The price of a gallon of gas continues to rise, and these days filling up your car's gas tank can put a real dent in your weekly budget. But as much as we may hope and dream of a return to cheap gas, it's unlikely to happen any time soon. With the global demand for oil increasing, and with oil supplies limited, prices are only going to continue to rise. So now, more than ever before, it's important to learn how to save money on gas so that trip to the pump doesn't wreck the family budget. The following money saving tips are easy to adopt, and will help every driver save money at the pump, and get the most out of a gallon of gas.
Maintaining Your Automobile
For many of us, the family car is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Saving money on fuel costs begins with how we care for our cars. A well maintained automobile performs more efficiently, and therefore squeezes more mileage out of a gallon of gas. To ensure that you are getting everything you pay for at the pump, have your car serviced regularly. Scheduled tune-ups and oil changes will help to increase your car's fuel efficiency, and will cut down on your trips to the pump. It is also important to keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommendations, and to keep your car's front end properly aligned. Proper tire pressure and alignment are important components in an automobile's over all fuel efficiency, and will also help to prolong the life of your tires.
Speeding and the Cost of Gas
While proper maintenance can do a lot to improve your car's performance, and help you save money on gas, your driving habits can often have an even bigger impact on fuel economy. For example, consider the effect speeding can have on you mileage. Driving at over 60 mph greatly reduces your car's gas mileage. In fact, every 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like adding an extra 25 cents to the cost of a single gallon of gas. That's significant, and it doesn't take long for those quarters to add up. By keeping to the speed limit you will waste less fuel, save more money at the pump, and have a safer trip to boot.
It's all too easy to fall into the trap of making a short trip to the shops whenever we run out of milk, or feel a craving coming on. But those short trips can be costly. Cold starts have a serious impact on fuel efficiency, and a series of short trips will use up a tank of gas much more quickly than a few longer trips. Plan your weekly errands for one afternoon, and try to reduce the necessity for separate short trips throughout the week. This will help you make a tank of gas last longer, and that means fewer trips to the gas station.
Carpool to Save Money
Commuting to and from work probably has the greatest impact on fuel consumption, but there are even ways to save money on the daily trip to the office. Carpooling can help you cut your fuel costs by as much as 50%. Sharing the trip to work with a co-worker, and splitting the cost of the gas, will help you both save money because you are both contributing to the fuel costs, also cutting mileage which will help save on car insurance. Carpooling also helps to reduce wear and tear on the family automobile which will lead to fewer repairs, lower maintenance costs, and better trade in value when you decide to upgrade to a more fuel efficient model. Saving money at the pump isn't difficult, it just requires a commitment to fuel efficiency and a dedication to smart driving habits. These few money saving tips will help you cut down on your gas usage, make fewer trips to the pump, and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.
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