This recession is tough, no doubt at all about it. While of course things will eventually turn around, the near future is especially unclear. Everyone would like to save a little money and one of the largest expenses eating away at household budgets these days is the cost of gasoline.
Given the high price of gas currently, it makes sense to save some money on gas – but it may not be possible for you to curtail your driving, or you have already done so as much as possible. How else can you save on the portion of your budget which goes to gas? There are a few things you can do to keep this cost down; keep reading for some helpful hints on stretching your gas dollar. You’ll save money while helping the environment by using less oil. It’s a win-win situation.
1) Fill your tank in the morning. Like most liquids, 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 it is unavoidable.
2) Start coasting into stoplights instead of slamming on the brakes. You use less gas when you do this. The savings may not be immediately apparent, but over time the savings will add up. Try this for a year – you’ll be surprised how much money you save!
3) Keep your car's tires fully inflated. Did you know that if your tires are not properly inflated, you can be losing as much as 20% energy efficiency? When your tires are fully inflated you’ll get a lot more mileage to the gallon. Make a habit of checking your tire pressure and your bank account will thank you.
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) Use a gas card. Using a gas card is a great way to save money on gas – when you buy a gas card, you lock in the price of gas at the time it was purchased, meaning if prices rise this will not affect you (until the card is used up). There are also often discounts associated with these gas cards. They are available in various denominations and are offered by most gas stations. These are a real money saver and also make a great gift!
In this recession, 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 a job well done!
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