Taking A Frugal Approach To Fixing My Car
I take a frugal approach for fixing my car. Every so often I need to change the oil or change out the brakes or change out the timing belt. I do this because it saves me money that I can use for something else. A simple frugal living tip.
All these jobs are different and require very little skill to advanced knowledge and skills but all these jobs have one thing in common. When you work in your driveway you have to be working while laying or sitting on the ground.
To work on the ground or under the car you need to be able to slide under the car and out again when needed. They make a special tool for this purpose. It’s called a mechanic’s creeper. It used to be made from wood and specialized steel wheels. I believe that most of the new creepers are made of a molded plastic with specialized steel wheels. Both these designs usually place you about 2-3″ above the ground. You use your feet to move you around or you grab parts of the car to pull or push you around. Well, I happen to have one of these creepers that I bought as a young man but I have found that something else works well for me without any cost. Let me explain.
The Disadvantages Of Working On The Ground.
If you want to work on a car and don’t have a creeper you have to lay on the ground. Laying on the ground is not very pleasant when you start losing body heat due to contact with the concrete. Keeping your clothing clean is impossible. Moving is not so easily accomplished due to the friction of the concrete on your clothing. Also working under a car you don’t have a lot of room when it’s up on jack stands.
An Alternative Method
I found an alternative method that will insulate me from the ground and provides reduced friction as I slide around. It is easy to store, easy to find and when it gets too dirty disposing of it is also very easy. Best of all it costs me nothing. Enter the large cardboard box and a DIY life hack.
Simply cut off the flaps from the large panels. Cut into reasonably sized panels and store them vertically until you need them. When I use them I have the plain unprinted side up. With the plain panel up, I can easily tell where dirt or oil has gotten on them and can clean up that area or avoid it. I can reuse it if it is still clean or if dirty stuff it in the recycle bin. A frugal hack for fixing a car that costs nothing is eco-friendly and recycles precious raw materials.
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