There are any number of ways that automotive glass gets broken. Whether it's a rock chip in your windshield, a broken side window motor or a passenger window that ran afoul of vandals, there are cheap ways that you can go about fixing these automotive glass problems without spending time and money on professional repairs.
Chipped Windshields
While a rock chip in your windshield can be stressful, most rock chips can be fixed without replacing the whole piece of glass. If you have glass coverage on your car insurance, you can go to any automotive glass shop and they will more than likely fill the chip for free if its shallow enough. If you don't have glass insurance, this service could cost about $50. You do have the option of filling the crack yourself. Most automotive stores or department stores that have an automotive section will carry chip repair kits for your windshield. These cost about $10, and will walk you through the process of filling the chip with resin to seal it (see Reference section).
Window Motors
Power windows can be very finicky. There are quite a few things that can go wrong with a power window and interfere with its ability to move up and down. If your window won't roll up or down, or is stuck somewhere in between, there are a few things to check. Dirt inside switches or on the window motor can cause a window to stick once it rolls down partway. Switches and window motors can be dusted off and cleaned with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to get them working properly again. If the window won't respond at all when the window button is pushed, it could be a fuse that's the problem. You can check the fuse box under your driver's side dash for a broken window fuse, and replace it at any parts store for pennies to get your window working again. Loose wires can also cause the window motor to fail. Check for a loose connection to the fuse box or in the window motor (you must pull off the door panel for this). Once you tighten the connection, the window should work. If it comes down to needing to replace the window motor, you can do this yourself to save money by purchasing a new motor online or in a parts store and bolting it in place of the old one (see Reference section).
Shattered Glass
Glass can be broken by a baseball going through your window or vandals trying to access your car, among other things. No matter how a window got broken, it's important to fix it so moisture and other unwanted things don't get in or out. Before you go to an auto glass store and pay premium prices, call around to your local auto salvage yards to see if they have any cars that match your make and model and that a window can be pulled from. Some places will pull their own windows, and others will have you do it. Either way, a $25-to-$50 window that's in good condition from a junkyard is going to be cheaper than a new replacement that costs you hundreds of dollars.
