Cutting down on gas usage
Consumers wanting a little extra debt relief can start by thinking about their gas tanks. It’s not as if it’s top secret that gas prices fluctuate in today’s economy. Heavy mileage will strain anyone’s finances. Here are some ways to cut back on gas costs.
Comparison shop
It’s convenient to visit the local gas station, but it may not be cost effective. Pay attention to prices differences at stations along your daily commute, and use online tools like GasBuddy.com and BillShrink.com that will show you gas prices along your route.Samir Kothari, the founder of website Billshrink.com said, “People need to be aware of the varying gas prices. The difference can be up to 50 cents in savings per gallon.” A little strategic planning can save you quite a bit.
Pay with cash
Last summer some gas stations started charging higher prices for customers who pay with credit cards. The concept is to pass the processing fees from credit cards onto consumers who benefit from the charges.Some gas stations are finding ways around credit card costs. For instance, ARCO only accepts cash so stations can charge 5 to 10 cents less per gallon.
Use warehouse club gas stations
Jason Toews, founder of GasBuddy.com, says, “It depends on local market conditions, but usually [warehouse clubs] sell [gas] cheaply enough so that they’re beating out the competition.” Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s all sell discounted gas. For example, BJ’s in York, Pennsylvania, sells regular unleaded gas for $ 2.59, but the locals sell it for $ 2.65. Debt relief that happens a few pennies at a time will add up, especially if you drive a lot.
Maintain vehicles
You can improve fuel efficiency by properly maintaining your vehicle. Properly maintaining a car doesn’t necessarily involve making expensive repairs. It only means to engage in the normal day to day care of a vehicle, such as properly inflating tires, changing oil and filters when it’s time to do so. A lot of service stations will help customers keep track of their maintenance schedule. Take them up on free service reminders, such as email updates.
Slow down
Studies show that drivers pay on average 24 cents more per gallon for every 5 miles of speed over 60 miles per hour. Rapid acceleration and hard braking reduces fuel efficiency by 33% on the highway and 5% in city. Of all the ways to cut back on driving costs, changing your driving habits is the simplest.
Get rid of extra baggage
Extra weight can increase fuel consumption considerably. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, gas mileage decreases by up to 2% for every additional 100 pounds. Take bowling balls, bags of salt, heavy tools or golf clubs from the trunk of the car can decrease the amount of fuel used in travel.
Limit air conditioning use
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, running an air conditioner can decrease fuel efficiency by 25%. To beef up fuel efficiency and therefore save money, and therefore find a little debt relief, try scaling back on using the air conditioning, or at least use a lower setting.