kids, I'll blurt out "Road Trip Life Tips with Dad! Tip Number X..." and then hit them with some practical wisdom. I've done it for years and years.

Anyway, this week's tip: Code reader + YouTube + Amazon = Thousands of $$$ saved.

My car wouldn't start a few days ago and it was throwing several codes, so I showed them how to use a code reader, then we watched a YouTube video to decide if the repair was something we could do ourselves, and we then ordered the replacement part on Amazon. Turned out to be a driver's-side camshaft position sensor (whatever that is).

Anyway, we replaced the part right there in the driveway and the car fired right back to life. It took us 30 minutes and cost $28, and saved us a $200 tow, plus locally-sourced part ($100) and labor (probably another $100.)

So yeah, great life tip.