Latest saving ideas from Martin Lewis (From Worcester News)

Latest saving ideas from Martin Lewis

11:02am Thursday 11th August 2011 in Features

FOR many households filling up the fuel tank has become one of the biggest bills costing thousands of pounds a year.

While you could simply sell the car, switch to a more efficient model or drive less here are five routes to drive down your costs.

MAKE YOUR CAR MORE EFFICIENT
􀁥 Check your tyres are correctly inflated.

􀁥 Get rid of the junk in your trunk to reduce excess weight.

􀁥 Remove unused roof racks – unused ones add wind resistance.

􀁥 Turn air-con off – up to eight per cent of your fuel bill goes on it.

􀁥 Do not fill up to full – only top up to three-quarters to reduce the vehicle’s weight but this only works if your cheapest petrol station's on a regular route, though.

DRIVE EFFICIENTLY
While not driving at maximum speed helps, less aggressive stops and starts, especially in urban areas, saves cash. Many who try it get 10 to 30 per cent more out of a fuel tank so if you fill up £50 a week that can work out at £500 a year.

FIND THE CHEAPEST PETROL AND DIESEL
Enter a postcode at petrolprices.

com and it shows the cheapest petrol in the vicinity. Petrol discount vouchers at supermarkets can cut costs by another 5p to 10p a litre.

GET CASHBACK ON ALL FUEL
Use a cashback credit card but only do this if you are debt-free and can set up a direct debit to clear the balance in full every month to avoid interest. For longterm cashback, MBNA American Express pays 1.5 per cent cashback on all petrol and supermarket spending and 0.75 per cent elsewhere. Spend £5,000 a year on food and fuel and that is £75 back (it is 18.9 per cent APR if you do not repay in full). Other cashback cards pay up to five per cent cashback but for a shorter time. Full list at moneysavingexpert.com/ cashback

SHARE DRIVING
Chat with work colleagues or parents at school to see if they fancy sharing driving. Web-based versions widen the net; check sites such as liftshare.com.

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TV money guru Martin Lewis runs the consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com Ensure you get his weekly e-mail so you’re constantly saving money.