The Benefits of Car Leasing

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

When it comes to being a motorist, there are a lot of expenses to consider. Aside from the initial purchase price of a car, there’s the tax, insurance, MOT costs, maintenance, fuel…it all adds up. There are, however, cheaper ways of running a car, such a leasing, so we’ve teamed up with Car Lease Supermarket to talk to you about all of the benefits of leasing a car instead of buying outright. Here are a few of them:

You’ll Get More for Your Money

When you lease a car, you usually find you’re driving a better vehicle than you would if you had bought one. This is because, with a car lease you only pay the car’s depreciation for the lease period, not the value of the car (because you don’t own it). As a result, your monthly payments are usually lower compared with other forms of finance, so you can lease a better make, trim or option.

You’ll Always Have a Newer Model

After the initial lease period ends, you will be able to exchange the car for a brand new vehicle. This means that you will be able to reap the advantages of having a new car on a regular basis, allowing you to get the maximum benefits of fuel economy, performance and safety. It also means that you will be able to avoid massive depreciation costs, as you do not own a vehicle that is likely to be rapidly losing value.

You’ll Reduce Your Monthly Outgoings

Apart from fuel and insurance, when you lease a car you know exactly what motoring is going to cost you because your expenses are rolled into one – monthly payments, Road Tax and breakdown cover. And if you include a maintenance package, your ability to budget becomes even stronger because you’ll know what’s going out of your account all in one go.

Cheaper Maintenence

Leasing provides much lower maintenance costs than other forms of buying. This is because the person leasing the car does not retain ownership, so general maintenance costs are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty period. If the car being leased requires servicing or repair, the costs will be covered; this usually includes tyre and exhaust replacement.

No MOTs to Remember

Generally speaking, lease car are less than a year or two old, and cars don’t need to be MOT’d until they’re three years old. This means that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have to worry about MOTs with a lease car because you’ll have upgraded to a newer model before it’s even due.

Bonus Tip

If you really don’t use a car that much but still need one to get around occasionally, why not think about using All Transportation Network to book reservations for chauffeured transportation? You’ll be travelling in serious style and saving yourself a whole lot of hassle.

Driving

Cars Are Expensive – How Do You Pay For Them?

October 15, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

Paying for a new car, whether it’s second hand or not, can get quite pricey. Even when you have a budget that you’re working well within the parameters of, you can question if forking out this much money is really worth it! After all, the car in front of you won’t last forever, and who knows if you’ll ever default on the payments?

And with all that in mind, it’s time to think about the ways to pay for a car. They’re expensive, for a variety of reasons, but there are three main financial categories you can choose from in the car world. Let’s go through them below.

Pexels Image – CC0 Licence

With Your Own Cash

Using your own cash is often the most pricey and financially risky way to go – you never know when you’re going to need your savings, after all, and now you’ve just used them all up. However, it’s also one of the safest ways to ensure you’ve got a car for as long as you need it – there’s no payments to default on, and you’ll never be out of your transportation thanks to the lease being revoked.

As long as you’ve got the savings to do so, you can pay by cash. You could also use your cash to put down an even bigger deposit than is actually required, which will stop you from having to pay too much in financing in the future.

Using a Scheme

There are plenty of car financing schemes out there – you just need to look for them! It all depends on fitting into certain brackets, such as being the right age, or being from the right financial background, and then applying to the right places.

For example, you could make use of the Motability scheme. This allows people who live with disabilities to retain their independence, and have some much needed transport in their lives. And these schemes are available everywhere, and for all car models, such as VW Motability. Next time you go into a dealership, be sure to ask for a specialist to guide you around the application process and what’s currently on offer.

On Finance

And finally, you can always get a car on finance, of which there are many different options to choose from. Depending on the money you have to work with, you’re not going to find a one size fits all financing solution here.

From hire purchase to conditional sales (which is the more traditional form of purchasing a car on finance) to PCP (personal contract purchase), you have quite a few variable rates to choose from here. However, be sure to do some more research into each one of these options before you sign one, as they all have their own benefits and drawbacks.

Paying for a car can be done in a variety of ways, and working out which is best for you is important to do beforehand. So, do your research, and make sure you’re getting the right deal here.

Family

Road Trip Essentials for Your Next Family Excursion

June 18, 2020April 21, 2022 JayneLeave a comment

Over the past few months, many of us have spent a lot more time cooped up in our homes. As the country continues to ease restrictions, many of us are chomping at the bit to get back outdoors. If you and your family are ready to pack up the car and head out on an adventure, make sure to pack the essentials first! We’ve compiled the ultimate family road trip packing list, filled with things you’ll actually need and use when you hit the open road, family in tow. Also, you may visit travooo.com for more road trip guides.

Extra Ziploc Bags: This might seem like a random suggestion, but we promise these will come in handy in one way or another. You can use these baggies for leftover snacks, to collect various items like seashells, rocks, and leaves you find on your adventures, or even as a makeshift trash bag! They also serve as a great motion sickness bag if your little ones ever get nauseous during car rides. We have it on good authority that affordable party bus service in Temecula suggest this to all of their customers!

Portable Phone Charger: Make sure you always have power to navigate, call for help if needed, and stay in touched with family and friends while on your road trip. A portable charger should be pre-charged before you head out and used to charge your phone in the event you don’t have access to electricity to charge your devices.

First Aid Kit: If you don’t already have a first aid kit in your car, it’s time to invest. If you do have one, make sure it’s stocked with all the essentials, and refill with anything you may have run out of. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and first aid kits offer many of the essentials you’ll need in the event anything goes wrong.

Pain relievers: If your family is partaking on some outdoor time and taking on any type of trail, prepare for your muscles and joints to speak up a little, especially if you haven’t been able to get out and stay active over the last few months. Prepare with CBD topical relief that are safe for the whole family, stock up on easy travel icepacks, and bring along Tylenol.

Flashlights: Bring more than one, especially if your road trip involves camping. You can purchase flashlights for kids with straps so they can use them if they need to use the restroom in the middle of the night.
Tennis balls: If your road trip will take many hours, you’ll want to take regular breaks. Bring along tennis balls that you can toss back and forth during your rest stops; this helps release pent up energy and will allow everyone the chance to stretch while enjoying a little game time.
Water gallons: Bring along fresh water to refill your drinking water or rinse your hands if needed along the drive, especially if your route takes you through remote areas with few rest stops.
Blankets & Pillows: Your children are bound to fall asleep during the drive, so make sure they’re comfortable with blankets and pillows. While these provide added comfort during your trip, they can also be used when you reach your destination – double-duty! If you want to make things extra cozy, consider investing in some family snuggies used specifically for your car travels.
Fun Backpacks: Depending on the age of your children, you may want to pack individual backpacks for each, filled with fun, age-appropriate items to keep them happy and occupied during the trip. It could mean a few books, coloring accessories, and their favorite snacks, along with any electronics they bring along.
Toilet Paper: If your road trip will see you going long stretches without seeing any signs of civilization, make sure to pack bathroom essentials that will come in handy when nature calls. With little ones, it can be hard to predict and plan potty breaks, so pack your car with toilet paper and wet wipes.

Final Notes

Make your next family road trip a great time for the whole crew by prepping with these must-haves. You can never be overprepared, so pack your car with the above essentials and get ready to make memories you’ll never forget.

Adulting

Make Driving as Affordable as Possible

March 17, 2020May 14, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

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Of course, having your own car and taking to public roads is going to be a relatively expensive investment. When it comes down to it, cars tend to be people’s second biggest outgoing after their homes and accommodation. But, for many of us, having a car really is worth the cost. It makes life more convenient for us, means we can get from A to B as and when we please and with the price of public transport constantly on the rise, can actually prove a wise choice to make. There’s always room for improvement though. If you’re planning on getting a car, here are a few simple steps you can take to make it as cheap a venture as possible!

Saving When Buying Your Car

Let’s focus on the main outgoing you’ll face first – the cost of the car itself. Cars don’t tend to come all too cheap. Not decent ones anyway. But there are a few things you can do to reduce the initial upfront cost of getting yourself a set of wheels. You’ll find that you have a number of different options on your plate when you buy your car. The cheapest way to buy any car is always going to be to pay for it outright. But who’s really sat on enough disposable money to do this? Most people, instead, opt for finance options. This involves taking out a loan or finance agreement to fund the purchase of your vehicle. When finding an agreement, browse the market. Brands like Direct Car Credit will make the process simple for you. You can also use price comparison sites to compare different loans or packages and their interest rates. The lower the interest rate, the less you’ll end up forking out for your car in the long run!

Reducing Insurance Costs

Insurance is an essential cost. You legally need it before you even start driving out in public. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to pay a whole lot for it. There are a number of different policies out there, so determine your needs and determine which policies cater to them. Then, compare the prices attached to the ones that tick your boxes. Again, price comparison sites can come in handy here. You can find much cheaper deals when you use these sites. Have a look at the Costco auto insurance program also, as this is an amazing way for you to save money on your insurance. If you’re settled on one insurer but have found a cheaper insurance deal elsewhere, it’s always worth asking if your preferred insurance will match the offer. Many will in order to maintain your custom.

These are just a couple of areas you might want to focus on when you’re looking into buying a new car. While they may just be two of the costs attached to a car, they are the main costs. You need to buy a car in order to have one and you need to insure it in order to drive it. Hopefully, you’ll be able to make the whole thing financially feasible!

Adulting

Does Running The Family Car Have To Be So Expensive?

March 16, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

For most families, the act of running a car is an essential one. It’s also one of the highest monthly costs they have to pay out. The good news is there are some ways that you can reduce these costs and have more money in the family budget for fun and days out. Read on to find out what they are.

Reduce your purchase fees

Usually, the single most significant cost related to running the family vehicle is the monthly amount you need to pay towards its purchase or lease. In fact, the vast majority of families choose to pay for their cars on finance rather than buying them outright.

Of course, what that means is you must look for a used car dealer like London Motor Company that can offer the best value for money finance deals. In fact, finding a finance specialist means you end up paying less, and make the entire process of buying a car a lot simpler and easier as well.

Reduce your insurance

Next, if you are looking to keep the running cost of your family vehicle low, you must choose your insurance carefully. Of course, there is a delicate balance that you must strike here between keeping the price low and also being covered for every likely eventuality. Otherwise, you could end up in a situation where you do not have coverage, and this could cost you big.

With that in mind, doing a little shopping around and using comparison websites is the best idea. Then you can be sure that you are not paying a penny over what you need to.

Reduce your fuel

Similarly, the cost of the fuel you put into your family car will have an effect on how much you pay out over all as well. With that in mind, there are two things you can do here. The first is to reduce the amount of fuel that you use by cutting down on unnecessary journeys and driving economically.

Additionally, making an effort to look for the cheapest petrol stations is well worth the time it takes. The reason is that it can cut vast amounts off of your monthly bill.

Reduce your maintenance costs

It is also essential to keep your vehicle clean and running safely, especially when it’s the primary way you and your family get around. However, that doesn’t always mean you have to pay out for expensive professional services.

In fact, when it comes to detailing your car, you can do a professional job yourself from home. All you need to do is invest in a few tools, then follow the advice in the video below. This being a tactic that could save you a real fortune over time.

The same goes for some of the more basic maintenance tasks as well. Like changing the oil, checking your tires, and even replacing things like the windscreen wipers. Although, when it comes to functions that have an impact on the safety of your vehicle, it’s always best to get professional assistance, no matter the cost.