Petrol is an ongoing cost that is not going to get better. It’s part
of our lives that is expensive and will continue to be so. So finding
ways to save on petrol is now an imperative for the financially savvy.
Here are some tips, inspired by the readers of MSN Money- clever folk
that they are.
Drive Less
Alright, bit obvious. Well, kind of obvious, but amazingly important.
Our car usage is often because we don’t think things through. We leave
things to the last minute, so we have to take the car as opposed to
catching the train. Or we don’t plan our weekly meals, so we drive up to
the shops daily as opposed to just once. With a bit of thought, you can
drive less and save on petrol. Or, if you’re really keen, trade in your
gaz-guzzler and get a hybrid that will use petrol efficiently. It might
be a large outlay, but the savings on petrol might make it worthwhile
in the end.
Schedule
Schedule all your appointments, shopping and errands for the one day.
It’s a good idea anyway- saves on time, helps you to structure your
week, and means you get all your stop-start driving done in the one day.
It’ll leave the rest of your week clear to get the more important
things don, and save you on go-go-gas.
Circle It
Don’t drive in a star, covering and re-covering the same ground as
you go. Plan your drive in a circle or semicircle from your home. It’s a
simple way to save on unnecessary expenditure, and it doesn’t hurt the
environment either.
Research
It’s got to be one of the worst feelings- you’ve just filled up at a
petrol station that you thought was pretty reasonable, and five minutes
later, you drive past a petrol station, selling it for 5 cents a litre
cheaper. The rest of your day you spend cursing your luck and lack of
patience. Take the guesswork out and do a bit of research- there are
plenty of websites or radio shows that will showcase the cheapest petrol
of the day. And now that cheap day has moved from Tuesday to Thursday,
try and ration your petrol until the cheaper days and don’t fill up on
weekends.
Lose The Road Rage
Lots of stopping and starting in traffic is going to burn your petrol
like no tomorrow. Take it calmly, don’t hit the accelerator- you’re
probably only going to get five metres anyway- and then be forced to
brake in a hurry. Stick to low speed limits, try and avoid rush hour and
don’t drive as if you are part of the Fast and the Furious.
Get Old School
Our parents and grandparents were naturally frugal people- they only
drove when necessary, they car pooled to work, school, the Saturday
morning soccer game. Ask to pool with your neighbours or your kid’s
friends from school. Our grandparents caught trains, either the entire
way, or left their car at the train station. They walked to the store,
or shopped once a week.
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