Summer Money Saving Tip

Everyday it seems there is somewhere we need to be. Doctor appointments, grocery shopping, school functions, work, and trips to the gas station are a regular part of the routines in our lives. Gas prices have risen and are expected to keep rising. Everyone feels the hurt on their wallet in one way or another. Living in a rural area, there are no buses to ride. It's too far to town to ride a bike. There are still some other ways to help save on gas expenses. Some of these tips are common sense to the experienced driver, and may serve as a reminder. Some tips would be good information for a new driver.

Tip 1: Do Not Drive

This is the most obvious way to save money and gas. Don't drive if you don't need to. Carpooling when possible is a way to save. Take turns driving each week.

Tip 2: Discounts at the Pump

In our area, Murphy gas stations offer a 3 cent discount on gas when you use a Wal-Mart Shopping Card to purchase your gas. Over time, the savings could add up.

Tip 3: Car Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle properly will not save you money at the pump, but it will save you gas. Maintain a clean air filter and proper tire air pressure. Low tire pressure can create rolling resistance and reduce mileage as much as 25%. Change your oil at recommended intervals. Check spark plugs and spark plug wires for cracks and oil.

Tip 4: At the Pump

Gasoline is densest during the coolest time of day. Filling up at this time could save you money since you are charged by volume of measurement.

Do not let your gas tank go below a quarter tank. Running a car with less than a quarter tank of gas can shorten the fuel pump life. Fuel pump and fuel filter problems can be caused by letting the gas tank run down to empty.

Watch for patterns of days when gas prices drop. When you get gas, fill the tank all the way. This will save money on extra trips made to the gas station. Click the gas cap three times after filling up to ensure less evaporation of fuel. Use the lowest recommended octane of fuel for your vehicle. While lower octane gas is cheaper, the wrong octane may prevent your vehicle from running efficiently.

We have always used STP Gas Treatment every time we fill our car. Our car runs better with it, so we keep using it.

Tip 5: Drive Efficiently

Accelerate gently from complete stops. Drive at a consistent speed. Maintaining a safe distance and consistent speed lessens braking and acceleration. Slow down before reaching stop lights. The light may turn green before you reach a complete stop. Accelerate lightly before reaching hills instead of heavily during a hill.

Avoid idling for prolonged amounts of time when warming your engine. Idling for 1 minute and starting your engine consume the same amount of gas.

Combine short trips into one long trip. If that bill can wait until tomorrow when the doctor appointment is scheduled, pay it tomorrow.

Tip 6: Decrease Weight and Drag

Mileage can be lowered by drag created by racks on your vehicle. If they are not being used, remove them. Same thing applies with a tailgate. If you do not need it, take it off. If you are lugging around any heavy items in your vehicle that you do not need right away, remove them. Driving with the a/c on and windows up makes no considerable difference from driving with the a/c off and windows down. It's strictly preference.

Tip 7: Healthy Choices and Save Gas

If you have two stops close in proximity, park between the two and walk the difference. Park in the first parking spot you find and walk the rest of the distance. No sense in wasting gas while circling the parking lot for a closer spot. Instead of idling in the drive-through of a restaurant, park and go in.

Tip 8: Different Vehicle or Different Job

Small motorcycles are cheaper than most vehicles and get better gas mileage. Diesel cars give you the option of using Biodiesel or Waste Vegetable Oil. Hybrid cars give you immediate savings at the pump, if you can afford one.

Instead of changing vehicles, moving closer to your job or getting a job closer to home may be a cheaper, more realistic alternative.

There are many ways to help save money for gas or save gas. Find what works for you. Maybe a combination will give you a worthwhile difference on your wallet.