When you have children, the prospect of surviving without a car is not a happy one. After all, things can be stressful enough as it is to balance without adding the time and hassle of walking for miles a day! Unfortunately, running a car can be expensive, something that makes it a real strain on the family budget. The good news is that there are some strategies you can use to keep the cost of running a car as low as possible. Read on to find out what they are.
Buy or lease?
Contrary to popular opinion, you can save money on running your car if you choose to lease it rather than buying it. This is due to several important reasons. The first of these is that by leasing a brand new car, you often get access to an extended warranty. This means if anything does go wrong, you won’t have to pay for repairs from your own pocket.
Additionally, when it comes to leasing a car, there are many special offers to be had. For example, Audi is currently running an offer where they will pay your costs for three whole months! This being something that can result in very significant savings.
Finally, when leasing a car, you can choose to spread the cost over time. Rather than having to find the entire sum immediately. Something that can make it a much more cost-effective option.
Insurance
Another expense that many families struggle with when running a car is insurance. Cover you will not want to be without not only because of the legal ramifications but also because it offers protection in case of an accident.
The good news is that it is totally possible to get comprehensive car insurance at a low cost if you shop around. Of course, if you find a provider that can do the leg work and compare different insurers for you, that’s even better!
Tax and Breakdown cover
Then there are the fees associated with tax and roadside assistance that you will need to find. Of course, by opting for a newer car, usually an electric one, you may find that you can be exempt from tax altogether.
Additionally, it is often possible to save on the cost of roadside assistance by opting for a financial product such as a bank account that includes this service. In fact, such accounts usually come with other benefits. They are also a lot less than what the service would cost on its own, therefore making them an excellent deal.
Fuel
Finally, when it comes to running costs of a car, do not forget fuel. Of course, you won’t be getting very far if you don’t have fuel, but the stuff can be seriously expensive!
Fortunately, it is possible to keep your fuel cost as low with a little work. One way to do this is to shop around for the lowest prices per liter. Although many people also choose to fit fuel-efficient tires to help reduce this running cost as well.
