Posted by admin on June 25th, 2009
With fluctuating gas prices and a challenging economy that’s requiring us all to tighten our finances a bit, finding a way to spend less money on gas can really help. Luckily, there are some simple ways to spend less money on gas that anyone can practice.
The first way to save money on gas may seem obvious but most people don’t do it – drive less. That’s right. Just don’t drive your car as much. For example, if you’re driving your car to the grocery store several times each week, instead combine those all of those small trips into one large trip once per week or every two weeks. Do this with your other normal weekly errands as well. All it takes is a little extra planning.
You can also substitute driving with walking or riding your bicycle. If you live close enough to stores, parks, your job or other places you drive to frequently, why not walk or ride your bike instead? You could even lose a few pounds in the process. Public transportation is also an alternative if you live in a metropolitan area. Carpooling is also a great way to save on gas, and some companies even give incentives to their employees for carpooling such as discounts on gas or preferential parking.
Some folks like too far away from work to walk or ride a bike, but there are still ways to spend less money on gas. Moving closer to your place of employment could save thousands of dollars on gas over the course of a year. Buying a hybrid automobile or alternative fuel vehicle is also another way to spend less on gas. In the next couple of years, several automakers will roll out new automobiles which run completely on electricity and use no gasoline at all. The daily commuting costs to run an electric vehicle are far less than their gas guzzling counterparts.
When you do buy gas, don’t fill your tank completely if gas prices are high. Fill up with enough gas to get by. If you fill your tank by small amounts each time, you can cost average the price of gas and lower your overall fuel costs by “playing the market” and taking advantage of fluctuations in gas prices.
Find a gas station that regularly has the best prices and switch if you find one with lower prices. Be a smart gasoline consumer first and foremost, and remember that brands don’t make much of a difference. Most national companies get their gas from the same refineries based on their proximity, so all of the gas is pretty much the same. Those “special gas additives” the companies sell are more of a marketing ploy than anything else. Buy the lowest octane rating recommended by your automobile manufacturer, which is always the cheapest. Most new cars are designed to work with lower octane blends, anyway. By cutting down on your gas consumption and shopping around, you could make substantial strides towards spending less on gas.
Posted by admin on June 10th, 2009
Keeping track of your gas mileage is an important task with gas prices rising and families looking for ways to save money in this challenging economy. It may seem like a tiresome task, but there are a number of good reasons to track of your gas mileage.
It can save you money
By tracking your gas mileage, you can alter your driving habits to increase fuel efficiency and save money. Doing things like driving less aggressively, using your cruise control more, heeding the posted speed limit, reducing the use of your air conditioning, and reducing the amount of time your car idles all help to increase your gas mileage and save you cash.
It can alert you to problems with your tires
Properly inflated tires reduce rolling resistance on the road and increase gas mileage for your car. Other problems with your tires like excessive wear can also decrease gas mileage. If your tires are out of balance they can affect your gas mileage negatively too. If you see a drop in the miles per gallon your car is getting, it may be time to rotate your tires, get new ones, or have your tires’ balance adjusted.
It can tell you that you are using the wrong oil for your car
Using the manufacturers recommended blend of motor oil will allow your vehicle to get better gas mileage. Different types of motor oil have different operating temperatures and viscosity ratings, which affects your engine’s performance. Dirty oil filters that need to be changed also negatively affect your engine’s performance and gas mileage. You don’t necessarily have to purchase the most expensive brand of oil at the quick change place, either. Just pay attention to the grade of oil that your owner’s manual suggests and use it whenever you get an oil change.
It can alert you to problems with your engine
If your car is getting fewer miles per gallon than it should, you might need a tune up. An improperly tuned car can reduce gas mileage by up to 20 percent. Bad spark plugs, a malfunctioning fuel system or broken emission controls can also add to your gas costs and damage your vehicle.
It can be a signal that it is time to buy a new car
If you have done everything you can to get your car into tip top shape and your gas mileage is still not as good as you had hoped, your car may have serious problems and may be nearing the end of its useful lifespan. Buying a car that gets 5-10 additional miles per gallon in fuel efficiency can save you thousands of dollars in gasoline over the course of a year of commuting to and from your place of employment. Purchasing a high efficiency automobile or hybrid could save you a lot of money on gas in the long run. If your car isn’t giving you the best gas mileage it can, it’s probably time to start shopping for a new one.
Posted by admin on June 3rd, 2009
Gas prices are at historically high levels and the long term trend is indicating more of the same for American drivers. If you operate one or more vehicles, you know that saving money somewhere, anywhere is important to maintaining your budget. Here are 9 tips to help you be financially wise when it comes to managing your car expenses.
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Posted by admin on September 8th, 2007
Losing money and not making the grade Delphi has declared bankruptcy and threatens to bring down a major automaker. Meanwhile Japanese automakers have increased their market share by over 3.4% over the last year due to the high fuel costs and the energy savings that these smaller vehicles are said to give.
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Posted by admin on September 7th, 2007
As global oil prices continue to rise meteorically to record levels, we have to find ways to improve our cars’ fuel economy and save money. Especially now that drivers are doing a lot more traveling than ever, the importance of fuel economy cannot be over emphasized.
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