No one wants to waste money – which is why the manner you drive in can be so important. By following these simple tips, you can improve your car’s gas efficiency, saving you money in the long run! Read on for cost-cutting tips.
Develop Better Driving Habits
Rapid acceleration, speeding, and other forms of aggressive driving are not only a nuisance to other drivers, but they’re also costing you big. Stopping gradually and slowly accelerating from a stop can help cut fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent. When driving on the highway, turn on cruise control, as this handy feature will boost your vehicle’s gas mileage by a noticeable amount. As long as you take it easy and develop good driving habits, you’re already coming out ahead.
Download a Mobile App
Smartphone apps like GasBuddy and AAA Triptik are designed to help you locate the cheapest gas stations in your area, which makes them invaluable tools to have since prices are constantly fluctuating. You can even save gas by using your mobile phone to check traffic conditions. Waze or even the Maps app for iPhone, for instance, give you a helpful traffic report so that you can plan your route accordingly, avoiding all that gas-wasting idling.
Reduce the Weight
Hauling unnecessary cargo, especially on the roof of your vehicle, can really cut into your gas mileage. Luggage racks, cargo containers, and other exterior add-ons create more wind resistance, making your vehicle less aerodynamic. Any extra weight in the trunk or cargo space can also be detrimental to your fuel economy. Unless you’re setting out on a road trip and require all that extra gear – leave it at home.
Turn Off the Air Conditioning
Cranking up the air conditioning is a necessity in the summer months, but it really puts a dent in your gas budget. Try wearing lighter clothing and rolling the windows down. If you’re commuting in the early morning during the coolest part of the day, you may not even miss the A/C. You’ll also want to park your car in a shaded area to help keep it cool. At the very least, try using your A/C less to help save on gas expenses.
Time Your Fill-Ups
Gas prices tend to rise on Thursdays just before weekend travel, so try to fill up your tank just prior to that on Wednesday or Thursday morning, since 10 a.m. is generally when most gas stations set their prices for the day. Whatever you do, don’t buy gas from Friday to Sunday, or even during the holidays, as prices always seem to rise during these periods.
Sign Up for a Gas Rewards Card
Many grocery stores offer gas rewards cards that allow you to accumulate points with every purchase, which you can put toward gas. If you can get the entire family to share the same card, you can build up points even faster.
Sticking to your gas budget is easy when you shop and drive smarter. Try out a few of these suggestions and see just how much you can save!
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