Is car sharing for you?

You wake up in the morning, pop some bread into the toaster for breakfast, then it's off into the car to drive to work.

You get into the car, tune the radio to your favourite station, turn the volume up full blast and you are on your way. You set the temperature to 23 degrees - nice and cosy, before remembering that you have a package to collect at the post office. A quick detour before work to collect the packet and you arrive at work just on time.

After a busy day, you decide to complete one last item from your "to do " list then it's off to the supermarket to collect some provisions for your dinner.

Ultimate flexibility, but maximum cost - You are using the car everyday, lots of wear and tear to the engine, higher depreciation due to higher mileage and also increasing fuel bills!

Is now the time to think about car sharing? Could you do it?

Car sharing websites are the new dating websites of 2008. They are springing up all over promising to match you with the ideal car sharer!

Here's what National Car Scheme has to say about car sharing:

"Lift sharing", "ride-sharing", "car-sharing" or "carpooling" -it doesn't matter what you call it, it boils down to the same thing - two or more people sharing a car to get from A to B rather than driving alone. The benefits are numerous both for yourself, your family, your community and the environment. You save money on running costs, you save time looking for parking spaces and you help to save the planet by reducing your carbon footprint.

If everyone who drives on their own to work every day were to catch a lift with someone just once a week, the commuting car journeys would reduce by 20%! And both parties would save money!

Car sharing is becoming increasingly popular as the benefits are acknowledged, and many communities and employers are introducing car sharing schemes. But car sharing is often given last billing when it comes to environmental transport because there are so many misunderstandings associated with it - just see our FAQs to get the clear picture.

Save money. Save time. Save the planet. Register now with National CarShare. It's FREE! Visit them here for more information

You can also visit Carshare.com who offer similar services

See there other links for more information

Save money on petrol

Let us know if you car share - how you arranged it and how you are getting on with your new passenger.

Is a Company Car a Good or Bad thing?

Help is at hand?

Quite often the so called "perk" of getting a company car sounds like a great idea, and often if it's your first company vehicle it can also be your first opportunity to purchase a brand new car.
It offers great opportunities for cruising the streets in your shiny new Jag!!!!

Much has been written and numerous mathmatical equations created to help decide if you are better off opting in or out of the company car scheme.

There's lots of things you need to consider before making the jump:

(1) Will the car be used for business and personal use?
(2) How much will you need to pay towards the car?
(3) What will you be going for - Petrol or diesel?
(4) What will your company pay for - Personal and or business mileage?
(5) How long will you need to keep the car?
(6) What levels of mileage will you be doing?
(7) What will the emmissions be for your chosen vehicle?
(8) Does the vehicle include a maintenance package - ie the company pick up the tab?
(9) If you did opt out - how wuch would it cost to insure you car - remember business use?
(10) Does the company offer you cash instead - if they do what is the cash really worth to you?

Don't forget about all the associated costs if you do opt out: Insurance, Road Tax, Maintenance, tyres, replacement vehicles, depreciation etc etc etc.....

I have been doing some research on websites that can help guide you through the maze and two of the best I have found are The AA and LEX. Both sites have calculators for:

Cash Alternative Budget Calculator
Private Fuel Benefit Calculator
C02 Ommission Tax Calculator
Private Fuel Scale Charges
Inland revenue Mileage Rates

Click here for more information from The AA

Click here for more information from LEX
(6)

Save 5-7p per Litre on PETROL

Message from Pipelinecard.org:



Save money on petrol & diesel with a free Pipeline Card!
All those involved in the oil business are getting their cut from the inflated prices we're paying on the forecourts - the oil-well owners, refineries and filling stations. In February of this year Shell announced record annual profits of $25.36 BILLION. On top of that the government siphons off nearly 70% of the price you pay in tax.
These organisations behave as if petrol and diesel are luxury goods, and driving is a hobby. We are not 'motorists' as the media like to call us. We are teachers, nurses, workers and parents! WE DRIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO - NOT BECAUSE WE WANT TO!
There are nearly 32 million of us in the UK. If a large number of us stand together and chose to give all our custom to one major forecourt chain, we could negotiate a substantial discount for ourselves. PIPELINE CARD was established to achieve that and we already have over 500,000 supporters. It's a great start but we have learnt, to our cost, that it's not enough to make them budge. So we need more members...
It costs absolutely nothing to join, but by joining Pipeline Card today you strengthen our clout as well as making yourself eligible to buy fuel at a discount. By telling other drivers about this website you can make that happen sooner - and do them a favour into the bargain.

Pounds down the drain!

How often have you thought it would be such a good idea to wash the car, but just never got round to it?
How often have you driven in to get petrol or passed a car wash and thought - hmmmm it would only take a minute to wash the car.

The lack of action first time around is costing you money.

A bucket, sponge, car shampoo and elbow grease is much cheaper than your usual Bronze, Silver or Gold car wash tokens.

If you haven't got a bucket and sponge - go and buy one. Just think how many calories you will burn off washing the car.

Ps. If you haven't got a car - no need to go out and buy the bucket!!

Find the cheapest petrol in your area

I just paid £1.06 for my petrol at the Petrol station at the Forth Road Bridge! That's Mad!
I wasn't a very canny squirrel I'm afraid, as I should have checked the website that compares petrol prices in your area. www.petrolprices.com.
Have a look at the site and work out where in your area offers the cheapest petrol!
The website compares over 9000 petrol stations in the UK and on average has 8000 updates per day.

On Thursday 21st the lowest priced Petrol available was 99.9p and the most expensive 114.9.