With our pockets tightening up, we need to find ways to save money, especially when it comes to cars. Owning a car is often necessary, but can be the most expensive form of transport. Even though you may not be able to get the expenditure as low as a bike, you can lower your outgoings on your car by following some money saving advice…
Apart from the obvious, i.e. finding cheaper insurers, you can cut your car costs in many ways. From ingenious ideas to just shopping around, you can find the best offers or ways to save money.
(1) Don’t just be money conscious, be environmentally friendly too, by lowering the amount of times you use your car. Instead of driving to the shops, shop around your area, which not only saves fuel but encourages growth of local businesses. If travelling a little further, bike it.
(2) Save fuel by car sharing – it can cut your fuel bill in half. There are loads of websites out there that advertise for car sharers, where they can share their cars on an alternate basis. So one week you drive and then they drive the next and so on.
(3) Be a careful driver. It’s easy to rush and make mistakes, but being careful will not only lower the risk of accidents but lower the chance of a ticket or worse. Avoid these extra costs by looking after your car and always driving safely on the road.
(4) Part of saving money on your car is by investing in your car. For a car to work at its best and highest efficiency, you need all parts to work at their optimum. This is simply not going to happen if you only repair your car once in awhile and don’t bother with regular check-ups. So to make sure your car is in running order, make sure it passes its MOT, has it seasonal check-ups and you complete regular check-ups yourself. If you avoid the check ups, you could end up literally burning your money away.
(5) Another recommendation is to buy extras, such as engine oil, in bulk or look out for bargain bin prices. The internet is often a great place for deals or buying in bulk. Of course with internet buying beware of the extra costs incurred by postage and packaging.
(6) I’m going to state the obvious here, but look around for cheaper fuel by comparing prices from gas station to gas station. You need not go to each and every gas station but look online at a price comparison website.
(7) There’s a lot of driving tips that can help you save fuel. If stationary for long periods of time, turn the engine off. Don’t speed and keep to the limit as this uses more energy. Plan your route out so that you take routes with less traffic (the more you stop, the more energy you expend as you keep having to start up).