In today's volatile economy, everybody is trying to save money on gas. And no wonder - with fuel prices rising and falling like the sun, there's no telling when your next $5 per gallon fill up will be.But nobody wants to sacrifice their comfort to save a few dollars. So here are five real ways to save money on gas without feeling like you're living in the middle ages..
1. Get a Smaller Car - The first item on our list is also the most obvious in terms of saving gas, however, not everyone equates this with the most practical or comfortable option. But the fact is today's small cars are more comfortable, safer, and cheaper than ever. You can often find pre-owned Honda Accords and Ford Focus's for less per month than you're paying in gas for your SUV! And they're fun to drive around town for everyday errands. For long road trips, you can often rent these cars and fill them with gas for less than the cost of driving larger vehicles such as trucks and SUV's.
2. Improve Your Driving Habits - We've all heard this before. If you drive according to the traffic regulations, you'll save money. It's true! For every 5 mph over the speed limit you drive, you're consuming as much as 10% more gas. You can also save substantial energy by reducing your acceleration between stops. It doesn't seem like much, but the vast majority of your gas goes out the exhaust pipe when you're accelerating, not while you're cruising. The same applies for breaking - time your stops to reduce necessary acceleration later. Speaking of mpg, you get zero when you're idling. Go into the restaurant instead of drive-through, it's usually faster. And don't leave it running while you 'run into the store'. Finally, if you have a standard, pattern your up-shifts as early as possible, and down shift less often. After about a week you won't even have to think it and you'll save as much as 33% fuel!
3. Tune Up Your Car - Back when carburetors were still in fashion, tuning up your car meant basic things like changing your plugs and oil. While your ignition system and the type of oil you use (synthetic offers less friction) are still significant, modern cars have many electrical components which contribute to efficiency. Hence, a mechanic is probably the best person to perform your tuneup. And on older cars, this should include checking for carbon deposits around the valves. One final maintenance tip you can perform at home - keep your tires inflated!
4. Save Money - This should be a natural one for most of us - look for the cheapest gas prices! Despite any the rumors about your local big-mart gas being filled up with half water, the reality is such that almost the entire gasoline industry uses the same 'grid' to create and deliver your fuel. Just look for the closest station with the cheapest gas. But don't overdo it - driving around the city for minutes or hours looking for the cheapest gas is sure to cost you more than it will save. Other ways to reduce price at the pump include discount credit cards and gas memberships.
5. Plan Your Trips - Modern technology has made it easier than ever to go exactly where we want, when we want. GPS systems let you take the lowest traffic routes to your destination, and stop at the most convenient locations along the way for necessities. Gas pricing websites show you where you can find the best deals without driving around lost low on fuel. Finally, there's the good old fashioned sense of direction - know what you're doing before you set out! If you're just getting distracted by random places along the way, you're sure to get lost and frustrated for hours.
So while fuel costs may not be getting any cheaper, know that you can save substantial energy without sacrificing the modern conveniences you've come to enjoy. It may not be financially practical to go out and buy a car that gets 5 mpg more than your current one, but sometimes just looking at what you already have from a new perspective is enough to get what you want!
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