It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

MovingForwards

@littlemoney some of the drivers with the full-size cars do 80 - 95mph, some tootle along at 40 - 50mph, smaller lorries do about 60mph, arctics are able to get to 70mph, rarely see one going a couple of miles over.

If it's a company vehicle, why would the driver worry about paying for fuel if on work related travel.

@Doom_and_Gloom I understand your rant. 

Like you I live by train tracks but don't hear them. I also live on the main road, but the road 'noise' is neither here nor there, the wheels on tarmac is the same as any other road. The property doesn't shake when the heavy vehicles go by, unlike a previous house I lived in on a bus route.

It's only one neighbour using a vacuum, several times a day, together with everything else they do (why she stays is anyone's guess), that's heard throughout the block. If it wasn't for them, I'd class my home as being a quiet place to live, and it is when one of them is out.

Rosa_Damascena

I am totally feeling the pinch! Fuel prices went up by another 5p/L over the last 3 days and I'm not happy about wasting my time on the road at the best of times, much less wasting my money. A full tank is covering all of 4 rtn journeys

Something else thats bugging me is constant reminders from the dealership to have the vehicle serviced, and calls inviting me to "exclusive" new car sales. Its almost as if people see it as their duty to relieve you of any money put by. Do they not understand that people have less disposable income? Yes they've got a job to do but a bit of tact would help.

According to the i, MSE Martin has run out of tips to help us save money.

LadyHarriet

littlemoney said:

From what I saw yesterday there is no shortage of money and everyone can afford the increasing price of fuel. I have reached this conclusion after two 20 mile journerys along a dual carriageway. I travelled at a steady 50 mph to increase fuel economy and many cars and lorries came zooming past me doing 60 - 70 mph. No car or lorry stayed behind me for long.

I drove to the National Trust property where I volunteer on Friday in the little EV that we bought last year. Because the range drops in cold weather, I used the Eco+ mode, which limits me to 59mph, though I was travelling at 50 for most of the journey. Like your journeys, the majority of the trip was on a dual carriageway (the A30) and I was constantly being overtaken by all kinds of vehicles travelling far faster. The only thing slower than me was the farmer in a tractor with an animal trailer on the back!

QueenJess

Lol. When I went onto the motorway last week I combined my journey with two things and drove a lot slower. I’m glad it wasn’t just me!

I think driving faster makes less difference than you think to the overall journey time. Of course it depends how far you are going. Everyone is always in such a rush, but if you drive 20 miles at 60 rather than 70, then you’ll only get there 3 mins slower. The reality is though that you get stopped at roundabouts and lights etc. I’ve lost count of the number of times people have overtaken me (whilst I was doing the speed limit) and then I end up right behind them later.

Anyway, I took a more positive point of view and thought “Ha ha, you will end up paying significantly more than me in petrol.” Perhaps people are in denial still and as things get worse habits will have to change.

linz

QueenJess said:

Lol. When I went onto the motorway last week I combined my journey with two things and drove a lot slower. I’m glad it wasn’t just me!

I think driving faster makes less difference than you think to the overall journey time. Of course it depends how far you are going. Everyone is always in such a rush, but if you drive 20 miles at 60 rather than 70, then you’ll only get there 3 mins slower. The reality is though that you get stopped at roundabouts and lights etc. I’ve lost count of the number of times people have overtaken me (whilst I was doing the speed limit) and then I end up right behind them later.

Anyway, I took a more positive point of view and thought “Ha ha, you will end up paying significantly more than me in petrol.” Perhaps people are in denial still and as things get worse habits will have to change.

I agree with this. Plus its a much more stress-free drive when you're not in a rush. So many times on the motorways i can be in the slow lane and it's moving faster than the other two !

I've got Covid at the mo - on the plus side i'll be saving £30 on my commuting costs this week now!

ladyholly

I heartily agree with QueenJess. We have a road in our town with a 60 speed  limit which is frequently broken by people and the numbrer of times we are overtaken bumbling along at 50 in our old car only to find them stuck at the next rounabout or traffic light is amazing. I would add that along this strtch of road which is 2miles long at most there are 3 roundabouts and a set of light so they are constantly having to slow down at best and then accelerate.

cuddlymarm

Unfortunately I think it’s human nature to want to rush everywhere. Where we live has a blanket 30mph limit almost everywhere and it’s amazing what stupid things people will do to get to the next set of lights.

Slinky

cuddlymarm said:

Unfortunately I think it’s human nature to want to rush everywhere. Where we live has a blanket 30mph limit almost everywhere and it’s amazing what stupid things people will do to get to the next set of lights.

My new car has a speed limiter which I automatically push now when I'm going through town. It's shown me how much I was probably drifting over 30 without noticing it in places (oops!) when I now feel I'm going quite slowly.  They're pushing for a 20mph limit locally but it's taking ages (years) to get sorted.

I do like the new features on the car which show the exact mileage I'm getting - 54 miles to the gallon, which is far more than my old dodgy diesel.

EssexHebridean

Eco modes on cars are interesting - my '16 plate diesel Clio has it, and when I first got the car I automatically used it assuming it would give me better fuel economy. A few months of hating the car and it's apparent inability to get up hills, plus real disappointment in the fuel economy (I was struggling to get above 54mpg which was far lower than the car's predecessor) and I thought "I wonder" and turned of Eco mode - cue a FAR nicer car to drive, and reliably getting over 60mpg - what a difference! It's literally not been turned back on again since! 

Siebrie

I cycle to work with my electric bicycle. I did it one summer with a normal bicyle, which works well for the route, apart from 1 really steep incline. We bought a really cheap (€1.200) electric bicycle from a diy store using mostly 'eco vouchers' (a Belgian government scheme), and I've been using that most days March - October. It's a 9km trip one-way and takes me about 35 minutes, which is about the same as it is by car due to traffic jams.

I recharge the battery at work. I receive a commute compensation of €0,23/km, which adds up to €900/year, tax-free! If I were to be re-imbursed as if I were travelling by car, it would only be tax-free to about €450, after which it would be taxed as added income.

Aldi were selling fruit trees this week for €4,50, so I bought a Jonagold sapling. With the current fruit prices in Belgium, it means that after the first 7 (yes, just 7!) apples, it makes a profit.