Cash for Cars

The days of commercials featuring a guy named Crazy Larry shouting, "Bad credit, no credit—NO MONEY DOWN!" may soon be coming to an end. Nationwide economic woes have seeped into the auto industry and many auto lenders are simply unable or unwilling to take the same kinds of risks with poorly qualified customers as they have in the past. This means that the next time you walk into a show room, go armed with a high credit score or a significant amount of cash.

Paying up front for your new car may seem like a hurdle initially, but in the long run it will be better for your wallet. You'll avoid high interest fees and costlier monthly payments. Even Crazy Larry would agree that it's not such a bad idea. [Motor Trend]