The cost of fuel is affecting everyone! I have never thought about little things I could do to save a few cents here and there, but when we hit five bucks a gallon, we are definitely thinking about it!
I have seen some great tips I wanted to share, some pretty interesting ones I had never considered! I hope you find these helpful!
- Use a gas app that tells you where the best price is. I was amazed last weekend to see prices ranging from 4.98 per gallon to $5.25. It pays to shop! GasBuddy, GasGuru, Waze, and Upside are easy to use. I looked at it this morning, and prices ranged from $4.89 to $5.02
- Drive slower! It may take you a little longer to get there – but the saving can add up
- Don’t let your tank get low – fill up at a half a tank
- Make sure you have Proper Tire pressure
- If you’re not using the racks on top of your vehicle – Remove them! Racks add extra weight and create wind resistance – both affect your gas mileage!
- Don’t haul around a bunch of stuff you are not using. If you have a box to drop off at the thrift shop, do it – don’t drive around with it for a week! Extra weight burns gas!
- Use a Rewards Gas Credit Card every time you fill up. If you are a Costco member, you can earn 4% in-store credit on the first $7000 you spend!
- Fill up early in the week – according to the surveys; gas prices tend to be lowest on Mondays and Tuesdays; weekends, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the highest.
- Obvious, but maybe something you haven’t considered – ride share, organize a carpool, use public transportation or ride your bike to work!
- Think about what route you are taking and “batch” your errands, so you make fewer trips.
- Use your cruise control – driving at a steady speed saves fuel and keeps you from exceeding the speed limit!
- Use your heater and air conditioning less – although there is debate about the drag on your car when windows are open if you are driving slower and around town, open your windows to cool off, over 30 MPH, roll up the windows, and use low air.
- Check your gas cap – a missing or lost cap allows gas to evaporate from your tank.
- Reduce your Idle Time – Don’t leave your car running while waiting for everything to get in. Don’t start the car until you are ready to go! According to Car.com, you don’t need to warm-up fuel-injected cars. Only idle long enough to warm up or cool down the interior and get going!
- Use the correct grade of gas for your vehicle. Premium gas can cost 50cents more per gallon than regular, and according to the Feder Trade Commission, “using higher-octane gasoline that your owner’s manual recommends offers no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage, or run cleaner.”
We hope these tips will help take a little of the sting of what we are all feeling! Cheers to a summer filled with memories, fun times, sunny skies, and cool nights!
We want to help you get the most mileage out of every dollar you earn.
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