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Tips to Save Money On Gas
Are you spending way too much money on gas? Maybe you have a hybrid like me but you still seem to fill up on gas way too often.
Gas prices fluctuate so its hard to always stay on budget.
Gas is definitely one of my highest weekly expenses and it may be yours too.
That’s why I try and follow some of these gas saving strategies below. Because the more money we can save on fuel, the more we’ll have to spend on something else.
Here are a few ways to save money on gas!
Clean Out Your Trunk!
Do you have a lot of junk in your trunk? I am super guilty of this one! My car trunk is always full. But I try and keep the heavy items out as much as I can. If your trunk is like mine, it’s time to clean it out.
Studies indicate that for every one hundred pounds of excess weight inside and outside of your car, you lose as much as a mile of travel per gallon of gas.
I don’t know about you but makes me want to go check my trunk again!
It’s a super simple tip and one anyone can do.
Avoid Idling
What’s idling? Idling is leaving your engine running while your car is not moving. Common reasons for idling include waiting for someone or warming up the car.
Are you in the habit of warming up your car in cold weather? If so, you might want to bundle up more instead.
Worried about your engine?
According to Marc.org, its a myth that restarting your engine is bad…….
Since the early ’90s, nearly all passenger cars in the U.S. have come equipped with fuel injection technology. This efficient delivery of fuel to your car’s engine keeps oil from washing off cylinder interiors and prevents oil dilution. Only your battery and starter are truly affected by frequent starts. But the cost of this wear and tear is only estimated at $10 a year, which is outweighed by the fuel-cost savings of shutting off your engine.
If you insist on warming up your car, do it for a small amount of time! I know people who have remote starters and start the car 15 minutes before they leave the house (that’s a lot of waste).
Don’t let that be you.
Check Your Tires
It’s extremely important to monitor the air pressure of your tires – not only to save money on gas but also to help to ensure that they last as long as possible.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, for every 1-psi drop in tire pressure, you can expect your gas mileage to lower by 0.4 percent!
That may not seem like a lot but if you’re always driving at the wrong tire pressure your wasting money!
Maintain a Consistent Speed
According to FuelEconomy.gov aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking) wastes gas! It can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
According to their findings, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Crazy right?
Depending on your current driving habits, maintaining a consistent driving speed can save you between 5 and 20 percent on the cost of gas. Repeated acceleration and braking does not conserve fuel; it uses it up much faster.
In addition, driving at an even speed is just plain safer so it’s a win-win!
Use a Gas Saving App
Free apps like GasBuddy can help you save on gas by locating the cheapest and best gas stations in your area. You can also enter sweepstakes to win gas cards and plan out trips using their gas trip calculator.
GasBuddy will even tell you what days it predicts you should fill up. Nothing stinks more than gas prices dipping 5 cents a gallon when you just filled up yesterday!
Source: GasBuddy
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How to Spend Less and Save More
GasBuddy is available in the App Store and on Google Play. Go ahead and download GasBuddy.
Plan Out Your Trips
Plan out your commute and errands so that you’re not wasting gas or time! If you plan out your weekly errands so that you get them all done without having to run out multiple times or go back and forth around town, you will save on gas.
Keep a grocery list or errand list in your car or on your phone and check it before you start to drive. Knowing what you need will prompt you to stop on your way home or to work etc.
I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten home only to remember that I needed something at the store I passed on my way home. Not only am I wasting time but also gas and wear and tear on my car.
Use a Gas Reward Credit Card
If you’re going to fill up any way you might as well get rewarded for it. Consider using a gas credit card or a credit card that offers cash back when used at gas stations.
Just make sure you are paying off your card BEFORE its due to avoid any interest charges.
If you already have a bunch of debt on your credit card I wouldn’t use this strategy but if you have a card you can use and pay off right away then you can save money on gas this way.
These are just a few tips to consider in regard to saving money on gas. Do you have any tips you want to share? Leave them in the comments below!