Better still some of the hybrids qualify for a federal tax incentive. The government may talk big about drilling for oil but encouraging people to buy fuel-efficient cars is really good first step to reducing America’s dependence of foreign oil. Check out your own state. When you add up the savings on gas and in taxes and charges, a hybrid can look a good deal. Auto insurance or car insurance dealers are encouraging the trend with discounts of up to 10%, although the actual discount depends on the type of hybrid you buy. As with all auto insurance or car insurance, you need to shop around and get as many online auto insurance quotes as possible before buying auto insurance or car insurance.

But before you begin looking round the showrooms, take a deep breath. That Hummer is losing its value fast. The secondhand market has collapsed because only a very few buyers want to take on those gas costs. You’ll get only a fraction of its value if you trade it in now. So that new hybrid suddenly got a lot more expensive. You’ll need a much bigger loan which may be difficult to get at a good rate of interest because of the credit crunch. Once you add in the loss of capital tied up in your Hummer and the increase in borrowing costs, your payback period just got so much longer.

What about payback period? If you’re buying to make a saving, this is the time it takes for you to realize the saving. In this case, you are probably better holding on to the Hummer. The premiums will fall because the replacement costs are lower on a comprehensive policy. Traffic accidents are less dangerous in something built like a Sherman Tank. Some of the smaller hybrids crumple up in an accident. So don’t despair on the auto insurance front. It really may made better economic sense to keep the guzzler than change to a hybrid.

If you prefer conventional banks, some offer short-term loans of up to $500 if there is a crisis. You need to read the small print carefully before you sign up. The terms vary. Some banks require you to hold the account for a given period of time before you qualify for a loan, others have penalties if you fail to repay the loan within preset periods of time. Worked out over a year, the interest rates rise above 100% but they are still cheaper than the other short-term loans. Some credit unions and banks allow you to have a credit card linked to an overdraft facility. Under normal circumstances, a check written with inadequate funds in the account will be refused payment. But with the right agreement in place, the unauthorized overdraft will be considered a cash advance on the credit card. This is more expensive than a conventional overdraft but it will give you access to funds you might not otherwise get. Finally, you can search for a company still offering a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) facility. These have become more difficult given the credit crunch and falling property values, but if you do still have a reasonable equity in your home, you may be able to find a bank or finance company prepared to lend. If you are lucky, you should never sign up for a significant amount of money. Go for the minimum amount available. This is only intended as an financial emergency facility to avoid you having to take a payday loan.