Here are some tips and tricks on how to buy a car and save!

Find the Value of Your Current Car ~ Sell Yourself or Trade-In

Learn the trade-in value and private resale price of your current car through Kelley Blue Book or search eBay’s completed auctions to get an idea of the car’s value.  We had a 2004 Z71 Tahoe.  Blue Book valued our car from $6,500-$7,000.  But the car wasn’t in the best of shape, with a torn leather seat and just wear and tear from a teenager.

I took it to a couple of dealerships and asked trade-in value.  The gave me a range from $4,800-$5,600.  Obviously I was going to get more money selling it myself.  Trading it in was more convenient so I gave myself three weeks.  If I didn’t sell it I would trade it in.

We wrote “for sale” on the back of the car with a phone number and price and we put it on Craigslist.  That is where we got the calls.  I had 5 calls and two offers.  One low-balled me, but it was still more than what I would get trading it in.

We did sell it for $6,000 cash.  I priced it fair and below value to a really nice family.  It really was a great car so we were happy it went to a good family.

Here are the documents you will need:

• Bill of sale or vehicle purchase agreement (much better if this document is notarized)
• Original vehicle title properly endorsed to transfer the title to the buyer
• Texas motor vehicle transfer notification

Here is a link to the documents you need to sell your car to another person.

Know Your Budget and Have a Finance Plan

First I used a rate calculator to determine the price of a truck we could afford for our son. The most we were willing to pay for a truck was $24,000.  We narrowed down our searching further when we asked Nick to choose 3 truck models he liked.  We did all of our research first online from buying directly from owners to dealerships and car auctions.

I then called my Credit Union and asked for a loan pre-approval letter.  Having your own financing can keep dealers in line and their rates competitive.  (This is one way the dealership increases the price of the car so they make more money). Through this process I learned my credit scores and what rate I could get almost anywhere.  Knowing your credit scores allows you to get  the best rates on a car loan and to thwart any dealers who might lie about a credit score to increase financing rates.

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I’m trying to learn all I can about the secrets to looking younger that doesn’t cost an arm & a leg! I have been visiting with our expert, Dr. Lori Stetler from The Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics.  I’m telling you, she keeps it “real” and fun and she’s one of the best in town!

Through all of this, I’m learning the graceful agers aren’t aging better, they’re just aging smarter, so that is why I’m doing this series on the Secrets of Looking Younger.

We’ve discussed:

Botox (plus deals for our readers)

Clear+Brillant (plus deals for our readers)

This week we are discussing HydraFacial®

Talk about a jacuzzi for your face!  This is AWESOME! Here’s a tool to add to your bag of tricks at any age to prevent signs of aging and to get back the glow and smoothness of your skin. It’s called HydraFacial®. A HydraFacial treatment firms and tones the skin, improving its texture and the skin’s overall health. Basically, it’s stronger than a normal facial but gentler than skin resurfacing.

To put it in “my terms” HydraFacial sucks out junk and replaces it with really good stuff to restore the skin’s vibrant tone and texture instantly.

Hydration is a critical part of maintaining healthy, youthful-looking skin. This is good for just about anyone and I would recommend more than one treatment.

Skin conditions that can be alleviated by a HydraFacial procedure include:

• Uneven texture
• Oily, congested skin that’s prone to acne
• Dry skin by removing dead skin cells and providing hydration

I tried HydraFacial® last week. Heather Gros is a clinical aesthetician at Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics. She explained the procedure and we went for it! There is absolutely no pain, just suction.  It extracts the impurities that are damaging our skin and replenishing beneficial elements that protect and strengthen it. When I was done my face was so vibrant and had GREAT texture.  My skin was exfoliated and nourished.

EWWWWWW… look what it sucked out?   That was in my skin and yes, I do wash my face (at least once a week, hahaha).  I can’t tell you how AWESOME my face felt and looked.  The texture was so smooth and the lines were filled.

It took only 20 minutes to exfoliate, peel, extract and hydrate with the fancy machine. There is no down time at all and you like GREAT after!

Specifically, HydraFacial uses a serum and delivery protocol to restore:

• Antioxidants: These key chemicals help protect and repair skin cells by isolating damaging free radicals.
• Peptides: These amino acids boost the production of collagen and elastin, which help keep skin looking smooth and youthful.
• Hyaluronic acid: Naturally produced by the body, hyaluronic acid is responsible for giving skin volume.

Special for MyDFWMommy readers: You can do buy 3 and get the 4th free if you mention MyDFWMommy.

Look what the Hydrafacial did to this woman:

This set me up for my second Clear + Brilliant® Perméa.  Basically it’s a gentle fractional laser treatment that reduces signs of aging to smooth fine wrinkles, even out skin color, and reveal a radiant glow. I am already seeing some amazing improvements in my skin.  I’m even o.k. with not wearing makeup now and going out.  I NEVER thought I would be able to do that again.  I have two more Clear+Brilliant treatments and can’t wait to show you the before and after photos!  WOOHOO!

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A few weeks ago, I shared that I was on a mission to learn all I could about the secrets to looking younger that doesn’t BREAK the bank.

I have been visiting with our expert, Dr. Lori Stetler from The Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics.  She’s “real” about aging and just REALLY fun to be around.

Through all of this,  I’m learning the graceful agers aren’t aging better, they’re just aging smarter, so that is why I’m doing this series on the Secrets of Looking Younger.

Last week we talked about Botox (plus deals for our readers).

This week we are discussing Clear+Brilliant.

Here’s a tool to add to your bag of tricks at any age to prevent signs of aging and to get back the glow and smoothness of your skin. It’s called Clear+Brilliant. If pores, fine lines, and pigmentation are bothering you, there is a great procedure that produces amazing results with NO downtime. (Plus, get the 4th FREE by mentioning MyDFWMommy!)

Consider Clear+Brilliant as the “baby Fraxel.” It’s a gentle laser that revitalizes the skin from the inside out. The laser energy generates heat in the skin which stimulates new collagen production. This process replaces damaged skin with healthier, more youthful-looking tissue. Clear+Brilliant can improve fine lines, pore size and texture in addition to treating sun damage and melasma.

I tried Clear+Brilliant last week to try and reduce pigmentation problems (especially my chest as it is really damaged from the sun) and work on my fine lines and wrinkles. Heather Gros is a clinical aesthetician at Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics. She explained the procedure to me and I said, “let’s go for it!”

Clear+Brilliant is a gentle laser that refreshes your skin from the inside out. The laser energy creates microscopic treatment zones in your skin, replacing damaged skin with healthy younger looking tissue.

The procedure is very quick and simple, taking maybe 20 minutes. It feels like a sunburn for a couple of hours after the treatment is finished and the redness disappeared by the evening.

For about 4-5 days my skin felt “bumpy” to the touch but it wasn’t apparent when you looked at me.  By day 4-6, I could see small brown specks that were coming to the surface.  By day 7, those brown specks were shedding off and my skin was brighter.  In fact, I went to the gym without a stitch of make-up on which I don’t think I would have ever have done before this procedure.

I’m shocked out how much sun damage I have on my skin.  With 3 more treatments I think I would have that youthful glow back. What a simple procedure and virtually pain free to clear up your skin and help with the fine lines and wrinkles! It’s safe for all skin types too!

Look at this ladies results!  WOW!

What is the right age for Clear+Brilliant:

It’s not the age that matters, it’s more about the sun exposure, environmental conditions and lifestyle that matters most. It’s suggested you do multiple treatments to get maximum results (average 4-6).

Why would I want to do Clear+Brilliant and not the bigger Fraxel (ie Fraxel Restore)?

The Clear+Brilliant is less painful and has less downtime while still achieving great results. However, to get the same results as the Fraxel Restore, more treatments are required. With Fraxel Restore you can expect 3-7 days of downtime with post procedural pain/discomfort. It may require less treatments to achieve desired results.

Cost:

It is $250 for the face only treatment and $350 for face, neck and chest. It is recommended that you do a series of 4.

Special for MyDFWMommy readers: You can do buy 3 and get the 4th free if you mention MyDFWMommy.

Here are some great lessons I’m learning during this series:

Lesson #1:  If you’re wanting to do any type of treatments, get back to your original skin color

Lesson #2:  Dr. Stetler advised in get “hooked” on sunscreens.  The higher the number the better.  She said SPF 30 is great IF you re-apply but many of us often don’t nor do we put it on well enough.  Her opinion, go higher on sunscreen for added protection.  For me, she suggested sunscreens with helioplex, for example Neutrogena, Aveeno an LaRoche Posey. For more information on sunscreen, you can read my post on How to Choose the Best Sunscreen here.

Lesson #3:  Become one with an umbrella and hat when your out in the sun.

Lesson #4:  Don’t just protect your face, protect your body and sun will damage and age other parts including your legs, hands, etc.

Lesson #5: Botox is a REALLY quick way to bring back youth and fix trouble spots. This FDA-approved product helps to soften facial expression lines around the forehead, eyes, and mouth without surgical intervention or unnecessary downtime.

I’ll be checking back in with you and sharing before and after shots along the way and hope you will learn secrets to staying younger with Dr. Stetler right along with me!

Lori Stetler, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas whose career path began with an undergraduate education from Baylor University in Texas. She was a summa cum laude graduate and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received her medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School where she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. She completed an internship in internal medicine and a dermatology residency at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She served as chief resident her senior year. She became board-certified in dermatology in 1993. Following her residency, Dr. Stetler began her private practice in dermatology in Dallas at Medical City. She moved her practice to its current location in Preston Center in 2001.

Training and Achievements

Dr. Stetler specializes in cosmetic dermatology, laser surgery, dermatologic surgery and general medical dermatology. Dr. Stetler is a Clinical Professor in the department of dermatology at UT Southwestern. She currently trains dermatology residents, fellows and medical students in cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. Dr. Stetler is a national speaker and trainer for several pharmaceutical companies in the proper use and injection techniques of neurotoxins and injectable fillers.

Dr. Stetler is active in a number of local and national organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. She has served as president of the Dallas/Fort Worth Dermatological Society. Dr. Stetler has been named one of the “Best Doctors in Dallas” by D Magazine annually since 2001.