“Record prices at the pumps could succeed where 6,000 cameras and millions of pound in road-safety advertising has failed for decades – by securing compliance with the speed limit,” says Ben Webster in The Times. Rising fuel costs mean drivers are more concerned than ever with making their petrol go further.
The best way to do that is to drive at the most fuel-efficient speed for your car. For years, car manufacturers have said the optimum speed is between 50mph and 60mph. But a new survey by What Car? magazine has revealed that the most efficient speed was below 40mph for all five cars it tested and as low as 20mph for two of the cars. So if you want to save money at the pump, it’s time to live life in the slow lane.
Keep it local.
Using a credit card with minimal foreign usage fees is a great way to save on holiday, but you still have to be vigilant while spending abroad. “Hotels, restaurants and retailers have found a way to fleece holidaymakers using cards abroad with a scam known as dynamic currency conversion,” warns Lauren Thompson in The Times. This is where you are presented with a bill in the local currency, but when you pay the vendor, they convert your bill into sterling at their own uncompetitive rate, plus commission of up to 4%. You should be given the option of whether you pay in sterling or the local currency, but many vendors don’t ask, so ensure you tell them – always be charged in the local currency and avoid their fees.
Better still, pay in cash.
When it comes to sorting out your holiday money, “it pays to be organised”, says Thompson. Using credit or debit cards abroad costs, while if you change money at the airport rates are uncompetitive and commission high. Head to the high street before you go and shop around. Most high street and online currency providers don’t charge commission – they make their money on the exchange rate. So find the best one. A recent survey by Which? showed that travel agents are the most expensive for currency, whereas Marks & Spencer and the Post Office are “consistently competitive”.
Don’t spread the cost.
“You can pay nearly £70 more for your car insurance if you pay monthly rather than in one lump sum,” says Elizabeth Colman in The Sunday Times. A man insuring an Audi A4 who has had a driving licence for 13 years will pay £553 over a year in a lump sum or £621 if he pays monthly – a £68 increase. But remember, with utilities it’s the other way round – most will penalise you for not paying by direct debit.
Beat hayfever online.
A price war between the two cheapest online chemists means bargains for hayfever sufferers, says Moneysavingexpert.com’s Martin Lewis. Prices were cut three times last week alone at Chemistdirect.co.uk. You can now get one month’s supply of generic cetirizine (the main type) for 39p. Postage costs £2.95, so it’s worth bulk buying and is still cheaper than the high street – unless you live in Wales, where you can get hayfever tablets for free when prescribed by your doctor.