When we think of being self reliant or learning to be self sufficient, one thing we tend to maybe forget is our vehicles. If we can learn how to maintain our own vehicles, we will be able to not only save money, but be able to help ourselves if we ever need it.
Here is a small list of things that would be prudent for everyone to know how to do if they ever drive, or plan on driving.
Check Your Oil
This is the most basic thing to know in my opinion, as well as one of the most important things. My dad made me learn how to check the oil in a car before I was even 14 years old. It is probably the easiest thing you can ever learn to do on your car, other than knowing how to fill the tank with gas. If you can properly check the oil, you can do it frequently and know exactly how your car uses it's oil, as well as when to fill it. More problems could be avoided all the time if everyone knew how to do this, and did it on a regular basis.
Change Your Own Oil
Learning how to change your own oil as well as check it can save you some big bucks! All you'd have to pay for at that point would be the cost of the oil, rather than the labor as well. Not to mention avoiding all the "ad-ons" that every company will try to push on you every time you pay for an oil change.
Changing Filters
Once you know how to change the oil, learning how to change the oil filter as well as the air filter, in your car should be a natural next step. Think of all the money you'll save over a few years just by knowing how to do it yourself.
Changing The Tires
Everyone should know how to change a tire as a basic safety precaution if nothing else. If you are on a long drive, alone, in the middle of no-where and you get a flat... What do you do? If you don't know how to change a tire, this can be a very frightening thing! If you have a cell phone you can call for help, but who knows how long it will take help to come. If you don't have a cell phone... well, you can just imagine.
The point is, if you know how to change a tire, you can pretty quickly put the spare on yourself, and get back on the road to safety.
Know Your Car's Symptoms
Believe it or not, your car shows different symptoms when something is wrong just like a person does. If you can train yourself to know the basics, then you can save a lot of money by catching some problems early on before something big breaks and you have to pay for a large repair.
One you can get to the point where you can do a lot of these things on your own, you will be able to save money on routine tune-ups as well as money and time on bit things. In today's society, our vehicles are our life-lines at times, and in many cases needed for our livelihood. If we could all just know a little more about how to take care of them, then I think we would be far better off.
There is obviously so much more we can all learn how to do on our cars but the above is, what I think, a great place to start.
Discovering Self Reliance - Part 1
Discovering Self Reliance - Part 2: Living on Welfare
Discovering Self Reliance - Part 3: Realizing Your Talents
Discovering Self Reliance - Part 4: Emergencies & Really Being Ready For Them
Discovering Self Reliance - Part 5: Learning New Skills - Maintaining Your Vehicle