When it comes to roadside service companies, you want one with experience, expertise and above all else, a name synonymous with safety.

This is where AAA Roadside Assistance stands above the competition. AAA has delivered reliable roadside assistance throughout the U.S. and Canada for more than 120 years. It’s also often considered the best roadside assistance for families, with memberships getting passed down from one generation to the next.

With AAA, there are no hidden costs or surprises — just fast, guaranteed roadside assistance when you need it. Every benefit is clearly outlined in your membership, and you can choose from multiple tiers to fit your needs.

AAA is recognized as the most reputable brand in America for automotive information and support, according to Morning Consult’s 2025 Most Trusted Brands report. And it beats all major roadside assistance providers in overall customer satisfaction for car roadside assistance as reflected in 2024 AAA U.S. Market Track national surveys.

Here’s why.

Just the Facts

Benefit	AAA Roadside Assistance	Other Roadside Service Providers
A name you can trust	✅ 120-plus years and more than 27 million roadside requests annually.	❌ Other providers offer a quick fix, but only AAA is ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction.
Protection in any vehicle	✅ AAA membership covers the member, not the vehicle, so you’re protected in any car, even if you’re riding with a friend or using a rental.	❌ Other providers limit coverage to the car that’s registered to you.
No surprises or hidden fees	✅ All services are covered by membership with transparency on limits and additional charges.	❌ Some providers charge al la carte for services or offer low introductory subscription rates that jump when it’s time to renew.
24/7 availability	✅ Members can request service at any time, 365 days a year. On average, AAA helps one member every second.	❌ Some towing companies operate only during regular business hours.
Approved network of tow trucks and trained technicians	✅ AAA uses its own fleet and a trusted network of vetted independent service providers.	❌ Other providers rely on third-party networks and outsourced chaos.
Emergency services	✅ Flat tires, jump-starts, lockouts, fuel delivery and more.	❌ Limited.
Battery service	✅ AAA offers complete on-the-spot battery service, including testing, delivery, replacement and recycling. We replace over 2 million batteries per year!	❌ Limited.
Resolves issues at the scene	✅ Over half of tow requests end with members getting safely back on the road — no tow needed.*	❌ A tow could be all you get for your money.
Choice of towing destination	✅ Tow to your mechanic, dealership or home, or choose from AAA’s network of 6,000-plus Approved Auto Repair Facilities.	❌ Some companies pledge to tow you an unlimited distance but will often take you to the nearest facility, which saves them money.
Bicycle roadside assistance	✅ We’ll pick you and your bike up. Depending on membership level, roadside assistance is also available for specialty vehicles, like motorcycles and RVs.	❌ Limited.
Added perks	✅ Members enjoy travel, insurance and financial services, exclusive discounts, access to AAA branches for DMV/RMV services (in select locations) and more. Members who use AAA Discounts & Rewards save an average of $220 annually.	❌

Take a virtual ride-along on a AAA roadside call!

How to Request AAA Northeast Roadside Assistance

• Call: 800-222-8252

• Request online: AAA.com/GetMoving

• Use the AAA Auto Club App

For the Best Roadside Assistance, AAA Has the Advantage

Learn more about the benefits of being a AAA member.

Sign up to be a AAA member.

*R12 December 2024 Tableau/EDR. AAA Member PFCR and RAP calls) (52.9%). The Go-Rate is the ratio of calls that were dispatched as a Tow Service and were resolved at the scene of disablement — allowing the member to safely drive their vehicle in lieu of the vehicle being towed.

If it’s been 10, 20 or 50 years since you got your driver’s license, you might feel like there is nothing you don’t know about operating a car. You hop in, start the engine and your brain flips to autopilot.

Well, not so fast. Do you know the hand positions on steering wheels have changed since you first took driver’s education in high school? Or that you should determine your distance from the car ahead of you in seconds, not feet? Are you sure about what a flashing yellow arrow means? And what the heck is a gore, anyway?

No matter how long you have been driving, there is always more to learn. So, I recently decided to sign up for the AAA Defensive Driving Course, which took place at a hotel near my home in Long Island.

Talking to other students about their reasons for taking the course, I found the primary motivation was receiving 10% off the cost of collision, liability and no-fault premiums every year for three years. Drivers can also get up to four points dropped from their driving record, assessed within 18 months prior to the class.

Insurance discounts and points reduction apply in New York, but not all states. For example, similar benefits are available to drivers in Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island, but not Massachusetts.

“I came for the reminders and to save money,” said Lauren San Miguel. “I’ve taken the course four times. It got off to a bit of a slow start, but I would recommend it to people to save money.”

A Little About Me

I’m Ellen Delisio and I’m a content producer at AAA Northeast. Let’s just say I’ve been driving for a few decades and took driver’s education in high school shortly after the Earth’s crust cooled. Besides classroom instruction and actual driving, we trained on driving simulators, which resembled video games, and I even had to memorize hand signals.

I am in the unique position of being an “experienced” driver with an 18-year-old son who recently completed driver’s education, got his license and has been reminding me (often) of how driver’s education has changed and that some of what I learned no longer is relevant.

Also, the cost of adding him to my car insurance made my checkbook (yes, I have a checkbook) run for cover, so any break I can get on the bill is appreciated.

Who Was There

The six-hour AAA Defensive Driving course, which includes two 15-minute breaks and an hour for lunch, includes a review of safe driving practices, information about car maintenance, road rules as well as an introduction to new driving regulations and car technology.

Many in the class were repeat customers, said instructor Larry Engel, who has enjoyed teaching the course for eight years. “I like the interaction with people, and I like passing on knowledge,” he explained. A retired IRS employee, Engel completed a 40-hour course and passed a test to qualify as an instructor; he gets recertified every three years. “I hope they learn new things, and it makes them better drivers,” Engel said before the course started.

The group was eager to share comments and anecdotes related to the course content, which Engel allowed to a degree. The class was a mix of men and women of different ages.

Among those repeat attendees were Patricia Bartolomeo and her husband Anthony. “I take it every three years to save money, and I learn something new,” Patricia said. The couple plans to expand their AAA usage to other services. “I just decided I needed all the things AAA offers,” Anthony said. “We drive to Pennsylvania a lot and I’m getting too old to change tires on my own. I’m also looking forward to using the travel and DMV services.”

Anthony’s only complaint about the course was the length. But it also is available online, so you can complete it at your own pace.

Class Is in Session

The course kicked off with a video showing how technology and improved designs have made today’s cars sturdier and safer. While driver-assistance features like backup cameras, automatic warning signals and lights improve safety, drivers should not rely on them exclusively.

“Technology can be helpful, but also can be a distraction,” Engel said. “And it does not always work. When backing up, always look behind you.”

Most factors contributing to crashes are under the driver’s control, Engel noted. These include checking for low tire pressure, cautiously changing lanes and not driving too fast on wet and icy roads. “Drivers often underestimate their risk,” he continued. “You can always reduce your level of risk.”

Call me overcautious, but now I find myself driving more slowly at the first sign of a raindrop.

Observing risky behavior by other motorists and receiving an insurance discount prompted Ken Kilfoyle to sign up for the course. “I’m a livery driver and I need to refresh my skills,” said Kilfoyle, adding that he is 63 and has been driving since he was 17. “I see a lot of scary things on the road.”

What I Learned

I’ve highlighted seven things that I learned, although there were many more. I also got some unbelievably valuable refreshers about navigating intersections and other tricky situations such as traffic circles.

Following Distance

For those of us who were instructed to leave about two car lengths behind the car ahead of us, the new rule is to stay between three and four seconds behind. To determine that, when the car ahead of you passes a stationary object, like a tree, count the seconds it takes you to pass the same object. If it is fewer than three or four seconds, you are following too closely.

Gore

The class also reviewed some updated road signs, including ones for a yield line, bike box, fire hydrant location and a gore area, a triangular space between an off-ramp and a through travel lane, on which you should not drive. For most of the class, this was our first introduction to a gore, but now I have my eyes open for one.

Who Goes First?

Without a doubt, many drivers could use a review on navigating a four-way intersection. Here we go: The first driver to arrive at an intersection proceeds first. If two cars arrive simultaneously, the one on the right has the right of way. Vehicles traveling forward also have the right of way and drivers must always yield to pedestrians and bicyclists.

The most common causes for crashes at intersections include a driver neglecting to see an object or car in or near an intersection, turning when the view was obstructed, performing an illegal maneuver, incorrectly assuming another driver’s actions and mistakenly judging a vehicle’s speed or a space in traffic, according to the course material. As you approach an intersection, cover the brake and tap it if you are slowing down, Engel advised.

Flashing Yellow Arrow

If you encounter a flashing yellow arrow pointing left at an intersection, that means yield the right of way. A flashing red arrow means to come to a full stop and then turn.

Hand Position on the Wheel

My son and I had several arguments about this. He kept insisting my hands were in the wrong position on the steering wheel. And he was right. After starting the car, you may automatically put your hands on the wheel at 10 and 2, based on a clock face, as I did, since it was drilled into all of us of a certain age. Wrong. The new recommended position is 9 and 3, now that cars have airbags. If your hands are in that position, the airbag is less likely to break your wrists if it deploys. For the same reason, sitting 10 inches back from the steering wheel is considered safer.

Rear Seat Belts Are Mandatory in New York

Ensure everyone in the car is wearing seat belts. Surprisingly, rear seat passengers in New York were not required to wear seat belts until 2020. Now the penalty for noncompliance is stiff: failure to wear a seat belt in the back seat is a moving violation, resulting in tickets to the passenger and driver, and points on the driver’s license.

Drowsy Driving Is Like Drunk Driving

Each year, about 1 million people are injured in alcohol-related crashes, Engel noted. Among other risky behaviors, intoxicated drivers are more likely to drive the wrong way on a highway. But
drowsy drivers, as it turns out, can be just as deadly. When people drive after sleeping only four hours or less, they can be just as impaired as if they were driving intoxicated, according to the course. If you are struggling to keep your eyes open, pull over.

Other Takeaways

I would recommend the course to anyone seeking to become a more confident driver and looking to save money. The course both enriched and expanded my driving knowledge, reminding me to constantly be aware of my surroundings and introduced me to new regulations. If I ever see a gore, I’m going to jump out and take a picture.

Student feedback was also positive.

“This was very informative, and I always like the instructor,” said Uriel Valasco. “And I learned that pedestrians and cyclists always have the right of way.”

“Every three years I take it and learn a lot, and hopefully become a better driver,” added Judith Marquez. “I didn’t know wearing seat belts in the back seat became a law five years ago. I would recommend it because you learn so much. People will be surprised.”

Engel was optimistic about the class putting lessons into practice. “This was a very positive, animated group,” he said. “Hopefully the outcome will be very positive.”

Interested in taking the AAA Defensive Driving Course? Sign up here.

Have you ever taken a defensive driving course? What was the most surprising thing you learned?

Featured image: Instructor Larry Engel reviews road signs during the AAA Northeast Defensive Driving Course.

You never know what you might come across while driving. Traffic could be moving at a steady speed when suddenly you find yourself behind a snowplow, tractor or even an animal. While you’ll likely want to pass anything that’s slowing you down, your may not always be sure how — or if — you should.

Rest assured, cars can legally pass most things on the road, provided certain precautions are taken.

Slowing down, avoiding sudden turns and bursts of speed, and not beeping the horn are the basic rules when it comes to passing anything, particularly an animal that might get startled.

Here are tips for navigating safely around less-common road occupants:

Mounted Police Officers

Slow down as you approach and try to keep several feet between you and the horse. The officer may signal you to pass or wait. If you must wait, slow down and do not shout or beep the horn. If the horse becomes agitated, stop your car. When it is safe to pass, ensure you are several feet away from the horse and accelerate slowly at a constant speed.

The same advice applies to passing any horse and rider on the road.

Cattle

If you encounter cattle walking on the side of the road or crossing the road, immediately slow down. Both horses and cattle have little traction on asphalt and could slip and fall when startled.

If the cows are crossing the road, stop and let the whole herd cross. Do not get out of your car to take pictures or try to assist with the crossing; cattle owners have enough to manage without contending with spectators or amateur cowboys. Also keep an eye out for cow dogs, the canines that help herd the cattle and keep them moving. If cattle are walking on the side of the road, give them a wide berth, do not honk and pass slowly.

All animals spotted near the road require extra caution, especially deer at night.

Amish Buggies

Can you pass an Amish buggy?

For the most part, Amish buggies and other horse-drawn carriages are considered vehicles and must follow the rules of the road, including traveling on the right side. Amish buggies will stay as close to the far-right side of the road as possible, unless they cross the road to make a left turn. You can pass but drive slowly and do not pass on hills or curves. Allow at least 20 feet between your vehicle and the horse before returning to the travel lane.

If you are behind an Amish buggy, proceed slowly and do not follow too closely; if you are too close, the buggy driver may not see you. Also, if the buggy stops, it may roll backwards.

Drivers need to be especially vigilant at night, because often buggies and horses are dark-colored and difficult to see. At least four states require lights or reflectors on Amish buggies.

Snowplows

Among the reasons drivers are asked to stay off roads during heavy snowstorms is to give snowplows time and space to work. Weighing in at about 60,000 pounds, plows need room to maneuver and the fewer cars they encounter, the better it is for all involved.

Here are tips for driving near plows or passing them:

• Stay at least 200 feet behind a plow to avoid flying snow, and keep out of the driver’s blind spots.

• If you decide to pass, leave plenty of room between you and the plow. Don’t rush to merge into the lane ahead of the vehicle, because the plow blade extends several feet in front of the truck.

• Never pass a plow on the right because you risk colliding with one of its huge wing blades.

• If a plow is coming toward you, move as far to the right side of the road as possible.

• Accept that plows are going to travel at about 25 mph and passing may not be possible because of road conditions. Also, remember the road ahead of the plow is worse than the road behind it.

Disabled Vehicles

While all states have laws requiring drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, in the past year, AAA Northeast successfully lobbied to expand the requirement to include
disabled vehicles, and continues to advocate for and support Slow Down, Move Over.

When approaching disabled vehicles, drivers are required to reduce speed and move to another lane. If it is not safe to change lanes, then drivers should proceed slowly.

Tow Trucks

Slow Down, Move Over applies to tow trucks as well. To pass a tow truck, decrease your speed and change lanes to give the truck and driver as much room as possible. This simple courtesy can help save lives.

Tractors

Since they don’t travel more than 25 mph, getting stuck behind a tractor on a rural road can be frustrating. But don’t be in too much of a hurry to pass. Most collisions between cars and farm equipment occur when a tractor is turning left and a driver attempts to pass it. Keep further back from a tractor than you would from a car, because tractors have a larger braking distance and the vehicle may extend into the adjacent lane.

If you decide to pass a tractor, be aware that the tractor operator may not be able to see or hear you. Try to stay visible, leave plenty of room between you and the tractor, then pass slowly. Leave extra room behind you when you merge into the lane ahead of the tractor. Also, be alert for hand signals, because the tractor operator may wave if it is safe to pass.

And when in doubt: slow down and move over.

Have you ever come across a slow-moving vehicle or animal in the road that you didn’t know how to pass? Tell us in the comments.

Winter in the Northeast is anything but dreary thanks to vibrant winter festivals that light up the season with frosty cold-weather fun. From dazzling ice sculptures to thrilling snow sports, these festivals celebrate all things winter and offer a much-needed escape from the dreary doldrums of the season.

So, get ready to bundle up and join in the excitement of these nine magical winter celebrations.

Fire & Ice Festival

Putnam, Conn.

Feb. 7, 2026

The annual Fire & Ice Festival in Putnam is the place to go for all things fire and ice. We’re talking stunning ice sculptures and mesmerizing ice carving demonstrations, as well as fire-breathing acts. Glowing fire torches light up downtown Putnam, showcasing more than five dozen intricate ice carvings. This festival hosts the largest single ice block competition in all of New England. Warm up by the cozy fire pits or the heart-shaped bonfire. Epic fire acts and roaming entertainers, like stilt walkers and magicians, make perfect photo ops. There’s even a super-size igloo to explore. A performance by Forever Young, an acoustic tribute to the music of Neil Young, is scheduled for this year.

Camden Winterfest

Camden, Maine

Jan. 31, 2026

Get ready for a frosty adventure complete with ice sculptures, a polar plunge at Camden Harbor and an adorable dog fashion show at the annual Camden Winterfest, which is put on by the Camden Public Library. Watch talented professional ice carvers or join in on the fun by signing up to create your own sparkling ice sculpture from a 300-pound block of ice. Kids will love the face painting and winter crafts, making it a perfect family outing. When you need to warm up, there will be plenty of delicious hot food on hand, like hot dogs, cookies, chili and toasty hot chocolate.

Lowell Winterfest

Lowell, Mass.

February 28, 2026

A winter wonderland awaits at the Lowell Winterfest. This glorious celebration of winter features live music, ice carvings, magical fire sculptures and plenty of roaming street performers to keep you entertained. One of the festival’s standout events is the Soup Bowl Competition, in which local restaurants showcase their best soups and chowders, and you get to vote for your favorite. It’s a fun and flavorful way to warm up during the frosty festivities. There’s so much more too, like a scavenger hunt, ax throwing, food trucks and a chocolate festival. You may just want to block off your entire weekend for this festival.

Concord NH Winter Fest

Concord, N.H.

Jan. 23-24, 2026

Get ready for some winter fun at the Concord NH Winter Fest. This family-friendly New England winter festival brings the magic of winter to life and features an ice carving competition right on the State House lawn. Revel in dazzling ice sculptures, food trucks, a beer garden and a variety of fun outdoor activities, like curling, snow-ga (that’s yoga in the snow) and wine tastings. Don’t forget to bring your best dance moves for the family dance party, as well as your doggo for the doggie meet and greet, because even pups deserve some winter fun. If you miss festival weekend, don’t worry, the stunning ice carvings will be on display as part of a weeklong ice sculpture garden.

Fire & Ice Festival

Mount Holly, N.J.

Jan. 31, 2026

The annual Fire & Ice Festival wows festival-goers with ice carving demonstrations, where talented sculptors transform blocks of ice into stunning masterpieces right before your eyes. One of the festival’s highlights is the Chili Cook-Off, where local chefs compete to wow — and warm up — hungry festival attendees with the very best chili. Come hungry, since you’ll definitely want to sample them all and cast your vote for your favorite. There’s plenty of fun for the kiddos too, like fire engine rides, a petting zoo, kids’ crafts and dogsled demonstrations.

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Feb. 6-Feb. 15, 2026

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the U.S., dating all the way back to 1897 when the festival began as a way to bring people together to shake off the winter chill and celebrate outdoor sports and activities. The carnival features an iconic ice palace, fireworks, a curling competition, live music, ski races, a royal court and a frying pan toss. There’s something for everyone at this 10-day celebration in the heart of New York’s Adirondacks. One of the carnival’s cherished traditions is its collectible buttons, each year featuring a unique design to commemorate the festivities.

Newport Winter Festival

Newport, R.I.

Feb. 13-22, 2026

The Newport Winter Festival is a 10-day celebration packed with live music, an ice carving demonstration, a comedy show, a hot drink contest and plenty of kid-centric activities, like a science show, a princess party and a reptile show. The annual Mac & Cheese Smackdown, where local restaurants battle it out for the title of best mac and cheese in town, is a festival favorite. Come hungry since there’s also a Chili Cook-Off. With over 150 events spread across 10 days, you’ll no doubt leave the winter blues behind.

Stowe Winter Carnival

Stowe, Vt.

Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2026

The Stowe Winter Carnival is a fan favorite, boasting a range of winter activities, like ski-in movies, a snow volleyball tournament, and of course, ice carving demonstrations with wildly talented ice sculptors. The first winter carnival was held in 1921 as a way to lift the spirits of locals during the cold winter months. It took a break for a few decades, but was revitalized in 1974 and has been going strong ever since. Today, ice carving is the star of the show. Festival-goers can even sign up for classes to learn the tricks of the ice carving trade.

Carnaval de Quebec

Quebec, Canada

Feb. 6-15, 2026

For extra winter fun, cross the border into Canada for Carnaval de Quebec, a spectacular winter festival that’s been enchanting visitors for more than 70 years. This iconic festival, billed as the world’s largest winter carnival, features live music, ice and snow sculptures, magical evening parades, an ice palace and everyone’s favorite snowman mascot, Bonhomme. It’s a magical event that showcases the vibrant culture of Quebec, making it a must-visit for winter enthusiasts. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there’s plenty of merch, like beanies, blankets and scarves.

Tell us your favorite winter festival in the comments below.

Need a ride? Rent a car and save with AAA and Hertz.

Featured image: Quebec Carnaval

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on physical health — exercising more, eating better, losing weight. While there’s nothing wrong with this type of resolution, deciding to focus on emotional and mental health could be a more beneficial approach if you’ve been stressed out this past year.

Go for a different take on the idea of “new year, new you,” and focus on your emotional well-being.

Addressing Your Mental and Emotional Health

Just as mental health “affects how we think, feel and act,” writes MentalHealth.gov, “it also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.”

One of the best ways to improve mental health is to make informed, healthy choices that support both your physical and emotional well-being. Thankfully, there are plenty of coping and relaxation techniques you can try from the comfort and safety of home, along with resources you can access online.

Prioritize Your Mind, Time and Relationships

Focusing on the activities, people and causes/organizations that make you feel happy and engaged is a key part of a successful mental reset.

Engage Your Brain

Identify the major stressors in your life and manage stress better with the four As: avoid, alter, accept and adapt. When it comes to resolutions, consider focusing on work-life balance — especially if you’re hybrid or working from home — and try giving yourself more free time.

Make the most of that spare time by doing some mentally and emotionally enriching activities. Learning a language, recipe or photography technique, playing brain games and meditating can help you deal with stress and better your mental health.

Connect With Others

Having a support system — or a network of people who care, respect and support you — is an essential part of emotional well-being.

Stay connected to your support system even (or especially) when you’re struggling. Reach out to friends and family to plan get-togethers, or just to talk. Planning a trip to a park or hiking trail for a walk on a nice day is also something you can look forward to.

Try to Stay Positive

Being optimistic isn’t always easy, especially during times of uncertainty. Try to focus on things that bring you happiness, like baking, dancing, singing or making art. Watch your favorite uplifting movie or spend some quality time with a pet, your child or significant other.

Make yourself feel better inside and out with self-care, too. Give yourself a DIY spa day with a relaxing bath, new facemask or foot scrub. Start a new healthy habit like meditating or writing in a gratitude journal to keep track of the things you’re thankful for or would like to try in the future.

Do Good Deeds

It’s no myth that making others happy can help you feel happier too. Engaging in meaningful activities or becoming an active participant in your community can help your mental and emotional health.

Start small with tending to houseplants or gardening when the weather gets nicer. Take care of the planet by picking up litter, or choose to improve the life of an animal by fostering, adopting or donating to a shelter.

Get out in your community by volunteering at causes that are important to you, making charitable donations (like clothes, food, money and other supplies) and forming new connections.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Mental and emotional health are deeply intertwined with physical wellbeing. This means staying active, getting enough sleep and eating well can all help improve your mental health, too.

Physical Activity

Just a bit of exercise can help improve your mood, make you feel more energized and potentially help you sleep more soundly at night.

Focusing on simply making yourself feel better, rather than counting calories or measuring your waistline, can also make exercise more enjoyable.

Try starting with low-impact exercises like yoga. Outdoor exercises like biking, hiking and walking are also extremely beneficial because they get you outside in the natural light and fresh air.

Sleeping Well

The impact of sleep on your mood goes far beyond simply feeling grouchy in the morning. Getting enough rest is vital to overall mental and emotional health.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to obvious inconveniences, like low energy and irritability, but prolonged sleep deprivation can cause bigger issues.

“Studies in both adults and children suggest that sleep problems may raise risk for, and even directly contribute to, the development of some psychiatric disorders,” states Harvard Health Publishing.

A great way to make sure you have enough sleep is to give yourself a bedtime, even if you’re far too old for one. Having a set time you go to sleep and wake up every day can ensure that you feel tired when you’re supposed to, and energized when you need to be.

Eating Better

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet — not crash dieting — can impact your mood and even your immunity.

“Multiple studies have found a correlation between a diet high in refined sugars and impaired brain function — and even a worsening of symptoms of mood disorders, such as depression,” according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating enough high-quality foods, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. You can also try making healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods by incorporating more vegetables, eating more salads and reaching for less processed snacks.

How do you want to improve your emotional and metal health this year? Tell us in the comments.

Your favorite meteorologist is calling for a wintry mix. The storm will develop while you’re at work, leading to a miserable evening commute. As you pull into the office parking lot, you notice that a healthy handful of your co-workers have popped up their windshield wipers.

That’s when your dilemma begins.

Do you follow suit? If you leave your wipers up, at least you know that you won’t leave work to find them stuck to the windshield. But some argue that you’ll still have to chip away ice from the wipers.

Our resident automotive expert, AAA’s Car Doctor John Paul, doesn’t do it on his own car.

“Putting the wipers up and away from the windshield makes it easier to clean the windshield if it snows,” he said. “It also eliminates the chance that the wipers will freeze to the windshield.”

But it also means you’re putting stress on the spring that holds the wiper arms against the windshield, he cautions.

On the other hand, Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs at AAA Northeast, believes leaving windshield wipers up is a safe option.

“I don’t see any harm in it, though you still have to clean the snow off the glass,” said Sinclair.

In case your wipers are accidently left on, leaving them up also eliminates the chance of burning out the windshield wiper motor when you start your car and the blades try to push their way through the heavy snow.

Sinclair offers an alternate method for preventing wipers from freezing to the windshield.

“You can put a blanket or snow cover over the windshield and weigh it down with some bricks prior to a storm,” he said. “The next morning, pull off the blanket and the windshield is clear.”

Whether you choose to put your windshield wipers up or leave them down, you need to make sure they are working properly before you head out on the road.

• Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe.
• Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots.
• Consider installing all-weather wiper blades that have a one-piece plastic beam frame or winter blades that wrap the metal frame in a rubber boot. Both designs help prevent snow and ice buildup that can interfere with blade-to-glass contact.
• Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components. Some window washer solution is rated to just 20 degrees, but in cold weather this solution can freeze and damage the washer system. Look for washer fluid that protects well below freezing temperatures.

No matter what you do with your windshield wipers, AAA members can save on automotive replacement parts and accessories at NAPA Auto Parts.

What do you do with your windshield wipers when you hear that snow is on the way? Do you leave them sticking up or flat against the windshield? Tell us in the comments.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

While the winter season can bring beauty in the form of fluffy snow and glittering ice, it can also bring hazards. Around your home and while you’re driving, winter precipitation poses potential dangers like black ice, which can cause slips, slides and spills on walkways, driveways and the road. Learn more about this risk and how to stay safe when the weather forecast calls for slippery conditions.

What Is Black Ice?

Despite its name, black ice is actually clear. It’s often compared to a “glaze” and can form on all kinds of surfaces, especially roads, sidewalks and driveways.

Since black ice is transparent, it coats and blends into whatever it covers, and that’s part of what makes it so dangerous. Black ice is also extremely slippery and has several causes, including freezing rain and the melting and re-freezing of ice and snow.

How Does Black Ice Form?

If roadways are wet and the temperature drops below 32 degrees, black ice can form. Another cause is when “moisture in the air condenses and forms dew or fog, and then the temperature drops below freezing,” according to The Weather Channel. Sometimes, black ice occurs on highways when the heat of tires on the asphalt mixes with freezing conditions.

Keeping an eye on weather reports is a must in the winter, and investing in your own thermometer isn’t a bad idea either.

Where Does Black Ice Form? 

Black ice can form almost anywhere under the right conditions, but some places are more likely to freeze this way compared to others.

“Bridges and overpasses are prone to black ice because cold air is able to flow underneath the road surface, since it is elevated, therefore lowering the pavement temperature,” The Weather Channel explains. “Shaded spots on the road are prone [too,] since they receive less warmth from the sun during the day.”

The roads beneath overpasses and at the bottoms of hills are other common places. Black ice also forms more often during early morning and at night, when there’s no sun and the temperatures tend to be colder.

Around the house, paved driveways and shaded walkways are susceptible to black ice.

How to Recognize Black Ice

One of the most dangerous aspects of black ice —  besides being so slick —  is that it’s difficult to see. While black ice can sometimes be seen in certain lighting, most of the time, it’s practically invisible. When conditions are slippery, be especially mindful of your surroundings and what is coming up ahead. When the temperature is low, glossy surfaces could potentially mean black ice. Whether you are in the car or on foot, slow down.

Black Ice Protection

Winter can bring many hazards, like damaging winds and heavy snow. To protect your home and vehicles this winter, make sure your insurance policies are up to date. When it comes to car accidents or slips and falls where you’re responsible for personal injury to someone else, these policies should cover you.

“However, unlike the cost of repairing your car, [personal] damages can be much larger,” said Jodi DeSantis, AAA Northeast’s vice president of insurance sales. “That’s why we typically advise our members to consider an umbrella policy that provides additional liability coverage in excess of the coverage provided in someone’s auto or home policy.”

When considering an umbrella policy, there are often coverage limits that need to be met on your policies. Your insurance agent can help you sort out the details.

What to Do in the Car

If the temperature is at or below freezing, try to avoid driving if you can. If you have to be on the road when it’s icy, keep these tips in mind.

Let Your Car Warm Up 

Today’s vehicles only need a minute or two to warm up in cold weather. “Unnecessary engine idling wastes fuel, pollutes the air and only warms the engine —  not the other mechanical parts of the car,” says John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor. It’s best to go easy on the gas until you start to feel heat coming from the vents.

Improve Visibility

Clear your windshield and windows of snow, ice and fog for the best visibility possible.

For your own safety and the consideration of others on the road, it is smart (not to mention against the law in every Northeast state not to) to remove snow or debris from your car before driving.

Check Your Tires 

Checking the tread on your tires is important, since worn tread will have less traction. Paul advises using a quarter to measure tread. “If the tread depth isn’t up to Washington’s head, the tires should be replaced.” He also suggests winter tires for the best traction. “Tires are the only part of your car that touches the road, so you want them to be in good shape.”

Keeping your car in good shape is one of the most important things you can do to stay safe on the road.

AAA members can save on automotive replacement parts and accessories at NAPA stores.

Leave Extra Time and Space

Leave yourself a little extra time and drive slower than normal during winter journeys. While you should never tailgate, leave ample room between you and other cars when road conditions are slippery. This will give you more time to react to sudden changes in traffic.

What to Do at Home

Preparing your home and property before a snowstorm can save you time, energy and give you peace of mind. Before winter precipitation arrives, make sure gutters and drains are unblocked. This way, melting snow and ice will have a place to go.

In addition to shoveling or snow blowing, one trick is to lay out a sturdy cloth or tarp before the snow or ice comes. You can cover your car, porch, stairs, walkways, etc. and then simply remove the snow-covered cloth or tarp when it’s time to leave the house.

If snow has already fallen, clear the driveway and walkways so the sun can dry away any moisture. If the weather reports are calling for snow, ice or a wintry mix — with no sunshine to be found — consider using an ice melt.

There are lots of snow and ice melt options out there, but you should use them with caution. Some are harmful to pets and the environment and can damage grass, plants and walkways. Though they all have pros and cons, try not to over-salt regardless of which deicer you choose.

If you would like to add some extra grit to your driveway or walkway, you can sprinkle fine gravel, sand, cat litter, coffee grinds and/or wood ash.

Winter can be a divisive topic — people either love it or hate it. Regardless of your sentiment toward the season, you can feel more prepared by being proactive, protecting your assets and staying informed.

Protect your home from black ice-related liabilities and more with AAA home insurance. Learn more. 

Do you have a story about an encounter with black ice? Share it with us in the comments.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

 

Stressing over finances as a young adult almost seems like a rite of passage. It’s a time when you’re trying to build credit, avoid bad debt, budget and pay off your student loans — all at once. Starting your career and trying to save money, all while trying to manage all the other expenses in your life is a balancing act that is almost always overwhelming. These tips can help with financial planning in your 20s and 30s and keep you on track.

Extra Credit

One of the most important financial moves young adults can make is building good credit. Ellen Morvant, CFP^®, APMA^®, Ameriprise Financial Advisor with Waterfront Wealth Management, recommends focusing on building good credit and avoiding bad credit through making on-time payments and wisely using credit cards to pay bills.

“To build credit, you have to demonstrate an ability to manage debt responsibly. This means making at least the minimum payment on time every time for every debt you have, whether it’s a student loan, car loan, mortgage or credit card,” Moryant said.

An easy way to start building a credit history is to apply for a credit card, but you have to be smart about how you do it or else it can easily get you into trouble. “When you open your first credit card, commit to limiting your spending to an amount you know you will be able to pay off in full at the end of the month,” Moryant said. “I recommend picking a few bills you can use your credit card to autopay, and then signing up to have the credit card full statement balance paid automatically from your bank account each month.”

With the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card or the AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card, you can take advantage of cash back on a wide range of purchases and experiences. Learn more.

The B Word

With credit cards, student loans and other expenses, it’s easy to find yourself in some serious debt. Morvant recommends building a budget early in life and has some alternatives for those who may fear the word “budget.”

“One of the best defenses against debt is a realistic, proactive plan for spending and saving. Some people call this a budget. But I find most people hate their budgets, get overwhelmed by them, and stop following them,” Moryant said. She suggests a simpler system for how to manage money in your 20s, 30s — or any age — with just a few categories:

• Fixed must-haves.
• Variable must-haves.
• Discretionary spending money.

To avoid debt, Morvant also recommends having an emergency fund that’s at least three months’ worth of expenses saved in a bank account in case of the unexpected loss of a job, an injury or other unforeseen costs that may arise.

Start Saving for Retirement Now — Yes, Now  

In addition to building credit and avoiding debt, when financial planning in your 20s and 30s, it’s also essential to start saving for retirement as soon as possible.

“The longer you wait to start investing for the future, the more years of compound investment growth you stand to miss out on. This means you will need to put away substantially more of your own dollars to end up with the same amount of money in retirement the longer you wait to start,” Morvant says.

There are multiple ways to go about saving, including IRAs and 401(k)s.

401(k)s and IRAs are tax-advantaged retirement plans. A 401(k) is sponsored by an employer, while an IRA is an account you open on your own.

“401(k)s tend to be the easiest ways for most people to start investing for their retirement because they allow you to contribute a portion of your paycheck directly, helping to build that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ systematic savings habit,” Moryant said. “Many companies will also match contributions you make to the plan up to a certain percentage of your pay. If your company does this, consider contributing at least enough to get the full match. It’s essentially free money – turning the match down is basically taking a voluntary pay cut.”

It’s also a good time to think about getting a life insurance policy. Age largely factors into your rate — the younger you are, the less you pay.

Repaying Student Loans

And then there’s the three words 20-somethings might dread more than any other in the English language: Student loan repayments. Given that student loans are taken out while students are in school and require no payments during that time but are still gaining interest, it’s easy to find yourself in over your head in debt when you graduate. But AAA Northeast Senior Manager, Student Lending, Donald Kerr, advises graduates not to lose hope just yet, as there are repayment plans and strategies that can help you.

“The amount of student debt younger people are graduating with can be overwhelming. One way to help is to explore consolidating and refinancing student loans. When you do this you will have more repayment plan options such as five, seven, ten, fifteen and twenty year loans as well as variable or fixed interest rates. Most importantly, you will be able to choose a monthly payment amount that fits your budget,” said Kerr.

Longer term loans will have lower monthly payments but cost more overall and short-term loans will have higher monthly payments but save you the most amount of money. Kerr advises evaluating your student loans on an annual basis to keep from getting overwhelmed. “You can refinance your loans multiple times so look at your budget, financial goals and refinance your loans to match.”

When it comes to understanding your options for repaying student loans, a financial professional can help you understand and work through your options.

“AAA student lending offers free advising and counseling to our members. We can help them understand the refinancing and consolidation options for all private student loans. We can also assist with exploring federal student loan repayment options such as income-based repayment plans, graduated repayment plans and others such as public service forgiveness. We help our members understand all the repayment options, the pros and cons of each, answer all their questions and give them the information they need to make the right choice for them to best manage the loans,” Kerr said.

Get a student loan with AAA.

Never fear, there are ways to help build credit, avoid debt, budget, manage student loans and set yourself up for success when financial planning in your 20s and 30s, even when it feels impossible.

Distracted driving, speeding and driving while impaired contribute to tens of thousands of traffic deaths each year. And in total, federal officials estimate that more than 39,000 people were killed in all U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year but still a stark reminder of the persistent public health crisis on American roads. 

The annual Traffic Safety Culture Index examines driver attitudes, self-reported behaviors and support for traffic safety policies. This year’s results highlight a clear pattern: Even as some drivers continue to take dangerous risks, most Americans want stronger safeguards that prevent impaired driving, including advanced vehicle technologies and more protective legal standards. 

• 67% of respondents supported requiring all new cars to include alcohol-impairment prevention technology. 

• 51% of respondents supported lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.08 to 0.05. 

Despite this support for countermeasures, the survey found that drivers are still choosing to drive impaired. While 93% said driving after drinking is very or extremely dangerous, 7% said they did so in the past 30 days. That trend persisted for marijuana-impaired driving: 70% said driving within an hour of using marijuana is very or extremely dangerous — and 6% reported doing so. 

“Impaired driving has resulted in devastating outcomes for too long, and these findings make it clear that the public is ready for solutions,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “Especially at a time when so many drivers still admit to risky driving behaviors, it’s critical that we leverage the tools and technologies that can make a measurable difference.” 

The survey also found risky behavior persists in other areas. 

Distracted Driving 

• Almost all respondents said scrolling social media (97%), texting/emailing (94%) and reading on a hand-held phone (90%) are extremely or very dangerous behind the wheel — yet 28% texted, 37% read messages and 36% talked on a hand-held phone while driving. 

Aggressive Driving and Speeding 

• Aggressive driving (90%) and running red lights (80%) were considered extremely or very dangerous, but speeding was seen as less dangerous compared to other risky behaviors. 

• 58% said a driver is very or somewhat likely to be caught by the police for driving 15 mph over the speed limit, yet about half of respondents reported driving 15 mph over the speed limit in the past month. 

For more information on survey methodology, data considerations and results, please refer to the full Traffic Safety Culture Index report.  

Car batteries are especially vulnerable to losing power in winter, usually at the worst possible time in the worst possible weather. But with some preparation and maintenance, you don’t have to worry about being stuck in a frigid car on the side of an icy road. Here’s how to protect your car battery from winter.

If your battery still fails after all your precautions, AAA Car Battery Service is available seven days a week to come to you to test or replace your battery.

Why Do Car Batteries Die in Winter?

Cold weather can wreak havoc on a car battery.

Lower temperatures restrict your car battery’s output while forcing it to draw more power to work, according to AAA’s Car Doctor John Paul.

“A car engine needs about 30% more energy to start when the temperatures drop to freezing,” Paul said. “And at zero degrees your vehicle battery can only deliver at 50% of its rated capacity.”

While fully charged batteries normally do not freeze — temperatures would have to drop below minus 76 degrees for that to happen — a fully discharged battery, which has just below 12 volts, can freeze at 32 degrees.

The average car battery life in the Northeast is three to five years. As they age, batteries should be checked annually,

Get more tips on how to winterize your car and how to protect your car battery from winter.

Getting the Most of Your Car Battery in Winter

For the best winter performance, purchase a premium quality battery with the highest cold cranking amps rating to meet or exceed the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications, such as a AAA-branded premium quality battery.

To get the most out of any car battery, make sure to test it regularly. After a stretch of harsh weather is the perfect time so you make sure to protect your battery from winter.

“Batteries really are the strong silent type,” said a representative of Interstate Batteries, the vendor that supplies AAA-branded car batteries. “Even corrosion isn’t a sign of a bad battery. It takes a battery tester to uncover any issues.”

Make sure you have a reliable battery this winter.

In a hurry? Get a premium new battery from AAA Car Battery Service.

Note: Due to high demand because of cold weather, the wait times for mobile battery service may be longer than usual.

Has your car battery ever died in the middle of winter? What do you do to maintain your car battery? Tell us in the comments.

As we look back on the past year and toward a new one, it’s almost instinctual to set goals. We all have things we’d like to change or improve, and a new year is the perfect excuse to get started.

Now is also a great time to think about your insurance resolutions. Insurance shouldn’t be something you buy once and blindly renew each year. If you’ve moved, changed jobs, retired, added to your family or made any other major life changes, your policies could likely use some updating.

Get the new year off to a good start by taking the time to review your policies and make sure you are still getting the most out of your coverage. Here are a few insurance resolutions to get you started.

Drive Change

As you reassess your auto insurance policy, think about how your — and your family members’ — driving habits may have changed. Perhaps you’ve started working from home or recently retired, resulting in less time on the road. Driving less could qualify you for low-mileage discounts. Maybe you have a college-bound student who will no longer have access to household vehicles or, on the other hand, a teenager who’s ready to be added to your policy.

Think about your vehicle. If you’re holding onto an older car, collision and/or comprehensive coverage may no longer be worth it for you. Talk to your insurance agent about adjustments that can be made.

To help lower auto insurance costs, look into taking a defensive driving course. Not only will it help you to become safer on the road, depending on the state you live in, it could also save you up to 10% on your insurance.

Take Inventory

Whether you own or rent your home, making (or updating) an inventory of your belongings — at least your most valuable things — is a smart decision.

If you bought a new TV, phone or laptop, or made another large purchase during the year, such as furniture or appliances, you’ll want a record of it — just in case. If you don’t want to write out an itemized list, consider making a video. This way, in the chance of theft, a fire or natural disaster, you’ll know exactly what’s missing and have proof for your insurance company.

Updating your home insurance after any renovations is a must. An updated bathroom or a finished basement converted into an at-home gym, office or lounge could increase the value of your home, meaning you might want more coverage. Similarly, if you added a hot tub, pool or trampoline, you’re increasing your liability.

Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you are fully covered without overpaying. Keep in mind that homes are often insured for a limit that is different from market value. It instead reflects the cost necessary to repair or rebuild the home in the event of a total loss based on the current market’s construction costs.

Stay Healthy

Getting serious about quitting smoking or seeing your doctor annually are insurance resolutions that could help to improve your health and save you money on life insurance.

People who maintain a good weight due to diet and exercise typically receive the best life insurance rate offerings. “Healthy habits are the key to longevity, and they are a critical part of the evaluation that a life insurance company completes in considering you for a policy,” says AAA Northeast vice president of insurance sales Tiffany Clay. “Seeing your primary care provider at least annually and proactively caring for your health with things like cancer screenings are positives when life insurance companies are making a decision around the rate you will pay.”

Because rates are based on how much of a risk you are, part of the cost of life insurance also depends on your age. The younger and healthier you are, the better the time is to start considering a policy.

The main purpose of life insurance is to take care of others after we’re gone. No one wants their loved ones to have to take on their debts or struggle for basic needs. Review your beneficiaries regularly and make sure to tell someone you trust about where you keep your important documents.

Mind the Gap

While auto, home, rental and life insurance are the most popular and necessary types of coverage, depending on your lifestyle and where you live, your current coverage might have a few gaps. For example, if you live near the water or in a location that experiences heavy rains and/or poor drainage, you should look into flood insurance. Flood damage is considered a separate policy that is not covered by your overall home insurance.

Umbrella insurance, also called a personal liability policy, goes beyond basic home and auto coverage, protecting you with high liability limits.

Protect Your Plans

If you’re someone who travels often, travel insurance could be a smart investment for you. This kind of insurance will refund you in the case of a cancellation. More importantly, it can help cover medical expenses or an emergency evacuation back to the U.S.

Be Paw-Some

Protect your furry friends with pet insurance. Like health insurance for humans, this type of coverage helps pay for veterinary care if your fur baby becomes injured or sick. Most policies only apply to cats and dogs.

Learn how your pets may also be covered by your auto and homeowners policies

You never want bad things to happen, but you’ll be thankful for being prepared if they do.

Get a quote or speak with a AAA insurance agent.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

Shopping for a new car can be exhausting.

By the time you find the one you want — and haggle with a salesperson who has given you their best price three times — you’re ready to sign on almost any dotted line just to get out of the dealership.

That’s when you get shuttled off into a back office, where the new car financing guy saddles you with a high interest auto loan that results in you paying thousands of dollars more than you would have if you had just shopped for the loan ahead of time.

“In my mind, there are two completely separate transactions that take place when you buy a car,” said Ted Lyons, vice president of Financial Services for AAA Northeast. “One is negotiating the price of the car and the second is negotiating the financing of that purchase.”

While many buyers spend hours researching makes, features and even colors they want in a car, they rarely shop for new car financing, despite how important it is.

Here’s how you can find the best way to finance a car for your situation.

Before You Buy

Buying a new car is exciting, but don’t rush it — you can save a lot money immediately and in the long run by doing research first.

For instance, the AAA Auto Buying program is a valuable resource that can help prospective car buyers find the car they want and see what other people have paid for that model vehicle. While shopping from AAA’s network of certified dealers, the AAA Auto Buying program can help buyers get a guaranteed price and save on a new or used car.

Another important step is to look at your financial situation and determine how much you can afford to spend on a new car. You should not only consider the car payments, but also the price of gas, preventative maintenance, repairs and more. Factor in the value of a trade-in vehicle that you own or any negative equity, which is the money you still owe on a car you previously financed.

Types of Car Financing

When it comes to new car financing, you have two options:

Direct Lending

This is when you borrow money directly from bank, credit union or finance company and use that loan to pay for the car, which allows you to comparison shop to find the best deals and to know the credit terms — like annual percentage rate, length of term and maximum amount — before you get to the dealership.

Some financial institutions, like AAA, can offer you both an auto loan and all the ancillary products like an extended warranty, debt protection, GAP protection and other coverages at a significantly lower price than a dealership (which typically makes its money of the sale of these products).

For example, on the average car, AAA can help a buyer secure key fob replacement, tire and wheel protection and dent and ding protection for less than the price of replacing a single key fob, Lyons said. And unlike a mortgage application, applying for an auto loan is a fast and easy process that takes only a few minutes, he added.

Dealership Financing

Another option is to apply for financing through the dealership. While it can be convenient to do the car buying and financing all in one shot, you may not be given any financing options from which to choose and you could get stuck paying a higher interest rate than if you shopped for financing on your own.

After You Sign

Just because you agreed to terms does not mean you are out of options. New car buyers always have the option to refinance — even as early as the first 90 days. Refinancing a car can help you secure a lower interest rate on your loan, reduce your monthly payments and more.

“If you don’t shop ahead of time, you don’t know if you’re getting a good deal,” Lyons said. “And all it takes is one phone call to get the car you want at a price you can afford.”

Learn more about AAA Auto Loans.

Have you ever financed a new car outside of the dealership? How was your experience? Tell us in the comments.

Snow, ice and sleet — not to mention the chemicals used to melt them — can wreak havoc on your vehicle. Properly thawing your car when winter delivers its worst is important to prevent long-lasting damage and keep you safe while driving.

How to defrost car windows effectively and efficiently

Start with a properly operating heater. If the engine is not getting up to the proper operating temperature, the defroster will be much less effective. Set the climate control to full defrost rather than bi-level. This will direct the maximum airflow at the windshield.

If your car has the option, the defroster should be on the fresh air setting rather than re-circulated air.

Get tips on how to defog your car windows here.

How can you remove snow without damaging your car?

Use a long-handle snow brush or snow broom (sometimes called a snow rake). Clean from the middle and push or pull the snow. Doing this before the snow turns into ice will prevent damaging the paint.

Clean the entire car — hood, roof, lights and license plates.

How does salt damage your car and how can you prevent it from happening?

Salt (sodium chloride) and other road chemicals (magnesium, calcium chloride and other brines) can cause accelerated rusting.

To prevent this, you should clean any accumulated salt off your vehicle as soon as practical. Flushing with clean, fresh water is ideal. During winter, an occasional undercarriage wash will help wash away any built-up salt, sand or other road deicing chemicals.

If your car is covered with sticky brine, salt or other chemical substances, don’t park the car in the garage. The warmer air will speed up the corrosion process. Wash and dry the car before putting it in a garage. Touch up any paint damage or scratches before it starts to rust.

What’s the best way to remove ice from the car?

If you are able to open the door and get in, do so and start the car. This will allow the vehicle to warm up and begin to melt the ice.

Do not use sharp products — and never use a shovel. A strong plastic ice scraper will do just fine. Another option, once the car starts to heat up and lightly thaw, is banging on the ice with the snow broom to loosen the ice. You can also use an aerosol deicer spray on the glass but be aware this is mostly alcohol and may remove wax from the paint.

If the car door is frozen shut, what should you do?

Never pour hot water on the door. Although this may get you into the car, you have just added more water that will likely freeze again.

First, make sure to try all the doors. If it’s an SUV, even try the hatch. You may find one door that you can get in. Don’t yank on the door handles as they can break. Try banging your hand along the edge of the door, which may free up the ice. You can also spray deicer on the door and handle. Or just wait until the sun comes out if that’s an option.

Once you get the door open, wipe down all the rubber gaskets to remove any moisture and then spray the gaskets with silicone. This will displace any moisture and prevent door freezing. You should ideally do this a couple of times per year.

Share your tips on how to defrost car windows in the comments below. 

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

The humble glove compartment is so often a forgotten-about vehicle feature. After all, it’s where we store so many forgotten-about things. Be honest, can you name every item that’s currently in your glove compartment? But while we may take this unassuming storage bin for granted, it deserves to be acknowledged. Like so many other automobile features, the history of the glove box provides insight into the evolution of society at large.

Glove compartment history begins

Driving an automobile in the early 20th century may have been an exciting experience, but it certainly wasn’t the most comfortable one. Known as “horseless carriages,” early cars didn’t have roofs so drivers were open to the elements. Even when vehicles became enclosed, they still didn’t have heaters. Furthermore, roads weren’t paved well — if at all — so drivers had to hold on to a shaking steering wheel. And let’s not forget that power steering had yet to be invented, so turning the steering wheel could be a struggle. This is all to say that early motorists needed a good pair of driving gloves.

Early automobile manufacturers tried to rid their products of the “horseless carriage” moniker and Packard Motor Company did so with the addition of a new storage compartment. Sales material for Packard’s earliest cars stated that, “Instead of a leather dash, there is a boot or box forming part of the body. In this is ample space for parcels, waterproofs, etc.”

Where did the term “glove compartment” come from?

What we have come to know as the glove box or glove compartment had come into existence. Yet the idea of storing one’s driving gloves in this space was not a given. That idea can be traced back to a woman named Dorothy Levitt. One of Britain’s first female race drivers, Levitt was an automotive pioneer. Among her many accomplishments in the field was publishing “The Woman and the Car,” a book filled with advice for owning and driving an automobile. One such tip informed readers, “You will find room for these gloves in the little drawer under the seat of the car. This little drawer is the secret of the dainty motorist.”

The growth of the glove box

It didn’t take long for other manufacturers to adopt this new feature. Some used baskets, satchels or hampers, while others built boxes into the dashboard. By the 1930s, the glove box became standard.

As time went on — and vehicles evolved — the need for driving gloves dissipated. This allowed glove compartment, and their uses, to change and by the mid-century, manufacturers began introducing all sorts of iterations. These included a glove drawer that rolled out of the instrument panel, a glove box containing a pop-up makeup compact and lighted makeup mirror overhead, and another that featured a mounted voice recorder.

But the cream of the glove box crop was the one found in the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham. Stored inside was a makeup case, a notebook, a cigarette case, an atomizer for perfume and six stainless-steel shot glasses that could be held down by a magnetic strip.

Modern glove boxes

As decades rolled on, glove compartments became less flashy and more utilitarian. Some became lockable compartments, others came equipped with indentations on the door to hold beverages. Not surprisingly, this was also the time period when glove boxes became catchall storage spots in vehicles, holding everything from insurance and registration papers to tissues and snacks.

Only recently have glove boxes taken on some new features, although there’s room for debate as to how successful they were or will be. In the aughts, Dodge unveiled the “Chill Zone,” a refrigerated beverage storage bin capable of holding up to four 12-ounce cans. More recently, some manufacturers have developed deeper glove boxes where drivers can store a laptop.

What do you keep in your glove box? Let us know in the comments below!

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

The tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve didn’t start with the New York City ball drop. In fact, the earliest record of a New Year’s festival dates back to 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia, according to Britannica. It’s not just one celebration, however. With so much history, it’s no wonder that New Year’s Eve traditions have taken on a life of their own, spanning cultures and centuries to ultimately become what they are today — myriad rituals and superstitions used to ring in the new year right.

Whether you’re looking to bring forth some good fortune for the year ahead or want to know how to ward off any bad luck coming your way, these new year superstitions from around the world may be worth a try.

For Good Luck

Break Dishware

Frowned upon at any other time of the year, smashing a plate is considered good luck for the new year in Denmark. The basic idea is to break dishes on your loved ones’ front steps on New Year’s Eve, and the more shards you have the next day, the more well-liked you are. Better than a double-tap on social media.

Eat 12 Grapes

When it comes to good luck foods for the new year, this Spanish tradition is a popular one. The rules state that you must eat one grape at each of the clock’s 12 midnight chimes. But that’s not all. You must also ruminate on their importance while doing so. If you succeed, good luck is promised to you for the next year, but failure to finish your grapes when the clock stops chiming will result in misfortune in the new year.

Leave Doors and Windows Open 

Keeping your doors and windows open on New Year’s is said to let the old year out and the new year in. Sounds like a fresh start.

Hang Bundles of Onions

A bit reminiscent of hanging garlic to ward off vampires, the Greeks hang onions over their doors for the opposite: to let the good luck in. Why? In Greece, onions are symbols of prosperity as they sprout when ignored. After the onions have been outside, parents bring them in on New Year’s Day and use them to gently bump their children’s heads to wake them up.

Jump Seven Waves

Taking a leap into the ocean during January might not seem worth it — even for all the good luck in the world — but revelers in Brazil believe that good luck will come your way in spades for doing it. The tradition includes wearing all white, running into the ocean at the stroke of midnight and jumping over seven consecutive waves, one for each of the Umbanda divine spirits. If you partake, you also get one wish per wave.

Predict with Wax

Can wax tell the future? Folks in Germany seem to think so. Melt wax on a spoon and over a candle before dumping it into cold. As the wax morphs and shifts, different shapes mean different outcomes. While round globs of wax predict good luck rolling your way, sharp or spiky shapes predict hardships.

Throw Water Out the Window

In this Puerto Rico tradition, dumping a bucket of water out a window is done to drive away any lurking evil spirits.

Potato Predictor

As another good luck food for the new year, potatoes are believed to predict the financial future for the next year. The Columbian tradition is to put out three potatoes (any kind will do) under the bed of each family member. One of the potatoes should be peeled, one half-peeled and one unpeeled. The unpeeled potato symbolizes money, the peeled potato is a bad financial omen and the half-peeled potato signifies half-and-half. Each person must grab one potato without looking, and whichever one they pick predicts if they’ll have more money or more problems in the coming year.

Make a Lemon Pig

Pigs are a symbol of prosperity, so to bring that luck into the home, some have taken to making pigs out of lemons for their new year’s tradition. To make your own, use the lemon’s nub-end as its nose, add two cloves for eyes, cut ears at the top and toothpicks at the bottom for its feet. To ensure extra luck, place a coin in its mouth as well.

Wear Red

In Chinese Lunar New Year traditions — celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually landing between mid-January and mid-February — wearing red and using red decorations sweeps out any bad luck from the past year. The color symbolizes luck, happiness and celebration and is said to bring good fortune.

To Avoid Bad Luck

• No chores. Some say it’s bad luck to clean on New Year’s Day. What you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll be doing all year, so choose wisely. This includes no sweeping, as it will sweep away your wealth.
• No hair washing. Washing your hair on New Year’s is said to wash away good luck. Is it bad luck to shower on New Year’s Day? Going by this rule, probably. We wouldn’t risk it.
• Steer clear of lobster, crab and chicken, as these animals walk backward or sideways, symbolizing moving backward.
• Avoid crying or speaking negatively to yourself and others to prevent those words and feelings from making their way back to you in the form of misfortune.

What’s your favorite New Year’s tradition or superstition? Let us know in the comments!

While the holidays are a time of great joy, they also demand great caution, especially when heading out for last-minute shopping.

Tens of thousands of car crashes occur in parking lots and garages annually, according to the National Safety Council, and that risk goes up during the holiday season, when shoppers are distracted by checking off their gift lists and running to get the best deals.

Distraction doesn’t just increase crash risk — it also makes you more vulnerable to crime. Parking lots and garages are among the top three locations for crimes, including aggravated assault, robbery and car theft, based on FBI crime data.

It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday rush, but safety should always be top of mind. Stay alert and remember these tips while you are out and about.

Parking Lot Safety Tips

• Focus on driving. Your main focus should be on safety, not finding a great parking spot.

• Keep it moving. Follow traffic signs inside the parking lot and avoid sudden stops, which could get your vehicle rear-ended. If you do stop, scan for pedestrians and cars before you accelerate.

• Park farther away. Areas close to the store are typically the most congested. Parking farther away will also decrease the odds that someone is waiting for your spot when you get to your vehicle. Just make sure the area is well-lit if you are shopping at night or early in the morning.

• Back into spots. Backing out of a parking spot is difficult and can be dangerous, especially when you’re between two large vehicles. Backing into a spot can make it easier and safer when it’s time to leave, just make sure to check that the spots are not marked “head in only.”

• Avoid road rage. Incessant honking, yelling and spot stealing can be aggravating, but try not to let your emotions get the better of you. Don’t escalate a frustrating situation, because you never know what the other driver will do. Be tolerant and forgiving and remember that the best response to someone who is driving aggressively is not to respond or engage.

• Make yourself visible. About 74% of pedestrian traffic fatalities occur when it’s dark outside, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Wear bright clothing and walk in well-lit areas if you’re shopping early or at night. Walk on sidewalks and use crosswalks whenever possible. If you need to walk in the road, walk facing traffic. Before crossing in front of a vehicle, try to make eye contact with the driver so you know they can see you.

• Ignore your phone. Keep your cellphone in your pocket and resist the urge to look at it or answer.

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What To Do if Someone Is Following You to Your Car

• Use reflections as an early warning. Check store windows or car mirrors to confirm if someone is behind you without turning around.

• Leverage your car alarm. If you have a key fob, press the panic button before reaching your car to draw attention and deter the follower.

• Keep a barrier between you. Position shopping carts or parked cars between you and the person as you move.

• Stay alert. Put your phone away and scan your surroundings. Awareness is your first line of defense. Eye contact with people around you can be a deterrent as it shows you are paying attention.

• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t ignore that gut feeling.

• Stay around other people. Head toward a well-lit, populated area or back inside the building.

• Have your keys ready. Avoid fumbling at your car door — this makes you vulnerable.

• Call for help/use your voice. Dial 911 or contact security immediately. If you can, share your location with a trusted person. If you feel threatened, loudly say something like “Stop following me!” to draw attention.

• Carry a legal self-defense tool. Pepper spray, personal alarms or tactical flashlights should be kept accessible, not buried in a bag.

Accidents happen. Learn what to do if you get sideswiped and what is considered a hit-and-run, and rest easy knowing you’re well-covered with auto insurance from AAA.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

If you live in the Northeast, it’s inevitable: You’ll have to drive in cold and slippery conditions.

Winter driving requires special precautions. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that about 46% of crashes involving bad weather take place in the winter. And December through March can be an especially busy time for dead batteries, flat tires and vehicle extractions. (We’re here 24/7 to help!)

As motorists’ most trusted advocate, AAA is here to help keep you and your vehicle safe this winter. Check this guide throughout the season for winter driving tips.

Get Your Vehicle Ready

Before hitting the road, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is up for the challenge ahead. No list of winter driving tips would be complete without mentioning the importance of having a certified repair technician perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle. Find a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility near you.

You should ask for checks covering each of the following areas.

Battery and Charging System

Have the battery and charging system tested by a trained technician, especially if your vehicle’s battery is more than three years old. Your vehicle will need a fully charged battery to start up during a cold snap.

“Even a good battery might lose up to 50% of its capacity when the temperature drops to zero,” said John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor and senior traffic safety manager for AAA Northeast. “And even at 32 degrees, it can take up to 30% more power to crank over a cold engine.”

AAA members can request a visit from a AAA roadside technician to test their vehicle battery wherever they are and install replacements if necessary. Members also can visit AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities for battery tests and replacements.

Whether you check or a roadside technician does it for you, be sure that all battery posts are cleared of corrosion and all cable connections are tight.

“Many battery problems can be eliminated by cleaning the corrosion from the battery terminals,” Paul said.

Brakes

Have your vehicle’s brake system inspected by a certified technician as recommended by your car’s manufacturer. You can typically find these recommendations in your owner’s manual.

A brake inspection is needed if your dashboard brake light is illuminated or you notice pulsing, a steering pull, grinding sounds or other unusual noise when braking.

Coolant

Check the coolant level in the overflow tank when the engine is cold. If the level is low, add a 50/50 solution of coolant and water to maintain the necessary antifreeze capability.

“A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water will protect your car’s engine to minus 34 degrees,” Paul said.

You can test the antifreeze protection level with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store. Check cooling system hoses for leaks, cracks and loose clamps, too. Any hoses that feel brittle or spongy when squeezed should probably be replaced.

Engine

Review your owner’s manual to see if your air filter needs to be replaced. Another way to check is to hold it up to a bright light. If light can be seen through much of the filter, it’s still clean enough to work effectively. If the light is blocked, replace it.

Some filters are made of opaque materials that don’t pass light. Replace these filters per automaker recommendations.

Don’t let a lingering check engine light go undiagnosed, and have a certified repair technician investigate any issues such as hard starting or stalling.

Inspect accessory drive belts for cracks or fraying, but stay mindful of newer serpentine belts, which don’t show obvious signs of wear but should be replaced every 60,000 miles or as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Exhaust

Your vehicle’s exhaust system is important. It carries away carbon monoxide and other harmful gases produced by your vehicle’s engine.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly. Have a certified repair technician check your exhaust system for leaks in order to minimize the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. If your car is stuck in the snow and you have the engine running, open a window and clear snow away from the exhaust pipe.

Ignition

Damaged ignition wires, a cracked distributor cap or worn spark plugs can make starting difficult or cause a sudden vehicle breakdown.

“If the check engine light is flashing this indicates an engine misfire that could be a result of a malfunctioning ignition system,” Paul said. “Driving with a flashing check engine light will permanently damage the engine’s catalytic converter, and that’s a very expensive repair.”

Protect your wallet and avoid a headache by getting in front of potential trouble. Have your vehicle’s ignition system inspected by a certified repair technician.

Lights

Check the operation of all headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and backup lights. Replace any burned out bulbs. Dirt and grime on headlight lenses can significantly reduce their effectiveness, and you’ll want your lights working properly to offset diminished visibility caused by winter storms.

“Cloudy headlight lenses can be polished back to like-new condition with specialized kits,” Paul said.

Oil

This is a year-round recommendation, but certainly worth attending to with the rest of your winter prep. Always have your oil changed per manufacturer recommendations. You should have your vehicle’s transmission fluid level checked at the same time.

“Synthetic oil is a benefit in every vehicle and will allow for quicker starts in very cold weather,” Paul said.

Tires

In areas with heavy winter weather, installing winter tires on all four wheels will provide the best traction. All-season tires work well in light-to-moderate snow conditions provided they have adequate tread depth. Examine tires for tread depth, uneven wearing and cupping. Uneven tire wear can indicate alignment, wheel balance or suspension problems that must be addressed to prevent further tire damage.

Tires with fewer than 4/32 inches of tread will have reduced traction in wet and snowy conditions. To measure tread depth, insert a quarter into a tread groove with the top of Washington’s head facing down. If the top of his head is not visible, your tires have at least 4/32 inches of tread and are fine for continued use. If you can see above the top of Washington’s head, it is time to start shopping for new tires. 

“To put it simply, worn tires in wet, slippery conditions are flat-out dangerous to you and other drivers sharing the road. Tires with lower tread depths can’t stop as quickly as those with proper depth,” Paul said. “Having tires in proper condition can easily be the difference between a serious crash, and a collision that never happened.”

In extreme climates, a set of winter snow tires or chains may be a wise investment.

Check tire pressure once a month before driving, when tires are cold. As the average temperature drops, so will tire pressures — typically by 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Proper tire pressure levels can be found in the owner’s manual or on a sticker typically located on the driver’s doorjamb. The number molded into the tire sidewall is not recommended for normal operating condition. This specification is for a tire that is carrying its maximum rated payload.

“Cold weather can turn on tire pressure monitoring lights. Don’t ignore the light; have the tire pressure checked and corrected as necessary,” Paul said.

Washer Fluid

Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components.

Said Paul: “Some window washer solution is rated to just 20 degrees. In cold weather, this solution can freeze and damage the washer system. Look for windshield washer fluid that protects well below freezing temperatures.”

Wipers

Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots. Consider installing wiper blades that have a one-piece plastic beam frame or winter blades that wrap the metal frame in a rubber boot. Both designs help prevent snow and ice buildup that can interfere with blade-to-glass contact.

Get Yourself Ready

• AAA advises drivers to choose warm, comfortable clothing. Heavy garments and thick gloves are great outside but aren’t ideal for driving. A zip-fastened, lined jacket and a pair of thin leather gloves are good bets for winter driving. They’re warm, allow movement and are good inside and outside your vehicle.

• If you are transporting a child in a car seat, they also shouldn’t be too bundled up. The extra padding of a winter coat can interfere with the child safety seat harness. A light fleece jacket or even securing the child in the car seat and putting their coat on over them is a much safer solution.

• As you would before any drive, adjust your seat so that you are no closer than 10 inches to the steering wheel and you can clearly see the road. Check your mirrors, adjust if necessary, and adjust your safety belt so it sits low across your hips and across the center of your chest.

• Sunglasses are always good to have, especially to combat strong snow glare.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

• Don’t warm up your car in an enclosed space. Dangerous fumes can turn lethal in a hurry. You also shouldn’t drive if you’re fatigued. That’s a bad idea any time, especially when inclement weather calls for drivers to be alert.

• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank at least half full to avoid potential gas station lines, or a frozen gas line. And don’t worry about extensive engine warm-ups. They might make the cabin nice and toasty, but they aren’t necessary, even on the coldest mornings. “Once the car is running, you’ve dialed up your favorite radio station and your seat belt is fastened, drive reasonably until the engine comes up to operating temperature. It’s a more fuel-efficient approach,” said Paul.

• Don’t pull away until your windshield is completely defrosted and all snow is removed from your car. That includes the roof, taillights, headlights and side mirrors.

• Don’t let speed limits dictate how fast you travel. They’re set for ideal road and weather conditions, not slippery pavement. Along those lines, leave additional following distance. A good following distance on dry roads is three to four seconds behind the car in front of you, but six to 10 seconds is a good distance on ice and snow. Even if you have all-wheel- or four-wheel-drive, it will still take you just as long to stop as vehicles with rear- or front-wheel-drive. The advantage of all-wheel- and four-wheel-drive is that it’s easier to get moving on a snowy road.

• Moderate is the word to have in mind when accelerating, steering and braking. Watch the traffic ahead of you and slow down at the sight of brake lights, skidding vehicles or emergency lights. If you find yourself in a skid, look and steer where you want to go. Avoid slamming on the brakes.

• Avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy or snowy weather. It can get frozen and may not disengage.

• If you’re traveling across a bridge at the start of a storm, keep in mind that the surface will likely freeze before typical roads.

• Intersections can be especially slippery as ice thaws from the heat of idling vehicles. “Water on top of ice is a very dangerous situation,” Paul said.

• Lay off the cruise control. Summer will be here soon enough.

• Avoid unnecessary lane changes. Changing lanes increases your chances of hitting ice between lanes, which could cause a loss of traction and, potentially, a crash.

• Don’t power up snow-covered hills. It’s not easy for a vehicle to climb an icy road. If you’re stuck and you hit the gas, you may just spin your tires. If you must climb such an incline, try to get a little momentum going and let that carry you up. When you come to the crest, slow down and proceed cautiously, and slowly, downhill.

• Don’t try to brake on ice if you can avoid it. If you’re approaching an area and you spot ice, apply your brakes on clear pavement to reduce speed. “Black ice, sometimes referred to as flash ice, can catch even an experienced driver by surprise,” Paul said. “Black ice happens when a thin layer of moisture freezes on the roadway, and it can be very dangerous.”

• If you have anti-lock brakes, you can press hard on the pedal. It might vibrate a bit, but that’s normal. Vehicles with anti-lock brake systems allow drivers to brake and steer at the same time, possibly avoiding a collision.

• Do not send or read text messages, or engage in other distracting behavior.

Winter driving is difficult for all motorists, but particularly so for new and improving drivers. Learn to become a lifelong safe driver — in all conditions — with the AAA Defensive Driving Course.

Be Prepared for an Emergency 

Even if your vehicle is ready for winter and you follow all of the winter driving tips spelled out here, there is a chance you could be stuck with your vehicle for an extended period of time.

Be prepared for such a situation by carrying an emergency road kit with the following items:

• Mobile phone pre-programmed with rescue apps and important phone numbers including family and emergency services.

• Mobile phone car charger.

• Drinking water or sports drink.

• First-aid kit –including any necessary medication.

• Non-perishable food for humans and pets.

• Traction aids (sand, salt, non-clumping cat litter, traction mats).

• Snow shovel.

•  Blankets.

• Extra warm clothing (gloves, boots, hats, scarves).

• Flashlight with extra batteries.

• Window washer solvent.

• Ice scraper with brush.

• Cloth or roll of paper towels.

• Jumper cables.

• Warning devices (flares or triangles).

• Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench).

Here are a few other tips to remember during such an emergency:

• Stay with your vehicle. It provides shelter and makes it easy for emergency responders to find you.

• Don’t try to walk anywhere, especially in a storm. You could lose track of your vehicle, and if you lost control of your vehicle in a certain area, other vehicles might do the same.

• Don’t push yourself too hard trying to get your vehicle out of the snow. Let a AAA roadside technician help. They do it all the time.

• Let others know you’re in distress by tying a bright cloth to your vehicle’s antenna or placing a cloth at the top of a rolled-up window. You can leave your dome lights on at night, too, which is another reason you’ll want to have your battery checked first.

• Check to see if your exhaust pipe is clogged. If it is, do not run your engine. Doing so could lead to deadly carbon monoxide flooding the cabin.

• If you’ve brought winter clothes, great. If not, don’t be afraid to use floor mats or other items in your car for warmth.

• If your exhaust pipe is clear, you can run the engine and heater for warmth but stay mindful of conserving fuel.

• If you’re embarking on a long-distance trip, check out weather reports or weather apps before you leave. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.

Ways to Enhance Your Winter Driving Experience

If you’re looking for advice on what makes a good winter ride, John Paul and Robert Sinclair Jr., senior manager of public affairs for AAA Northeast, are good people to talk to. They’re both expert test drivers who have first-hand knowledge of how various vehicles stack up with Northeast weather, and they both believe winter performance starts from the ground up.

What are the best cars for winter driving?

“A pickup is the ideal winter vehicle for my money,” said Sinclair. Besides the over-the-road prowess, a big roomy pickup is supremely comfortable.”

All-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles are helpful, too, especially when vehicles with these features also have higher ground clearance. Still, Paul added, the system doesn’t change physics — driving too fast for winter conditions will surely result in a poor outcome on the road.

As for vehicle weight, driving dynamics is more important to a vehicle’s winter driving prowess than its mass.

“A wallowy, poor handling vehicle in clear weather is going to be a lousy vehicle in bad weather no matter how much it weighs,” Sinclair said. “I’d rather have a light Volkswagen Passat with winter tires than a similarly equipped, much heavier Buick LaCrosse.”

Should you be using different gasoline in the winter?

Believe it or not, you already are.

Gasoline blends change with the seasons. The difference involves fuel’s Reid vapor pressure, a measure of how easily fuel evaporates at a given temperature. The more volatile a gasoline, the higher its pressure and the easier it evaporates.

Winter blend fuel has higher pressure because the fuel must be able to evaporate at low temperatures for the engine to operate properly, especially when the engine is cold. If the pressure is too low on a frigid day, the vehicle will be hard to start and once started, will run rough.

Summer blend gasoline has lower pressure. This prevents excessive evaporation when outside temperatures rise. Reducing the volatility of summer gas decreases emissions that can contribute to unhealthy ozone and smog levels. Lower pressure also helps prevent drivability problems such as vapor lock on hot days, especially in older vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency says conventional summer-blend gasoline contains 1.7% more energy than winter-blend gas, which is one reason why gas mileage is slightly better in the summer. The summer-blend, however, is also more expensive to produce, which is why gas prices tend to spike a bit at the start of the summer driving season.

The switch between the two fuels happens twice a year, once in the fall to winter blend, and again in the spring, to summer blend.

As a consumer, the main thing to understand is that there are real reasons for the switch from winter to summer blend fuel, even if it results in some pain at the pump.

What if you don’t want your car out in the snow?

Even the best winter driving tips aren’t enough to convince some drivers to take their prized vehicles out in the snow. Many store their cars in fall, before the worst weather sets in. Here are some tips to make sure you are doing it the right way.

Your AAA membership covers you with 24/7 roadside assistance. If you need us, request service quickly and easily at AAA.com/GetMoving.

This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.

You don’t have to be a cat lover to enjoy this puzzle featuring felines in history, culture and everyday life.

It’s the holiday season: Learn how to keep all your pets safe from potential holiday hazards.

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EPISODE SUMMARY

Are you ready to tackle home improvement projects but aren’t sure where to begin? In the Season 2 finale of Merging Into Life, host Sabrina Pierotti sits down with do-it-yourself renovator and creator Kat Sanders, who transformed an old cow shed into a stunning family home and built a thriving online business along the way.

From budget home decor ideas and interior design tips to the emotional side of creating a space that feels authentically you, Kat shares her journey in an episode filled with inspiration, encouragement and practical advice for anyone ready to roll up their sleeves and bring their dream DIY home renovation to life.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• You don’t need a degree to create a beautiful home. Use these interior design tips to focus on how you want your space to feel. Whether your vision is calm, cozy or energized, build it from there.
• You will never regret starting. Simple upgrades, like applying DIY wall paneling or using peel-and-stick wallpaper, can spark joy and help you build the skills needed for bigger projects.
• Take your time. Live in the space to understand how you use it before rushing into major changes. The best design choices often come from patience and reflection, helping you avoid renovation decision paralysis.
• Beauty is important, but function is key. When planning kitchen renovations or tackling other complex areas, prioritize what fits your lifestyle rather than just copying a Pinterest image.
• Smart design doesn’t have to be expensive. Use budget home decor ideas, set a financial buffer for surprises, and try second-hand furniture styling to add character without breaking the bank.
• Errors are part of the process. Whether it is water-damaged flooring or common kitchen lighting layout mistakes, don’t let setbacks stop you. Every mistake is a lesson that makes you more capable for the next project.
• Confidence is built project by project. The more you try, the more you learn — and the more you realize you’re more capable than you think.

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TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:02] Sabrina Pierotti: So, if there’s one thing you should know about me it’s that I love everything home, and I especially love creating a space in my home that is warm and feels like me. And I also have to admit that I kind of love impressing my guests with my home decor. So, I have spent many hours watching HGTV. And one day I was watching a show, and I got really inspired over how impactful just wallpaper could be, not only on a wall but also on furniture. Because at the time, I had recently bought a very light wood bookshelf. By itself, it looked pretty flat and one of my biggest design inspirations are those mosaic tiles that you see in like Portugal or Italy. So, I bought a wallpaper with these blue mosaic tiles, and I put this wallpaper along the back side of the bookshelf and on the front of the drawers. And to this day, I get the most compliments on this bookshelf. And I have to say it’s one of the pieces in our home that I’m most proud of.

So, snuggle up and get those Pinterest boards loaded, because after this episode, you are going to want to revamp your space. Welcome back to Merging Into Life. I’m your host, Sabrina Pierotti, and in this episode of our Everyday Mastery series, we’re tackling one of the most rewarding and, sometimes, most frustrating parts of adulting, making your house feel like a home. Whether you’re dreaming of a kitchen reno, debating DIY versus just hiring somebody, or just trying to figure out which paint goes where and what color to choose. Joining me today is Kat, a home DIY creator who’s taken her own renovation journey and turned it into a platform to inspire others to take on projects with confidence and creativity.

Hi Kat, thank you so much for joining with me. I’m so, so, so excited for this chat today, because I’m such a lover of everything home. And as I’ve gotten older, I’m really, like, fully embracing that fact about myself that I love being home and spending, like, literally as much time as possible at my home. I want to start off by talking about your home. So, you’ve been renovating your beautiful home for the past 10 years, and it used to be a cow shed. I was on your Instagram looking at videos, and that skylight in your, like, living room-kitchen space is, oh my gosh, stunning — like out of this world. Did you have an experience with home design prior or is this something that you’re like, you know, what I just feel like I need to redo the space.

[00:02:42] Kat Sanders: So, I, well actually, this is the first big project I’ve ever had. So, I’ve, I was the sort of person that grew up looking at sort of interior design catalogs, like children look at toys. I was looking at interior design catalogs. I’ve always had an interest in it. So, yeah, it’s a big project, and we’ve been doing it about 10 years, and it’s still going. I haven’t finished.

[00:03:01] Sabrina Pierotti: You mentioned that when you moved into your home, the layout didn’t really work for your modern family life. So, what were those big things that you wanted to change, and how did you even start that?

[00:03:11] Kat Sanders: Yeah. So when we moved in, it was interesting, because it’s like your cow shed, and it was my husband’s grandparents’, and they really made it for themselves. So, it was great for them. And they were sort of an elderly couple, and it’s perfect for them. But it obviously didn’t work for us with a young family. So, the first thing that I really wanted to change was the amount of light that came into the property, because it was quite dark, and the major issue I had was we had this really gorgeous long garden, and you couldn’t see any of it from the house. So, we had a teeny tiny window on the room that was backed onto the garden and an old conservatory, but you couldn’t see any of the garden. And I think, when we had our first child, we sort of realized quite quickly that we needed somewhere where we could be, where I could cook, where we could see our children and also where we could see them in the garden as well.

[00:03:57] Sabrina Pierotti: So, where did you go for inspiration?

[00:04:00] Kat Sanders: I’m pretty sure I got all my inspiration from Instagram. You know, I run my own Instagram account and pretty much all of my followers are interested in interiors, and I follow pretty much only interiors accounts. So, I basically just had a look at what other people had done, and I sort of tried to make it fit for what I wanted, what would be practical, but also what would look good.

[00:04:19] Sabrina Pierotti: My husband and I are moving next summer. And we’ve lived in our current apartment for about 10 years by the time we move. And it’s like amazing that we’ve even stayed here this long, and we’re up-leveling and moving into like a totally new build. And I already know like what vision I want. Like I definitely want the decor to be what we were talking about earlier, countryside, specifically like French countryside. So, a lot of muted neutral colors and like natural materials like stone and wood. So, when you moved into this space, did you have a certain type of vision? Because when we look at your home, it’s very cohesive looking, which I love.

[00:04:58] Kat Sanders: To be honest, when I first moved in, no, I did not. And I actually made a lot of errors really in what I did. I don’t think a theme is necessarily vital. You’re making a space to live in that you love. And so, for some people, that will be, I want a cohesive theme, and I want every room to flow into the next one. And for other people, that isn’t the case. And that’s absolutely fine, because ultimately, you’re the person that lives in it. A lot of people think, oh, you’ve got to think of resale, and you’ve got to think of value and things. And that is a factor, but ultimately, you are building a home. So, it needs to work for you.

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[00:05:28] Sabrina Pierotti: What did your experience with that teach you?

[00:05:31] Kat Sanders: So, I know when I moved in, I definitely just sort of went gung-ho right into it, and I just sort of painted everything white. And even now, to this day, 10 years later, my hallway is still that same white, because I’ve just not got around to changing it. So, I do think living in a space for a period of time and feeling how you sort of live in that space is really important before jumping into making any sort of rash decisions and getting as much inspiration as possible from various sources. I will quite often come across a kitchen, and I think, oh gosh, I wish I did my kitchen like that. I love that. I wish I’d seen that before I did my kitchen. So, I don’t think you’re ever going to 100 percent get it perfect, but it’s got to be good enough, I think, good enough for you and how you live in your home. And for me, one of the most important things is feeling sort of a calm space in my home. I don’t want to come home and feel overwhelmed or overstimulated, because I’ve got three children, so that’s kind of how I sort of evolved my style was trying to create that in all the rooms in a cohesive way but trying to keep it muted and calm.

[00:06:30] Sabrina Pierotti: I like that you brought in like the emotion that you want to feel when you’re at home.

[00:06:34] Kat Sanders: I think that’s a really good place to start. Say, for example, in my living room, we’ve got like a really old fireplace. And so, I sort of had to, and that’s something you have to keep. It’s an original feature. You can’t get rid of it. So, you kind of have to build around what you’ve got. So, you’ve got to start taking what you’ve already got as well and try and build that into whatever it is that you want to create.

[00:06:50] Sabrina Pierotti: I love that. So, say somebody is like, OK, you’ve already sold me, like I am going to renovate my kitchen, or I am going to redecorate my whole home. A big issue is that people are very hesitant to just start.

[00:07:06] Kat Sanders: My mentality is, for most things, what’s the worst that can happen? What is the worst thing that can happen? Especially when you’re talking about minor things like paint. People are a bit scared, but we’ll put it on the wall. What’s the worst that could happen? It’s paint. Obviously, kitchens are expensive, so you do have to be pretty sure that you’re doing the right thing, but I think the kitchens are the hub of the home, and they can make such a difference to how you live in a space. So, we extended the house, and we now have, obviously, a bigger house. So, I mean, that would be my advice is what is the worst that could happen, really. And it will probably change the way that you live, in your home in a really positive way.

[00:07:42] Sabrina Pierotti: Yeah, absolutely. You just got to get started, and then it’s like, oh, this wasn’t that bad. Now, when walking into an empty, wide-open space that’s going to get renovated, it can feel very intimidating, which I think leads to that hesitation to just even get started. Do you have a formula, so to speak, of the best way to tackle a new space?

[00:08:04] Kat Sanders: Yeah, I would say that’s pretty similar to how I’d work. I would most likely pick a color, so it would be a color as a focal point, and then, I would build on there. So, like, you say, color on the walls, and then, perhaps flooring, and then, maybe, textures. But for me, a big thing is practicality as well, and I think it’s possibly because I’m a mum of three. Although I love beautiful interiors, I know that some beautiful interiors are just not going to be practical for me. I love marble, for example, but I’m not going get myself a marble worktop because I just know it’s not practical for me. So, a big thing for me is the colors and the textures, but also practicality. How are you going to use that space? So obviously it’s dependent on the room. But if you are, say, renovating a living room, where you’re going to put your TV. Don’t want the light shining on it from a window so that when you’re trying to watch the TV, you can’t see it, you can’t see the television. And if you’re talking about a kitchen, what things do you need in that kitchen in order for it to function? How far away do you want the sink from the cooker? All those sorts of things. And then, you’d slowly build up kind of an idea of where things are going to go in that space. But like you say, I think my starting point would be, if we’re talking things looking good, it’s always the color that I want to start with. And then I sort of build on that, yeah.

[00:09:12] Sabrina Pierotti: That’s such a good starting point. Do you have another, like, home reno hack that anyone can easily do just to like instantly elevate a space? If somebody just wants a quick refresh, what would that look like?

[00:09:25] Kat Sanders: So, if you wanted a really quick refresh, I think the quickest thing you could do to transform a room is a bit of paneling on the wall. And pretty much anybody can do it. It’s so easy. And actually, a lot of places now, a lot of places where you can buy the wood, they’ll actually cut it for you to size. So, you wouldn’t even necessarily have to have the right tools if you could measure the space and tell them exactly what widths and things you want it they’d be able to cut it for you, and then, all you’ve got to do is stick it on the wall, and it will it take you probably a few hours, and it would completely transform how a room looks. So, it’s a really good way to transform a space, but also, it’s quite traditional, I think. So, it’s not necessarily going to go out of fashion. There’s loads of wallpapers now that are paste-to–the-wall. So, I mean, I’m wallpapering at the moment. They’re paste-to-the-walls, and I’m just amazed at how quick it is. So, you just literally get it all over the wall, and then you can stick it right on.

[00:10:13] Sabrina Pierotti: Now, renovation can rarely go as planned, and I’m sure in your 10 years of experience, you have seen your fair share. Can you share a moment or two that something just did not go the way you planned, and what did you learn from it, and most importantly, how did you recover from it?

[00:10:30] Kat Sanders: One of the things that definitely didn’t, that didn’t kind of come out as how I envisioned was the lighting in the kitchen. I think when you’re renovating, you get really overwhelmed with just all the decisions that you have to make. And you just sort of end up with decision overwhelm and you sort of can’t make any decisions. And I remember the electrician turning up in our kitchen to put the spotlights in and I hadn’t thought about where they were going to go or how many they were gonna be. And I just sort of said, oh, you can decide. I thought, as the expert, the electrician, he’ll know how many lights to put in. He even does it every day and he just put way too many lights in. And sometimes I turn them on, I think, God, why did I do that? Why didn’t I think a little bit more about the lighting? It’s such an important thing. But again, at the time, I was overwhelmed. It’s something that I wish I had thought about and I wish I’d done it a bit slower. But when you are in the midst of a big renovation, it’s very difficult to keep on top of all these decisions all the time. But I would say, don’t forget your lighting. It’s a really important part of any room is how you’re going to light it and really doing that with intention, because I definitely didn’t do that. I have way too many spotlights in my kitchen. We’ve had a few instances with plumbing where I just laid in an oak parquet floor, and we had a plumber around for a reason, I can’t remember. And he for somehow there was a leak, and I hadn’t sealed this floor, and it had only been down a few days, and it just went all over this oak. It soaked because it wasn’t sealed it just soaked right into the wood, and I was pretty gutted about that but I had to just spend hours sanding, hours sanding it back to try and get the color back, and and try and remove some of the spots of water. And it didn’t do a perfect job. There are still spots of the water on there, but again, it’s not perfect but realistically it’s fine. No one else would notice but me.

[00:12:16] Sabrina Pierotti: Oh my gosh, I can only imagine how I would be. I want to talk about analysis paralysis and decision overwhelm. Have you learned how to be more decisive with your decision making over the past 10 years?

[00:12:29] Kat Sanders: You’ve got to have lists. You’ve got to have lists somewhere like on your phone or written down, because you do. Otherwise, you’re just going to miss something. Because, like you say, there’s just so many decisions to make. But yeah, I definitely think I’ve become a lot better at decision making. I’ve definitely become a little more confident in that kind of aspect.

[00:12:43] Sabrina Pierotti: Now, I want to talk about money, specifically a budget. Like, this is always a huge factor, as it should be. What are some ways that you’ve learned to structure your budget without compromising on style and quality? And is there a way somebody can figure out a good budget for a home rental or even just like a quick refresh of a room? Like, what’s a good starting point?

[00:13:07] Kat Sanders: Yeah, it depends how big you’re talking, but if you’re talking on a big scale renovation with extensions and things, the best thing you can do is get multiple quotes from multiple different companies. Don’t just get one and think that’s how much it costs, because the costs can vary hugely. It’s going to vary depending on area. It’s obviously going to vary depending on spec, but you’ve got to get multiple quotes, and then, once you’ve got multiple quotes, you’ve got to have a certain amount saved up but it is not part of that budget, because you will overspend in some way. There’s just, it always happens. Something will happen, something will go wrong, or you will decide on a change, and it will cost you more money. So, you’ve got to have that kind of safety net, I would say. But in terms of trying to stretch your budget, things that you can do yourself, you should do yourself. Even though it’s hard work and some of it’s boring. Like painting, obviously dull, it takes ages. If you’re painting white, it’s even worse, but you can save so much money doing it yourself. And one of the things that I’ve definitely got more into is getting sort of second-hand furniture. Because you can get really good, solid, good-quality furniture that is so much better than what you’d get like in a flat pack that you get delivered from the internet. Second-hand furniture can bring a lot of character, and it’s a really good way of stretching your budget, and charity shops are incredible for artwork and things like that. Most of my artwork is second hand from charity shops.

[00:14:25] Sabrina Pierotti: Now we kind of touched on this earlier, but one of the biggest takeaways of just doing something yourself is the confidence and just being proud of yourself. And one of my favorite projects that I’ve done here is I just bought like a basic bookshelf, and it just looked like very like bland. And so, I bought this like very pretty blue mosaic tile wallpaper, and I put it behind the shelves and like on front of the cabinet drawers. And it brought so much personality to it. And that’s one of the biggest things people compliment me on. They’re like, it’s such a good little hack. And that’s really the only, one of the only DIY things I’ve done in our home, but I’m so proud of it. How has DIY or just home renos and just the home that you’ve created for your family over the past decade, how has that shifted your confidence and just your overall mindset?

[00:15:18] Kat Sanders: Yeah, I definitely think it’s massively increased my confidence. I think I just sort of got to the point where I thought, well, there isn’t any actual reason why I can’t do this, that I can do this. So, and if I don’t try, then I’ll never know. And I grew up watching my dad do DIY. So, I sort of been in my life since I was little. And that’s how I suppose I learned a lot. And he did all the DIY in our home. And he is the person that I will ring if, you know, I don’t know how to approach something or has he ever done this? I’ll speak to him and ask whether he’s done it, and he’s helped me with loads of projects. But I think it’s also empowering. I’ve got two daughters, and I want them to see that women are able to do these things. There’s no reason why you’re not capable of doing these things, but it’s important for me that they see that as a role model, I suppose. Because I want them to feel confident that they can do anything that they set their mind to, regardless of their gender. But yeah, it’s definitely given me so much more confidence, and more than that, it’s actually given me a business as well. So, when I see my Instagram and the content that I create for other businesses and that’s given me a massive amount of confidence in myself as well, sort of standing in front of a camera, because I’m talking about something that a couple years ago would have been quite intimidating, but now it’s sort of like water off a duck’s back, I do all the time. But yeah, so my confidence is massively increased, my confidence. And I’m just really pleased that I actually picked up that paintbrush for the first time and did it, really.

[00:16:44] Sabrina Pierotti: That is so cool. How did your online community, which is very impressive by the way, kudos to you on that because that is so hard to build, how did that happen? Was it something that just organically you started to share and people started to be really interested in what you were creating or was it more intentional?

[00:17:04] Kat Sanders: It definitely started off organically, and then it just sort of spiraled and grew. And then, when I was on maternity leave with my third child, about 2½ years ago, I just thought, I’m going to take this really seriously, and I’m going to treat it like a business, which is what it is. And that was the point where I really started to really intentionally thinking about what I was doing and what I was posting. And that’s when I started making content for not just myself, but for other brands as well, which I don’t post, they post. So, that’s, when it was really sort of 2½ years ago, and I just thought, if I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it properly. And that’s when I thought, I think I also started putting myself in front of the camera rather than just perhaps my projects in front of the camera. And I think that probably helps perhaps with the algorithm and things like that, if they see a face there. But yeah, I was really, I mean, I’ve had it for years and years, so it’s been a sort of a slow build, but it’s really taken off for me as a sort of business project in the last sort of 2½ years. Because that’s when I decided I was going to like knuckle down and do it properly and actually take it seriously. Yeah. And I’m really proud, and it’s something I’m very proud of as well.

[00:18:05] Sabrina Pierotti: You absolutely should be. I see a future HGTV show in your future.

[00:18:09] Kat Sanders: Oh, imagine.

[00:18:11] Sabrina Pierotti: Now, as we start to wrap up the show, if there’s someone right now that’s listening that wants to start their first home project this weekend, what is the simplest advice that you can give and leave them with today?

[00:18:24] Kat Sanders: The simplest advice is, and I said it before, what is the worst that could happen? What is the worst that can happen? Very little things can be not fixed really. So, I would just give it a go. And if you’ve never done anything before, though I slated it a minute ago, flat pack furniture is a really great place to learn, because it’s a nightmare to put together, but you will learn a lot, because you’ve got to use a lot of tools, and then, like I said before, another sort and like you were saying wallpaper but wall paneling. They’re all really good starting points for really transforming a space if you’ve not done anything like that before. But the best advice I can give is what is the worst that can happen just give it a go really.

[00:19:01] Sabrina Pierotti: So good, Kat, where can people go and find you if they want to check out your space and learn from you?

[00:19:08] Kat Sanders: OK, so mainly, I’m mostly on Instagram. So, my Instagram handle is @thebarnrenovation. I am also on TikTok with the same handle, and you can find me at www.thebarnrenovation.com as well.

[00:19:19] Sabrina Pierotti: Amazing. Thank you so much. This has been amazing. And I am feeling motivated already to just to move and get this French countryside theme underway. Thank you so much for listening to Merging Into Life. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who’s ready to tackle their next home project. And since this is our final episode of the season, we just wanted to say thank you so much for joining us on this journey. We really hope that these conversations helped you feel more confident navigating everyday life one step at a time. If you enjoyed the show, do us a very quick favor, hit that like button, leave a review, and share it with a friend who’d love it too. It helps more than you know, and it keeps the good stuff coming your way. Thanks for being part of the ride.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of AAA Northeast, AAA and/or its affiliates.

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*The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of AAA Northeast, AAA and/or its affiliates.

A new cultural obsession seems to be taking over.

Suddenly, protein is everywhere: in the cereal aisle, in the frozen food section beckoning from a pint of ice cream and even snacks — protein chips are a thing now, too. With protein permeating the zeitgeist more lately, you may be asking yourself why.

Food trends are nothing new. There was the low-calorie era, then low fat, low carb and so on. It’s no surprise that a new fad has entered the chat. But it’s the way that protein is talked about that makes it different from the others. Instead of restricting, protein is all about more. The more you eat, the more muscle you’ll build, the more satiated you’ll feel and the more energy you’ll have.

So, is all this protein really necessary or just the latest gimmick? The short answer is kind of both.

Why Is Protein Good For Us?

Protein is an important part of any balanced diet, and eating enough of it helps our bodies in many ways.

Consuming enough protein on a regular basis helps to rebuild your muscles after strenuous activity. Paired with fiber, protein is also a great way to stay fuller longer as it increases satiety and, as a biproduct, may help weight loss management. Plus, our bodies use more energy to digest protein than they do for fats or carbohydrates. This increases metabolism and makes for more efficient calorie-burning.

Protein also plays an important role in our bone and heart health and is the building block for healthy skin, hair and nails.

How Much Protein Should We Eat Daily?

As an essential macronutrient, protein is found in every cell in the human body. To regulate these parts of our body, we need to consume enough protein to maintain the status quo. But status quo looks different for everyone.

The amount of protein you need will depend on your calorie intake, per Medline Plus. The recommended amount of protein per day for a healthy adult is 10% to 35% of your total calorie needs. This means that someone who eats 2,000 calories per day could eat  about 100 grams of protein.

Need help figuring out your protein intake? Try this protein calculator that gives basic protein intake recommendations from multiple institutions in one place.

Protein-Packed Foods to Prioritize

Not all proteins are created equal.

When it comes to eating a protein-rich diet, try to stick to whole foods, like meats (chicken, tuna and salmon can provide 25 to 27 grams of protein per serving), eggs, tofu, cooked beans or lentils. Nuts and seeds, like walnuts and sunflower seeds, are also good sources of protein per serving according to Medline Plus. Cottage cheese has had a resurgence in popularity for its high-protein content and ability to be mixed or added into pretty much anything from egg wraps to cookie dough.

With snack protein, like processed protein bars, beverages, chips or jerky sticks, the nutritional value leaves much to be desired. These types of products may have a good amount of protein per serving, but also have high sodium, sugar and saturated fat, making them less healthy than they may appear. 90.8% of foods with protein claims received a “less healthy” classification from the Pan-American Health Organization and the World Health Organization, according to Medical News Today. The same model also found that, “about one-fifth of these products had sweeteners, about one-quarter had high free sugar or saturated fat and over 50% had high fat or sodium content.”

The key is everything in moderation, however. If you love your post-workout protein shake, that’s OK — just swap it for a whole protein every once in a while.  

This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet or starting any new nutrition plan.

Tell us how you meet your protein quota in the comments!