Xatal

It’s impossible to ignore, and you can’t escape the sad feeling that comes with it.

I’m talking about the unusual light weight of your wallet after you spend money to get gasoline. Due to the high costs of gas these days, it’s really unfortunate.

Getting gas does not have to bankrupt you. Source

Teenagers are hit the hardest by it because we have such a small income, whereas adults have more money and gas costs take up a smaller percentage of their expenses. Of course, tips for cutting back on gasoline costs apply to everybody.

The massive increase in gas over the last year is caused by an increase in the cost of oil. While there isn’t a whole lot we can do to alter the price of gas, there are some ways to help reduce the amount we spend on driving. The biggest way is to simply become more aware of how you drive and how you use the gas that you have. Here are some good suggestions that have really helped me out since gas prices have gone up:

Driving less

The simplest way to cut back on how much money you spend on gas is to just drive less.

• Combine trips: If the store is right by where you’re getting dinner, then stop by the store after dinner, not the next day. Combining trips not only saves you gas, it also saves you time.
• Carpool: If you and four friends are meeting somewhere, just agree to have one person drive. Everyone can chip in for gas, but it doesn’t make sense for every person to bring their own car. Being in a car with your friends is also way more fun than being in a car alone.
• Consider public transportation. If your area has a good system, take advantage of it whenever possible. Most places in America don’t, but Europe is known for great public transit.
• Walk/ride your bike. If you aren’t in a hurry and your destination is close, just walk or ride your bike. The exercise and fresh air are good for you, and they’re both completely free.

Fuel up smarter

• Go to cheap gas stations. This is pretty obvious. Find cheap gas prices and use those stations. If the station is far away, combine the trip and only go when you’re in the area.
• By gas when it’s cheap. If you keep a watch on the price of oil, you can anticipate increases in gas prices by watching when oil rises. If oil spikes up, fill up your car while you can to avoid having to pay more later on. If you see prices drop, wait a bit for it to show up at gas stations.
• Buy gas in the morning. Like just about any type of matter, gasoline takes up less space when the temperature is lower. So if you buy gas when it’s cold (like in the early morning), 10 gallons of gas will contain more actual gasoline molecules than later on when it’s warmer. How much of a difference this makes, I can’t confirm. I’ve heard different takes whether or not it’s worth it, but I figure it can’t hurt to try.

Increasing your fuel economy

In addition to driving less, you can alter your driving itself in order to make the most out of your gasoline:

1. Turn the AC off. Having your air conditioner on lowers your gas mileage a good amount. If you turn it off, your car will run better. If it’s hot, see if rolling down the windows helps a bit. Keep the AC off unless you truly need it, and if you do have it on, turn it on low.
   
2. Roll the windows up. If you’re driving fast, having your windows down can create a lot of drag on your car. By rolling them up, you can help cut back on that. Mythbusters said that driving with your windows down becomes less efficient than air conditioner once you drive fast. I’ve noticed this to be somewhat true in my car, though the difference wasn’t much at all.
3. Slow down! As you go faster, the wind resistance on your car increases. The more you speed, the lower your gas mileage will go. Typically, most cars reach their optimum fuel efficiency around 45-55 miles per hour. Anything faster will burn your gas faster. Be patient. I’ve found that turning on cruise control helps me to resist the urge to speed up.
4. Don’t drive too aggressively. If you floor it every time you accelerate and slam on the brakes every time you stop, then you’re going to lose more fuel economy. Try easing on the gas pedal and take your foot off of the gas early on to start slowing down. Pushing your car to the limits when it’s not needed just wastes gas.
5. Turn off your car when you don’t need it on. If you’re waiting for a friend outside to get in, just turn your car off. Letting it idle wastes more gas.
6. Keep your tires inflated. Check your tire pressure once a month to make sure it’s where it should be.
7. Don’t drive an inefficient vehicle unless you have to. If you have a say in what car you drive or buy, then don’t buy a large vehicle unless you need one. This makes the biggest difference by far, but you may end up stuck with a car that you don’t like.

To put it simply, you can get more bang for your buck if you merely drive more gradually. Don’t be too aggressive, don’t speed, and you can already make a pretty big difference. Believe me, I know how tempting it is to drive fast: I’m incredibly impatient. But if you really want to save gas costs, slow down and take it easy.

If you combine better driving habits with cutting back, it’s very easy to reduce how much of a dent gas makes in your money.

What are some other techniques you’ve used to help save money?