Tips to Save at the Gas Pump

Everyone is sick and tired of paying high gas prices, you are not alone! Here are some tips to help you save some of your hard earned money.

First of all, it is always better to fill your tank either early in the morning or late at night. Gas is much denser at a cold temperature, so you get more for your buck. Also, be sure to shop around. Gone are the days of just going down to your corner station out of habit. The best way to shop for gas prices is online, so you don't waste a drop of gas driving around. I have found up to a .50 cent/gallon difference between stations 1 mile apart, just by a quick web search!

By keeping your car tuned up, you can help improve the fuel economy by up to 20 percent. Keep your tires properly inflated to the suggested PSI, and make sure they are aligned correctly. Remember especially to check your tire pressure during the change of seasons, as it will get lower during cold weather, as the air contracts.

Also change your oil, fuel, and air filters on a regular basis (Every 3 months or 3,000 miles), so your engine doesn't have to work any harder than it has to. Have you changed your spark plugs this century? You should include that as part of your 15,000 mile service. Simple maintenance can save you literally hundreds of dollars a year, if you drive a lot. If you are not mechanically minded, shop around for an express lube shop or service station. They usually run good deals and know exactly what needs to be done.

If your vehicle has a roof mounted rack for luggage, bicycles, skis, etc., you should remove it. Believe it or not, they create a lot of aerodynamic drag, and removing it will help you save on gas, and also reduce wind noise on the highway. Keeping your car clean and waxed also lowers your wind resistance, and increases your fuel savings. Think of it like professional cycling or Olympic swimming... the more streamlined you are, the easier it is to go faster.

Another thing to keep in mind is, stick to the posted speed limits, as your vehicle uses more gas when you drive faster. Easy on the pedal, Easy on the wallet, is a good rule of thumb. Of course, you should combine errands whenever possible, to avoid putting on extra miles. This also has a combined effect on global gas prices, if everyone cuts down on their driving to minimum necessities, as the supply vs. demand changes.

It would be nice to have one of those new hybrid cars, and get 70 miles to the gallon, but not everyone can afford to get one right now. In the meantime, hopefully these tips can help you save up towards purchasing one. However, if you currently have a SUV or other gas-hog, you may want to consider trading it in on something a little friendlier at the pump. Now that the kids are all grown up, do you still need that big of a rig?