It’s not always the big expenses that take a hit on our savings. It’s usually the smaller costs and spending that accumulate together that can truly take a toll on our financial life. One aspect of our lifestyle that we don’t often check is our car expenses, and what better time than the new year to give it a second look?
Now that 2022 is upon us, we need to find ways to be wiser with our finances. Here are some pointers for saving money on your car expenses this year.
Do Away With Your Second Car
Here are some signs that you might need to sell your second car:
- Maintaining it is costing you too much and causing you to go over your monthly budget.
- It’s no longer compatible with your current lifestyle. If you bought it for a necessity that no longer exists (for example, another member of your family needed it, but they don’t anymore), then you might as well sell it instead of letting it rot in the garage.
- Your car has seen its fair share of wear and tear and already has more than 100,000 miles.
- There is an opportunity to sell it for a good and reasonable price.
- It guzzles gas—a feature of cars that are a decade old.
If your second car checks most of these boxes, it might be a sign that you need to get rid of your second car now and just purchase another one if you find your family might need it again down the line.
Repair What You Can
On the other hand, you can’t be too quick to get rid of your car just because one part needs repair or replacement. Don’t let yourself get tired of vehicles too quickly. You only need to get in touch with reliable and tried and tested mechanics and car service companies that can make your car like new again.
For example, if you only need to have the windshield repaired or replaced, then look for a service company that quickly provides premium servicing at your earliest convenience. Don’t let minor repairs go on for a long time without being addressed because small issues can worsen over time.
Keep Your Car Well-maintained
Speaking of addressing smaller problems as soon as you can, you also need to keep your car as well-maintained as possible if you want to save more on car expenses in the long run. Staying on top of maintenance will help you save more money over time. Here is a basic checklist of how you can maintain your car regularly:
- Inspect the filters monthly and have them cleaned regularly or replaced if necessary.
- Don’t skimp on tires; make sure you get the right ones for your specific model. Proper wheel alignment and tire inflation can help improve your car’s fuel efficiency.
- Avoid using a higher octane gas than what the car manufacturer recommends for that model.
- Check your car’s fluid levels regularly. When your battery water is on the lower side, it can negatively affect your battery’s life. The fluids you need to check are the coolant, brake and clutch fluids, and automatic transmission fluid.
Find Ways to Save More on Gas Expenses
Unfortunately, private sector forecasts tell us that both oil and gas prices will continue to rise in 2022. While there’s not much we can do as consumers about the price of petrol, we can take steps and make some lifestyle changes to decrease your overall gas expenses. Here are some steps you can try to save money on gas this 2022:
- Avoid topping off the tank when you gas up. It only ends up overflowing when you park on a hill or under the sun.
- Don’t drive if you don’t have to. Consider carpooling to work with your workmates, or consider getting into biking. Not only is it good for your financial health, but for your health and the protection of the planet, too.
- Don’t let your car idle because the engine heats up much faster when driving than when it’s on idle mode. Doing so will waste the gas you have in the tank.
Final Tips
To save more money on car expenses, you can also switch to a smaller model, avoid add-on insurance, and not let yourself be talked into additions while buying a new car. If we only take a second and third look at the things we’re already doing and our lifestyle, then we can surely find the culprit for why we’re always going over budget. Take a second look at your life as a driver and adjust where you need to. You can do it!
