This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
Keeping up on current events it shouldn’t be surprising that we see the price of gas continuing to rise. I decided to bring this series out of the archives and freshen it up a bit so we could all work on cutting our gas budgets!
For more tips, check out our Top 8 Apps to Save Money on Gas.
7 Habits to Help Save Money on Gas
- If you have two cars, try to use only the most gas-efficient vehicle. Maybe even try using only one car for a while. I know for some of you it sounds ridiculous, but it actually forces you to simplify your schedule, limit the amount of places you drive to per day, and possibly gives you some good bonding time with a real person instead of the radio!
- Drive at a reasonable speed. Yes, people may get frustrated behind you. Yes, there may even be some honking. But, in the end, it is called the speed limit for a reason. Driving the limit will help you save gas. It is as simple as that. Driving at 55 mph is 15% more efficient than driving at 65 mph. That’s a pretty drastic difference.
- Accelerate Gently & Reduce Braking. Your car most fuel efficient at moderate speeds, and that applies to acceleration as well. Peeling out or anything that revs the engine above 3000 RPM is taking more fuel to make the engine work harder. Also aim to coast to red lights, or be alert to slow down over longer stretches. When you brake you wasting energy and speed that the car has worked to create, by braking slowly or coasting in areas you are allowing the car to use the inertia it’s already created.
- Maintain your vehicle. Some basic things can go a long way. Having oil changes on time, keeping your tires inflated, the air filter clean, etc. all work to keep the gas per gallon down. For more in-depth info on taking care of your car, check out our post on cheap ways to keep your car running.
- Carry less weight. Some times it is easy to forget that you’ve actually got 10 lbs of stuff in the trunk, but an extra trip to and from the car can save you money in the long run. A heavier car equates to more gas used.
- Reduce drag. Having a bicycle or luggage rack on your roof increases the wind resistance of your car. Removing these will save quite a bit of gasoline. One thing to note is that your car was already designed to be aerodynamic so any changes you make to the outside will increase drag.
- Plan Your Trips. If you are heading out make a list of all the stops before you leave and make sure you are going about town in the shortest routes and with the least traffic. Many times this will help me realize some stops aren’t needed or think about stores that are closer to others in another part of town. For kids activities… think of carpooling, trading days with other parents, etc.
Do you have any other tips to that are car or habit related that help save gas money? Let us know in the comments!
