6 Ways You Can Save Money as Fuel Prices Go Up and Up

Often we can’t avoid putting fuel in our cars, even as the prices continue to rise. But we can do certain things to save money at the bowsers, and they aren’t as difficult as you might think!

Here are six ways you can save yourself some cash when fuelling up.

Check fuel prices in your area

This seems like a no-brainer but honestly, you can save plenty by doing a little bit of research before rocking up at your nearest servo. Using an app like MotorMouth (iOS and Android) can help save lots of money on fuel Australia-wide. Don’t forget to factor in your supermarket dockets for further discounts at the till.

Make Use of 7-Eleven’s Fuel Lock Feature

Another app that is saving Australians some serious cash right now is My 7-Eleven‘s fuel lock program (iOS and Android). A Fuel Price Lock feature lets users select the type of fuel they want, then search for the best local fuel price from the five closest 7-Eleven service stations, and lock it in for up to seven days. 7-Eleven claims this feature has saved drivers across Australia over $24 million since 2016. You can even earn Velocity Points with eligible purchases. And their $3 super-sized coffees aren’t too bad either!

Check your tyre pressures

According to NRMA, correct tyre pressures will reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption by around 2% and will also maximise tyre life. Before you check your tyre pressure, have a good look at the tyre placard fitted to your vehicle. There will be a minimum and maximum pressure recommendation depending on the load – the maximum is the one to use. And don’t forget to check your spare too.

Remove unnecessary weight and drag

Lugging around sports gear and a box of items to donate to charity when you remember can actually add quite a bit to your fuel consumption – up to 24% more than an unladen vehicle! So take out anything that you don’t absolutely need and lighten that load! Take off your roof racks while you don’t need them, too. They add to aerodynamic drag which increases fuel consumption by up to 5%.

Drive sensibly

Yes, I know. We are all sensible, courteous road users at all times, right? But making use of cruise control and avoiding quick acceleration and hard braking can make a big difference in how much fuel you use. It might be time to put a Peaky Blinders cap and a box of tissues on the parcel rack and get your inner grandad on.

And finally, consider if you really need to make that trip

Do you really need to duck up to the shops right now? Can it wait until you need to buy a whole bunch of things? Can you walk or take public transport? Can you grab a lift with a neighbour next time they head out? Set up a carpool? All things to think about when the prices hike up.

Do you have any other tips for saving money on fuel? Let us know in the comments!