…and your wallet (but most importantly the planet, obviously!). With ever increasing fuel prices the cost of filling your car is going up and up. Emissions from cars are apparently helping to damage the planet and we all need to do what we can. Obviously I am only concerned with doing my bit to save the planet but I realise other people may like to save a bit of money too! Plus nobody ever said that saving the planet can’t save you a bit of money too. There are many different ways to do it but here I will take a look at 7 easy ones that we can all do, with very little effort and no real cost. If we all make these small changes we can have the planet saved in no time at all!

1. Drive slower – If you drive at 65mh on the motorway rather than 80+ you can use up to 30% less fuel. Fuel consumption rockets once you get past 60mph so always bare this in mind. I know we all like to get place quickly but when you consider traffic driving at 65mph on the clear sections doesn’t add too long to your journey.
2. Lighten the load – Carrying extra weight around greatly increases fuel consumption, so take those golf clubs out the boot until you really need them. Do leave the spare wheel in the boot though!
3. Check your tyre pressures – Wrongly inflated tyres can reduce fuel economy by up-to 25%, so do your bit for the planet and check them often.
4. Replace your air filter when required – A dirty air filter restricts air flowing in to the engine which harms both performance and economy. If you hold it to the sun and can’t see light through it then it probably needs changing.
5. Drive with care – Setting off from the lights like you are Lewis Hamilton is not good for fuel saving. Try to drive in as smooth a fashion as possible, with steady acceleration and anticipating when you will need to break.
6. Turn of the A/C – Try and restrict the use of air conditioning as this can sap 10% of the performance and use 10% more fuel. At high speeds though it may be better to use the A/C rather than open a window and cause drag.
7. Go by train – It is scientifically proven that travelling by train has the most effect on reducing the amount of fuel your car uses. Make sure you book early to get the cheap tickets though.

By following this simple advice you can massively reduce your spending on fuel. If you drive about 15000 miles a year it could save you up to £500.