5 Ways to Cut Motoring Costs
Because I’m on a tight budget, I have to use every opportunity that I can find to cut my motoring costs so that I won’t overspend on that area of my finances.
With the government working to help us with MOT costs and the price of petrol, I feel motivated to take some measures on my own to keep my cost of motoring under control. I’ve learned that by making a few minor changes in my driving habits, I can save about 10% on my fuel bills.
Let me share some of my personal findings with you so that you too can cut your motoring costs and keep under your budget.
- I’ve started driving just a bit slower no matter where I go. Now this means that I have to allow myself plenty of time to be punctual for work but I’ve learned to leave about fifteen minutes so that I don’t have to worry about accidents and other obstacles that slow down my commute time. I learned that the faster I drive the more petrol I use so it only makes sense to drive slower to save fuel.
- I try to drive more efficiently. Simply by watching my rpm gauge, I can determine the best point to shift gears for optimum fuel efficiency. By taking note of when I usually change gears and comparing that to when I should be changing gears I can get more out of my petrol supply.
- I have checked my breakdown cover and made adjustments to optimise my plan. I decided to take home start along with home recovery so that I can have peace of mind wherever I motor. This will also cut my costs should something unforeseen happen to my car.
- Shopping for the best deal on petrol is an excellent way to cut costs of motoring. I use some of the more popular websites to find the locations that are offering the best prices. I’ve also started using money-off vouchers from some local merchants which provide me with savings if I shop with them.
- I keep a constant eye on my tyre pressure. Changes in the temperature sometimes cause air to leak out of tyres; maintaining a consistent pressure has saved me up to 2% in my fuel costs. It’s an economical way to cut costs and it makes my car safer for me to drive as well. Many people die each year from having tyres that are incorrectly inflated.
If I can’t bring my motoring costs under control, I know that I’ll have to sell my car and perhaps get a bike like some of my colleagues. They enjoy the exercise and the savings that they receive but I still like the convenience of taking my car to and from work on rainy days.
So, I’ve decided to take just a few steps to cut my expenses and use my motoring budget more efficiently. I’ve been very pleased with the results that I’m getting and am tracking my progress from month to month; keeping records seems to motivate me to do as much as I can to increase my yearly savings.
