With summer now in full swing, Canadians are travelling about, taking vacations and enjoying the nice weather.
But this year’s lazy hazy days of summer are being accompanied by a lot of added expense caused by rising gas and food prices.
In an RBC survey released in April, 51 per cent of consumers in Ontario said the new expenses have had a significant impact on their budget, the highest in Canada.
There are some things consumers can do to reduce the costs of gas and food, while still enjoying the wonderful, but short, summer season in Canada.
The Canadian Automobile Association suggests six simple steps motorists can take to reduce gas consumption.
• Don’t floor the gas pedal. Not only do “jackrabbit” starts waste fuel, one second of full-throttle driving can produce the same amount of carbon monoxide as a half-hour of normal cruising.
• Keep your tires properly inflated. A single tire underinflated by two pounds per square inch increases fuel consumption by one per cent.
• Only drive the vehicle that you really need. For example, do you really need a huge four-wheel-drive adventure rig simply to shuttle the kids to school? Instead, have a look at a leaner, more responsive wagon or crossover, many of which are available with four-wheel drive for winter conditions.
• Reduce your speed. Driving at 100 km/h versus 120 km/h can save you 15 per cent in fuel economy while dramatically reducing emissions.
• Don’t idle. After starting your car on a cold winter day, simply drive away slowly. Your car will warm up faster than it would if you leave it to idle in the driveway. and you’ll save fuel in the process.
• Service your vehicle. Regular maintenance helps to prevent poor fuel economy.
People who don’t know how much they spend on groceries each month apparently are more likely to be in debt than those who know exactly how much they spend on food. If you kept a record of every penny your family spent on food, including dining out and fast food purchases for two months, you might be surprised to discover just how much you’re spending.
• Keep a record of food expenses for a two-month period so you can determine how to reduce your monthly food budget.
• Stop eating out. Dinners you prepare at home are significantly less expensive than meals you pay someone else to prepare.
• Compare supermarkets. Don’t shop at the closest supermarket just because it’s more convenient. Driving a little distance may be worth the savings you might find at another store.
• Compare the unit prices on the store shelves to find the better bargain. For example, many people assume you get a better deal if you buy more, but often the unit price reveals that buying the eight-ounce container instead of the 12-ounce is more economical.
• Buy generic. Generic and store-brand products are often processed at the same plants as name-brand products but they are much cheaper because they aren’t advertised. A significant portion of the price you pay for a name-brand product is to cover the high cost of advertising.
• Brown bag it at work. This is one of the easiest ways to save money, as brown bagging is about one-third the cost of eating lunch at an inexpensive restaurant.
• Don’t buy what you don’t really need. There are many products such as soft drinks and sweet and salty snacks that we buy even though we don’t really need them.
• Avoid vending machines and bring your own snacks/drinks to work. You pay significantly less for the candy bars and soda pop you buy at the grocery store than from a vending machine.
• Use coupons. Coupons can save you money, but avoid the temptation of buying products you don’t really need or use just because you have a coupon.
These tips, and others, can help you save some money on gas and food while still enjoying the fantastic summer in Canada.
Talbot Boggs is a Toronto-based business communications professional who has worked with national news organizations, magazines and corporations in the finance, retail, manufacturing and other industrial sectors. He can be contacted at boggsyourmoney@rogers.com.