Running a car is expensive. Between insurance, gas, and essential repairs, it's easy to forget how much our vehicles actually cost us. When money is tight, essential repairs can often be put off until the problem gets worse and the costs become prohibitive. Cars need to be serviced regularly, but that doesn't necessarily mean a trip to the mechanic once a month. With a little planning and the right equipment, doing your own car maintenance doesn't have to be as difficult as you think. If you're on a tight budget and need to fix your car, here are some repairs you can easily do yourself.

Change the brake pads

It can be intimidating to tinker with your brakes. After all, if you mess up, your car's braking time can be significantly and dangerously reduced. Yet changing brake pads is very simple, no matter what your mechanic says. You will need

  • A wheel wrench
  • Basic wrenches
  • Pliers
  • A jack (and stands)
  • Spare brake pads

Simply disassemble a wheel, remove the hardware, remove the worn pads, then reinstall everything as before. That's all you need! There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to guide you through this process if you get stuck.

Repairing Car Door Strips

During the colder months, your car's door seals can tear, which means your doors won't close perfectly. This is a very simple repair, and all you need is gasket adhesive, brake cleaner and silicone spray. Remove the tape and clean it with the brake cleaner. When dry, use the adhesive to reattach the strip to the door and wait for it to dry. If your door strip is too damaged to repair, buy some silicone molding rubber and make your own. Don't forget to spray silicone on the replaced strip, as this will keep it from freezing during the winter.

Change the battery

This is one of the easiest do-it-yourself car repairs you can do, just follow the right steps. Using wrenches, remove the black cable, install the new battery, then replace the negative cable. It really is that simple, and while mechanics can charge hundreds of dollars to do this ten-minute job, you could save a lot of money. Make sure you have a clear idea of what steps to take and follow them precisely.

Chipped Windows

This can happen at any time and on any road, and it's always met with a groan of frustration. Getting a windshield crack repaired can be very expensive, but you can get specialized windshield repair kits very cheaply online. All you have to do is clean the crack of any loose glass, attach the sealed pad and apply the vacuum that comes with the kit. This is incredibly easy and should only take about an hour. The crack will then be much safer and will not spread.

It can be a little intimidating to do car repairs when you've never done it before, but with the vast array of car repair tutorials available, it's always a good idea to check online before driving into the garage. When maintaining a car can be so expensive, taking the time to learn the basics could save you a lot more money than you think, and those skills will last you a lifetime.