With temperatures set to plummet below freezing, the Met Office has issued a rare cold weather alert ahead of a period of bitterly chilly temperatures thanks to an 'Arctic Blast' hitting the UK.
It means temperatures will struggle to get anywhere above freezing and during the night it could be as cold as -4C. With that in mind, people are keen to keep themselves warm while also saving money during the cost of living crisis.
One thing that people have noticed with inflation is the rising cost of fuel. It's not as cheap to fill up at the tanks any more but a quirky tip has been revealed to help you drive more economically and save money.
Motoring experts at ChooseMyCar.com have urged drivers to try a range of tips this winter to save money. And one of them is to keep a bowl of water in the passenger seat.
The experts at the car finance and loan company said having the bowl there acts as a "deterrent" that will save you money in the long run. They said: "Keeping an open bowl of water on your passenger seat is a great deterrent for unnecessary acceleration and braking.
"It sounds a bit strange, but it is a simple and brilliant reminder to drive gently. If you hit the accelerator too hard, you'll see water pour out the sides. Likewise, if you're driving too fast and braking hard you'll notice water on the seat. The best bowls to use for this are small cereal bowls, with water about an inch from the top."
If you don't drive solo though, there are some other bits of advice they encourage you to try. They include:
Emptying your car out
Excess weight in your car can be a real fuel burner. It’s good practice to empty your car out daily - especially if you have particularly heavy items in there. So make sure you don’t drive to work on Monday morning with your golf clubs still in the boot!
Using your garage as an actual garage
By keeping your car warm in a garage, you will keep it at a better temperature for fuel economy. This will reduce your fuel consumption by using less air conditioning to heat or cool your car.
Parking facing the morning sun
You might have to buy a compass - but this simple fuel saving hack will save you money. During winter months, if you’ve parked facing the morning sun, you’ll spend less time running the car to warm it up or to demist your windscreen.
Reverse park to face front
Did you know that by reversing into a parking space (or ensuring you are facing forward when you park) you will save fuel? Your car uses less fuel with a warm engine, so reverse parking when you arrive saves fuel, compared to reversing out with a cold engine when you leave.
Using alternative modes of transport
Consider biking or walking to your destination. Not only will you save money on fuel, you can probably cancel your gym membership too. As a quick example, if your journey to work is five miles, you would save £416 per year - and boost your steps by 10,000 a day!
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