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Gas. Not the kind you get from eating too many burritos. The kind that we need daily just to make it to and from work. I’m talking about petroleum. If there’s one expense that comes from your discretionary income that you just can’t avoid, this is the one.
Until the day when we’re all driving around vehicles powered by water or high fructose corn syrup or our own sense of self satisfaction, we’re going to have to rely on gasoline to get us around. So how do we save a few bucks here and there? Believe it or not, there are a few ways fill up without thinning out your wallet.
Trade into a smaller car that gets better gas mileage. Now, I don’t want to tell anybody what to do, or what kind of vehicle to purchase, but the fact is, if you are serious about saving money on gas or pretty much anything, going out and buying a Hummer that soaks up gas like a Bounty paper towel soaks up spilt milk is not a sound financial decision. I understand if you live in an area with heavy year-round snowfall, it may be a good investment, but if you live in sunny southern California, driving around a deluxe Land Rover and complaining about your gas mileage, then it may be time to for a trade-in.
Keep your tires inflated. Making sure that you have proper air pressure in your tires is an easy way to save yourself a few trips to the gas station. If your tires are properly inflated, your engine doesn’t have to work as hard, which means that it burns less gas. Simple science!
Keep up with regular maintenance. For the same reason as keeping your tires inflated, fresh filters, tight belts and full fuilds keep your engine purring and your cost-per-mile low.
Remember how your momma told you to shop around? Well, it works with gas stations, too. While a few cents per gallon may not seem like a lot at first, after a year’s worth of filling up your tank it can really add up. Go online, look up the local gas stations in your area, and give them a call to see what their current prices are. A moment or two of your time can save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Well, that’s all we’ve got for now. I know you’ve got some good ideas, and as always, we encourage you to share!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
on my way…
Gasbuddy.com is the website I use to check local prices. I also make sure the update on the site whenever I can.
how much do they fluctuate?