What cut backs have you made recently?
Discussion
Jon39 said:
brickwall said:
Fuel costs really aren’t a big deal for many car owners.
Average annual mileage in the UK is 7,500 miles. Plenty of drivers do 5,000 or less (myself included).
Fuel costs for 5,000 miles at:
- 40mpg & £1.20 per litre = £680 per year
- 25mpg & £1.90 per litre = £1727 per year
Plenty will have “fixed costs” of owning a car >£5k pa: £300-400 pcm for the PCP, plus £500-1000 pa for insurance, £520 pa in VED, then add servicing…etc.
An extra £500-£1,000 per year for fuel is neither here nor there really.
For me the high used car prices and resulting reduced depreciation have had a much bigger impact on my cost of ownership than fuel prices.
Average annual mileage in the UK is 7,500 miles. Plenty of drivers do 5,000 or less (myself included).
Fuel costs for 5,000 miles at:
- 40mpg & £1.20 per litre = £680 per year
- 25mpg & £1.90 per litre = £1727 per year
Plenty will have “fixed costs” of owning a car >£5k pa: £300-400 pcm for the PCP, plus £500-1000 pa for insurance, £520 pa in VED, then add servicing…etc.
An extra £500-£1,000 per year for fuel is neither here nor there really.
For me the high used car prices and resulting reduced depreciation have had a much bigger impact on my cost of ownership than fuel prices.
Exactly - someone who understands the arithmetic involved ( very high annual mileages, obviously a different situation ).
The motor trade will hate you though. They want everyone to keep thinking about MPG and emissions, certainly not depreciation and fixed costs. Dwelling on that does not sell cars ! Consider for a moment, the £40,000 EVs, with owners talking about saving money.
Insurance for the last car and the replacement* is £171 per year, £165 in VED and I'll service it myself (parts are coming in about £100 or so if I do everything that is due at 30k). Too early to tell but judging by the previous car there can be quite a difference in mpg depending on whether you floor it everywhere or drive it gently (mid 20s going up to 38mpg). I think that's significant enough to make some effort to drive sensibly, even given the lower mileage that we are likely to do. I posted some example figures a few pages back based on her old car; this one seems to get about 5mpg more.
We plan to keep it a long time and the cost to change was effectively covered by part of a tax free pension draw down (much as it made me wince to spend some of it). If that hadn't come through, then it would have been a straight swap of selling to WBAC and buying a replacement privately for the same or similar price.
I get the feeling this place is full of company directors earning thousands a week with the figures thrown around and the way some aren't the least bothered about trying to cut back, though it does make me wonder why bother reading a thread about it if you have so much money that it doesn't matter...
* 2011 Mercedes SLK 250 Petrol auto replacement 2016 Mercedes C200 Petrol auto.
Edited by OldSkoolRS on Saturday 25th June 10:28
MaxFromage said:
Jon39 said:
Consider for a moment, the £40,000 EVs, with owners talking about saving money.
I was merely making the point that
a) For many drivers fixed costs are the bulk of their cost of motoring. Fuel prices actually don’t make a huge difference.
b) There are other ‘uncertainties’ in the cost of motoring that can have a far greater effect: depreciation has been far lower than expected, insurance can vary wildly, or you might suddenly need/want an expensive accessory (bike rack, roof box, winter tyres, etc.). If people are happy swallowing these costs, it’s understandable when fuel prices don’t really change behaviour.
okgo said:
What on earth requires someone to drive 500 per week in London, apart from taxi driver?!?
Exactly! Average speeds in London are 10-15mph, so that means they must be spending 30-50 hours a week/4-7 hours a day in the car!
And at the point where you ARE doing 500 miles a week in London, you don’t switch out the X4 40i? Surely that’s prime EV/Hybrid use case.
I’ve been banging on about fuel prices not affecting a lot of drivers…this is a case where they absolutely do and so surely you’d be doing everything to maximise economy!
OldSkoolRS said:
... We plan to keep it a long time ...
I get the feeling this place is full of company directors earning thousands a week with the figures thrown around and the way some aren't the least bothered about trying to cut back, though it does make me wonder why bother reading a thread about it if you have so much money that it doesn't matter...
* 2011 Mercedes SLK 250 Petrol auto replacement 2016 Mercedes C200 Petrol auto.
I get the feeling this place is full of company directors earning thousands a week with the figures thrown around and the way some aren't the least bothered about trying to cut back, though it does make me wonder why bother reading a thread about it if you have so much money that it doesn't matter...
* 2011 Mercedes SLK 250 Petrol auto replacement 2016 Mercedes C200 Petrol auto.
If my experience is anything to go by, you certainly should be able to keep your replacement car for a long time.
Don't have to be a company director to become more 'comfortable'. A lifetime of 'what cut backs' (being a bit tight/spending wisely) helps considerably. I read this forum topic, in case I might have overlooked something!
Daily driver for 20 years has been a Mercedes CLK 320. Very reliable. Assuming zero value now, the depreciation has been £750 each year. Fairly modest I think, but only that low because the car has been kept for a long time. Have a sports car (good weather toy) now 10 years old, but that has now started appreciating, so also cheap to own.
Jon39 said:
I recently sorted out my elderly mothers affairs after the sudden death of my father. She owns the house she lives in, the car she drives and she has no debt (boomers) so however they managed their finances over the 55 years they were married before my father died worked for them but I was shocked at the almost complete lack of financial awareness or tools at their disposal.One savings account that her old age pension gets paid into and that’s it. No tax efficient savings, no insurance, no private pension, no investments, nothing. She’s fine but I’m sure she would be better off with just a little bit of financial planning years ago.
grichard said:
I realised some years ago that the UK was in a downward spiral - I was right. So I reduced my outgoings dramatically by moving to Spain. Now I sit in the sunshine, drinking beer at home for 60p for 2 pints or at the beach bar for 1.60 a pint, a very very nice wine is a pound a bottle, council tax for my detached 3 bed 3 bath in the centre of facilities, is 250 pounds a year. Car tax is 30 pounds a year for the Smart and 75 of the VW UP! I can walk to the supermarket/bar/shops. I am intending to build a pool but my wife likes me to drive to the beach, 5 minutes, while have a beer and she swims..... I commiserate with you - NOT!!
Sounds like good news for you, particularly if you enjoy a £1 bottle of wine. I lived in the Iberic Peninsula too and had fun for a while but ultimately missed the UK quite badly for a variety of reasons, including the weather, believe it or not. It seems that that the alcohol theme is important for British expats in Spain and that is perhaps where I went wrong not being a big drinker.
All 3 of my cars are worth more than I paid for them - so no depreciation issues. I'm holding off on buying a new/approved used car until the fuel situation is back to normal or the Green/EV brigade force us all into hybrids. However 1 is going in for repairs (under warranty), 1 might be going in for a new exhaust gasket and i'm currently left with a 18mpg car! Not a cutback as such but I'm going to have to rely on TFL a bit more ..
Was chatting to my O/H last night about this thread. We've both done everything we can recently to keep household bills down. Haven't used heating in either place for months, even when it's got a bit chilly. Hardly turned a light on. Neither of us watch TV so pretty much the only time we turn a switch on is to charge our various devices. Winter will be the challenge but we're both having a bit of a prepping moment and ordering alternative lighting, etc.
Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
Only really need to heat one room at a time, usually the kitchen as I have enough duvets to melt a glacier so no chance of getting cold once in bed.
Has anyone else thought about alternatives to the usual electric/gas appliances?
Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
Only really need to heat one room at a time, usually the kitchen as I have enough duvets to melt a glacier so no chance of getting cold once in bed.
Has anyone else thought about alternatives to the usual electric/gas appliances?
brickwall said:
Exactly!
Average speeds in London are 10-15mph, so that means they must be spending 30-50 hours a week/4-7 hours a day in the car!
And at the point where you ARE doing 500 miles a week in London, you don’t switch out the X4 40i? Surely that’s prime EV/Hybrid use case.
I’ve been banging on about fuel prices not affecting a lot of drivers…this is a case where they absolutely do and so surely you’d be doing everything to maximise economy!
My 3 children all go to different schools. primary secondary and nursery.Average speeds in London are 10-15mph, so that means they must be spending 30-50 hours a week/4-7 hours a day in the car!
And at the point where you ARE doing 500 miles a week in London, you don’t switch out the X4 40i? Surely that’s prime EV/Hybrid use case.
I’ve been banging on about fuel prices not affecting a lot of drivers…this is a case where they absolutely do and so surely you’d be doing everything to maximise economy!
The primary school is 10miles one way, the secondary is even further, the nursery is closer to home but because of the other 2 I have to drive.
I care for my grandma too which is another 10miles from home. Doing that 3-5 days per week it adds up. I’m often driving all over London, 4 days pw I’m driving from London to Stevenage, get the work van and I’ll be all over the country in that ( I’m not including that in my 450+ per week) I work in event production so sometimes I’ll use the car.
For example last week I travelled from Enfield to Dartmouth twice, east London and then slough, that’s just one days worth of driving, doing morning school run n then going to my grans, the miles soon rack up.
This week I done a bit more mileage as after work I then had to go Gatwick airport, so I filled up on the Monday, by Wednesday night I needed fuel again.
It got to the point where I’ve started to use the xc40 because it can save me £200pm n the Mrs works around the corner so doesn’t really need it during the week.
I’m regards to shopping, I shop at aldi and Tesco but things are just going up in price so I’m finding it hard to find savings there.
Even things like paying school lunches is a pain but there’s not much we can do about certain things.
I spoke to the Mrs this morning and we agreed to sit down tomorrow and make a plan because this thread has highlighted that it can’t continue.
I’m regards to shopping, I shop at aldi and Tesco but things are just going up in price so I’m finding it hard to find savings there.
Even things like paying school lunches is a pain but there’s not much we can do about certain things.
I spoke to the Mrs this morning and we agreed to sit down tomorrow and make a plan because this thread has highlighted that it can’t continue.
aaron-j9c9a said:
brickwall said:
Exactly!
Average speeds in London are 10-15mph, so that means they must be spending 30-50 hours a week/4-7 hours a day in the car!
And at the point where you ARE doing 500 miles a week in London, you don’t switch out the X4 40i? Surely that’s prime EV/Hybrid use case.
I’ve been banging on about fuel prices not affecting a lot of drivers…this is a case where they absolutely do and so surely you’d be doing everything to maximise economy!
My 3 children all go to different schools. primary secondary and nursery.Average speeds in London are 10-15mph, so that means they must be spending 30-50 hours a week/4-7 hours a day in the car!
And at the point where you ARE doing 500 miles a week in London, you don’t switch out the X4 40i? Surely that’s prime EV/Hybrid use case.
I’ve been banging on about fuel prices not affecting a lot of drivers…this is a case where they absolutely do and so surely you’d be doing everything to maximise economy!
The primary school is 10miles one way, the secondary is even further, the nursery is closer to home but because of the other 2 I have to drive.
I care for my grandma too which is another 10miles from home. Doing that 3-5 days per week it adds up. I’m often driving all over London, 4 days pw I’m driving from London to Stevenage, get the work van and I’ll be all over the country in that ( I’m not including that in my 450+ per week) I work in event production so sometimes I’ll use the car.
For example last week I travelled from Enfield to Dartmouth twice, east London and then slough, that’s just one days worth of driving, doing morning school run n then going to my grans, the miles soon rack up.
This week I done a bit more mileage as after work I then had to go Gatwick airport, so I filled up on the Monday, by Wednesday night I needed fuel again.
- You live in London but your kids are travelling >10 miles to school and back every day? Thats equivalent of Enfield to Oxford Street (Zone 5 to Zone 1), or >1hr each way commute for the kids. Each to their own, but I am staggered that there were no good schools closer than that.
- Buy an EV. Or a PHEV. Or an efficient diesel. Or don’t, but then don’t complain about big fuel bills.
brickwall said:
Ok a few things here
- You live in London but your kids are travelling >10 miles to school and back every day? Thats equivalent of Enfield to Oxford Street (Zone 5 to Zone 1), or >1hr each way commute for the kids. Each to their own, but I am staggered that there were no good schools closer than that.
- Buy an EV. Or a PHEV. Or an efficient diesel. Or don’t, but then don’t complain about big fuel bills.
I don’t live with the 2 eldest mum so unfortunately it’s unavoidable, I live in East Finchley and my eldest school is in Hatch end,past Harrow. So choosing a school closer to me wouldn’t really work because either myself or the mum will have to travel. My timetable is mor flexible which is why I do the bulk of school runs.- You live in London but your kids are travelling >10 miles to school and back every day? Thats equivalent of Enfield to Oxford Street (Zone 5 to Zone 1), or >1hr each way commute for the kids. Each to their own, but I am staggered that there were no good schools closer than that.
- Buy an EV. Or a PHEV. Or an efficient diesel. Or don’t, but then don’t complain about big fuel bills.
I think it’s just with British culture to complain lol, as much as I might hate putting petrol in I will do it and complain because it’s just the right thing to do.
twing said:
Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
I had something similar for occasional use in the conservatory. It was a pretty good one, 2.5kw, timer and remote temp sensor. But eventually it died and I replaced it with another 2.5 from Amazon, which gave out significantly less heat. You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
Sticks. said:
I had something similar for occasional use in the conservatory. It was a pretty good one, 2.5kw, timer and remote temp sensor. But eventually it died and I replaced it with another 2.5 from Amazon, which gave out significantly less heat.
You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
Didn't realise my LEDs were so cheap to use tbh. Just been pricing up the oil heaters cost per hour and they don't seem cheap at all. At this rate I'll be taking my mother's advice and putting another layer on You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
Drive down the DDs!
Sky - gone
Virgin BB, down to £24 a month after I gave notice
Trimmed other outgoings, just silly things. Eg had Benenden health cover for 3 of us, my daughter moved out last year & has healthcare through work. Cancelled hers, £12 a month saved.
Using less energy now (washing line), switching things off. On low tariff until 2023 but last 3 months energy under £200 in total. DD is £150 a month on current tariff. Will reduce that when bill comes out. EDF.
All DD now under £500 a month & all come out in the first, easy to keep an eye on!
Plus food/fuel, but keeping regular costs down.
Both of our cars are 2014, will keep until they die.
Sky - gone
Virgin BB, down to £24 a month after I gave notice
Trimmed other outgoings, just silly things. Eg had Benenden health cover for 3 of us, my daughter moved out last year & has healthcare through work. Cancelled hers, £12 a month saved.
Using less energy now (washing line), switching things off. On low tariff until 2023 but last 3 months energy under £200 in total. DD is £150 a month on current tariff. Will reduce that when bill comes out. EDF.
All DD now under £500 a month & all come out in the first, easy to keep an eye on!
Plus food/fuel, but keeping regular costs down.
Both of our cars are 2014, will keep until they die.
Edited by James6112 on Saturday 25th June 15:47
Sticks. said:
twing said:
Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
I had something similar for occasional use in the conservatory. It was a pretty good one, 2.5kw, timer and remote temp sensor. But eventually it died and I replaced it with another 2.5 from Amazon, which gave out significantly less heat. You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
Warmlite WL44001 Thermo Fan Heater with 2 Heat Settings and Overheat Protection, 2000W, White https://amzn.eu/d/3NKlW1G
Also get thermal socks! If my feet are warm the rest of me tends to be also.
Edited by MercedesClassic on Saturday 25th June 15:45
twing said:
Sticks. said:
I had something similar for occasional use in the conservatory. It was a pretty good one, 2.5kw, timer and remote temp sensor. But eventually it died and I replaced it with another 2.5 from Amazon, which gave out significantly less heat.
You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
Didn't realise my LEDs were so cheap to use tbh. Just been pricing up the oil heaters cost per hour and they don't seem cheap at all. At this rate I'll be taking my mother's advice and putting another layer on You're switching lights off. If you have LEDs, for each hour you use this you could leave one on for @ 3 weeks if my maths is about right.
r3g said:
Unless I've missed a change, mains electric is always more expensive for heating than mains gas in the UK due to their difference in price per unit. People only use electric for heating duties if there's no mains gas. I think you'd be better moving the GCH thermostat into the single room you want to heat and turn off the rads in the other rooms.
I assumed twing was on electric only. twing said:
Was chatting to my O/H last night about this thread. We've both done everything we can recently to keep household bills down. Haven't used heating in either place for months, even when it's got a bit chilly. Hardly turned a light on. Neither of us watch TV so pretty much the only time we turn a switch on is to charge our various devices. Winter will be the challenge but we're both having a bit of a prepping moment and ordering alternative lighting, etc.
Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
Only really need to heat one room at a time, usually the kitchen as I have enough duvets to melt a glacier so no chance of getting cold once in bed.
Has anyone else thought about alternatives to the usual electric/gas appliances?
We have a heater similar to that and I don’t rate it. Takes the edge off the cold at best. Does anyone have any experience of this type of thing https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETTA-Electric-Radiator-T... ?
Only really need to heat one room at a time, usually the kitchen as I have enough duvets to melt a glacier so no chance of getting cold once in bed.
Has anyone else thought about alternatives to the usual electric/gas appliances?
Read on here that the heated matts are good for your feet and therefore make you generally feel warmer. Then there is of course the heated vests etc.
Shnozz said:
r3g said:
Unless I've missed a change, mains electric is always more expensive for heating than mains gas in the UK due to their difference in price per unit. People only use electric for heating duties if there's no mains gas. I think you'd be better moving the GCH thermostat into the single room you want to heat and turn off the rads in the other rooms.
I assumed twing was on electric only. Gassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff