DIY and Save Thousands

Okay, so far all I've written here is dry, introductory stuff. Now it's time for something fun and very practical...

Do-it-yourself auto body tips, illustrated with pictures I took outside my friend's apartment this morning.

To fix a damaged bumper, all you need is some duct tape and spray paint.

- Be sure to apply enough layers of tape to restore the structural integrity, and try to smooth out any big wrinkles.

- After taping, apply a coat of Krylon or Rust-Oleum approximately the same color as the original paint. (If the original paint is severely oxidized, you have some flexibility.)

That's all there is to it! From half a mile away, nobody can tell it was ever wrecked. (Although you should probably show the car to potential buyers only at night.) You can use a similar process on torn headliners, broken tail lights, and possibly even flat tires. For repairs under the hood (like a ruptured radiator hose or fuel line), use premium quality, high-temp duct tape, because any job worth doing is worth doing right.