Easy Ways to Save on Gas Money

(This is a guest post by my friend Charles over at a cool credit card site, Credit Donkey.)

With increasing gas prices, people are desperate to find ways to cut back on their gas money. It may seem impossible, but with a little time you can make the necessary changes. There are many fool proof ways you can cut down on your gas costs, and stress related issues with gas prices.

1. Drive Smoothly: Believe it or not, the way you drive effects how much gas your car needs to use. Don’t speed up and down a lot. This uses more fuel, and is a rather large gas monster in general. Learn to keep your transition from your break pedal to your gas pedal, and you will spend less time pumping gas.
2. Drive The Speed Limit: Not only are speed limits in place for our safety, but they also help save on fuel. Anytime you go more than a few miles over the speed limit, your car uses more gas. When you pay attention to speed limits, you’ll notice a difference in the gas consumption of your vehicle.
3. Combine Drive Time: Instead of going to multiple places through the week, try to get all of your errands done on one or two trips. The best, and easiest way to save on gas is to simply cut back on your driving time.
4. Check Your Tires: If your tires are unbalanced, this can lead to the use of more fuel in your car as it tries to compensate. Find out which local gas stations offer free air, and try to check your tires on a monthly basis.
5. Tune Up: A tune up is important for your vehicle’s performance in gas usage. Simple things like checking your air filters, engine maintenence, and fuel tank tune ups are important. Try to get a tune up at least as often as stated in your car manual to avoid more gas usage than necessary.
6. Be Prepared: If you know that a holiday is looming in the distance, then you also know that gas prices are going to soar. Instead of paying more during those times, fill up before hand so you’re ready for the holiday. That way you won’t have to shell out the big bucks when it is time to visit grandma.
7. Join Gas Clubs: Many gas stations offer clubs or groups for their customers. Basically, this is where you join the club, get a card, and for every certain miles, you get a percentage of your gas. This can help save dollars each week, which adds up to hundreds of dollars over time.
8. Consider Car Pools: If you commute every day of the week, you may want to consider carpooling with another person a couple of times a week. Try to find someone from the same office area, so that you don’t have to worry about finding a bus or ride the rest of the way to work.
9. Drive Smaller Cars: For the most part, smaller cars often get the best gas rates. Before making an automobile purchase, do your homework. The more gas it saves you in the long run, the better.
10. Cash vs Credit: Did you know that some gas stations charge a cash price and a credit price? Weigh the difference against a gas rewards credit card and see if it makes more sense to pay in cash or with a credit card that might offer up to 5% cash back.

These 10 simple steps to help you save on gas money will make a great impact on your cash flow. It may feel a bit overwhelming, so try to take each step one at a time. As your gas bill lowers, you will readily begin making further changes.