In this market of ever-increasing financial burden, many people are looking to downsize. Country piles are being exchanged for boxes in the suburbs - and cost about the same. Big hair has been replaced by sleek bobs that are less time consuming and do not have to be primped at the hairdressers more than once every couple of months. And then we have the cars.

There will be one group of people that want to buck the system regardless of cost and will take ownership of ozone-destroying four wheel drive vehicles so that they can nip to the corner shop in comfort and style and sod the environment and the government who make them pay higher taxes.

And then we have those who want to down size to a mini version of their road going vehicle to save on tax, fuel and insurance. These are the smart ones - in their smart cars. With a mini price of just under seven thousand pounds for a brand new version of a smart car you will be saving straight away.

Getting seventy miles per gallon from the petrol version of this mini car and up to ninety miles per gallon for the diesel version will save you exorbitant amounts of money. With its ultra low emissions, you will not have to pay road tax or congestion charges, ever.

Of course, if you weren't happy with the mini version of a vehicle that will get you from A to B just as easily as any other car, you could stick with one of the man eating versions that would cost you up to a possible one thousand pounds for a years' road tax and will give you a mere twelve miles per gallon of fuel. Fine if you've got money to burn otherwise take the sensible option and shrink your ride.

If you think you would feel silly in a Smart car there are plenty of others that will come into the same money saving category. Try the Mini itself which has made a huge comeback in popularity. With tons more room and a huge number of variations to make it personal, this mini car will see you quid's in when it comes to all road going expenses. There's also the KA from Ford. With over forty miles per gallon, cheaper road tax and low on car insurance, savings can be made all round.

It is the aim of many governments to force

manufacturers to reduce the carbon footprint churned out by their cars and to this end, many companies are producing mini cars that do just that. The Geneva motor show earlier this year had many offering in the arena of mini cars.

New models of smaller cars that are more fuel efficient went on show, including the new Saab ethanol-powered 9-1X and the Toyota iQ which is just three metres long but still manages to comfortably accommodate three adults and one child. Audi opted to show their latest A3 soft top which is in completion with the BMW 1-series that was unveiled in America in January.

Of course, whichever car you chose, if you get the mini version you will see a mini outlay in initial costs, running costs and taxes. You can't possibly lose and will sleep better at night knowing that you have done your bit for the environment.