Cars have become a necessity for many households. Whether it’s driving to work, bringing the kids to schools, or going to the bank to pay the bills, every household in America—except in the case of New York—wants to own a car. The commute is long. The waiting time is killing us. What’s not to love about having our own vehicles except for the fact that we have to apply for an auto mortgage and maintain the car?

Before you look for vehicle upgrades in Provo, Utah or other cities, you need to ask yourself this question: Can I afford it without cutting on my monthly expenses and savings? If the answer is that you’re going to simply “wing it” and hope for the best, you may need to rethink your situation. There are plenty of things that you can do with your current car instead of buying a new one. You don’t need another mortgage to add on top of your house loan. If your car is still functional and hasn’t given you a lot of mechanical trouble this past couple of years, it’s smarter to keep it and upgrade the few accessories and tools you need.

How Often Should Consumers Buy New Cars?

Studies show that in the past, consumers were likely to buy a new car every three years. But today, consumers are keeping their cars for six years and sometimes even more. Some even decide to keep their cars for 11 or more years, until the cars have become a liability to keep and maintain. Consumers have become smarter with upgrading cars. They’re no longer being attracted by tempting deals and discounts. They are now wiser with their money.

What Can Consumers Do with Their Current Cars?

You don’t always have to buy a new car to upgrade the tools, systems, and accessories. Some companies will install a heads-up display, seat heaters and massagers, parking sensors, cameras, a multimedia system, and Bluetooth stereos so that you can have the feel of a new car. You don’t need to make a down payment and suffer through the monthly amortization just because you want these modern features. Your current car is completely capable of supporting such accessories.

What Time of Year Is the Best Time to Sell Your Car?

There is no specific time of year that’s best for selling a used car. Secondhand cars have a huge market. There are a lot of people who are willing to take care of your used cars. Some people make a living out of fixing and reselling used cars, so it doesn’t matter when you want to sell the car.

However, for very specific cars, there are “better” times of year when it’s better to put them on the block. For example, convertible cars sell better before the start of the summer season, and 4×4 SUVs will receive better offers when the weather begins to drop and the roads start to get slippery and wet.

Look at your car. Haven’t you been through so much already? It shouldn’t be easy to let go of your car and not only because it has sentimental value but because it might be impractical to get a new one when your current one is working perfectly. You can simply install new accessories—the same ones you see in current vehicles—in your car so that you don’t have to feel left out.