How to Save Money on Gas
Gas prices just keep going up, and our wallets keep decreasing in size. This how-to will teach you many ways to save money at the local gas station.
Steps
1. Take out a credit card. Some credit cards offer gas savings when you use the card for purchases. This works in much the same way that some credit card companies give you frequent flyer miles when you use their card for purchases.
2. Get a gas membership card. Look for membership benefits. In addition, department and grocery stores give discounts at the fuel pump when you use their store membership cards. Shopping at Giant Eagle grocery store and using their membership card, it’s possible (at the time of this writing) to fill a car’s tank for .79 cents a gallon, with savings of $1.36 per gallon.
3. Give your car a good tune up. While giving your car a tune up won’t actually save you money at the pump, it will save you in gas. Using less gas saves you money over all. Have the oil changed, and have a certified mechanic give your engine a twice over.
4. Check the WWW for deals. Web sites let you find the best deals in your area.
5. Buy a hybrid car. Not only do hybrid cars give you immediate savings at the pump, the U.S. government and your local state offer tax breaks for people that use gas saving cars. Federal deductions for using gas saving cars can be as high as $2000. If you can’t afford the growing number of hybrid cars out there, consider getting a regular car with good MPG (miles per gallon), like the Toyota Echo.
6. Turn off the AC. Running the car’s air conditioning puts extra strain on your car’s engine. This translates into you car eating up more gas per mile. Use less gas, save money. Depending on the car you drive, at highway speeds, the AC might put less drag on your car than if all the windows are open. Therefore, you might want to keep it cool on the highway.
7. Use the cheaper stuff. Most modern cars run just as well with the cheap gas as they do with the more expensive gas. In fact, engineers assume the car buyer is going to use the cheap gas, and so, they design the car’s engine accordingly.
8. Don’t fill the tank when prices are higher. Gas suppliers and gas station owners can charge high prices for gas because they know people will pay for it. The owners monitor how much gas people are putting into their cars each day. If they hike up the price a few cents and people are still filling up their tanks, this tells the owners that people are willing to pay the high price. Adding only a few gallons to your car when prices are high sends a message to the owners that people are not happy about the high prices.
9. Don’t drive. Don’t drive when you don’t absolutely have to. Carpooling, walking, taking the bus, and riding a bike not only saves you gas, but these are better for the environment and may be better for your health. Do you really need to drive to the store when it is only a couple of blocks down the street?
10. Check the tire air pressures weekly. Buy an inexpensive manual air pump and an accurate tire gauge (not a pencil gauge as they are not accurate). Keep all tires inflated to the same pressure as recommended for your car but not for your tire. Go by the sticker on the doorframe and not the tire wall.
11. Drive at a consistent speed and keep the windows up tight. Keeping the windows closed reduces the drag on your car. Sticking to the speed limit also helps. So, will using less gear changes and revving the engine less. Avoid accelerating fast or braking suddenly. Use cruise control when you can.
12. Clean out any unnecessary items in your car. If you have heavy objects in your car that you don’t need – remove them. If your car is lighter, it will use less fuel to get you to where you’re going.
13. Avoid leaving your car idle. If you are going to be stopped for more than one minute, you will save gas by turning the car off and restarting when you are ready to go.
14. Buy on cold days. Buy fuel on cold days and if you can, drive on the hot days. When you buy on cold days, and pay for volume, you buy more “mass” of fuel for the same price. Never fill the tank completely or it will overflow when it becomes hotter.
Related posts:
- 13 Tips For Saving Money And Reducing Your Cost Of Living
During this current economic downturn, people are rediscovering how to save money during hard times. In this article, we document thirteen of the most useful tips for helping you and your family save money and reduce your overall expenses. While it is true that there are two ways to regain... - Eating Healthy While Saving Money
Everyone wants to be healthy. Nobody likes getting sick or feeling like they’re out of shape. However, many people seem to deny themselves one of the easiest ways to live well – the healthy diet. Reasons vary from personal taste to lack of available options, but one reason that seems... - Saving Time and Money Working with a Real Estate Buyer’s Agent
In residential real estate transactions, sellers commonly take pains to interview and to select a Realtor. They will talk to friends, get referrals, ask for references, and generally interview prospects. Buyers, on the other hand, tend to just respond to an ad, as if “University Park homes for sale” tells... - Painless Ways to Find Money for an Emergency
If your plan for money for your next emergency is to scoop up the change that falls between the cushions, you might want to come up with a plan to add to that stash. It is always a good idea to have a little extra green for the lean times.... - Simpler Solutions for Managing your Money
Let’s face it, coming up with smart and simple ways of saving money takes thinking that is a bit more creative. Use some of these shortcuts to managing your finances. They are guaranteed to save you time and money. Trick your mind into saving Can’t always come up with where... - 7 Serious Ways to Save Money – Not for the Faint of Heart
Do you truly want to save? Take a serious look at how you spend and then change it. Quit smoking those cigars, take in a roommate, park your car-and you’ll save as much as $10,000 a year. It really is just as easy as all that! Are you finding it... - Earn Money Sharing Videos
An easy way to make money on the Internet is by sharing videos with your friends. New video sharing web sites allows you to create web pages on their site. You earn commissions from advertisers and from membership fees. Everyone has sent viral videos to their friends. This new online... - Yes! You Really Can Save Money
Sometimes, saving money may seem impossible. You buy groceries on Monday, pay bills on Tuesday, and by Wednesday your paycheck has disappeared. However, if you establish a savings plan, you’ll “find” money in places you’ve never thought to look! If you’re like most American families, you wait for “extra” cash... - Do-It-Yourself Automotive Axle Assembly Repair Tips and Tricks
Replacing an axle assembly is not as difficult as you may think. For front-wheel drive cars, and for some rear-wheel drive cars, this can be a do-it-yourself job. You will want to review the repair manual of your vehicle to decide, based on your own mechanical skill, whether you feel... - GOOD WAYS TO FIND FREE MONEY
If you are tired of making lifestyle changes to accommodate your savings plans then read on. These ideas lead you to prime places to look for money that’s already rightfully yours. Some people see little point in changing their ways to save a quick $5 or $10. These same people... - The Secret to Making Online Money
So, you want to learn the secrets to making money online? You have come to the right place. In this article you will find out these truly guarded secrets to the top internet gurus. Every now and again, a big deal will go through, and people who have never seriously... - Thrifty Ways to Save Money
Saving for an emergency need not be a chore when you are making a good effort to put money aside constantly. Be in a mood of saving and watch as that bank account accumulates. Instead of buying a new DVD, save money by trading with family and friends. Once a... - Top Ten Tips For Happy Holiday Car Hire
When organising a holiday, more often than not what can go wrong will go wrong. There is a wealth of horror stories telling of bankrupt tour operators and roach infested hotels. Car hire is not immune as the subject of these sorts of tales, however with this expert checklist you... - Money Matters
With the rapid increase in the cost and standard of living bankruptcy is becoming a fairly common phenomenon. Bills, loans, credit card installments, fees etc; the list goes on. If you don’t know how to manage your finances and are the stress is building up, you might start feeling that... - Smart Tips for Living on a Budget
Regardless of the time in history and no matter what the current state of the economy, no matter what the current trends are, no matter what the unemployment rate is or where interest rates are, some money-saving ideas always work and stay true. Big changes come from small steps and...