Rather than a maximum spend for petrol, we need a minimum

[KingsleyShacklebolt]

Lots of talk of rationing petrol to deal with the people who are panic buying.

I would suggest an alternative approach - a minimum spend. I filled my car yesterday, it's a big mum bus MPV thing so takes £60 - £70 of diesel to fill up. And before anyone asks yes I did need to fill it, it was well into the red.

But the woman in front of me and the man adjacent spent less than £10 each. So their car was clearly not empty.

So why not have a minimum spend? Say £20 or £30? It would stop people topping up every couple of days "just in case". Would stop people filling jerry cans. People aren't going to keep filling up jerry cans or topping up every day if they know that their couple of litres is going to cost £30.

How about motorbikes? I haven't ridden one for a while but the patrol tanks probably can't fit £30 of petrol in.

Not during a panic/ shortage obvs but I used to use a petrol can for the lawnmower. Have a battery one now.

Yet another poster on MN who makes sure we know they are fully justified in buying petrol for their own car, along with a heap of judgement for anyone else daring to do the same.

@toomuchlaundry

They should stop people filling up jerry cans to start with

My mum runs a petrol station abd has done this. It goes in a vehicle only. Emergency service vehicles skip the queue.

I applaud her decisions

@Mummyoflittledragon
How do you suggest dh mows the grass?

Well if there was a water shortage he wouldn't water it so supposedly whilst there is a (panic made) petrol shortage then he shouldn't mow the grass.

What I'm confused about is all the people in this thread who don't understand how money works- putting £50 in your car every five weeks is the same as £10 every week and saves you four miserable trips to the petrol station! Plus people who could afford to fill up but think they're better off on half a tank at all times. So weird.

Yes, I understand lots of people live week to week, I've been there, but I still managed to budget my ten pounds per week to save for the next fill-up instead of stopping every week.

There are some really ignorant and judgy comments on this thread (which in itself is ignorant and judgy!).

I usually fill my car up on payday. It takes about £60 to fill the tank.

Sometimes that lasts the month but I'll usually do a top up. I need to top up today but I'm 4 days away from payday so I'll only put in what I need to get me to then. That'll be about 10-15 pounds.

I didn't realise other people might be judging me for how much fuel I do or don't put in my car on the forecourt!

I think it should be no filling up if you have more than half a tank left but I accept that is impossible to police.

@Wroxie

What I'm confused about is all the people in this thread who don't understand how money works- putting £50 in your car every five weeks is the same as £10 every week and saves you four miserable trips to the petrol station! Plus people who could afford to fill up but think they're better off on half a tank at all times. So weird.

Yes, I understand lots of people live week to week, I've been there, but I still managed to budget my ten pounds per week to save for the next fill-up instead of stopping every week.

Bully for you.

I was weekly paid. With weekly tax credits.

My local garage is about 6p more a litre than the cheaper one I pass a couple of times a week. So if I'm running low, a tenner in the more expensive garage gets me to the cheaper garage where I fill up.

No one needs petrol to mow their lawn. It can wait until the petrol supply has stabilised at the pumps.

If it doesn’t return to normal quickly, supply should be prioritised for the emergency services and health care workers. Everyone else will have to wait.

Maybe you should stop driving the gas guzzler. My tank takes only about £40 to fill. I get anywhere between £20 to £40 each time. Also if I’m going to a long trip, I prefer to fill up near home so I won’t be worried about finding somewhere to refuel in the weekend.

"If it doesn’t return to normal quickly, supply should be prioritised for the emergency services and health care workers. Everyone else will have to wait."

No food deliveries to shops then?

Well no, we're being told to buy fuel as we always buy fuel. My regular pattern of buying is to fill up to the top when it's in the red and the light comes on.
Mine is to fill up when my tank hits half full, 35 litre tank.

@Wroxie

What I'm confused about is all the people in this thread who don't understand how money works- putting £50 in your car every five weeks is the same as £10 every week and saves you four miserable trips to the petrol station! Plus people who could afford to fill up but think they're better off on half a tank at all times. So weird.

Yes, I understand lots of people live week to week, I've been there, but I still managed to budget my ten pounds per week to save for the next fill-up instead of stopping every week.

I think plenty of people understand that lol, we're not morons.

The point is, many people can't afford to save £10 per week to go towards a big fill-up. If all you have is £10 for fuel and your tank is empty, then it needs to go in your tank right then and there.

I put £20 in yesterday because I was on the red and that's all I have spare until pay day on Tuesday ! Not because I wanted to top up!

I think petrol allowance should be based on interpretive dance - cashiers to decide how much each motorist can have based on how moved they were by the performance. Those wanting to fill Jerry cans only allowed if they do the cancan on the forecourt (including the splits). It’s the only fair way.

@TimeForTeaAndG

My local garage is about 6p more a litre than the cheaper one I pass a couple of times a week. So if I'm running low, a tenner in the more expensive garage gets me to the cheaper garage where I fill up.

Yes, if I'm forced to use an expensive garage I will just buy a tenner's worth. Which is why I usually keep the tank half full, to avoid spending more.

@FortunesFavour

I think petrol allowance should be based on interpretive dance - cashiers to decide how much each motorist can have based on how moved they were by the performance. Those wanting to fill Jerry cans only allowed if they do the cancan on the forecourt (including the splits). It’s the only fair way.

Can us disabled people get extra points for use of crutches and other aids?

@KingsleyShacklebolt how about you be the bigger person here and stop trying to back peddle and apologise for being incredibly tone deaf, it’s hard to do but makes you a better person.

@Parker231

No one needs petrol to mow their lawn. It can wait until the petrol supply has stabilised at the pumps.

If it doesn’t return to normal quickly, supply should be prioritised for the emergency services and health care workers. Everyone else will have to wait.

Okay, so if that happens, how are the following people supposed to do their jobs and get to work:

Retail workers (checkout staff, food delivery drivers)
HGV workers who deliver our food up and down the country
People who work for electric, gas and water companies.
People who work for broadband and electric companies.
The people who work in the petrol stations that sell the fuel to all these emergency workers.
Teachers, support staff and anyone who works in a school.

etc etc.

Anyway, there isn't a shortage of petrol - there is a shortage of drivers. If people just carried on as normal, there wouldn't be all this panic in the first place.

@FortunesFavour

I think petrol allowance should be based on interpretive dance - cashiers to decide how much each motorist can have based on how moved they were by the performance. Those wanting to fill Jerry cans only allowed if they do the cancan on the forecourt (including the splits). It’s the only fair way.

Seems more logical than any other solution OP has offered!

Suitcases - yes indeed. In fact that would earn you 2 whole Jerry cans from the cashier jury! It is a great shame of course for those who aren’t physically able to dance I’ll grant you, but meh, doubt they really need petrol anyway.

Would be nice if the op had the guts to come back and apologise instead of doubling down. But I’m not holding my breath.

@FortunesFavour

Suitcases - yes indeed. In fact that would earn you 2 whole Jerry cans from the cashier jury! It is a great shame of course for those who aren’t physically able to dance I’ll grant you, but meh, doubt they really need petrol anyway.

And obviously we disabled shouldn’t be on the road during rush hour so no points if we arrive for petrol between 8-10am and 4-6pm?

@Suitcaseseverywhere

Would be nice if the op had the guts to come back and apologise instead of doubling down. But I’m not holding my breath.

We aren't owed an apology just because someone has a stupid idea LOL.