RECREATION - THE CAR
Your car can seem like a big burden in an already stretched budget, chewing up petrol, needing servicing and always it costs.
With some thought and pre-planning some of these headaches can be overcome. We consider it essential to keep your car - for job seeking and for stress relieving outings.
With some thought and pre-planning some of these headaches can be overcome. We consider it essential to keep your car - for job seeking and for stress relieving outings.
VEHICLE LICENSING
This is the money you pay in order to be allowed to use the roads. There is information in the NZTA website on costs for different vehicles. This link will take you there to have a look.
You will need to work out how much your car costs for this alone per year, divide by 52 and add that weekly amount to your budget.
CAR SERVICING
If you can learn how to do some minor things yourself, it will keep costs down and help to manage your budget. Set yourself the task of learning how to do these simple things:
USING YOUR CAR
Petrol costs are now at an alltime high, way over $2 per litre. Every time you choose not to use your car you are saving yourself money.
Try to use your car only when it is essential. If you can walk, but it will take a few minutes more, then organise yourself to leave a little earlier.
Have your kids walk to school, it is good for them to get the exercise.
Christchurch is flat and easy to bike around. The City Council have produced a very good cycle map showing cycle routes and lanes. Just ring them for a copy. If you don't have a bike secondhand ones are cheap and plentiful and you should have no problem picking up one that suits.
Sustainability NZ have a great website with lots of info, take a look here
This is the money you pay in order to be allowed to use the roads. There is information in the NZTA website on costs for different vehicles. This link will take you there to have a look.
You will need to work out how much your car costs for this alone per year, divide by 52 and add that weekly amount to your budget.
CAR SERVICING
If you can learn how to do some minor things yourself, it will keep costs down and help to manage your budget. Set yourself the task of learning how to do these simple things:
- Check tire pressure
- Check oil levels
- Check levels of power steering fluid
- Top up windscreen water
- Change the oil at suggested intervals. You may have a mate or friendly mechanic who can show you how.
USING YOUR CAR
Petrol costs are now at an alltime high, way over $2 per litre. Every time you choose not to use your car you are saving yourself money.
Try to use your car only when it is essential. If you can walk, but it will take a few minutes more, then organise yourself to leave a little earlier.
Have your kids walk to school, it is good for them to get the exercise.
Christchurch is flat and easy to bike around. The City Council have produced a very good cycle map showing cycle routes and lanes. Just ring them for a copy. If you don't have a bike secondhand ones are cheap and plentiful and you should have no problem picking up one that suits.
Sustainability NZ have a great website with lots of info, take a look here