Learn to love public transport (pic: Simon Fuller)

Did you know that the average British family spends more on running a car than on accommodation or food? Most people spend anything from £2,500 - £3,800 a year on their cars, and much of the time the motor is just sitting on the tarmac doing nothing.

Driving a car is also bad for the environment – obviously – so the less we can do it, or the cleaner we can do it, the better all round.

So if you have to drive, save money and help the environment by doing the following:

• Service your car regularly and check the tyre pressure. It can actually cut fuel costs.

• Drive responsibly. Belting along the highway will not save you money because it uses up more fuel to go the same distance. To be more energy-efficient, drive as smoothly as you can, stick to the higher gears, switch off the engine when you are not moving and use air conditioning and electronic devices sparingly.

• Join a car-sharing scheme or car club which is a lot cheaper than owning your own car. Look at Carclubs, Liftshare and National Car Share. Also, Gumtree often has lift-sharing opportunities.

• Get a small and affordable car with a little engine, saving you heaps of cash while doing the environment a world of good. An electric car is even better, if you don't generally do more than 70 miles at a time. In fact, if you like the idea of electric cars and you are wondering why there are not more on the roads, check out the film Who Killed The Electric Car?

• Look into alternative fuels as well as electricity, such as bio-diesel, Ethanol and LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas). Check out LPGA, Greenfuel, Plugitin and EVUK.

• Try buying eco-friendly car insurance for a policy which not only keeps you covered, but also invests in environmental projects to help balance out the carbon impact of your driving. Have a look at ibuyeco for further details.

• Find more tips at Transport Energy (part of the Energy Saving Trust).

• Alternatively, ditch the car altogether and go the way of the Dutch by getting a bicycle. Not only is it free and entirely environmentally friendly but it keeps you fit too. For more on cycle tours contact the Cyclists’ Touring Club at  or 0870 873 0060. Or even walk. There's radical.