Learning not to spend on your car

Guest Post by Emma Barnes

Image courtesy of Images of Money

Cars are prized possessions for most people. They provide the freedom to travel directly to necessary destinations whenever required and public transport just doesn't compare. However, they also eat cash and in tough economic times, it is beneficial to make a few small changes in order to save money. It is easy to do by following these few simple suggestions.

Firstly, you need to find the cheapest car insurance available for your make and model. When people are flush with cash they often simply renew insurance with their existing provider but new insurers generally offer a discounted price and additional benefits. These potential insurers want to secure your business in a competitive marketplace and often reduce the price and offer other rewards such as breakdown cover or vacation insurance.

Research the options available to you and call the insurers to check if any online price could be discounted even further. Insurers will want to convince you there and then to take their insurance and, particularly if they have had a slow day or month, may give even more incentives. You will save money as a result and in some cases, this is a significant amount.

Secondly, consider different ways to reduce your fuel costs, which can include simple actions such as closing your windows and sunroof because this makes the car more aerodynamic and thus uses less fuel. If you have a roof rack, remove it at once as the extra weight guzzles your gas by a massive 30% quicker than if you did not have one. This goes for anything heavy, so if you're a builder, plumber or any type of handyperson, remove your tools from your car when you are not working.

Thirdly, plan your route well so that you do not take unnecessary detours and use more fuel. A sat-nav system can be a good investment as it will help you find the quickest and therefore most fuel efficient way of getting to your destination. Avoid areas that have lots of speed bumps or crossings because slowing down continuously uses more fuel.

If your route is simply to the local store for a carton of milk, consider if you can either wait to purchase the item or walk there instead. Short journeys are not cost-efficient but sometimes people simply hop in the car as a matter of routine. Walking will save you money, help the environment, burn off calories and get your heart pumping nicely, so there are lots of benefits!

Additionally, consider car sharing. Not only is this more eco-friendly, in some cities it will allow you to access special lanes that tend to move through rush-hour traffic more easily. If you car share, your passenger should help pay towards fuel costs which will help you save more money.

So, there are numerous ways to save, rather than spend on your car, from accessing the cheapest car insurance to finding the best route. These should help you save money and time so give it a go and see what a difference it will make. Good luck!



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