Everyday Cheapskate

Dear Mary: I have two wonderful dogs that need to be medicated for fleas and ticks each spring and summer. The meds are expensive. Do you have any ideas on how to cut the cost of these essentials? — Tena F., Missouri

Dear Tena: I can tell you generally that you can purchase most medications for your pets by mail order without prescriptions. Then administer them yourself. You'll get instructions with the medications. This can save you a lot of money. For example, a 12-pack of K9 Advantix — treatment for ticks and fleas — for dogs weighing 21 to 55 pounds is on sale at Amazon.com for $116.99. It's regularly $202.99. The same product is available at Medi-Vet.com for $140.89. That should give you an idea of the amount of money you can save when you buy pet meds online and administer them yourself. Use a good search engine, such as http://www.froogle.com, to find the best online prices.

Dear Mary: I just graduated from college, and I need to buy a car. I don't have the money to pay cash, so I first considered financing a used car via my credit card. When I read your article called "Never Finance a Car With a Credit Card," I abandoned that option. I have decided to buy a used car by taking a loan from my credit union. I would get a better deal if I bought directly from an owner rather than from a used-car dealership. However, personal standard loans have higher interest rates than auto loans. Which option is better economically? — Kevin M., Pennsylvania

Dear Kevin: You are on the right track in getting the financing through your credit union.

The credit union should not differentiate between a car purchased from a private owner and one bought at a used-car dealer. Go to the credit union before you start shopping. Find out the terms of the loan they will give you, including the monthly payments. Once you are pre-qualified, you can start shopping with confidence.

In most cases, once you have signed the loan documents, the credit union will cut you a check that will be as good as cash. You can shop private offers, as well as used-car dealers. As far as the seller is concerned, you are a cash buyer. Once you find the car that is right for you, you will have to bring the car's title and registration to the credit union. It will be transferred to the credit union's name as owner. When you pay the loan in full, the title will be transferred to you as owner.

Set up an appointment to speak with the manager of the credit union to discover the exact process. Rather than borrow the most they offer you, I recommend that you borrow the least you need to get by. Better to have a fully paid-for car in 24 to 36 months that you can sell to upgrade than to be saddled with 60 car payments that will keep you strapped.

Do you have a question for Mary? E-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Can I Pay My Credit Card Bill With a Credit Card?" To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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