Tips to Save Money on your Gas Bill
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March 9, 2022Tips to Save Money on your Gas Bill
Gas Prices Are So High, Tips To Save Money
As gas prices rise, it's more important than ever to learn how to get more mileage and cut down on fill-ups. Here are some helpful tips to help lower costs.
Unfortunately, it's all too easy to turn your car into a mobile storage facility. All of that stuff in the trunk adds weight and reduces your gas mileage. Clean out the trunk and get rid of anything but the basics. Have some fun, weigh the items you've gotten rid of, and pat yourself on the back for sticking to a car diet.
For a variety of reasons, our AAA friends repeat this like a mantra. Under or overinflated tires are bad news for a variety of reasons, including gas waste and the risk of a crash. Because it takes more force to move those mushy tires, under-inflated tires will reduce your gas mileage. Tires that are over- or under-inflated wear down part of the tread and may force you to visit the tire shop sooner than necessary. Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before extended car journeys, according to AAA. Tire gauges are widely available in car and retail stores. On the tire sidewall, in the car owner's manual, and on a label on the driver's door, you'll find the correct inflation information.
To find cheap gas without wasting it, use smartphone apps and websites. GasBuddy.com is a crowdsourcing app and website that displays locations and gas prices on a map. It also tells you what the average state pricing is for the day and where you may save money. Members can also use the AAA fuel price finder.
It's a no-brainer: drive less and save money on gas. It only takes a little forethought to combine many places into one trip. Learn where supermarkets and other stores are located on your typical route so you may stop and shop on your way home. Prescriptions, dry cleaning, and take-out can all be picked up on a trip to the grocery shop. My parents were well-known for their shopping loops to "the major three" supermarkets, which they frequented to save gas and take advantage of bargains.
If the horrible coronavirus outbreak has taught employers anything, it's that employees can work just as successfully from home as they do in the office. If your job needs you to be on site, you may not be able to take advantage of this. However, if you can avoid commuting, there are significant cost savings: petrol, lower auto insurance, less wear and tear on the vehicle, and you "arrive" at work refreshed rather than emotionally tired from the drive. It's never a bad idea to inquire about a hybrid work plan that splits time between the office and home.
Do you know how it feels to have a stuffy nose during the cold season? To a car, a clogged air filter is the same thing. To run efficiently, an engine need as much air as it does gasoline, and a dirty air filter reduces gas mileage. This might be a do-it-yourself project or something that can be checked and fixed during your next oil change.
The good news is that cars don't need to be tuned up as often as they once did. However, an out-of-tune vehicle will reduce gas mileage. A tune-up usually entails changing the spark plugs as well as the ignition wires that connect them. It's time to visit the mechanic if your gas mileage has dropped, your car is sluggish, or the exhaust smells like unburned gas. If your check engine light comes on, it's costing you petrol, whether it's due to a malfunctioning sensor or something more serious.
