Lower Your Cost of Gasoline – Things That Break the Budget and How to Avoid Them

Photo credit: frenchbyte from morguefile.com

Although some stations may offer discounts for paying with a shopping card, or offer a store discount if you buy x.xx amount of gasoline, there aren’t any magic tricks to getting a cheaper price on gasoline.  You will save the most money by figuring out how to use less, both by driving wiser and by driving less. Currently the average cost of gasoline in the state of TX is $3.31 a gallon. In many states it’s much higher than that! Try one of these tips each week and you’ll be saving a considerable amount on your gas money in no time!

• Coast when you’re nearing stop lights.  Often you’ll still be coasting when the light turns green!
• Accelerate easier instead of putting the pedal to the metal.
• If you’re on a downhill slope, try coasting once you get your speed up.  I can often coast for a half mile at 25 mph in a 30 mph zone.  The time loss is minimal, but the gas saved really adds up.
• Coast down your driveway
• Reduce wasted cargo.  Don’t carry extra unneeded items.  Even consider removing extra seats if you drive a van.  Every extra pound you carry takes more gas to move your vehicle.
• Plan trips together. If the school is halfway to the bank, go to the bank before or after picking up your kids.  You save time and money.
• Plan trips with friends.  Go shopping together or pick the kids up together.  You’ll have the time to visit together and you’ll put fewer miles on your car.
• Skip trips to the store. Simply make do to save time and money. 
• Consider the cost of every mile you drive.  The current government rate is over $.50 per mile.While this is long term cost, it’s still money saved and will help you keep your mileage in check more than anything else.  It’s not worth 4 miles round trip to go to CVS to use your $1 ECB that’s expiring.  Likewise if all you need is one can of green beans and Walmart is 3 miles away, it’s cheaper to go to the Walgreens a half mile down the road and pay $1.29 rather than make the 6 mile round trip to Walmart just to save $.70.

That last tip is usually the biggie for me.  When I stop to consider the long term cost of my driving, I realize that I will save myself lots of time, and my family lots of money when I plan ahead and do less driving.  I’ve been a happier Momma because of it.

Also try MSN’s Gas Price Map Tool or a smartphone app like Gas Buddy to find the lowest gas prices in your area.
(Thanks H,R,E and C for the reminders!)

Are there things on this list that you’re already doing?  Are there others you can gradually try?  Perhaps you already combine your errands into larger trips but could do fewer trips each week.  Please let me know what you’re doing to save on your gas costs!