As gas prices recently skyrocketed as a result of the unrest in the Middle East, it’s understandable that drivers would be concerned with trying to save money and limit their gasoline consumption. Unfortunately, gasoline is a necessity in our economy, but that doesn’t mean we have to continue paying for it and using it unwisely. We know that it actually pays to be smart about how we spend our money, and, despite our dependence on gasoline, this mantra still applies. Here are a few ways to save money on gas by being smart about how we use and pay for gasoline.
Find Gas with an Online Price Locator
Many site on the internet and many applications for your phones will provide you with cheap gas locators. These tools are especially helpful because they keep updated databases of what prices are best near your current location. I use one on my local news website to check gas prices in the morning before I go to work and in the evening when I drive home. A quick search of the web will give you a handful to choose from; use the one that works best for you.
Carefully Plan Your Errands
If you’re at all like me, then you probably wait until the weekend to run errands for groceries and other necessary items. Unfortunately, running errands uses up gasoline, especially if you’re driving all over town. Because of this, you should try to plan out your errands better. Do them all at once and use a mapping tool to minimize the time you spend driving and sitting in traffic. If you plan out your errands and know exactly what you need to do before you get in the car, then you can avoid side-trips for forgotten items.
Sacrifice Some Pleasures
High gas prices mean that many of your pleasure-activities will be more costly, even though you won’t see that higher cost included in the bill. Driving out for dinner and a show or heading off for a weekend road trip will be slightly more expensive. Add up numerous other gas-guzzling pleasures, and you’re suddenly looking at a hefty bill. During high oil prices this summer, maybe you should sacrifice a bit and tone down some of those pleasure-activities. Instead of going out, spend a nice night making a great dinner at home.
Maintain Your Vehicle
If you absolutely have to drive around, then you should make sure your vehicle is as gas-friendly as possible. Maintain your vehicle. Keep air in the tires. Change out the air filters. Change the oil. Periodically check to make sure that all of these things are clean and efficient. The more miles you can get out of a tank of gas means you’ll have to buy less gas.
Use Alternate Forms of Transportation
Finally, if possible, consider taking alternate forms of transportation, such as the bus or train. Of course, this simple option is greatly limited by where and how you live, so don’t kick yourself if this isn’t an option. But, it could really be a great option if you’re really trying to save money.
Carpool with Co-Workers
This is another relatively basic tip, but it makes the most sense, especially if your live nearby your co-workers. Set up a weekly carpool and commit to joining that carpool. Alternate drivers each week, and work out a way of sharing the cost on gas that is most fair to everyone in the group. The added benefit of using a carpool is that you can often drive in high occupancy vehicle lanes, which means you spend less time sitting in traffic and more time saving gas!
Post by Katheryn Rivas who is a freelance writer and blog junkie, who blogs about online universities. She especially loves hearing back from her readers. Questions or comments can be sent to: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.
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