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How to save money when gas gets pricey

Currently, the national news is reporting regular gasoline at $3.75 a gallon in California. Moammar Khadafy, who has been driven daffy by gargantuan oil wealth (and maybe all those “virgin” bodyguards), is a big question mark in the Middle East causing gas prices to become volatile.
Posted: March 3, 2011 - 3:59PM
Author: Don Bain

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Charlie Sheen is another example of what limitless wealth can do to a mere human. Meanwhile, those of relatively modest means have to deal with day-to-day life while disturbed individuals act out their dramas.

If you’re facing a Catch-22 when it comes to keeping the car running or paying other bills, the following are some tips you can use to minimize the squeeze of higher gas prices.

Look for the best price: Gas prices may vary in different parts of your town. Check with online barometers like GasPriceWatch.com to find the best local rates.

Drive Sensibly: You can actually use less gas by simply driving the speed limit, believe it or not. Racing up to the next stop and hitting the brakes is estimated to waste up to 6 percent of your fuel. If you accelerated through freeway traffic, having to slow to change lanes from time to time, it can actually use over 30 percent more fuel.

Plan your trips efficiently: When you have several errands to run combine them into one loop whenever possible. When making roadtrips, plan refueling stops to avoid more expensive areas.

Maintain your ride: Keep it in tune and tires properly inflated. The failure to do so will make your daily driving more expensive.

Check alternative transit: Look into car pooling, public transit, bicycling, scooters, etc. Many newer cars get better mileage – see if you can fit that into your lifestyle by using an online automotive budget calculator, MMI for example…

This will answer questions regarding how long you should keep a vehicle, what will your payments be and so on.

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