Jesmond garages offer money-saving tips as they’re forced to increase prices
Garages in Jesmond are increasing their prices to pass on increases from suppliers as well as wages, at the same as the manufacturing sector continues to shrink.
Matthew Wilson, owner of North Jesmond Garage, located on Lodore Road, told JesmondLocal fewer customers had been coming forward to get their car fixed.
“We believe that people are now using public transport more than usual to save on running costs, especially fuel,” he said.
“The cost of living at the minute is the highest we’ve ever experienced, though there’s not been many cancellations [of booked repairs],” he said. “I think car owners are putting their vehicles in the back of their minds in an attempt to save money.”
Wilson added: “Logically we have had to increase prices due to suppliers’ prices going up and wage demands, due to the cost of living.”
With the increase in prices of raw products, garages are having to make tough decisions about how to price their services, potentially taking a loss in order to entice customers.
Other garages in Jesmond, including Kwik Fit and Mistletoe Garage, located on Jesmond Road and Mistletoe Road respectively, told JesmondLocal they had lost some customers. They claim they have had little to no option to increase their prices.
Nationally, some UK manufacturers have reported that customers were postponing or cancelling orders due to the financial uncertainty that they will be facing in the coming months and the rising cost of living. S&Ps manufacturing purchase index, a measurement of the costs manufacturers incur for goods, currently sits at 48.4, a 1.1% increase from August’s 27-month low of 47.3.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the number of manufacturing businesses shrank by 10% last year, and in 2022 turnover in the sector fell by 9.2%. The decrease in the number of companies in the sector can be blamed on the falling number of orders, as output continues to fall for the fourth month in a row (October 2022).
With the overshadow of finance and the continuing rise of living costs, how can car owners combat this and save money on our wheels?
Pressure: Make sure your tyres are at the correct PSI. Low tyre pressure increases drag, thus using fuel faster. To check your car’s recommended pressure consult your car user’s manual.
Drive smoothly: Make those gear changes smoother. Try and keep those revs under 3,000rpm and you’ll thank your bank account later. Accelerating for too long or in an inappropriate gear will burn through fuel, so keep the wheel spinning and the flooring it down the motorway for another day.
Drive safely: A fairly obvious one, but avoid being fined. Whether it’s small margin speeding, or simply putting your hazards on when you drop a passenger off on double yellows – just play it safe. Additionally make sure to renew your road tax each year. Also, don’t forget that if you change address you must update your driver’s licence or you can be fined up to £1,000.
Stay loyal: Most fuel stations have loyalty cards available that are free to make an account with. These loyalty cards tend to offer special discounts and offers which will all help contribute to lower your bank account statement at the end of each month. Also to make you are saving every penny: PetrolPrices.com is a website (an app is available too) that locates the cheapest petrol stations near you.
Clean up: Clean your car. Fuel efficiency is reduced up to nearly 2% for every 45kg your car carries. The heavier your car is, the higher your car’s rolling resistance will be, which in turn will increase your fuel consumption.
