Travel

Getting to and from work, picking the kids up from school,leisure outings. Owning and running a vehicle is not something cheap. There are ways, however to make your money go further, literally.

Thrifters

Transport

Take It Easy On The Accelerator

Driving erratically or aggressively like a boy racer can cause your car to consume 60% more fuel. If you can, the ideal speed to aim for is a steady 50mph in the highest gear. Pull away from lights smoothly and don’t overtake unnecessarily.

Even if you’re in a high gear at a reasonable speed, pushing the accelerator down a long way to avoid changing into a lower gear (into second from third, for instance) uses more fuel, not less. Go easy on the accelerator wherever possible.

Plan Your Trips For Efficiency

Planning ahead can help optimise fuel usage. A cold engine uses much more fuel for the first five miles so, ideally, you’d combine all your daily errands into one big trip. Of course, that may not be possible with daily journeys to work but try to avoid short trips at weekends. If you need to pop out for some milk, go for a nice walk instead.

Ditch Excess Weight

The heavier your car, the more fuel it needs to move around. You wouldn’t carry around a heavy suitcase unless you were on holiday, so don’t forget to remove those golf clubs left in the boot or ski box on your roof bursting with equipment. The more pared back your car is, the lighter and more efficient it will be.

Stick to the Speed Limit

Going faster might save you time, but it won’t necessarily save you money. The temptation to hit 80mph on the motorway instead of 70mph can be very real, but it’s never something we recommend. The 20 minutes you save on a hypothetical 200-mile trip could cost you a significant sum in extra fuel costs.

Keep Your Windows Closed

When you’re on the motorway and moving quickly, the shape of your car is very important. You can’t do much about how aerodynamic your car is (or is not), but you can avoid making it worse by not leaving the windows or sunroof open. It’s better to use the air vents for most of the year, and the aircon when it gets too hot.

Change Gear Earlier

Don’t labour the engine, but try changing up at an engine speed of around 2,000 rpm in a diesel car or 2,500 rpm in a petrol car. You may be surprised just how much difference this makes.

Car Share

Condensing multiple car journeys into one is always going to be a serious fuel saver. Look for car share partners in your workplace, some businesses encourage carpooling and can help organise the process. There are also car-sharing apps and websites to coordinate longer journeys.

Keep Your Vehicle Well Maintained

Ensuring you keep your vehicle maintained and up to date with servicing will improve the efficiency of your vehicle, and therefore will improve your fuel consumption.

Utility Warehouse

One of the ways of controlling bills is to shop around for your utility supplier. Utility Warehouse offers an all-in-one solution for all your household utility bills.

To find out more and get a free no obligation quote click the link below.

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