Petrol My father still recounts the story when in 1972 he refused to pay 31p a GALLON (there are nearly five litres to a gallon), as the garage down the road was selling it at 29 ½p.
In 2007 petrol rose to £1 a litre and many people discussed the possibility of ditching their cars as costs were unsustainable.
Now with pumps churning out fuel at around £1.30 a litre, I don't see any fewer cars on the road (including my father's).
Perhaps we should all lock up our cars and hang up our keys refusing to pour another penny of fuel into our vehicles, but for many this is an impractical solution. So below I have combined sage advice with a coaching focus to save money, replenish the environment and perhaps even help to get fitter.
1. Set yourself a challenge. Most people are more likely to achieve success if they set goals. For example, currently my typical monthly mileage is 500 miles, so I am setting myself a target of 440 miles. My recent fuel costs average £90 a month which ideally I would like to reduce to £65, giving myself a monthly saving of £25. This saving over a year adds up to £300, which if I achieve, I will save a half and with the rest pay for a weekend away. These objectives were not based on random figures plucked from the sky, but from implementing some of the suggestions I have written below. Each month I will keep a note of how much I spend remembering £65 is a realistic target, however I shall be very happy if I beat it – resulting in nicer accommodation for my holiday.
2. Quit the short journeys. For example, going to your local weekly meetings or popping over to friends. If you are able, walk, cycle (if you don’t have a bike visit http://www.uk.freecycle.org to see if any bicycles are being recycled locally) or get the bus, especially if you have a freedom pass. Constant gear changing and accelerating which often occurs during local journeys are gas guzzling.
3. Re-think the longer journeys. Public transport can be hugely economical if you plan ahead. For example, planning a trip three weeks away I saw a train from Manchester to London would have cost me £17 travelling on March 17 mid-morning. Even cheaper was the return journey by coach with National Express for £6.50. If I had decided to drive, petrol would have cost me around £40 in petrol each-way. This becomes less economical when more than one person is travelling, but it’s a quick calculation to see which is best.
4. Lose the weight and the resistance. Take off unused roof racks, unload the boot and keep it to a minimum, make sure your tyres are set to the recommended pressures and don't fill the fuel tank to the brim as the weight makes a difference. All of these elements make a considerable difference to the performance of a car and the efficiency of petrol consumption.
5. Lighten your foot and read the road ahead. Being in the optimum gear, accelerating slowly and gentle breaking all help with the smooth running efficiency of a car.
6. Too hot in the car (I realise this sounds ridiculous as we just enter March) wind down the window. Not using air conditioning can improve fuel efficiency by around 8%.
7. Share the journey and the cost. If a few of you are travelling in the same direction (not even necessarily the same place) why not share the cost? Perhaps one uses their car while the other two pay for the fuel.
8. Be price aware. When out and about keep an eye on forecourt prices. Also check out www.petrolprices.com informing you where you can get some of the best local prices. Get the petrol when on the road rather than making a special journey, as using up £1.50 worth of petrol getting to the station to save 40p defeats the purpose.
Written by Marc Lockley – a negotiation coach and money saving expert, this article was published on March 3, 2011. Marc's opinions are his own and for general information only - always seek independent, professional, financial advice. Follow Marc on Twitter at http://twitter.com/negotiator1