Slow it down: fuel saving tips for motorists

Amidst the UK’s current cost-of-living crisis, where inflation is at an all-time high, prices are rising, left, right, and centre.

Discretionary expenses which used to be a luxury for the average Brit, are now crushing down on our bank balances, and very swiftly draining our wallets.

So, in such a severe economic situation, it comes down to how we Brits are saving the pennies to combat the rising costs (or perhaps not) – and most importantly, is it working?

In answer to this vital question, Online Betting Guide (OLBG) have conducted research for their Discretionary Spend Index, wherein they show how we’re dishing out our disposable dosh across 12 main categories of spending.

And it turns out, maybe not so efficiently.

The OLBG Index discovered Brits are spending over £3,000 more a year on luxuries, than is advised by financial experts. This is also over £5,000 more than we did in 2019-2020 – before the crisis.

So how are we managing to spend more now than we did when wallet strings were much looser?

One of the highest spends on the Index – the 2nd highest to be exact – is the money spent on managing, fuelling, and purchasing vehicles.

This isn’t so surprising, considering fuel prices are constantly reaching new record-highs.

Nevertheless, the next golden question is – how do we save money on fuelling our cars?

Read on, to find out the best fuel saving tips for those of you who want to drive your motors, without driving your finances into the ground.

The petrol patrol

Gas prices are going up everywhere, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll all be the same price.

In fact, if you’re strategic enough, you can save a heap of cash by simply looking around for other sources of fuel, and finding one cheaper than your usual.

It’s tempting to drive to the station only five minutes away, or the one smack bang in the middle of your daily commute.

However, with a little bit of looking, and maybe some venturing out to a station slightly further away, you could find some fuel prices which are significantly lower than your regular top-ups.

Get your walking shoes on

It sounds almost too obvious, but a great way to save money on fuel is — you guessed it — to not use your car as often.

Naturally, for people who need their car for commuting, this can’t be avoided.

However, it’s likely that you, like many of us, have taken the short five-minute drive to a shop, which would’ve been a brisk 15-minute walk.

Or perhaps travelled a long journey in the car, when it would’ve been cheaper to go by train.

By being a little more conscious of times when a car isn’t absolutely necessary, you can significantly spare your fuel, and thus, your bank balance.

A weight off your car’s shoulders

Another tip for saving of fuel is to lighten the load – on both your car, and your wallet.

The more weight you have in a vehicle, the more fuel it uses to lug the heavy load.

This isn’t a suggestion to make your other passengers get out and walk. Instead, why not make sure there isn’t any unnecessary weight in the boot before you pull off.

This could be the gym bag you forgot to take out, or the rubbish bags you haven’t got round to dropping off at the local tip.

By lessening the weight, even slightly, you can begin to see big increases in the amount of fuel you have left over from each trip – which means less frequent re-fuels.

As you can see, with some simple tweaks to the way you use your vehicle, you can combat the rising prices of fuel amidst this crisis, and get a much better handle on your discretionary spending.

And be sure to follow OLBG’s Index, as their regular updates will ensure you always stay one step ahead of the rising threats to our wallets.