Controlling Spending: Paying Less at the Pump

By Michele Blandino

As would be expected, the recent spike in gasoline prices has had a profound effect on most Americans. With prices averaging $3.00 per gallon in most places even topping $4.00 per gallon in some areas, people are finding it necessary to take a hard look at how and when they use their automobiles.

Yet, because we are a society that relies heavily on the convenience and necessity of our cars, finding ways to cut our gasoline consumption can prove to be difficult. The good news, however, is that it’s not impossible.

Here are a few things you can do to stretch out the time between your visits to the pump:

Plan Ahead

While generally easier said than done, taking a few extra minutes to think about your plans and commitments for the week can help you to reduce the number of miles you travel. For instance, assume you know you need to make a trip to the post office which is located on the other side of town. It’s a three mile trip that takes about ten minutes to complete. Ordinarily, you wouldn’t think twice about going today even though you know that you have other business that will again take you to that side of town in two days. By combining these trips, you have saved yourself six miles of travel and twenty minutes of time. Now, think of all the other errands you can similarly combine. How many miles – and how much time – can you save?

Alternate Means

Perhaps you drive your children to school even though your district provides bussing. While there may be instances where you will need to drive your children to school or pick them up – perhaps to make it to a doctor’s appointment on time – consider having them take the bus when there are no pressing after-school plans. Even if you eliminate one half of the round-trip, you will manage to save several miles – and gallons – each week. If bussing isn’t an option, consider organizing carpools with other parents. Not only will you limit the amount of gas you use, you will also help to minimize traffic and reduce air pollution.

Vehicle Maintenance

A properly maintained vehicle is much more efficient than one that is poorly maintained. To keep your car running at peak performance, you should make sure your tires are properly inflated, replace the sparkplugs at regular intervals, replace dirty air filters and ensure the gas cap fits tightly and securely. All of these steps can combine to save you a couple of gallons per week.

Travel Light

Survey the contents of your trunk or cargo space to see if there are things that can be removed; eliminating unnecessary weight can help increase your mileage per gallon.

Maintain Control

Aggressive driving, excessive speed and quick starts and stops can combine to reduce your car’s gas burning efficiency. Being mindful of driving within the established speed and safety limits will not only help you to burn less gas, it will also increase the chance of you safely arriving to your destination.

While it’s true that in the end these measures may combine to save you only a couple of gallons per week, over the course of several weeks, you will probably find that the savings will begin to become significant. And, if you factor in the time you save by limiting your trips, you will find that the benefits are substantial.