927 when they built a truck assembly plant in Pontiac, Michigan which was the largest truck building plant in the world then at 26 acres of property.

That same year the company bought out their T model of trucks with a t ton panel express truck and a screen side express truck and "Cannon Ball" Baker drve a T model 40 GMC tank truck full of water from the Atlantic Ocean all the way from New York to San Francisco in under six days, which set a speed record for heavy-duty trucks.

GMC continued its innovative strategies when it started providing tandem driving rear axles for their heavyweight service trucks in 1930 and the following year it was a GMC T-95 model truck that filled a refrigerated GMC trailer full of fresh produce from Los Angeles to New York, setting another record.

Between 1931 and 1940 GMC Trucks were producing more than 20 models of truck trailer chassis, 15 new models of different weight trucks, and it had added several models of heavy weight trucks to its lines.

GMC During World War II

The next war also seemed to benefit GMC as their production numbers continued to escalate with all of its trucks going to the war effort by 1942. GMC built 600,000 trucks during this time frame for the military. In fact, GMC trucks were presented the E Award for Excellence in 1944 because of its help in the war effort.

GMC After the War

The company was back to making trucks for the civil market by then, but had some issues with a six-month long strike by its workers in 1946 that briefly slowed things down. Even so, by 1950 it proudly had 75 models of trucks going through its production lines.

In 1954 GMC Trucks offered power steering for the first time on some models and in 1956 tubeless tires were standard, and they were the first to put air suspension on front and rear axles on some of their heavy weight model trucks.

GMC Trucks continues to Grow

Between the 50s and the 60s GMC larger even larger and by 1968 they were considered the third largest truck producer in the world. Once again they prospered in the war effort and produced more than 9,000 trucks for the military in 1951. They were M-135 series that had the ability to ford deep water, so being very useful for military operations.

The company again showed how GMC was first in implementing innovative features when in 1967 they produced trucks with energy absorbing steering columns, instrument panel pads and dual brake systems well before they were required by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

GMC Trucks Between 1970 and 2012

GMC continued its truck production over the next several decades, weathering many difficulties changes in production lines, increasing production costs, competition from foreign companies, problems with the fuel shortages in the middle 1970s and deregulation and recession issues in 1980s. The problems were so severe, that some trucking companies went out of business. The production plant in Pontiac was also torn down in late 1980s and the production was moved to Janesville, Wisconsin.

GMC's high points include placing third in the production of trucks in the US, being displaced as the official truck of the 1984 Olympics and in 1988 they stopped making heavyweight trucks, in 1990 electronic fuel injection became the norm, and by 1996 the name was shortened to just GMC, instead of GMC Trucks and they merged with Pontiac Motor Division to form Pontiac GMC Division of General Motors.

The following year all of its commercial vehicles production was moved to Flint, Michigan. Since then, GMC Trucks has continued to grow and produce award-winning trucks of all kinds with production and distribution all over the globe.

GMC Trucks will celebrate a milestone anniversary in 2012 - 100 years of truck manufacturing.

Online Shopping Deals - More Products For Less Money!

The process of purchasing products o services from the Internet is commonly referred to as online shopping. All the businesses nowadays whether they have a real shop are having the shopping outlet. Every business ranging from selling bricks and mortar to big branded clothing retailers are relying on these shops to increase their sales. In this twenty first century where people are cramped by busy schedules these online shopping facilities provide a great opportunity to shop for all the products that are every day essentials or luxury goods. Fashion accessories to regular wears, shoes to cooking utensils, home needs to electronics good you name it you can get it through shopping online. This was present prior to the Internet through television and telephone.

It has become a routine and simple task in the eyes of the public. Also it is easier for the retailers as new products and services can be launched with little over-head costs. They can also supply these products and services to different markets available throughout the world with little effort and cost. It also has the added benefit of providing bargaining power to the buyer. The buyer has a wide range of choices and he can easily compare the cost and quality of all the products available and make the best choice according to his requirements and budget. Because of the rivalry among competitors several online shopping deals have been introduced to attract the buyers.

Each company is making concentrated effort to bag the maximum amount of customers. Although it has become popular it is still being done by middle and upper class people. It has not been successful in including the poorer sections of the society. Attentive services, deals and discounts and product returning facility are all provided to ruthlessly exploit the greed of the middle class people. Shopping online has been made very much easier with the development of technology and if you have a computer connected to the internet plus a debit card or credit cards then you are well armed to do shopping.

The deals have helped a great deal to increase the number of people who shop online. According to statistics by 2007 52.8% of the online shoppers were women. These online shopping deals promote sales y often encouraging people to do impulse purchases as they come at a relatively reduced price. Buy one get one schemes always make the buyer with at least one unnecessary item. Therefore it is necessary to consider the pros and cons of an online shopping deal before actually buying a product no matter how inexpensive it appears.

Importance of Applying Protective Coatings Over Paint

Now that you have driven your car off the lot, you want to keep it in as neat condition as when you first received it from the Showroom. The automobile industry has made great strides in technology and the innovation of Protective Coatings have greatly improved the longevity and durability of Vehicle Paint.

Various forms of protective coatings can be applied to protect your vehicle from the elements such as Sealants that seal the paint from the harsh environment and provide long lasting protection, Waxes that provide a deep wet-look shine and offer unique protection and gloss enhancing properties, Ceramic Coatings that chemically bond to paint and provide superior durability, making maintenance much easier.

Let us closely examine the reasons why protective coatings are of utmost importance.

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  Daily, your vehicle endures all forms of surface 'attacks,' from scratches to contaminants that are an inescapable part of owning a vehicle. The Gtechniq product range provide a tough, protective surface to the car's paintwork. Developed through Science, products chemically bond to the vehicle paintwork, thereby adding a protective layer that can combat a great deal of damage while at the same time retaining deep gloss and shine levels on the paint.







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  Crystal Serum - Gtechniq's most ultimate form of paint protection, can only be applied by a Gtechniq Accredited Detailing Facility and is not available to purchase over the counter. Unlike waxes and sealants which will, at most, protect paintwork for a period of six months, the coating is warranted to last on your paintwork for seven years and is capable of protecting paint against acidic components and bird droppings.







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  Upon application of the coatings, the vehicle surface is not only protected but is also a breeze to maintain. Due to the hydrophobic top layer, water and dust easily repel meaning that the vehicle can be washed and dried within minutes.







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  Coatings would also be applied to Wheels, Glass, Trims, Interior Leather, Fabrics, Dash etc. with the main goal to achieve a top coat hydrophobic finish and make maintenance very easy.

The car enthusiast who look to have both, a product that not only protects the car but at the same time also improves the appearance should always opt for the application of a Ceramic Coating. Due to their exceptional protection and longstanding value, Ceramic Coatings are an ideal choice for car owners who desire to keep their cars in a state-of-the-art condition for a long span of time.

Save Money at Your Home Office

If you work in a home office, you will need to buy a lot of things that need to be used all the time. Usually in a typical workplace, storage rooms or equipment rooms are easier to justify since they are being shared by everyone.

However when you work at home, you need to shop for these items for yourself. Especially if you are a new business, you are going to want to do this on a budget.

To save money on these items you should follow some basic tips.

There are certain items you will need such as seating, desks, and paper supplies. When purchasing these items it can be tempting to hit up the warehouses to get them on the cheap in bulk. Be aware that not everyone may be into the same style of furniture or even be able to sit on the same one. This can end up costing you more time and money to return or sell unwanted furniture.

Talking to someone who knows about making purchases like this will save you a lot of time. They deal with people in your position all the time so they know little details you may miss when shopping for office supplies.

They will also know about more of the latest equipment and furniture available to help you make the right decision the first time.

Office supplies such as paper, pens, ink are a little more simple to purchase. You do not want to buy too much. This will tie up money that could have been used elsewhere in the business. It also takes up extra storage space. You also do not want to run out during the course of a business day either.

A safe bet would be to buy enough for no more than two or three months at a time.

Keeping these tips in mind can keep costs down for your business. Every little bit adds up!

A Birthday Is More Than Balloons - Involving the Kids to Be a Part of the Birthday Decor Prep

Oh! It's your kid's birthday today! Congratulations, for this new year in your kid's life. So, how are you planning to celebrate it? Are you going to organize a birthday party? Are you going to call some guests? Or have you decided or thought to do something unique?

How about involving your kids in planning for their own birthday party? Sounds great, isn't it? Well, till now as a parent; you have been taking all the burden of organizing the party, inviting guests, decorating the venue, deciding the menu etc.

This time, why not know your kid's ideas too! Let us explore their minds. What's going on, what he/she/they are thinking about their birthday party? How according to them should a birthday party be? This seems to be really a unique and innovative idea, isn't it?

So, let's discuss how kids can be involved in planning their own birthday party.

Involving kids to be a part of their Birthday Décor Preparation:

When it comes to birthday decorations, the first and foremost thing that comes in our mind is "Balloons". But, a birthday is lot more than balloons. Apart from this, there are many things that can be considered in birthday decoration.

Before starting the decoration part, select the birthday theme, birthday location. Party Planning involves deciding the birthday location, choosing the party theme, deciding the menu, decoration accessories, preparing invitation cards etc.

a) Involve kids in deciding the location: Well, the best location is one's own home however if it's to be a grand party then any venue such as party hall, park, garden etc can be considered. Ask your child/children what his/her/their wish is. Know their ideas; if possible allow them to choose the location. This will boost their self confidence.

In case, budget is an hindrance for the location then convince them to choose the one that is in your budget. Make sure kids don't feel bad, try to ensure that they are happy at every stage of the planning process.

b) Include them in the party theme selection: Once the location is selected, it's time to choose the party theme only if the kid is interested in arranging a theme based party. Select the theme that he/she/they like. This can be a robot theme, a theme based on sports of his/her/their like etc.

In case the kids are unable to decide, help them to do but don't pressurize them to choose the one that YOU like. Keep in mind that the planning is done as per the kid's choice.

c) Keep the Menu of your kid's choice: Location is selected, theme is decided, now comes food. Well, kids mostly love cakes and chocolates and these will of course be there in the party but what's important is the Main course i.e. either dinner or lunch must be of kid's choice.

Ask them what they want to give their guests as food. See their ideas, correct them if they are wrong but never order them to do what YOU want. Discuss and decide with them what is to be served to the guests. Prepare the Menu accordingly.

d) Birthday Décor as per kid's choice: So, now the theme is selected, menu is chosen, location is selected and it's time to choose decoration material. Apart from balloons, there are lots of decoration materials available in the market.

Ask your kid what he/she/they want in the birthday decoration and decorate the home accordingly. Note what your kid loves and allow them to decorate it accordingly, let their ideas flow.

Choose decoration as per the theme. Let your child/children be the Party manager, guide them where they are wrong but keep them in the centre of the decision, also convince them when you think their choice is not as per your budget.

Final Notes: The main purpose is to know your child's ideas explore their minds; understand what and how they want their birthday party to be. Try to meet their all the needs and in cases when you are unable to do so, make sure to do things that are similar to their liking and also within your budget.

Give your kid top priority as it's their birthday celebration and as a parent, it's our duty to ensure it that they enjoy it the most. So, try to fulfill all their wishes and plan the party as per their plans.

Choosing an Impact Wrench For the Home Workshop

Impact wrenches are one of the most used workshop tools by any automotive mechanic. The ability to quickly, efficiently and safely fix or loosen a bolt means that they are almost indispensable. However, many home mechanics still rely on a bar and brute force, often catching their knuckles in the process.

These days there is a wide range of impact wrenches aimed at the home mechanic. While traditionally only wrenches powered by compressed air were worth considering, there are now also some really good electric, and even wordless impact wrenches to choose from.

For most home mechanics a 1/2 "drive will be more than capable, so long as the wrench is capable of delivering enough torque. means at least 18, and preferably 24 volts.

If you're going to be working on large vehicles, such as 1 ton trucks or farm machinery then a 1 "drive would probably be a better choice. sockets reflecting longer and being less likely to shear.

The choice between air, electric or cordless is a personal choice, and partly dependent on how often you'll be using the wrench. If you're a very keen enthusiast, or if working on cars is also a part time business then an air impact wrench is probably the best solution. If however you'll only be using it occasionally then an electrical unit from one of the well known brand names would be fine.

Whatever type you choose, I can guarantee one thing - you'll never want to go back to using a bar and brute force again!