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. Be aware of the difference in prices at gas stations along your daily commute, and check 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.” With a little strategic planning, you can save a considerable amount.

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, however, are finding other 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 said, “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. Finding debt relief a few pennies at a time adds up, especially if you drive a lot.

Maintain vehicles

You can improve fuel efficiency by properly maintaining your vehicle. Proper maintenance of a car doesn’t mean costly repairs all the time. It just means taking everyday care of a vehicle: inflating tires properly, changing the oil in a timely manner, and changing oil filters. 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. The easiest and simplest way to cut back on driving costs is to alter your driving habits.

Get rid of extra baggage

Extra weight can increase fuel consumption considerably. The Department of Motor Vehicles found that gas mileage decreased up to 2% per every additional 100 pounds in a vehicle. 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 increase fuel efficiency, save money, and find a little extra debt relief, cut down on air-conditioner usage, or at least keep the air conditioner at a lower setting.