When everyday living costs are high, even the essential journey to work, school or the supermarket can weigh heavily on your budget. Right now, the UK has been experiencing rising fuel costs, with some diesel prices reaching £2 per litre. Finding small, practical ways to stretch every pound could make a genuine difference.
To help make travel a little easier, everyday navigation tools are making it simpler to spot cheaper petrol and diesel nearby before you set off. Google Maps have released a new feature giving you real-time prices for both petrol and diesel, based on the Government’s Fuel Finder scheme. The UK Government says:
At a time when the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has been pushing up fuel prices for drivers, comparing prices can save households who own a car around £40 a year.
How to use the fuel price comparison feature:
- Open the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the ‘Petrol’ button just underneath the main search box (or simply type ‘petrol station’ into the search bar).
- Scan your local area: you’ll see nearby stations pop up with price tags showing current rates per litre.
- Choose the best value: tap a station to double-check its location, compare costs and tap ‘Start’ to navigate straight there.
- There may be other fuel price comparison sites that you prefer to use: some people use Petrol Prices, but we’d recommend you using a price comparison site or app that works best for you.
Sarah-Jayne Williams, Director of Global Product Partnerships for Geo at Google, explains the reason for including the feature:
Integrating Fuel Finder data into Google Maps and Waze gives drivers visibility on nearby pump prices, helping drivers make intentional choices to help their budgets go further this winter.
Where to get more help with rising energy costs
Understandably, many people may be worried about rising fuel prices, as well as rising bills. Here are some ways you can get extra support.
1. Check if you’re eligible for extra benefits
Did you know that you could be entitled to extra benefits? Use our confidential and free benefits calculator to make sure that you’re not missing out on valuable financial support. You can also check to see if you’re eligible for Pension Credit.
2. Check if you’re eligible for free grants
To help with rising energy costs, it’s worth checking whether you’re eligible for grants that don’t need to be paid back. Use the Turn2us Grants Search to find money that you’re missing out on.
3. Get support if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills
Did you know that if you’re struggling to pay for rising energy bills, there are lots of ways to get help. You can:
4. Get free, expert debt help
Are you behind on energy bill payments? Our free, expert debt help service could help you find the best route out of debt.. Find a local CAP debt centre near you.
Find your local CAP Debt Help
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