Quality Plus - February 2021

Quality Plus - February 2021

February 2021

Love Is in the Air My 2 Great Loves in Life

Valentine’s Day has always been a good reminder to let your loved ones know how much you care about them. Of course, you let your loved ones know how much you care every other day too, but sometimes we forget and get wrapped up in our own worlds. This Valentine’s Day, I’ll be celebrating with my wife, Jill. She’s my lifelong valentine and high school sweetheart. We’ve been together for 45 years and we’re looking forward to many more. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without her! She’s the perfect person to balance me out. We have a lot in common, but there are plenty of things we don’t have in common — and that’s what keeps things interesting. We work well together, but we’re our own people. It’s the right combination of everything. My other great love is car care. This is who I am. I’m proud to be someone who can fix things and keep them running because I know how things work. As I’ve mentioned in past newsletters, I grew up on a farm where we had to keep our equipment up and running. This meant I had to learn the ins and outs of engines, big and small, when I was young. All that hands-on experience stuck with me, and eventually, the work became second nature to me. Plus, it helps that I really love doing it. There’s something really special about understanding the inner workings of a car, being able to fix it, and keeping it on the road. One reason I enjoy this so

much is because it relies on common sense and logic. You can pop the hood of a car and it can look complicated, but when you know how each part works with other parts — and what each part does — it starts to come together. Now, I do get frustrated from time to time. Sometimes, I’ll run into a problem that’s extra challenging or doesn’t make sense at first glance, but it’s not in my nature to back down. I may get frustrated, but the love of fixing things and solving problems doesn’t go away. I’m here to find the answer and get that machine moving again! I also love that I’ve been able to take my talent for fixing things and turn it into a good living for myself and others, as well. To think it all started on the farm when my dad taught me how to keep our equipment running. That’s a remarkable thing. No matter where your love lies, I hope you have a good Valentine’s Day. Whether you plan on celebrating it with a loved one or it’s just another day, don’t forget to tell your loved ones how much you care about them — because we could all use a little extra love in our lives.

Wake Forest • 919.453.0345 — Raleigh • 919.231.6164 -Randy Bunn

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Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Money Scams Are Skyrocketing For the past year, scammers have been working full time to fleece people. As a result of COVID-19, federal financial relief efforts, and state-level relief efforts, scammers have found a new way to get into their victims’ pockets. Now, they’re using COVID-19 again, this time with the “vaccine scam.”Through this scam, they’ll sign you up for the COVID-19 vaccine in exchange for a fee. They are also using variations of the grandparent scam, in which scammers pretend to be a family member in trouble (this time, they have COVID-19 or have lost their job) and they need money. Scammers make phone calls, send text messages, and craft phishing emails, hoping you’ll take the bait.

Car Care Myths Premium gas improves performance. Most gas pumps give you several options from regular to high octane, but should you be putting premium fuel in your car if it isn’t required? This answer varies based on the car, but for a vast majority of drivers, the answer is no, you shouldn’t use premium. According to Consumer Reports, using premium when it isn’t required does not improve performance or gas mileage. This is also true of cars that recommend premium rather than regular. However, if you drive a vehicle that requires higher-octane fuel, do not use regular. Tuned engine and performance vehicles are specifically designed for higher-octane fuel, and regular fuel can cause damage. If you use premium fuel in a car that does not require it, switch to regular, and start to hear a pinging or knocking sound coming from the engine, switch back to premium as soon as possible. Every new car should be serviced at the dealership — or it will void the warranty. This one is 100% false. While dealerships will do what they can to convince you that you should get your vehicle serviced

How can you protect yourself from these financial scams and more? Try these three different ways!

1. Shut them down. If you get a call from a scammer, hang up immediately

(better yet, don’t answer unknown callers at all). At the same time, delete scam texts or emails the second you see them. If you get a call, text, or email from someone claiming to be with the government or a government agency, it’s a scammer. No one from any

federal agency will ever call you out of the blue. Anyone claiming to have a cure or pretending to be in desperate need of money is also trying to scam you. Never say a word back to them. Cut them off and go about your day. 2. Sign up for Informed Delivery by USPS. This free service is a great way to monitor your incoming mail. Every morning, USPS sends you an email with scanned images of the day’s mail (this doesn’t usually include larger parcels). When you pick up your mail later in the day, you can verify if anything is missing. Scammers may prefer phone calls, but mail thieves are still very much on the prowl. 3. Sign up for an identity protection and fraud detection service. You never know who might end up with your personal information, but you can take steps to keep it safe. There are several services, like LifeLock, Identity Guard, and Intelius Identity Project, that offer comprehensive identify protection. They monitor credit cards, addresses, phone numbers, bank accounts, and more with the purpose of scoping out unusual or fraudulent behavior. Many services can be customized to fit your specific needs.

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Ideas to Make Valentine’s Day (or Any Day) Special This Year Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that people tend to either enjoy or skip. Of course, no matter how you feel about it, Valentine’s Day will be different this year — like many holidays over the past several months have been. Those who want to celebrate the occasion are looking for new or interesting ways to spend time with their spouse, significant other, or loved ones without having to worry about safety concerns. So, in honor of Valentine’s Day this year, we had a few ideas for how to make the day extra special for your loved ones. And even better, if you read this after Valentine’s Day, you can apply these ideas to just about any special occasion! Take a look! Make a special meal at home. Generally, people enjoy going out to eat for Valentine’s Day. This year, many people are staying home. So, why not put together a home-cooked meal? Make your favorite meal together or try to re-create the meal from your first dinner date. It may turn into something of a challenge, but then again, isn’t it about the journey rather than the destination? Send a thoughtfully delicious treat. There are many great “box” subscription services out there. These are companies that put together boxes of interesting items, such as snacks, and mail them to the doorstep of your choosing. Universal Yums (UniversalYums.com) and SnackNation (SnackNation.com) are two popular examples. These are great ways to share your love and appreciation with someone without leaving home! Get back to basics. We don’t always think about it, but people love getting special cards in the mail. Whether for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or Christmas, getting a card is a simple reminder that someone is thinking of you. This goes double this year as many families and friends haven’t seen one another or had the chance to spend time together over the past year. A card with a note can be a source of great comfort.

there, it is not a requirement. There isn’t anything

wrong with getting your vehicle serviced at your dealership of choice, but no warranty will be voided if you decide to go somewhere else. Your best bet is to simply find a shop and mechanic you trust and to put your vehicle in their capable hands! But if you do have a warranty, always read the fine print so you are fully aware of the terms and conditions, no matter the situation. Battery corrosion can be cleaned with a can of Coke. Is it true that all you need is a can of Coca-Cola to clean corrosion from a car battery? There actually is some truth to this — however, it isn’t recommended. While Coke is acidic enough to help remove

battery corrosion, along with a wire brush, there are better (and safer) ways to clean corrosion from the battery and terminals, such as taking it to your favorite mechanic to take a look at to make sure nothing is wrong with the battery, terminals, or cables.

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Wake Forest 919.453.0345 Raleigh 919.231.6164

QualityPlusAutomotive.com 1601 Heritage Commerce Ct. Wake Forest, NC 27587

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INSIDE This Issue

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We Could All Use a Little More Love

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Protect Yourself From COVID-19 Scams! Are These Car Care Myths True or False? Take a Break Need a Few Ideas for Valentine’s Day (or Other Special Occasions)?

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Teach Your Kids Life Skills This Valentine’s Day!

4 Life Skills You Can Teach Your Kids This Valentine’s Day Nothing says “I love you”more than equipping your children with important knowledge they’ll need for the rest of their adult lives. Even if they groan about it now, they’ll be grateful for the know-how when they’re on their own in the future. Keep in mind that your home classroom doesn’t have to mimic a school classroom. Research from the University of Utah shows that kids learn best through hands-on activities and play. Have fun while teaching these life skills, and you’ll earn thank-yous for decades to come. Clean the House Were you ever surprised by how often you have to clean your kitchen? Your child may be too. Although your 10-year-old won’t have to worry about cleaning the stove today, they will need to know how when they move out, so find ways to incentivize cleaning and make it more fun. You can have your kids collect “chore points” that add up to a prize, like an extra hour of playing video games! Develop Cooking Skills You may be hesitant to have a little chef in the house, but if you’re teaching them how to clean up and stay safe while making some easy dishes, there’s no reason to worry! Even if you’re not a great cook yourself, it’s fun to prepare simple recipes

as a family. Plus, your kids will get used to the idea of cooking for themselves, which is both healthy and cost-effective.

Learn to Garden What’s a better way to get outdoors with your child than to garden together? From using tools like shovels and rakes to nurturing another living organism, gardening provides plenty of rich life lessons, such as patience. Understand Household Maintenance Whether they’re learning how to use an electric breaker, unclog a drain, or clean out the washer or dryer, your kids can get started learning household maintenance skills with just a little guidance. Who knows, maybe they will be their dorm’s future superhero! There are many lessons you can teach your child at any age, so don’t limit yourself! Be creative with the lessons you pass on, and there’s a chance they’ll never forget them!

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