Right now, there’s a bit of breathing room at the petrol pump, helped along by the temporary halving of the fuel excise, but it may not last long. Fuel price cycles can turn quickly, and it doesn’t take much in an oil crisis for costs to spike again, leaving drivers wincing at the bowser.

Last month, prices surged above $2 a litre in most capitals, climbing into the mid-$2 range on the worst days of the cycle before easing again.

The price of diesel, which fuels freight, tradies and supply chains, remains above $3 a litre in some parts of Australia due to ongoing instability in the Middle East.

And as I’ve been saying for a while, fuel prices don’t just stay at the pump. They ripple through everyday life, from higher grocery bills and rising call-out fees to even small daily purchases gradually costing more than they did not long ago.

While we can’t control global oil markets or volatile price cycles, we can be more mindful about how and when we use our car when prices soar and hit our household budgets.

Here are some practical ways to ease the financial squeeze:

Simple swaps to save on fuel

Multiple car trips → One planned shop

Ditch the “quick dash” for one or two items and commit to a weekly shop. Be disciplined. If dinner is missing an ingredient, work around it. That single tomato for taco night can end up costing far more in fuel to get it from the farm to the supermarket, and then home to you.

The same goes for planning your week and consolidating car trips where possible. If you’re already dropping your kid at soccer training, pick up bread and milk on the way home instead of making a separate trip in the morning.

Home delivery → Click and collect

Delivery fees have been creeping up. Click and collect offers a similar but cheaper alternative: your order is packed and ready, without paying for home delivery.

Pair pick up with an existing trip to avoid an extra journey.

Short drives → Walking or cycling

Short trips are the least fuel-efficient. A cold engine can use two to three times more fuel per kilometre before it warms up, making quick 1–2 km drives disproportionately expensive.

All those short errands across a week can quietly add up. So if it’s walking or riding distance, consider skipping the car . . . your wallet and health will thank you.

Filling up anytime → Timing the fuel cycle

Fuel prices move in cycles, and timing matters. Filling up just before the weekly spike can save several cents per litre, and a few dollars per tank.

Using a fuel price tracking app like Simples, FuelCheck, PetrolSpy or MotorMouth can help you spot the cheapest days and stations near you.

Peak-location refuelling → Slight detours

High-traffic service stations, especially in CBDs and along highways, are often more expensive.

A short detour off-route to find a cheaper retailer can deliver decent savings over a full tank. Differences of 20-60 cents per litre are not uncommon during peak cycles.

Multiple tradies → One handyman visit

Most tradies drive diesel-guzzling utes, and the extra they are paying in driving to your house is passed on to you in the form of higher call-out fees.

Instead of booking multiple tradies for various small jobs, bundle tasks together and arrange for a single handyman visit who can handle them all. This will not only cut down on bills but also added fuel costs factored into them.

Last-minute takeaway runs → Planned meals

How often do you jump in the car for dinner because nothing’s planned?

When fuel is expensive, that quick takeaway can cost far more once petrol and higher food prices are factored in. Keeping a simple back-up meal in the fridge, like a pre-cooked lasagne, is an easy way to avoid the extra trip and expense.

Big car → Small car/EV

If you have a smaller car in the family, make it the ‘default’ runabout choice. If you have an electric, well, that’s a no-brainer preference.

Ask everyone to start using the most fuel-efficient car, even if it’s a borrow one, to save on family fuel expenses.

Driving to work daily → Mix it up

If possible, swap in public transport, carpooling, or even a work-from-home day or two. Cutting just a couple of commutes a week can save significantly.

Skipping daily coffee and lunch can also save a further $20 a day, or $100 a week.

Air-conditioning → Fresh air

Car air-conditioning increases fuel use, particularly at lower speeds.

When it isn’t a heatwave, try opening the windows instead of relying on the AC and enjoy the fresh air.

Neglected car → Well-maintained vehicle

Poor maintenance reduces vehicle efficiency. And dirty air filters, old oil and misaligned wheels all increase fuel use, as well as wear and tear.

Regular car servicing may feel like an expense, but it often prevents larger costs later.

It all adds up

Making a few of these small changes across the week can easily add up to $50 or more in savings, or more than $2500 a year.

That’s money that would otherwise disappear into the tank.