These are difficult times for most of us, at least when it comes to finances. While things are bound to improve eventually, there’s no time like the present to look for ways to cut your household’s expenses. All of us could use a little wiggle room in our budget and one of the biggest parts of most people’s monthly budget after housing is gasoline.
With the price of gas as high as it is, it’s only natural to want to save money on this important expense. You have probably already reduced your driving as much as possible, but are looking for more ways to stretch your dollar when it comes to filling your tank. Keep reading for five ways to save money on gas -you’ll make your paycheck go a little farther while doing something for the environment by keeping your fossil fuel consumption down.
1) Fill your tank in the morning. Like any other liquid, gasoline expands when heated and contracts when cooled. Since gas is sold by volume, not weight this is a great way to shave a little off your costs at the pump. Fill up in the morning or at night when temperatures are cooler and you’ll be getting more gasoline for the same price. Try to avoid filling up at noon unless you can’t avoid it.
2) Don’t brake inches before stoplights. Slow down and coast your way there. This is a small savings at first, but will really add up over time – try it and see how much you save over a year.
3) Keep an eye on your car’s tire pressure. This is a big money saver. If your tires are not properly inflated, you could be losing a lot of money on gas. Your car will get the most mileage out of your tank when your tires are inflated to the appropriate level – this can save you between 10% and 20% on your gasoline costs! Check your tire pressure regularly.
4) Get your engine serviced regularly. Now it can be expensive to have your engine serviced, but trust me – an engine which is working properly uses gas far more efficiently and this expense will pay for itself easily.
5) Get a gas card. These are a great way to save money on gas. A gas card lets you lock in the price of gas when you buy the card, so you won’t be affected by price increases until the card is used up. You generally also get discounts on purchases as gas stations when you use these cards, making them a great value. They even make a good gift and can save you a lot of money on gas.
In these tough economic times, you need savings wherever you can find them. The money you save on gas can be used for savings, to cover other expenses, even to reward yourself for your thriftiness!
