Have you seen gas prices recently? With gas approaching $3 a gallon again, consumers are looking for every way possible to save a few extra dollars. Gas costs, depending on how much you drive to and from work, can easily be the biggest expense in your budget behind rent/mortgage and food. You have probably already heard of traditional strategies such as buying regular gas and keeping your tires properly inflated, but here are seven additional strategies to cut your fuel costs.
1. Ride your bike.
You can save yourself some bucks by riding your bike or walking whenever possible. You can ride your bike or walk just about anywhere that’s not too far from you. How many times do you hop in your car for a drive that is 5 minutes or less? Walking or riding a bike is excellent exercise and heart healthy. Not only will it save you money, but it’s good for the environment as well. Riding your bike to work might be a little tough since we’re coming into the summer months and you don’t want to show up drenched in sweat, but how many restaurants and shops do you visit that are really close to your house? You could ride your bike to that kind of stuff.
2. Carpool to work.
Do you know any employees from your department that live in your area? If so, catch a ride with a buddy to and from work. Carpooling will reduce the amount of times that you have to gas up during the work week. It’s a great way to save money on both fuel and maintenance costs! It cuts down on the frequency of your oil changes and reduces wear and tear on your car. There are actually carpooling websites now that will match you up with someone if you don’t have a good friend to carpool with. eRideShare.com is one of the most common and reputable sites for carpool matching.
3. Telecommute.
In a perfect world we could all work from home on a daily basis. While this may not be possible at all jobs, it may be possible for you to work part-time from home. Ask your boss if you can take one day a week and work from home. Laptops, cellphones, and video conferencing have all made telecommuting a breeze. You’d be surprised at how many bosses will agree to this, because most telecommuters don’t slack off, and it ultimately saves the company money if you’re at home but still being productive for them.
4. Shop around for gas.
It’s best to fill up on gas before your tank gets on empty. This will give you the opportunity to shop for the lowest prices. In my area, gas stations like Royal Farms and Wawa’s are much cheaper than the big name gas stations like Exxon. Refilling before your tank is empty keeps you from having to just buy gas from the closest station. There are also a bunch of websites that can help you find the cheapest gas without searching around yourself. You can visit GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in your area. GasBuddy also has an iPhone application for finding cheap gas while on the road.
5. Use a gas card.
If you are going to buy gas on credit, use a gas card. Gas cards offer rebates that allow you to save on gas purchases and other retail purchases. Some gas cards offer as much as 5% off gas purchases. Just be sure to pay the balance off every month, otherwise we don’t recommend using a credit card. But if you are disciplined enough to set the money aside and basically pay it off right after you use it, you can save a lot of money in cash rebates and a reduced gas price at some gas stations.
6. Drive safely.
Aggressive drivers spend up to 37% more on their cars than moderate drivers according to Edmunds.com. Mashing the gas pedal and zooming in and out of traffic haphazardly will eat up your gas mileage rapidly. Aggressive driving is one of the best ways to wear down your brakes as well. Just because your car can go from 0 to 60 in under 6 seconds doesn’t mean you have to continually push it.
7. Get a scooter.
Consider getting a motorized scooter for traveling places out of walking distance. Since their popularity has waned, you can get a pretty good deal on a used scooter. A good scooter could get you as much as 75 miles per gallon. We recommend not taking a scooter in a heavily trafficked area due to the safety concerns, and always remember to wear a helmet!
(Photo credit: ReneS)
