One thing that you surely won’t need to have explained to you right now, is the utterly dire situation facing millions of people in the UK in relation to the cost of living. It might seem to you as if anyone and everyone is currently scrambling to find ways to reduce their day-to-day expenditure – and the chances are that this perception will be accurate.
One major cost that many of us have in our lives, though, is our car. So, what are some of the best ways to lower your motoring-related costs?
Below are just a few suggestions.
Make sure your tyres are pumped up
As referenced by the Scottish Daily Express, low tyre pressure can add a lot to the amount of fuel a vehicle consumes. Research suggests this could work out as up to 10% more fuel, with those drivers who do take the time to pump up their tyres potentially saving about £7.50 a month as a result.
Fill up the tank at supermarket garages
Staying with the subject of fuel, a recent Mirror article spotlighting some handy motoring-related ‘hacks’ for dealing with the cost-of-living crisis, spotlighted the savings drivers can achieve when they turn to supermarket garages.
Apparently, it has been calculated that motorists could save as much as £74.10 each year if they exclusively use supermarket garages, which are cheaper than branded petrol stations.
Drive smoothly and in higher gears
This is a relatively well-known tip, but it’s one worth emphasising at this tricky time. If you drive in an aggressive way, including by planting your foot hard on the accelerator, you can expect to eat up a lot more petrol, quicker – especially if you stay in a low gear when you do so.
As pointed out by the This is Money website, driving smoothly in a high gear is the proven formula for ensuring your vehicle uses up fuel as slowly as possible. Doing so could reduce your fuel bill by a quarter, leaving £300 extra in your pocket each year.
Do your own car maintenance
Be careful with this tip; we aren’t suggesting, of course, that the average driver can fully substitute for a qualified mechanic, to the point where you won’t need to get your car regularly serviced.
The fact is, some professional attention to your vehicle will still be required from time to time – not least an MOT test.
Still, if you can educate yourself on the basics of checking your car, such as keeping an eye out for classic signs of ‘wear and tear’ and seeking a garage’s services in the event that you see anything concerning, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds in repair costs annually.
Switch from the new to used market when seeking your next vehicle
This is something that a lot of people in need of a new car have been doing already. But it’s a simple change you could make in your search, to ensure you still end up with a lot of car for your money, even if you are purchasing from the used market instead of from a new-car dealer.
A dealer that specialises in the sale of cheap cars in Southend or wherever you happen to live, such as Cars Under 3000, could give you a great deal on a vehicle that meets your most pressing practical requirements.
The above is – of course – far from an exhaustive list of potential money-saving ‘hacks’ for drivers suffering the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. However, just following some of the above advice could go a long way to relieving the pressures you might be facing with your household budget right now.
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