26. Save $100+ per month – Save money on fuel costs
Here is a comprehensive listing for you to save money on fuel costs:
Drive once per week instead of daily to save fuel, do everything in one single day. Instead of driving every day, try to manage to visit places in one journey, one day, like at the end of the week, thereby reducing fuel consumption in half. You could also drive a cheap car, low fuel-consumption during the week, use the more expensive, more fuel-consuming and higher maintenance-cost car for the weekend only.
Stay at home most of the time, the more you go out, you are spending money while being outside, and on fuel costs. Stay at home watching TV, movies, play video games or surf the internet. Every hour you spend time outside the house, you burn $10 or more. Find yourself a cheap hobby instead of wasting your time and money outside.
Paying for your gas the smart way. One of the ways that you can save money at the gas pump is by using a gasoline credit card. When you have a gas card you’ll be able to get 5 or 10 percent rebate back on the purchase of your gas. This can amount to as much as $75 to $300 each year. If you have multiple drivers in your family you’ll want to make sure that every car driving person carries a gasoline credit card with them so that you can take advantage of multiple gas sales. Many gasoline companies are joining up with other retailers to give you numerous savings at the gas pump.
You’ll be able to not only save on your gas purchase, but you’ll be able to earn points towards your next purchase with participating retailers.
Conserve fuel costs by taking highways for driving, avoid city traffic, drive during day when there is less traffic, drive once per week (everything together), plan one itinerary for all errands, drive slowly, not too fast. If you need that daily energy boost, get a good coffee machine, instead of paying $3-5 each morning to for your daily latte, cappuccino or mocha ($3 * 30 days = $90 per month + fuel costs). Or buy in bulk in a store, cheap energy drinks for $1 each (50cl), one of those high-energized power-drinks each morning and you can kick some ass.
Keep it light. Remove any heavy, unnecessary items from your car. An extra 100 pounds can decrease fuel economy of an average automobile by about one percent. Find the shortest route: The shorter the distance you have to travel, the less gas you will have to use.
Keep your car as long as possible. When possible, try to keep your car as long as possible. Find the balance between the money spent on repairs versus the monthly installment on another vehicle and choose to run your old car as long as the repair costs are low.
Do regular scheduled maintenance on your vehicles. Do not skimp on or forget to do regular oil changes. Remember to check the air in your tires often. And use the grade of fuel that the owner’s manual recommends. These small acts can significantly lengthen the life of your car, giving you years of use.
Avoid buying a new car. When you eventually buy a car, see if you can make do with a pre-owned vehicle. A new car depreciates significantly the moment you drive it out the dealership. Is the new car small really worth thousands of dollars? Pre-owned cars that are only a few years old with low mileage are the best bargains. Regardless of the purchase, learn to negotiate with car dealers.
Share a ride with a colleague or spouse and save both on gas and reduce the environmental footprint.
Carpool. Is there anyone that lives near you who works at the same place (or near the same place) that you do? Why not ride together, alternating drivers each day? You can halve the wear and tear and gas costs for your car – and for your acquaintance as well. Brett saves $122 a month on gas by carpooling.
Consider carpooling. Carpool matching services are available free in many communities. Do a search online for a local carpool center, or call your local government.
Clean your car’s air filter. A clean air filter can improve your gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more than $100 for every 10,000 miles you drive in an average vehicle. Plus, cleaning your air filter is easy to do in just a few minutes – just follow the instructions in your automobile’s manual and you’re good to go.
Young people make the mistake to change oil at 3,000 miles, 7.5 to 10k is fine. Use synthetic motor oil if it fits your situation. You can then change your oil less often (once every 15,000 miles or once per year).
Keep tires properly inflated. It keeps you safe and costs less on gas. Air up your tires. For every two PSI that all of your tires are below the recommended level, you lose 1% on your gas mileage. Most car tires are five to ten PSI below the normal level, so that means by just airing up your tires, you can improve your gas mileage by up to 5%. It’s easy, too. Just read your car’s manual to see what the recommended tire pressure is, then head to the gas station. Ask the attendant inside if they have a tire air gauge you can borrow (most of them do, both in urban and rural settings), then stop over by the air pump. Check your tires, then use the pump to fill them up to where they should be. It’s basically free gas!
Don’t speed. Not only is it inefficient in terms of gasoline usage, it also can get you pulled over and cost you a bundle, as I discovered a while back. It’s highly cost-efficient to just drive the speed limit, keep that gas in the tank, and keep the cops off your tail.
Drive the speed limit. Make sure that you observe the speed limit. Your gas mileage will decrease rapidly when you travel at speeds over 60 mph. For every 5 mph that you drive over the 60 mph mark you are adding an extra 10 cents onto each gallon of gas that you purchase. Keep in mind that you will be using at least 20 percent more gas when you are traveling at 70 mph than you would driving at 55 mph. If there are other family members in your home that drive, particularly younger drivers, make sure that you keep them aware of the higher fuel costs that are associated with driving too fast and too much over the recommended speed limit that is posted.
Drive a different route to work. This is an especially powerful tip if you find yourself “automatically” stopping for something on the way into work or the way home. Get rid of that constant drain by selecting a different route that doesn’t go by the temptation, even if the new route is a bit longer. You’ll still be time ahead (because you’re not stopping) and you’ll definitely be money ahead. If you must drive every day, figure out the cheapest route. Altering your path from major, clogged highways to side roads can save you money.
Reduce gasoline consumption. I added up the amount of gas I used per month - 4 tanks. That averages $200 p/month ($2,400 p/year). I have now creatively cut that to 1-2 tanks per month by combining trips to the store and carpooling.
Here's a tip for pumping gas. Don't just hold the pump nozzle down until you get to the amount of gas you want to buy ($$$); pump slowly when possible and/or stop pumping, let the fumes escape and the bubbles settle, then start pumping again. When you hold the pump nozzle down full blast you getting less gas than what you're paying for. Don't top off the gas tank. Too much gas will just slosh or seep out. Why waste those extra pennies?
Turn the nozzle. When you have finished filling up your gas tank try turning the nozzle of the hose a full 180 degrees. This will drain a bit more gas into your tank; in some cases up to an entire half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer. Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you’ll find yourself doing it without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you never have known about.
I've reduced the amount of shopping trips I make and plan ahead if I can to stock up rather than make several trips. If I know I'm going to use something I stock up while it's on sale. I've also looked at what I'm buying to see if it's good for me and cook more rather than eat out. Believe it or not a person can live nutritiously and satisfying for a little over $2.00 a meal and I brown bagged my lunch to work. I make sure my car is maintained and try to plan outings so I'm not traveling from one end to the other shopping or visiting or whatever. Saved about $40 per month on gasoline that way. And my son found out if he drives slower, like the speed limit he saves on gas.
If you do a fair amount of driving to unfamiliar places, go ahead and invest in a GPS unit. With the after-Christmas sales, you can easily find one for less than $100 new, or even $50 on eBay. They aren't likely to get much cheaper. The time and gasoline savings from taking the most direct route, and not getting lost as often, will easily allow you to recoup your money within a year. And, if you buy a unit that knows where those automated red-light violation cameras are, you might save yourself a costly ticket.
Save money by doing the least amount of traveling necessary. Road trips are great fun, but you will put out money for gas, accommodations, food, drink and entertainment. When it’s all said and done, your long weekend will smack your wallet.
We all have to monitor our spending. I live in southern ca and have to drive 20 miles on a freeway round trip to work. Gas was $4.39 a gallon for low grade. It costs almost $50 to fill my 10 gallon tank. I already drive a car that gets great mileage. (38 to 40 mpg freeway) People drive over 80mph here regularly. I conducted an experiment. For 30 days I didn't drive over 70mph, and used GPS to determine what order I should run my errands in. I Just by watching my speed and organizing my errand list I cut down my gas purchase from 3 tanks of gas to 2. I ended the month with almost a half tank of gas which will get me through the next 5 days. There ya go! AND I am not at risk of getting a $300 speeding ticket!
If you own a car, you’re probably spending money each month on gas, maintenance, and insurance. If it’s a newer car or you have a lease, you may also be making monthly payments. Consider whether your car is practical or if you could sell it or trade it in for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. There are alternatives to having a car that could help you save a significant amount of money, like:
- Riding a bike
- Walking
- Using public transportation
- Joining a car-sharing program
Combine your trips if possible with other members of the household that have errands. Drive less by combining your errands. Several separate short trips from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer trip when your vehicle’s engine is already warmed up.
Use the Internet to find the lowest gas prices is a great way to have all the information that you need before getting into your car to fuel up.
There are several sites on the Internet that will help you find the cheapest gas in your area.
One of these sites is GasBuddy.com. GasBuddy has all the information for both the United States and Canada to help you find the lowest gas price on the day that you are filling up your gas tank.
GasBuddy has over 170 websites that it uses to get you the recent best prices.
The price of gas is always changing so having the latest information is going to save you money over a period of time.
There are times that the price of gas will vary by up to 20 percent within a short radius so it’s important to you to stay current with the lowest price of gas.
When you use GasBuddy you’ll be able to save that much more each time you buy gas for your vehicle.
Get a hybrid car tax deductible. The government will give you a payment if you are willing to become more environmentally friendly and want to conserve gas. The owner of an IRS certified hybrid car is able to deduct $2,000 in the year that the car was first purchased and used.
Use overdrive gears on the highway. When you are traveling on the highway try to use your overdrive gears. By using your overdrive gears you can improve the fuel consumption in your car during highway type driving. The concept behind overdrive gears is that they decrease your engine speed, saving you on engine wear and gas consumption. If you are uncertain about how to use your overdrive gears, ask a friend or put in a call to your mechanic for some advice.
Avoid fast driving in lower gears. If you drive at fast speeds using the wrong and often lower gears, you will reduce your fuel economy by as much as 40 percent. If you are driving a standard vehicle make sure that you know how to properly operate the gears and know when to shift. This is one of the common mistakes that many drivers make. By paying more attention to your driving techniques you will find that you can reduce some of your fuel costs.
Keep your foot off the brake. Try to avoid the habit of keeping your foot on the brake, even lightly, when you are driving. When you rest your foot on the brake you use more gas than you would otherwise and you also will wear out your brakes much sooner. If you find that you are keeping your foot on the brake without being aware of it you can try sticking a reminder note to yourself on the dashboard of your car. Start paying attention to your driving habits to see how important they are and to see how efficiently you drive. Do not rest your left foot on the brake. The slightest pressure could cause a drag that will demand additional gas use and wear out the brakes sooner.
Accelerate before hills. If you are approaching a hill try to accelerate before you reach the hill. This will help you to use up less gas while you are climbing the hill in your car. Remember to accelerate in a safe manner or you won’t be able to use this gas saving tip. You in no way want to put your life, or the lives of others, in any danger.
Avoid rush hour. If at all possible you should try to avoid driving during peak rush hours. When the traffic is crawling along you’ll be wasting gas and creating
wear and tear on your car. If you are heading home on a Friday night and know that your commute home is going to be one long slow crawl you may want to consider staying close to where you work and running some errands in the meantime. There is no need to start your commute home only to find that you are sitting in traffic with your car idling.
Avoid fast getaways at the stoplight. Accelerate slowly when the light turns green. The faster that you accelerate the more gas that you are going to consume.
Make sure you start at the stoplight slow and steady so that you conserve as much fuel as possible while you are going from a stopped position into a driving mode. It may be tempting for younger people to accelerate and race away from the stoplight. Don’t fall into this trap and you can save up to 20 percent in fuel costs just by being a safe driver.
Avoid running your gas tank too close to empty. Try not to drive your car when the gas gauge is on empty. You may think that you using very little gas
when your car is on empty, but you are in fact using more gas because your vehicle is running less efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in
a normal fashion. Keep your gas level above the quarter tank mark if at all possible.
Drive for free by signing up at autodriveaway.com for cars that need to be relocated. There’s no rental charge, only a $350 refundable deposit, and the first tank of gas is free. Also call rental car companies about one-way deals to relocate their vehicles.
Avoid using the A/C when you are driving around town. However, if you are driving on the highway at 55 or higher, the friction from having the windows down will actually use more gas than the A/C. Be smart with the air conditioning. On the highway, closed windows decrease air resistance, so run the air conditioner. In stop-and-go traffic, shut off the air conditioning and open the windows.
Avoid idling in drive-through lanes. Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine. Turn off the engine if you know you will have a long wait. Better still, park and go inside.
Use multi-grade motor oil labeled “energy conserving” to improve your gas mileage. Using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can reduce fuel efficiency by up to two percent.
Stop at the “click” – when you fill up, don’t top off your tank. Spilled gasoline pollutes the air when it evaporates, and it’s like dropping spare change on the ground.
If your vehicle has a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission, shift into your overdrive gear as soon as your speed is high enough. If you have a manual transmission, remember the lower the shift speed, the better your fuel economy.
Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Check the car manual. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping, the fuel you're using is fine.
Pay cash at stations that charge extra for credit cards.
Avoid long warmups. Even on cold winter mornings, your car doesn't need more than a minute to get ready to go. Anything more and you're just burning up that expensive fuel.
Tighten the gas cap. Buy a new one if your current cap doesn't fit snugly. Gas easily evaporates from the tank if it has an escape.
Remove snow tires in good weather. Deep tread and big tires use more fuel.
10 ways to save money on gas:
Want to save up to 20% or more on the cost of gas?
1. Check Your Air Filter
Nearly one in four cars needs an air filter replacement. A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10%.
Cost Savings: 20 cents a gallon*.
* Cost estimates in this feature are based on $2-a-gallon gas, and assume that the car goes from the worst possible condition to the best.
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your vehicle’s gas mileage
by as much as 10 percent. While you’re having the air filter replaced, have the mechanic check out your
oil and fuel filters, too.
2. Straighten Up
Poor alignment not only causes tires to wear out more quickly, but also forces your engine to work harder. Align your tires, and save up to 10%.
Cost Savings: 20 cents per gallon.
3. Tune Up
When was your last tune up? A properly maintained engine can improve mileage by up to 4%.
Cost Savings: 8 cents a gallon.
4. Pump 'em Up
More than one-quarter of vehicles are driving on deflated tires. The average under-inflation of 7.5 pounds causes a loss of 2.8% in fuel efficiency.
Cost Savings: 6 cents per gallon. This can improve fuel economy by up to one mile per gallon. Depending on the size of your gas tank, you could get an
extra 20 miles per tank.
5. Check Your Gas Cap
Believe it or not, it's been estimated that nearly 17% of cars on the road have broken or missing gas caps. What's the big deal? Escaping fumes not only hurt fuel economy but release smog-causing compounds into the air. Avoid air pollution and improving fuel mileage is as easy as replacing a bad gas cap.
Cost Savings: 1 cent per gallon.
6. Slow Down
For every 5 mph you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%.
Cost Savings: 14 cents (by reducing speed from 70 mph to 65 mph).
Drive the speed limit. Gas mileage drops the faster you drive. Each 5 mph over 60 mph is equivalent to
paying an extra 10 cents per gallon for gas. In a 20-gallon tank, that’s adding an extra $2 to your gas bill
for every 5-mile increment over 60 mph.
7. Drive More Smoothly
Avoiding jack-rabbit starts and stops, and herky-jerky driving will improve fuel economy. Don't believe it? Lousy driving on the highway can add as much as one-third to your gas bill.
Cost Savings: 66 cents a gallon.
Avoid aggressive driving, jackrabbit starts and quick stops. At highway speeds, you’ll lower your gas
mileage by about 33 percent. By maintaining a constant speed and driving sensibly, you could save as
much as 50 cents a gallon.
8. Lay Off The Brakes
Riding with your foot on the brake pedal will not only wear out brake pads (which will cost you at the maintenance shop) but can also increase gas consumption by as much as 35%. Cost Savings: 70 cents per gallon.
9. Lighten Up
For every 100 extra pounds carried around, your vehicle loses 1 to 2% in fuel efficiency. Don't drive around with too much junk in the trunk.
Cost Savings: 3 cents per gallon (assuming 100 pounds of weight removed).
10. Don't Idle
Besides causing pollution, idling wastes gas. If stopped for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine, and don't bother to "warm up" your car before driving -- it is not necessary. Cost Savings: 1 cent per gallon, for every three minutes you avoid idling.
