Sunday, May 01, 2011

How to Pay for Gas and Everything Else

The national average price of regular gas was $3.91 last week. The all-time record high was in July 2008 at $4.11 a gallon. I predict that gas will reach $5 a gallon by the end of the summer. Some states are already paying more than $4 a gallon for regular gas such as Alaska ($4.20), California ($4.23), Connecticut ($4.20), New York ($4.12) and the average price in the District of Columbia is $4.11. If gas prices continue to soar this will cause major financial problems for many Americans.

When gas prices soared in 2008 Americans protested and voiced their concerns. Does any care that gas prices are high or it is just me? I understand the history and fundamental conditions that cause gas prices to rise but does that make it right. Americans are still trying to recover from the effects of the recession in 2008. Approximately 1,000,000 Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2010. Many more Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.

The cost of gas has crimpled many Americans. For SUV and truck owners getting gas can be as expensive as a car payment. Here are 15 tips to help save money on gas which will free up money to help pay for other monthly expenses:

1. Compare Prices. Comparison shop by using sites such as to find the cheapest gas price in your area.
2. Keep your trunk empty. Remove heavy and unnecessary items from your trunk. Traveling with a lighter load helps improve your gas mileage.
3. Revving. Avoid revving or idling you engine over 30 seconds. Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines.
4. Driving. Drive the speed limit and accelerate gradually. This reduces the amount of gas needed.
5. AC. Limit using the a/c, roll down the car windows to get air and save on gas.
6. Regular maintenance. Perform regular maintenance on your car at the scheduled intervals, make sure you get regular tune-ups, oil changes, check tire pressure, air filters, and check your tires for wear. Don’t ignore the check engine light. This will improve gas mileage and save you money in the future.
7. Getting gas. Fill your gas tank up early in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooler to reduce evaporation. Avoid topping off.
8. Skip the fancy tires. When your fancy tires wear out buy the standard tires that were on the car when you purchased it. This will improve gas mileage. The standard tires also provide a better ride especially on the highway.
9. Carpool. Offer to pick up co-workers or friends who work near your job. Make sure you charge enough money to cover the increasing costs of gas and inform your carpool riders that the price may increase as gas costs increase.
10. Prepaid gas card. Purchase a prepaid gas card. Some prepaid gas cards may have an expiration date and/or inactivity fees but depends on the company. Chevron, Texaco, Shell and BP prepaid gas cards do not have an expiration date and do not charge inactivity fees. You can use the site to purchase a prepaid gas card at a fixed price.
11. Downgrade. Trade in your expensive car for a cheaper car or get a more fuel efficient car. This will save you money which can be used to pay down debt, pay for necessary household expenses or save for an emergency fund.
12. Combine Trips. If possible combine nearby trips on the same day to reduce gas usage.
13. Businesses and fleet managers can comparison shop and use fuel banks to save money on gas at Use the savings calculator to see how much money you save using a fuel bank.
14. Protest. Write your congressman and the White House and demand lower gas prices. Also, write the major oil companies such as BP, Shell, Sunoco, Texaco, Chevron and ExxonMobil and demand they lower their gas prices.
15. Reduce spending in other areas to make sure you have enough to pay for rising gas costs.


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