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When you’re running a business, it’s important to minimise your costs when maintaining your operations. For example, you’ll want to determine whether it’s more cost-effective to lease vehicles or to purchase your own fleet of company cars or trucks. 

Similarly, you’ll want to ensure that your assets are well-maintained. As well as minimising downtime and repair costs, this can help to increase the lifespan of your fleet and reduce the risk of accidents. 

If you want to reduce your costs, take a look at these handy tips to help you save money on business vehicles.

Estimate Your Mileage

How many miles your fleet will be covering is an important factor when determining whether to lease or buy your vehicles. Many lease contracts only cover a relatively low amount of mileage, which charges extra for every extra mile driven. If your fleet is going to be on the road a lot, it may be more cost-effective to buy the vehicles outright. 

Determine How Vehicles Will Be Used

There can be tax advantages to both leasing and buying company cars, but the rules are complicated. If your staffs are permitted to use company vehicles for personal use too, this will have an impact on what costs you can claim back. Before you decide how to finance your fleet, it’s worth getting financial and tax advice from an accountant and/or tax attorney. 

Protect Your Vehicles

Adding the latest tech to your fleet can help to keep vehicles in good condition and it should minimise the risk of accidents too. With the best dash cam, parking sensors, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems; you can reduce the risk of incidents on the road. If an accident does occur, having a dash cam installed in the vehicle will ensure it’s caught on tape. This information can be used to determine exactly how an incident occurred and who is responsible for it (which can save your company a significant amount of money in the long run). 

Depreciation Value

Brand new vehicles can depreciate quite quickly, which means they don’t hold their value too well. If you’re considering buying your own fleet, you’ll need to decide what impact this depreciation will have on your business. In some cases, it’s possible for the depreciation of assets to reduce your tax liabilities. Of course, you’ll want to discuss the ramifications of this with your accountant before you make a final decision. 

Maintenance

If you buy your fleet, you’re going to be responsible for maintaining it. However, if you lease, the leaseholders may offer some or all vehicle maintenance. You’ll need to consider which option is most beneficial to your business and whether you can finance in-house maintenance or whether you’d want to outsource this to another company. 

Reducing Fleet Costs

With the right amount of research, you can successfully save money on business vehicles. Whether you choose to rent or buy your fleet, your vehicles are an important business asset. Hence, it’s well worth seeking specialist advice before you take the plunge. 

As more businesses strive towards carbon neutrality, HVO fuel has become an increasingly popular solution. But what exactly is it?

Hydrogenated/hydrotreated vegetable oil (HHO) is an eco-friendly replacement fuel that’s helping businesses go green. Thanks to its paraffinic petrochemical structure that’s virtually identical to fossil diesel, HHO can be used as an immediate drop-in replacement without altering infrastructure or having to clear out summer-grade fuel stocks first.

1. It’s A Renewable Fuel

HVO fuel offers several advantages over fossil diesel. Its primary advantage is being an eco-friendly, renewable alternative that is made by turning waste vegetable oils and animal fats into hydrocarbons that can replace or supplement traditional diesel in engines and industrial equipment.

Fuel made with recycled ingredients emits lower emissions of carbon dioxide than its fossil diesel equivalent, as well as less particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides – contributing to reduced air pollution that has been linked with respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

HVO fuels are generally considered more eco-friendly than both conventional diesel and biodiesel, thanks to its higher cetane number, helping improve combustion and fuel efficiency.

Furthermore, HVO adheres to EN15940 standards for paraffinic fuel storage, meaning they can be safely used without modifications for storage purposes. HVO has been approved by several OEMs so it can be used without modification on most engines.

Due to it being made from existing vegetable oils and fats, this fuel produces net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved by drawing CO2 out of the atmosphere through isomerisation processes before recycling it back into fuel production through isomerisation.

Harvesting practices also play an integral part in greenhouse gas emissions. Palm oil use in fuel production has become contentious in recent years, as ENI and Total have moved away from using it due to environmental considerations. However, fortunately, most HVO is now produced through converted no longer profitable plants, saving thousands of jobs while alleviating pressure for businesses to adopt more eco-friendly energy sources.

2. It’s Cheaper than Diesel

HVO can play an essential role in helping reduce carbon emissions significantly while simultaneously helping address net new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by replacing fossil diesel with renewable biofuels like HVO. They also boast lower production costs compared to fossil fuels. Furthermore, running HVO costs significantly less than conventional diesel due to reduced production costs associated with biofuel production versus fossil fuel production.

Low sulphur content makes cellulose important in reducing air pollution, improving air quality, and contributing to biodegradability and renewable production derived from plants and animal sources, leading to significantly less dependence on fossil fuels which has become increasingly costly and unsustainable over time.

HVO stands apart from traditional FAME-based biofuels by not causing performance issues due to its non-hygroscopic nature and inability to draw moisture into an engine, meaning it can be used directly as a drop-in replacement without costly equipment modifications required for modern engines – making it the perfect solution for businesses needing an expedient yet cost-effective response to climate change.

HVO can be produced using a range of raw materials, such as waste cooking oils; residue fat fractions from food, fisheries, and slaughterhouse industries; tall oil byproducts, and non-food grade crop-based vegetable oil fractions sourced sustainably and ethically.

As many existing diesel engines can run on HVO fuel, businesses of all sizes can quickly achieve climate neutrality by switching over. You can learn more by clicking the link.

From emergency generator sets in data centres to engines powering dump trucks, trains, and ships – they all can easily use HVO without additional hardware or engineering requirements – plus HVO can reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint significantly when used for boilers in commercial buildings.

3. It’s Cleaner

Biodiesel is produced through hydrotreatment that changes its molecular structure into paraffinic hydrocarbon fuel that burns cleaner than conventional fossil diesel and produces lower particulate, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and nitrogen oxide emissions than its fossil diesel counterpart.

HVO fuel production is considered a sustainable energy source because it relies on existing biomass sources and uses existing carbon in ecosystems while only contributing a minimal amount of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Environmentally friendly alternatives exist such as second-generation FAME biodiesel that does not release CO2, while still improving combustion efficiency with improved cetane values and fuel economy, leading to reduced CO2 emissions. This is why HVO Fuel UK is rapidly catching on. As its production process is highly controlled and contamination-free, HVO fuel has a significantly longer shelf life than diesel – up to 10 years if stored and inspected regularly.

4. It’s More Flexible

Traditional biofuels like FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester), produced from vegetable oils and animal fats using methanol, are highly hygroscopic, meaning they attract moisture and are susceptible to microbial contamination – creating an ideal breeding ground for “diesel bug.”

As such, it can be used in vehicles and equipment without needing any modifications to their fuel system, and without creating issues for engine performance in cold temperatures – making it perfect for commercial fleets operating across various environments and climate conditions.

HVO fuel can provide an ideal alternative to fossil diesel since it does not present many of the same reliability and storage issues. Furthermore, HVO blends can be mixed freely with conventional diesel without impacting either vehicle operation or engine performance.

Converting existing oil heating systems to run on 100% HVO fuel can cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 85%, helping households reduce their carbon footprint quickly and effortlessly.

HVO fuel could be a game-changer in terms of sustainable energy in the UK. Not only is it renewable and cost-effective, but switching could save five tonnes in CO2 emissions annually from each household in Britain!

HVO fuel can help businesses around the world become more environmentally friendly while simultaneously driving down operating costs, from emergency generator sets in data centres to engines in cranes, dump trucks, and trains. Deutsche Bahn, Europe’s largest freight train company has even pledged climate neutrality by 2040 thanks to HVO.

From minor ailments like the common cold to devastating illnesses like COVID-19, communicable diseases vary in severity, although all are known to put a strain on people’s lives. Described as ailments that are transmitted from person to person, via vehicles like contaminated surfaces or objects, or through vectors like animals and insects, infectious diseases  can impact communities’ and individuals’ productivity and finances in more ways than one. With the social and economic implications of getting sick—and the speed at which such diseases could spread—it’s imperative for people to be proactive in order to prevent these illnesses from having a significant impact on their lives.

For the most part, communicable diseases are preventable enough to eliminate the risk of treatment and hospitalisation. From avoiding close contact with sick individuals to keeping track of your vaccinations, there are many ways to keep infectious diseases from spreading and causing unwanted effects on yourself and others. To help you stay protected against these transmissible ailments, here are some best practices you need to follow.

Keep Up to Date with Your Vaccinations

Vaccines provide an added layer of protection against highly transmissible diseases such as influenza, measles, and polio. Typically, immunisations are offered to people of all ages and must be periodically administered to remain effective against ever-evolving viruses. All in all, vaccinations are a great way to have an extra line of defence against pathogenic agents that might enter your body through the air, through contaminated surfaces or objects, or through disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and bigger animals.

There is enough reason to trust medical interventions like vaccines, too. Vaccine production requires rigorous research and development (R&D), most of which is undertaken by biotechnologists in a BSL 2 lab or higher, which are designed to handle, store, and isolate hazardous and contagious agents. 

Practise Food Safety

You get your nourishment from the food you eat, but you can also get sick when food is not handled properly. Contaminated food, including raw and undercooked ingredients, could potentially contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. More than that, you could risk transmitting viruses and parasites when you prepare food while you’re sick. With this in mind, you must always  wash your hands before and after preparing meals, clean your ingredients properly, cook food at the right temperature, and keep the food prep area clean. When dining out, always make sure that the food establishment meets the bare minimum of health and safety requirements to prevent yourself from consuming dirty food and water.

Eat Immunity-Boosting Foods

Speaking of food, it would also serve you well to include immunity boosters in your diet. Generally, boosting your intake of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients is a great way to keep your body strong, healthy, and resilient against disease. 

Foods rich in Vitamin C such as citrus fruits, kale, and red pepper are known for boosting the production of white blood cells that aid in fighting infection. You may also want to consider foods rich in vitamins D and E (nuts, seeds, eggs, fish, and greens), which regulate and support your body’s immune response. Similarly, beta-carotene-rich foods, such as root vegetables, help boost your antibody response to toxins and pathogens. Overall, the importance of eating well should not be understated, as it’s one of the fundamentals of living healthily.

Wash Your Hands Properly

Your hands pick up millions of germs by just touching high-contact communal surfaces, including ATM screens and keypads, public transportation handrails, and doorknobs. This is why it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly after touching such communal surfaces. A good rule of thumb would be to wash your hands for around 20 seconds with soap and water. It’s incredibly important to do this before eating or handling food and when taking care of those with vulnerable immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. 

Ideally, you need to wash your hands after handling hazardous waste, touching animals, using the toilet, doing outdoor activities, and coming into contact with sick people. It’s also best to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose to avoid spreading germs. It might help to bring a hand sanitiser or rubbing alcohol with you when going out, especially if comfort rooms or handwashing stations are few and far between in the location where you intend to go.

Don’t Share Personal Items

You may have heard of the saying “sharing is caring,” but that’s not the case when it comes to personal items. To prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, avoid sharing items that regularly come into contact with saliva, including toothbrushes, lipsticks, utensils, and drinking glasses. It’s also best to avoid sharing items that you use on your body, such as nail clippers and razors, and you must absolutely never share items that come directly into contact with blood, such as needles and pricking instruments. When going out, make sure to bring your own handkerchief or face mask for when you’re risking exposure to crowds and sick individuals. Beyond fussiness, these practices are necessary for not being exposed to pathogenic agents.

Adhere to Safe Sexual Practices

Infectious diseases can also come in the form of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If you’re sexually active, it’s best to be responsible and adhere to safe practices meant to protect your overall health. To stay sexually responsible, you and a partner should use preventive measures like condoms and consider getting tested for infections like HIV. If possible, consult a doctor so that you have a clear idea of the practices that contribute to better sexual health.

Prevention Really Is Better Than Cure

Communicable diseases come in many forms, but the bottom line is that they require a high level of awareness and responsibility. You may want to keep in touch with your doctor to get professional guidance on standard and additional measures, especially if you have specific health conditions or lifestyle choices that warrant extra precautions. 

At the end of the day, these practices should remind you that you’re not entirely powerless against infectious diseases. With the right knowledge and a proactive mindset focused on personal responsibility, it is possible to keep transmittable diseases at bay and protect your health down the road.

Fleet managers are always looking for ways to keep their maintenance costs low. This blog post will discuss 6 tips on how to keep maintenance costs low on your fleet.

1. Keep Your Fleet Well-Maintained

This may seem like common sense, but it’s important to keep your vehicles in good condition if you want to avoid costly repairs down the road. So make sure you have a regular maintenance schedule and stick to it.

In addition, pay close attention to your vehicles and don’t ignore warning signs that something may be wrong. The sooner you catch a problem, the easier (and cheaper) it will be to fix.

2. Use Quality Parts and Products

When time comes to do repairs or maintenance on your fleet, use quality parts and products. There are resources from which you can choose, such as car wreckers. This may cost a bit more upfront, but in the long run, it will save you money by preventing further damage and extending the life of your vehicle.

In addition, be sure to hire a reputable and qualified mechanic or technician to work on your vehicles. Using someone who is inexperienced could end up costing you more in the long run.

Via Pexels

3. Stay Up-to-date On Recalls

Recalls happen more often than you may think, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on any that may affect your fleet. Ignoring a recall can end up costing you a lot of money in repairs, so make sure you’re aware of any that will apply to your vehicles.

4. Shop Around for Quotes

Don’t just take the first quote you get when the time comes to repair or maintain your fleet. Instead, get multiple quotes from different businesses and compare prices before making a decision. This will help you ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

5. Have An Emergency Fund

No matter how well you maintain your fleet, there’s always a chance something will go wrong. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency fund set aside specifically for unexpected repairs or maintenance costs. This will help you avoid going into debt if something unexpectedly goes wrong with your fleet.

6. Educate Your Drivers About Proper Driving Habits

Teach them how to brake gently, accelerate slowly, and drive at the correct speed according to road conditions. Improper driving can cause excessive wear and tear on a vehicle. In addition, it can also lead to accidents, which can be costly to repair.

Here are a few ways to educate your drivers:

  • Have regular meetings to discuss proper driving habits
  • Teach them through driver’s education courses
  • Give them written materials to study
  • Require them to take a test on proper driving habits

In conclusion, by following the tips mentioned above, you can keep your fleet’s maintenance costs low. Remember to keep your vehicles well-maintained, use quality parts and products, stay up-to-date on recalls, and shop around for quotes. In addition, having an emergency fund will help you cover any unexpected costs. Finally, educate your drivers about proper driving habits to help prolong the life of your fleet.

Driving in a foreign country can be scary, even if it’s just for the day. If you’re planning on driving in a different country, there are some things you should know. You may not know the road rules, or the signs may be all in another language. Here are five helpful tips to remember when driving abroad so you’ll feel more comfortable and confident behind the wheel.

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Learn what different road signs mean

It’s important to know what the different road signs mean, especially if you’re driving in a country where English is not the primary language. When it comes to roads and traffic, there are international symbols that all drivers should be aware of. For example, a stop sign means “stop” or “arret” in French, and a yield sign is “cédez le passage“. Knowing what these symbols mean will help you feel more confident on a foreign country’s roads.

Not only do you need to know how to read the signs, but you also need to know what they mean.

Drive a car you are comfortable with 

If you’re used to driving a smaller car in the US for example, it would be best to rent a smaller car in France. If you’re used to driving a large SUV in the US, it would be best to rent an SUV when in France. This is because cars in Europe tend to be smaller and more compact than cars in America. The roads are also narrower and curvy, so it’s good to have a vehicle with enough width and power to manoeuvre these roads easily.

An excellent way to find an appropriate car is to hire a local outlet to know the correct type of car for the area, such as sydneyutehire.com.au. You can find a vehicle you are more comfortable with and withstand your activities.

Know speed limits and driving laws

Before getting in the car, familiarise yourself with speed limits and driving laws. Knowing the speed limit helps a lot when you’re driving in a foreign country because you know whether or not you’re going too fast. You might also want to learn some of the road signs in advance to help you read them when they come up.

Consider an advanced driving course.

Even if you’re a good driver, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your skills before driving abroad. The road rules can vary from country to country, and you may not be familiar with the signs or what they mean. Taking an advanced driving course can help you learn about any specific rules and signs so you’ll know what to do when you’re behind the wheel. Remember that speed limits can be in kilometres per hour instead of miles per hour, so if you haven’t taken a course on kilometres, now is a good time.

Stay in the slow lanes.

First, keep in the slow lane. This will prevent you from getting in trouble with cars that are going faster than you in the fast lane. It’s also a good idea to stay towards the centre of your lane when driving on a two-lane highway with a centre divider. When passing slower vehicles, use caution and only do so when it is safe to do so.

Driving in the rain, whether a light drizzle or a torrential deluge, may be one of the most challenging conditions a motorist faces. Rainy weather is closely related to a greater accident rate. You will likely be forced to drive your car or ride your motorcycle in the rain at some time, regardless of where you happen to live; even the driest areas have rain sometimes, and of course, you might be visiting a much wetter place too. Understanding how wet roads and limited visibility influence how your vehicle behaves can assist you in driving safely in rainy weather. Read on to find out more. 

Photo by Valeriia Miller from Pexels

Wait Until The Weather Improves 

Wait until the weather improves before driving if you are uncomfortable driving in the rain or postpone your trip / commute. There’s no need to put yourself at risk if driving in rainy weather isn’t absolutely essential. Of course, this isn’t always something everyone can do – your boss won’t be impressed if you say you’re going to be late because it’s raining – but when you can stay home, it’s often for the best. The last thing you’ll want to do is have an accident and need help from a motorcycle accident attorney if you could have avoided the accident. 

Slow Down

Rain means you’ll have to plan for a longer journey time since traffic will be slower, and you’ll have to slow down. Hydroplaning is most often caused by cars going too quickly, therefore slowing down is a wise decision. Slow down as the rain begins since new rain will bring out the oils on the road and make conditions slicker.

Don’t Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control in wet weather may lead you to lose control of your car. To avoid traction loss, drivers may need to decrease speed by letting off the pedal, however, this is not possible while using cruise control. Furthermore, when driving in rainy weather, the driver must be completely engaged, thus you should avoid cruise control.

Give Other Cars More Room

You should always maintain a safe following distance, but be particularly mindful of giving vehicles in front of you plenty of space. You’ll have more time to respond to what’s coming next if there’s a bigger gap between you. Keep an eye out for brake lights ahead of you.

Turn Your Lights On

If your windshield wipers are on, so should your lights be. When it’s difficult to see through the rain, headlights can assist and improve your visibility and make it simpler for other cars to notice you, preventing an accident.

Avoid Harsh Braking

Use your brakes as little as possible, and try to avoid severe braking if at all feasible. Slow down, allow people space, and lift your foot off the accelerator quickly enough to avoid slamming on the brakes. On wet roads, avoid abrupt movements by steering, stopping, and accelerating gently. It’s best if you test your brakes well before you set off.

Stay Away From Flood-Prone Area

Know which roads in your region are prone to flooding and use alternate routes if heavy rains are forecast.

Be Ready To Turn Back

Driving through flooded regions may be hazardous, if not fatal. If you drive onto a heavily flooded road, your vehicle may begin to float and absorb water. It may even be washed away while you’re still in it. Don’t take any chances. Check for depth gauges and be familiar with the roads you’re travelling on. If you are unsure about the depth of the water, turn back and find another route.

Know How To Manage A Skid

Don’t panic if your vehicle starts to skid. Continue to drive in the desired direction and avoid slamming on your brakes since this makes it more difficult to manage your car. Also, keep your cool if your vehicle begins to hydroplane. If this happens, gradually take your foot off the accelerator and avoid steering. Simply slow down and hang on until your car makes contact with the road again.

Be Prepared For Strong Winds 

Wind, which could push your car and other cars about on the road or cause you to lose control, frequently comes with rain. Maintain a firm hold on the steering wheel, offer a wide space to high-profile cars that may be more vulnerable to wind, and be aware that powerful gusts may strike you.

Watch For Pedestrians

Avoid splashing people. As you drive, keep an eye out for puddles where people are walking parallel to you. Despite the fact that eighty-eight percent of pedestrian deaths occur in the absence of bad weather, drivers should not relax their guard and must look out for people nearby. 

Check Your Tires

In rainy weather driving, your tires are your greatest friend, providing grip and keeping you stable on the road. Check your tread and tire pressure to ensure you’re set to go even if it’s raining.

The words “McLaren” and supercar are synonymous in today’s automobile market. The brand has a knack for producing quintessential supercars that not only look fast but also perform exceptionally well on the road. 

Recently, the brand released the Artura, a slick new hybrid supercar that features classic McLaren sweeping lines and, of course, an electric motor. Here are some things that you need to know about the vehicle. 

The Interior Is The Same As The 720S

Let’s start with some slightly disappointing news: the interior on the Artura is essentially the same as that of the 720S.

That is to say, it has a great interior. But McLaren hasn’t redesigned it in the way that many ardent followers of the brand might hope. 

McLaren isn’t being lazy, though. In fact, the company says that 98 percent of the materials used to construct the vehicle are actually different. The Artura, therefore, isn’t a chimaera made by stitching together components from other vehicles. In a pure engineering sense, it is brand new. 

With that said, the interior does look very familiar. These are some cosmetic changes compared to the 570S, but other than that, you can’t really tell that you’re in a brand new vehicle. 

The Rear Suspension Is Brand New

Some 570S drivers complained that the rear suspension on the vehicle wasn’t quite up to standard for a sports car in its price range. Because of this, McLaren went back to the drawing board and looked for ways to improve it. The company eventually decided on a combination of a wishbone on the top and a multi-link setup below. The brand hopes that the new arrangement will improve stability on the racetrack and performance under heavy braking at the same time. 

If you buy the car, you may still need to hire a car accident lawyer. But thanks to this subtle new safety feature, drivers have much more control. 

It Won’t Run Out Of Charge

Another tremendous benefit of Artura is the fact that the vehicle will never run out of charge. The electric range is only around 19 miles (because the battery is quite small). But the car uses an axial-flux e-motor which means that the regular gas-powered engine can charge the batteries. This system means that the electric motor itself will never run out of charge. 

For convenience, McLaren says that drivers can charge the battery to 80 percent in 2.5 hours. 

The Gearbox Features Some Bleeding-Edge Technology

Most people don’t get excited about car gearboxes. But McLaren says that it is fitting the Altura with a “tri-clutch” – meaning that the car has three clutches. 

Why would you need three clutches? Well, you need two for accurately shifting up and down the gears. The third clutch is there to make it easy for the car to transfer from gas operation to electric car mode. 

This setup means that the vehicle will easily transition between modes when required. It will also use battery energy in conjunction with regular motor power. 

The gearbox is sophisticated for another reason: McLaren doesn’t equip it with a traditional reverse gear. Instead, when the driver wants to reverse, they simply put the car into electric mode and use the electric motor alone. This feature is similar to Ferrari’s SF90 Stradale

It’s Super Light

The first generation of hybrid sports cars was quite heavy because of the extra weight of the battery and electric motors. But McLaren has found a way around these problems to make the Altura one of the lightest cars on the market. McLaren says that the vehicle is more than 46 kg lighter than the 570S even though that car didn’t have any hybrid additions. 

The main reason the car is so light is the all-new carbon fibre chassis which McLaren calls the “McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture.” The addition of carbon fibre gives the car more strength and rigidity than before at a much lower weight. It’s allowed designers to actually build more safety features into the vehicle at the same time. 

Weight saving, however, doesn’t finish with the chassis, though. McLaren says that it is using a new “zonal” wiring architecture. This reduces the weight of the wires running to all the sensors planted around the vehicle. The result is a car that weighs around 1,400 kg which is substantially less than rivals such as the Aston Martin DB11. 

Overall, therefore, the Artura is shaping up to be a very impressive car indeed. Looks-wise, it is similar to what’s come before. But the materials technology to make the car is vastly improved. 

Nowadays, new cars are coming with outstanding safety, driving features, and more tech options than car models of past decades. 

Let’s face the truth – it can be exciting to trade your beat-up clunker with new features. However, most people are making numerous mistakes when buying cars. For example, some buyers consider rolling over their car debts to get a new loan, leaving them to service a loan for a vehicle that they no longer drive. 

Here are a few tips to help you buy a car the smart way.

Get Loan Pre Approval

It is advisable to get loan pre-approval for a car before visiting any dealership. One of the things you should consider when looking for a SUV for sale is whether you can afford it. Seeing your dream car can tempt you to go for the vehicle even without evaluating your financial status, which can be problematic in the long run.

Getting pre-approved ensures that you understand your creditworthiness. Thus, before thinking about getting a car, it would be wise to ensure you have a high credit score.

Avoid Buying Add-ons at the Dealership

If you have ever bought a car, you know the buying process can be strenuous. You stay there for hours, and then the finance manager comes with offers such as paint protection plans, tire protection plans, or extended warranties. Most dealerships overprice these add-ons, hence, you may miss out on fair prices elsewhere if you are not careful.

It is advisable to avoid buying add-ons at the dealership unless you know how this works. You can get most of these additions, such as the extended factory warranty, later.

Avoid Long-Term Car Loans

Nowadays, most car loans go for more than six years. And that is a problem. Often such long-term loans attract a lower monthly instalment. While this might be attractive to you, it comes with high-interest rates in the long run. 

If you are considering a loan for your car, go for a short-term one. This approach ensures that you don’t pay unnecessarily high interest.

Avoid Overspending on Your Car

When buying a car, the golden rule is to avoid spending more than 20% of your income on your car expenses, including repairs, gas, and insurance. The implication is that you should spend barely between 10-15% on the car purchase itself. 

If you have been saving for a business vehicle and your budget isn’t enough for a new car, you should consider going for the second-best option – a secondhand car. However, make sure that you go for reliability when choosing your preferred vehicle. 

Shop Around

Now that you are clear with your car budget, the loan period to consider, and mistakes to avoid, the next step should be to look for your preferred car. Take enough time to sample various cars from dealerships near you. Look out for reliable car dealers and resources to help you find the best car for you.  

Buying a car isn’t something you can accomplish in a day. Understanding the car buying process can help you acquire the best car affordably and effortlessly. Shop around for the best car loans, evaluate your budget, and go for dealerships with the best car deals.

Ever heard of #vanlife? The movement is sweeping the globe with young people, priced out of the housing market, trading in the traditional goals of owning a home with a white picket fence for the wanderlust of life on the road.

Converting old school busses, vans, trailers or revamping caravans these young people are living on the road and you’ve never seen a caravan look this cool. With fully equipped kitchens, beds, living rooms and, we’ll level with you, a borderline insane amount of fairy lights – these young people have redefined the game. 

So, what’s driving these young people to life on the road rather than a traditional home?

Ever-Rising Rent

The price of rent to live in cities has been constantly on the rise with the average rental price in Sydney coming in at $540 per week. These exorbitantly high prices combined with unemployment and under-employment crisis that see many young people either without work or having to work multiple jobs to afford to pay rent, leaving very little behind for living expenses or savings. The price of rent has seen many young people living with their parents for longer, moving out of the cities or turning to other options like vans. 

Cheaper Costs

Not having to pay rent is a major tick in the plus-column when it comes to the choice between vanlife and city life. As most people in the vanlife community will tell you, the biggest cost when it comes to living in a van is buying the van itself and the subsequent renovations. Luckily, the actual vehicles are often cheaper than you might think. Head to Grays and find the van, caravan or disused school bus perhaps that is ready to be converted into your dream home.

Love of the Open Road

As Jack Keroac would tell you, there’s something romantic about the open road. Whether they were inspired to this nomadic lifestyle like Keroac in On The Road, enchanted by the idea that “there was nowhere to go but everywhere” and that all they “needed was a wheel in his hand and four on the road,” or they just felt a pull towards a life on the move, with no fixed address – the whole thing is incredibly romantic. With so many young people spending weeks and months backpacking, this lifestyle is not foreign to them but, it is far more cost effective! 

Freedom

For many young people the main draw of vanlife is the freedom of not being tied down to one place, one lease, one job. On top of the extortionate rents in many major Australian cities another thing stopping young people from wanting to sign year long leases is the fact that they have plans to travel for a few months and that dream is financially untenable if they have to be paying for rent whilst also paying to accommodation, flights and everything else that comes with travelling. 

The vanlife lifestyle is often described as perfect for people who want to ‘own less and experience more.’ Married couples like the Armstrongs, the duo behind the popular account Mavis The Airstream said they turned to vanlife when they were tired of the monotony of everyday 9-5 jobs and city life. They now run the popular blog giving advice on van renovations and hacks to others in the community From single people, to young couples, married folk like the Armstrongs, even parents with kids have turned to vanlife, and the freedom is unbeatable!

Our homes and office spaces usually have some things that are unnecessary and they take up a lot of space. These stuffs are usually better kept in storerooms. However, sparing an entire room for additional things is not always possible and renting another room along with the office space can be quite costly.

Well, one simple solution to this problem is self-storage services.

Self-storage is a facility where you can rent a small or big space depending on your needs and keep your belongings there. There are many advantages to choosing a self-storage unit. You can read more about these services here.

Here are the pros to using a storage service.

  1. A Secure Place For You To Keep Your Things

The first advantage is that these units give you a safe and secure space to keep all your things. From machines that are unused to furniture, documents, and even your vehicles, these facilities can be used to store all non-perishable things. 

The facilities are safe and secure and usually have multiple security features such as on-site guards and CCTV cameras. Additionally, the customers are given passcodes to access their units, thus making the environment a safe and secured one.

  1. Declutter Your Space

With these facilities, you will be able to easily declutter your space and make it look more presentable. It is not always possible to throw or give things away and hoarding becomes inevitable. So, most people leave these rarely-used things laying around the house. 

In the offices, there are many machines and furniture items that are not regularly used and they also take up space. All of these when moved to storehouse facilities can make the space look much organised and neater. 

  1. Convenience and Flexibility

The storehouse facilities have rooms in different sizes as per the need of the users. From small lockers to large rooms, you can rent as much space as you want. The best way to know how much area you need is to measure up all your belongings and then go visit a storage facility to have a clearer idea. Also, time is flexible. This means that you can use the space whenever you want. Most of the places give 12-24-hour access to the users.

  1. Makes Travelling Stress Free

When traveling to another place for a long period, most people want to leave their rented apartments and not pay unnecessary rent. In such a case, you can store all your things at these units and pay one fourth or even less. It is also a good option for college students who cannot take all of their belongings home after every semester. Here are the benefits of self-storage when moving: https://medium.com/@HiveBoxx/the-benefits-of-self-storage-units-while-moving-59a5afde69f7 

  1. Makes Renovation Easier

When undergoing a renovation, you can rent self-storage units for a few days and save your furniture and appliances from getting damaged. A unit can be rented for a week, a few days, or even for months and years. 

  1. Affordable

Storehouse spaces are very affordable. You will be able to find a unit that is suitable for your budget. It is important to note that the more services you take, the higher the cost of these facilities become. Also, the best thing is that you only pay for the space you need. So, the price is also customizable.

  1. Climate Control Storage For Delicate Things

Many facilities provide climate control services. Climate control means that the unit will not get too hot or too cold because there is a climate control system installed in them. A lot of facilities such as Storage Plus offer this service. This is the best option when you want to store furniture that can get damaged or machines and appliances that can also be damaged because of temperature and humidity. However, you might have to pay extra for climate control. 

Self-Storage Tips

If you want to keep your belongings in a self-storage unit, here are some tips that you can follow:

  • Always choose a unit that can fit all your things. Before moving your stuff in a unit, make sure that you calculate the length and breadth needed to store all your belongings.
  • Always make an inventory of the things that you have kept in a unit. This will make it easier for you to stay organized and remember everything that you have stored and where they are.
  • Categorize your things and put each of them in labeled boxes so that it becomes easier to look for them when you want.
  • When you arrange your goods in storage, make sure to keep the things you need immediately at places where you can easily reach them. Also, it is helpful that you use the vertical space of the unit to place your belongings. This will make the space less crowded.
  • Since the things will remain in the space for some time, you need to make sure that each item is wrapped properly. 
  • Never forget about the insurance from the storage services in case any of your goods are damaged because of their fault.
  • Even if your unit has enough security, take all personal measures to keep your stuff safe. This will include buying stronger locks and also having difficult passcodes.
  • Always read the terms and conditions provided by the company so that you know how much you have to pay for each facility. Some companies provide a flat rate for everything and some places will charge you different rates for extra services such as climate control and electronic locks.
  • Find a storage unit that is closer to your office or home so that you can easily move your things.
  • Always research the unit before you put your belongings there. Safety should be your biggest priority.

Storage unit services can be helpful for people who are looking to store their belongings but do not have enough space to do it. Just keep the above tips in mind and also go for storage units that are trustworthy and offer you insurance.