How Much Does a Dozen Bagels Cost?

When it comes to buying a dozen bagels, customers can select from an assortment of bagels, similar to a dozen donuts.

Depending on the restaurant or bakery, you can customize your dozen with your preference of a signature, classic or gourmet topped bagels, along with a side of cream cheese.

“Bagels” (CC BY 2.0) by Ruocaled

How much does a dozen bagels cost?

On average, the prices of a dozen bagels will depend on the restaurant and type of bagel you want to purchase. On average, one dozen bagels will cost about $7 to $15. The gourmet-topped bagels may cost 30 percent more depending on the company’s pricing structure.

With a handful of chains offering a dozen bagels for sale, refer to our table below to see what they charge.

What are the extra costs?

Cream cheese, depending on the store policy, can be an additional cost.  Each cream cheese spread could cost about $0.50 to $1.50 each.  A tub could be $2 to $4.

As stated above, gourmet bagels could cost 30 percent more than the standard bagels.

Taxes may not be included.

Tips to know:

In addition to the plain bagel flavor, other popular flavors include poppy seeds, garlic, sesame seeds, kosher salt and toasted onion flakes.  Depending on the bakery, you may also find flavors that include cheddar cheese, parmesan, gingerbread, cinnamon sugar, strawberry, cranberry, blueberry, chocolate chip and more. You can even get different flavors of cream cheese to put on top of your bagels such as chive and onion flavors.

Bakeries often have the “baker’s dozen,” which consists of 13 instead of 12.

How can I save money?

Many franchises offer coupons or special offers.  For example, in the past, we were able to find a $6 dozen bagel deal at an Einstein Bagel on Tuesdays.  Check out their social media accounts or official website to see if there any deals available.  It also doesn’t hurt to join their email list for future deals.

Try to stick with the plain bagels to save the most money.

A dozen bagels at the local grocery store is often cheaper than the bakery, but the flavors may lack when compared to a local bakery or chain.

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How Much Does Bacon Cost Per Pound?

“Bacon” (CC BY 2.0) by cookbookman17

How much does bacon cost?

The cost of bacon will greatly depend on the brand, type, flavor, quantity, the market demands, and where you purchase it.  With so many brands available at the local grocery store, the costs can tend to be all over the place, but on average, most 12 to 16-ounce packages, which are the most commonly found quantities at a local store, will range anywhere from $4 to $6.  Your cheaper bacon brands will often be high in sodium and filled with additives, while a middle-of-the-road bacon will typically be immersion-cured bacon with some additives thrown in.  The most expensive option, often dry cured, will be the center-cut portion often found at a butcher.

Refer to our table below to see what the average brand may cost you:

NOTE:  These were the average prices found at our local Walmart store and via other retailers.

As for the price of freshly sliced bacon, often referred to as pork belly, found at either the meat department inside of a grocery store at the meat counter or at a local butcher will cost $5 to $8 per pound.

The highest rated original bacon slabs on Amazon.com, for example, retails for close to $11 per pound.

BaconPro keeps up with the retail price, showcasing the bacon price averages throughout the United States.  At the time of this publishing in November of 2017, freshly sliced bacon averaged $4.84 per pound, whereas pre-cooked averaged $32.30 per pound.  Again, as mentioned, these prices can vary depending on current market conditions.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also keeps tabs on the average prices of bacon per pound, with the average price per pound being $5.481 in September of 2016 and $6.366 in August of 2017.

Bacon overview

Commonly found flavors often include smoked bacon, which as the name implies, is a bacon that mimics a smoke-like flavor.  Depending on the brand, the manufacturer may use liquid smoke to speed up the process of it may be smoked naturally with wood-smoked flavors such as apple wood or cherry wood.  Aside from smoked flavors, bacon may also be spiced with flavorings such as brown sugar or even a Cajun spice, for instance.  Additives to look out for, depending on the brand, may or may not include salt, nitrites or artificial flavorings.

Just like flavors, bacon can come in three varying slice thicknesses, including the standard thickness, center-cut or thick-cut.  The standard thickness, sliced roughly 1/16-inch thick are sliced into strips and is ideal for your standard pan frying.  A center-cut, designed for those looking for a lower fat content, will be the meat that comes from the meat that’s closer to the bone, which, on average, contains 30 percent less fat.  Lastly, a thick-cut bacon, often used for pasta or soups, measures 1/8 of an inch and can take twice as long to cook.

Bacon will, most of the time, be uncooked, but some packages may be pre-cooked, only requiring it to be microwaved for up to one minutes.

Popular bacon brands found in the local grocery store includes Oscar Mayer, Hormel, Farmland, Wright, Great Value (Walmart), Kirkland (Costco), Farmer Johns, Smithfield, Applegate, Wellshire, Trader Joe’s and Niman Ranch.

Tips to know:

At a butcher, they may refer to bacon as pork belly, but you may be wondering what the difference is between pork belly and bacon.  In essence, bacon is cured pork, which involves salt and sugar and is often a smoked product.  As the pork belly cures, the moisture, as time goes on, will draw out the harmful bacterial growth, encouraging benign bacteria to grow, which creates an acidic-like environment.  Pork belly will start from the underside of the pig, but not the belly, rather the flesh that runs underside the pig.  In the end, pork belly is the uncured, un-smoked and un-sliced form of bacon.

About 68 percent of bacon’s calories will come from fat, half of which is unsaturated fat.  Two slices of bacon alone will have seven grams of fat and nearly 400 milligrams of sodium.

How can I save money?

Store-branded bacon will almost always be a competitor in a different packaging label, which means it will offer the same flavors and tastes for up to 30 percent less.

Buying in bulk at either Costco or Sam’s Club can often bring the costs down by more than 20 percent.  Most packages found at a local wholesale club will come in three-pound packages.

Bacon is almost always on sale at a local supermarket.  Be on the lookout for special promotions or even coupons from top brands.

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How Much Does Popcorn Cost at AMC?

Popcorn, as you probably know, is the most popular snack food while enjoying the show.

AMC Theaters, just like every other movie chain, offers popcorn for a price at its concession stand.

“Popcorns” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by matsuyuki

How much does popcorn cost at AMC theaters?

Depending on the location, the cost of popcorn at AMC is about $6 for a small popcorn, $7 for a medium popcorn and $8 for the large popcorn.  Adding flavor can be an additional $0.50.

A combination, such as a large popcorn and large drink, can cost $14.50, whereas a large popcorn and two large drinks can cost $21.

A kid’s pack, which includes a drink, fruit snack and small box of popcorn, can cost $$7 to $10 depending on the location and drink size.

According to this forum thread on DataLounge.com, the price of a small popcorn in Miami was increased to $6 in 2013.

Popcorn at AMC

Popcorn, when ordered at the concession stand, is traditionally served salted or sweetened.  The popcorn is typically served salted and is often topped with butter or a butter-like topping, with spices or toffee upon request.

Sweetened versions of popcorns, such as kettle corn and caramel corn, are also commonly available for the same prices as mentioned above.

AMC popcorn nutrition (large)

How can I save money?

Consider buying discounted gift cards for AMC Theatres on Raise.com. Here, you can buy discounted gift cards for up to 12% off.

If you watch a lot of movies and normally spend a lot on concessions, the AMC Stubs program may be well worth it. The program offers you a $10 reward credit for every $100 spent on movie tickets and concessions at participating AMC Theatres for $12 per year.  Members can also get a free large upgrade of drinks and popcorn.  Just make sure you’re going to the theater enough to justify the costs.

The theater chain offers coupons via its smartphone apps or by SMS.

Package combo deals are available for those who combine drinks and popcorn.

Promotions are often held throughout the year and can be found either on its official website or via social media.  Be sure to either follow them and/or subscribe to their newsletter.  At the time of this publishing, for example, they are offering an AMC $5 popcorn and drink for teenagers.

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How Much Does a Bag of Apples Cost?

A bag of apples will often have about five pounds and will be sold at local apple orchards and grocery stores.

“bags of apples” (CC BY 2.0) by saidunsaids

How much does a bag of apples cost?

The price of a bag of apples varies depending on the time of year, the variety, where you purchase it and the size of the bag.  It can be as little as $1.25 per pound during the apple picking season and anywhere from $3 to $8 for a large bag of apples that weighs about five pounds.

On Amazon.com, at the time of this publishing, a three-pound bag of Gala apples retailed for $11, with an additional $5 applied for shipping.

At Costco, a five-pound bag of Royal Gala apples retails for about $8, while a five-pound bag of Honeycrisp apples retails for $11.

At our local Walmart, the bags ranged from two to five-pound bags.  Refer to our table below to see what Walmart charged for various bags:

Tips to know:

Common varieties often purchased in bulk includes Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Jazz, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, Ambrosia, Gala and Macoun.

Most bags of apples, commonly found at a local grocery store, will often be around three to five pounds.

Purchasing apples from the local orchards will always be a great way to try out new varieties because sellers often have slices from all the varieties for shoppers to taste. Owners of orchards can also offer suggestions with regards to what uses a particular apple variety is best suited for.

Smell the apples up close for its freshness factor.  A good apple will not have a musty smell, and a good apple, when examined up close, will be firm, shiny and smooth with intact stems.

Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apples will not make great apples for pies.  Red Delicious apples, also, are not recommended for applesauce or baking purposes.

While most apples can freeze relatively well, the Gala variety has been known to be a poor choice for freezing purposes.

As a general rule of thumb, one pound of apples will equate to four small apples, three medium apples or two large apples.  The average apple, depending upon the nutrients it receives, can weigh about 0.33 pound on average.

How can I save money?

Try to buy your apples when in season.  This is often during the early to late fall months.

Be sure to check out your local apple orchards before buying at a grocery store.  Not only will the apples be fresh here, the costs can be considerably less.

The larger the bag is, the less you will pay per pound.

CookingLight offers eight creative ways to use a bag of apples.

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How Much Does It Cost to Send Money with Western Union?

Western Union offers a global money transfer service, and there are three ways you can send money: in person, online or by phone.

With Western Union, one can send money online 24/7, and the recipient can collect the money as cash at any Western Union agent location worldwide. In certain countries, however, the money can either be received in a mobile wallet or deposited into a bank account.

To perform an international transfer of money, the sender has to visit a Western Union location.

The offices are available in over 185 different countries with more than 400,000 locations to choose from around the globe.

“western union” (CC BY 2.0) by Paul A Bischoff

How much does it cost to send money through Western Union?

Western Union charges around $5 for a transfer of money of up to $50 anywhere in the U.S., but a transfer of $1,000 can cost $95 if you’re using a credit card. The cost will depend on the amount of money you are transferring, where you are sending it from, where it will be picked up, where you process the transfer (an agent location, online or via phone), and how fast you want your money to arrive.  As for countries, the fees will depend on how you’re going to fund the account (credit card or bank account), the amount you’re sending and the country you’re sending to.

Based on sending $100, here’s what it would have cost us to send money to the following countries:

Consider using this to see what you’re going to pay.

Western Union overview

Western Union is a wire money transfer service which allows one to quickly transfer money the world over. One can go to a designated Western Union location and then send money to any location as required. The recipient can collect money at a Western Union location within their area or have cash deposited into a checking account. Basically, it is just an electronic transfer of funds, similar to that of PayPal.

You can initiate transfers at a local Western Union location, online or by telephone. In each instance, there are multiple options for transfer to choose from, each one with its own associated fees. Depending upon the destination and countries of origin, available transfer options include Western Union’s Three Day service, Next Day service and Money in Minutes service.

What are the extra costs?

Using a credit card instead of your bank account to send money can incur a transfer fee larger than $10.  On average, plan on spending at least $10 per $100 sent.

Also, when using a credit card, the company will view this as a “cash advance,” which means you will pay a higher interest rate and a fee.  You will want to use a debit card in order to avoid these costs.

Paying within minutes can incur charges that start at about $10 per $100; however, if you don’t choose the expedited option, the charges can be a lot less.

Sending money in person can incur additional fees, which usually start at $8.  The more money you send, the more you’re going to pay in fees.

Pay close attention to the exchange rate as the company is known to hide hidden fees on the real exchange rate.

Tips to know:

Typically there are two options.  You can send money in minutes where the receiver can pick it up the same day, or the next day service, where the receiver can pick it up 24 hours after you sent it.  This process can often take up to six days for people to pick up depending on the amount being sent and country you’re sending it to.

Western Union offers an online cost estimating tool that helps you to calculate the cost of an international or domestic transfer. A local agent at Western Union can also calculate the cost of the specific transfer. All anyone needs in order to send money is a first name and last name to use as the sender’s name on the form, a first and last name to use as the receiver’s name on the form and the money to be transferred including the fees.

All anyone needs to collect the cash is a valid government-issued ID card; the first name and last name used as the sender’s name and the receiver’s name on the form; the 8 or 10-digit MTCN# (money transfer control number); and the test question and answer. For those customers who regularly complete transactions of international money transfer, some of these collection points offer special identity cards to make the process even faster.

Western Union, on average, limits transactions to $2,999, but in some cases, there are ways to go over this limit.

Beware of scams.  Once you send money via Western Union, it is basically gone for good.  Since a recipient can pick up the cash in person, it be hard to track somebody down, especially if it’s overseas.

Popular locations that offer Western Union services include Kroger, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Safeway, Fry’s, Quicktrip and Winco Foods.

In most cases, the money can be picked up within minutes of sending, but this will depend on the method chosen when sending the cash.  It will remain in the system for 45 days, but according to our research, it will be sent back to the sender if not redeemed after nine months.

How can I save money?

Use your bank account to avoid paying additional fees.

Special promotions may reduce the fees for sending certain amounts of money to and from certain countries or locations.  Search for promotional codes online to save on fees.

You can enroll in the Western Union MyWU program. This program saves all of your data on past sends, including transfer to companies. Also, you gain rewards points where you earn 1 point for every $2 in fees.

Sending money online or via the mobile app will be cheaper than sending in person.

Western Union is one of the many ways to wire money, so it doesn’t hurt to compare competitors  Walmart, for example, has been known to offer cheaper rates than Western Union in most scenarios.

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How Much Do International Calls Cost?

International telephone calls, defined as calls made between different countries, are processed by switches (international gateway exchanges), and the charges for these calls are usually high.

“Phone” (CC BY 2.0) by andrewmalone

How much do international calls cost?

The price of an international call will vary depending on where you want to call, the phone company and whether one chooses to pay as they go using a credit, like Skype or purchase a monthly subscription. On average, international calls can range anywhere from $0.05 to as much as $2+ per minute plus a monthly fee if you were to sign up with a popular cell phone carrier.  Most of your populated countries, from our research, will cost less than $0.40 per minute, while your smaller countries will cost upwards of $2+ per minute.  This is the price you will pay if you were to sign up for a monthly plan, which, regardless of how many calls you make, can cost $10 to $20+ per month.  This monthly fee will depend on the cellphone carrier and type of international plan you want to sign up for.

To clear up any confusion, only the outgoing international calls are charged the international fee, not the recipient.  If you did receive a phonecall, it will only use your minutes if you were on a minute-based plan.

Refer to our table below to see what it may cost you when calling another country.

NOTE:  These “per minute” rates are the average cost if you didn’t add an add-on international plan, but this isn’t always the case as Google Voice, for example, has a flat rate.  As noted below, the costs can drop significantly if you were to add a plan from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile, for example.

Verizon, for example, has the Unlimited TogetherSM – World plan, which allows you to make landline calls to more than 70 countries and heavy discounts to an additional 160+ countries.  The cost of this plan, for instance, is $15 per month, plus another $0.05+ per minute depending on the country you’re calling.  Most of your larger countries will cost less than $0.75 per minute.

AT&T offers similar international calling plans, which range anywhere from $1 to $25 per month, plus an additional “per minute” rate, depending on the country  This official AT&T PDF, for instance, says a call to Mexico City would cost $2.71 a minute during off-peak hours without an international plan, but if you selected a calling plan, you could save up to $70 one 30-minute phone call.  The AT&T World Traveler for Wireless plan, as noted in the PDF, will cost $5.99 a month, and this plan offers discounted wireless calling rates to more than 80 countries.  Sample rates include $0.99 a minute in Germany and France or $1.29 a minute in Australia.

T-Mobile has a helpful international calling rate guide, with prices from more than 100 countries.  These are the rates if you would pay if you didn’t add a cellphone add-on plan.

On Skype.com, they offer a World Unlimited plan for $13.99 per month.  This plan allows you to make unlimited calls via Skype to international landlines to more than 63 destinations.  A 300-minute plan is also available for $6.99 per month.

Google Voice simply charges a flat rate per minute, and depending on the country, the costs can range from as little as $0.01 per minute to as much as $7, but on average, almost all calls are less than $0.50 per minute.  You can see a full list of all of the country rates here.

Tips to know

Always read the fine print if you plan on signing up for an international phone call.  Some carriers will advertise great rates, but when you read the fine print, there could be certain restrictions.

How can I save money?

With any of the major cellphone carriers, it is always cheaper to add an international talk plan if you make these types of calls multiple times per month.  For instance, on T-Mobile, if you were to add the Stateside International Talk plan at $15 per month, you can make unlimited calls to France, but without the $15 add-on plan, it would cost $3 per minute.

From what we researched, a VOIP service often offers the best international calling rates.  Vonage, Nextiva, RingCentral and Phone.com all offer discounted plans that can be much cheaper than some of the popular cell phone companies.  The only caveat, however, is that you will need to use a landline-type phone as it will be connected to your home network.  With that being said, always compare various companies as the rates will differ depending on the country you want to call.  It’s always best to choose a provider that offers the best rate to a country you always call.

According to LifeHacker.com, you can make free international calls using Viber or WhatsApp, for instance.

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How Much Do BET Awards Tickets Cost?

The BET Awards was established by the Black Entertainment Television network in 2001 with the aim of celebrating African Americans, as well as other minorities within the music, sports, acting and other entertainment fields.

These awards are presented on an annual basis and are broadcasted live on the BET network.

How much do BET awards tickets cost?

On average, the BET Awards ticket prices depend on where one is looking to sit. Third balcony seats can cost around $300, while orchestra level seats can cost about $1,600 each.   Be prepared to budget anywhere from $300 to as much as $2,000 for one ticket.  Like a sporting event or any event for that matter, the demand, where you sit, where you purchase the tickets and when you purchase the tickets can greatly affect the price.

Packages, on the other hand, can cost anywhere from as little as $1,000 for a Gold package to as much as $4,500 for the Diamond package.  All of the inclusions vary, but you can check out the corresponding prices and inclusions via the official BET website.

We highly recommend checking out SeatGeek.com a few weeks before the event to see which third-party website is offering the best deal.

What are the extra costs?

While optional, a ticket to the BET after party can cost upwards of $1,750.

Tips to know:

The BET Awards were founded by the Black-Entertainment Television network in order to recognize African Americans as well as other minorities who are in various fields of entertainment.

For the process of nomination, there is a voting academy consisting of about 500 individuals from media, the music industry, and bloggers. BET electronically sends out ballots, and voters get to nominate people in different categories they consider should be the nominees for the awards. These are collated by a group known as Yangaroo, and this group works on the other awards shows, narrowing it to the top 5 nominees; after the nominees are picked, the company sends the list back to the academy for it to vote on the winner.

The BET Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a veteran group or artist that has made outstanding contributions to the music industry. Present popular singers pay tribute to honorees, and the singers get to perform the most recognized songs by the honoree. The honorees will typically perform themselves after they are paid tribute to.

In 2002, at the 2nd annual BET Awards, one category for the BET Award Humanitarian Award was created. This award is presented to a celebrity philanthropist who gets to donate their money and time to a charitable cause. The recipients of BET Humanitarian Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, together with nominees for the other categories, get announced within a press conference. A mini-documentary is shown at the ceremony covering the life of the honoree.

The BET award trophy is inspired by 3 words: aspire, ascend, achieve. The trophy was initially designed by sculptor/artist Carlos Mare Rodriguez. In 2007, Society Awards, a New York firm that manufacturers the award, improved the design quality of the trophy using plated steel and black crystal. This annual presentation ceremony typically features performances from artists. Some awards of quite popular interest are normally presented in a televised ceremony.

How can I save money?

Check out various third-party ticket distributors to see what company can off the lowest cost.

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How Much Do Grammy Tickets Cost?

A Grammy, or Grammy Award, is an accolade given by the National-Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States, also known as NARAS, to recognize notable achievement in the music industry.

This annual presentation ceremony, originally known as the Gramophone Award, features performances by high-flying artists and the presentation of the awards, which have a more popular interest.

Grammy shares recognition of the music industry similar to that of the other performance arts such as the Emmy Awards (television), the Academy Awards (motion pictures), and the Tony Awards (stage performance).

In order for one to receive an invitation to the Grammy, however, they need to be nominated for Grammys and/or be a voting member or an associate of the NARAS. Members of this Academy include musicians, producers, recording engineers and other professionals within the recording industry.

“Grammy Awards, STAPLES Center” (CC BY 2.0) by David Jones

How much do Grammy tickets cost?

Tickets to the Grammy Awards are not available to the general public and are issued by invitation only. Tickets for this function cannot be sold.  However, if you are a member of the NARAS or part of a record label, a voting member can purchase tickets for about $200 each.  For nominees, tickets are free.

What are the extra costs?

Academy members receive a membership card, and to remain eligible to attend this award ceremony, you will need to continue paying your dues each year. Dues are $100 per year, $180 for 2 years and $260 for 3 years.

Tips to know:

Tickets to the Grammys are not available to the general public. It is by invitation-only to nominees as well as recording artists. Since their sale is not allowed, any tickets that have been purchased are worthless and not honored. Anyone who purchases a ticket to the Grammys isn’t allowed into the theater in case the purchase is discovered.

The Grammys is one of the largest and most-viewed music awards shows worldwide. The Grammy Award is the only peer-presented award presented to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency as well as overall excellence within the recording industry, with no regard to chart position or album sales.

To purchase the tickets, you must be a Grammy voting member or associate. An invite is directly mailed to them with the prices. The NARAS (National-Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) austerely controls the attendance at the ceremony. Tickets are usually limited and they come on a basis of first come, first-served. Grammy nominees who are the Academy members can request two complimentary tickets, while non-member nominees can request 1 complimentary ticket.

How can I save money?

Scour the Web for other means of scoring a ticket in case you are not nominated or are not a member of the academy. Record labels, TV shows and radio stations do hold contests and give away tickets. You could get offered an all-expense paid trip.  While your chances are slim, it doesn’t hurt to try.

SeatGeek.com, a ticket search engine, does have a page dedicated to Grammy award tickets.  Consider checking a few weeks before the event to see if any tickets are available on the third-party market.

MTV.com says your best bet to attend is by becoming a seat filler for the show.

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How Much Does it Cost to Replace a CV Boot?

Every CV axle has two joints, and each CV joint is surrounded by a CV boot, protecting it from moisture and dirt. A damaged boot cannot protect the CV joint, oftentimes leading to damage.

Sometimes, it is difficult to establish how long the CV boot has been damaged. It can, therefore, be difficult to determine the extent of the damage to the joint. Some mechanics recommend replacing the entire driveshaft once the CV boot damage has been discovered because the replacement cost for the entire driveshaft is similar to replacing the boot on its own because of the labor involved.

How much does a CV boot replacement cost?

On average, replacing a CV boot, which in most cases will mean replacing the axle/shaft, can be expensive since it is difficult to access. On average, it can cost between $175 to $350+ per CV boot, depending upon the model, make and type of car, although some luxury vehicles can cost upwards of $1,000 each.  The costs could be about 20 to 30 percent higher if they were to replace the entire shaft/axle.

With hundreds of quotes reported online, we picked out a few we found and included our findings in the table below:

As for those who want to do the job on their own, the average cost of a CV boot repair kit can range anywhere from $8 to $25 on average.

At AutoZone, for instance, the top sellers are all less than $20.

CV boot replacement overview

To diagnose the issue, the process is fairly straightforward as a leak or seepage can be seen around the CV boot once on a lift.

When a CV boot is torn, cracked or fails because of age, it can be difficult to establish how long it has been compromised and the extent of damage done to the CV joint. In some instances, a repair shop simply replaces the CV boot, but most of the time, a mechanic will want to replace the entire CV axle since the costs are roughly the same.

During the repair, the wheel and lower ball joint will be removed in order to free the CV axle.  Then, once the axle is removed, the CB and/or output seals will be replaced and either a new CV axle will be installed or the original one will be put back on.  Replacing the CV axle will all depend on the condition and how the car is running.

What are the extra costs?

Replacing the joint can cost an additional $100+, again, depending on the factors mentioned prior.

Some shops will include a wheel alignment in the cost, but if not, it could be an additional $20 to $50+.

Tips to know:

A CV boot is a protective cover, typically made of plastic, rubber or a similar compound, which offers protection for the CV joints. These joints allow the front-axle to manage the torque that is produced by the drive wheels.

A CV boot can be found in every front-wheel drive vehicle and some four-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicles.  There is usually one boot behind each front wheel.

The interior of the CV boot is usually lubricated or greased to protect the CV joint when it is in motion. The material, which makes up the CV boot, may tear or rip as it degrades, thereby reducing its capacity to protect the CV joint. A CV boot that is torn or ripped cannot retain its lubrication.

Replace a CV boot as soon as possible, especially if you notice larger leaks.  If you fail to replace it, the leaks will continue to become larger, often making the problem worse.

A leak or faulty CV boot can occur at some point in a vehicle’s lifetime, but for the most part, a good CV boot will last 80,000 to 100,000 miles, but driving habits, as mentioned by RepairPal, can greatly affect this number.

How can I save money?

A DIY CV boot kit can cost you $5 to $35, depending upon the model, make and type of vehicle, and the project, depending on the skillset, will usually take around three to four hour to complete.  Again, this should be left up to someone who has the knowledge to perform the job.

Most of the time, it will make more economic sense for you to replace the axle rather than just the boot. A replacement CV axle, for example, can cost $50 and $150 or more.

Always talk with three to five mechanics to see what they charge.  As long as you know this is the issue, most shops can offer a ballpark estimate over the phone.

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Top 10 Most Expensive Dog Houses

TIP:  Search our database above to find the costs on just about anything.

It’s no secret that most of us pet owners LOVE to pamper our pets, but of course, it has to stay within our budget, right?  Well, while some people can afford these dog houses, some go overboard and take it to a whole another level.  Here are some luxurious dog houses that you can actually buy your pooch and let it live in style:

10. Savannah Dog House – $300

Noted as the cheapest dog house on our list, this quaint home comes equipped with an attached porch and beautiful sundeck.

9. The Farmhouse – $2,000

Equipped with a hefty $2,000 price tag, this farmhouse was designed to have a lot of room and give your dog a “farm” feel.

8. The Cubix – $2,500

The Cubix features a glass door that lets in natural sunlight and a shatterproof design that keeps your dog safe around the clock — all for a $2,500 price tag.

7. The Cave – $2,500

Think your dog is a big bad wolf?  Created from TerrierRock, this faux stone is made from reinforced paper mache with a durable four-layer wall that helps keep the dog warm.  Each dog house comes equipped with wood salvaged from a western Vancouver Island.

6. Princess Castle – $2,500

Have a pint-sized pooch and want it to live like a queen?  Well, look no further than the Princess Castle — a dog house that makes your fairy tales come true.

5.  The Swiss Chalet — $5,000

If you want your dog to feel as if it was hanging out in the Swiss Alps, this is the house to consider.  This house comes equipped with planter boxes, siding, replica shutters and yes — even a balcony!

4. Pup Tent – $5,000

Inspired by Genghis Kahn and his Mongolian officers, this luxurious dog house is topped with gold finial and ostrich plumes.  Able to be customized with any fabric or finish, this pup tent is one of the uniquest dog houses on the planet.

3.  The Home Replica – $30,000

For a little less than $30,000, your dog can live in a scaled down home.  If that’s not crazy enough, the company that manufactures the houses will even take your original home blueprints and create a replica.

2. The Hills Mansion – $35,000

If $30,000 isn’t enough, why not shell out an additional $5,000 and buy this beautiful California Hills dog house.  Complimenting the style of celebrities in California, this is the perfect residence for dogs that want the life of a famous pooch.

1. Paris Hilton – $300,000

Remember Paris Hilton?  Well, in case you forgot about her, she used to be in the tabloids and had a reality show a few years ago, but like with most no-talent celebrities, they fade away.  With more than 300 square feet of space, miniature furniture and a chandelier, this giant dog house mansion could comfortably house six dogs, and the best part?  The house is identical to Hilton’s home.

Of course, most of us don’t want to drop thousands of dollars on a dog house.  If you want to browse dog houses you can actually afford, you can do so here.

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