Debt Management - More Ways to Save on Gas Consumption


The price of gas continues to climb, and with continued uncertainty in the Middle East, they will probably continue to do so. In California and elsewhere, prices for some grades of gas have now reached the previously unthinkable three dollars a gallon. Granted, that is lower than the inflation-adjusted prices of early 1981, but that doesn't make anyone feel better when they've just paid nearly $100 to fill the tank of their sport utility vehicle.

In a previous article, we offered some solutions as to how the average consumer can either save on gas prices or use less gas. These tips included using credit cards with cashback rebates, keeping your car tuned and tires inflated, and keeping the car washed and waxed, which reduces drag. Here are a few additional tips which will help ease the strain of filling your tank.

  • Empty your trunk. Some people drive around with their trunks nearly full with things that just don't need to be there. Sure, you need a jack and a spare, but do you really need a toolbox, golf clubs, and that pile of old clothes you've been meaning to drop off at the Salvation Army? Any extra weight you carry requires additional energy to make your car or SUV move. Lighten the load and your engine won't work as hard or use as much fuel.
  • Drive efficiently. That means accelerating gradually, rather than speeding out of an intersection. Your car uses fuel more effectively when you gradually accelerate. Once you achieve your desired speed, keep it steady, using cruise control if you have it. Speeding up and slowing down only uses more gas.
  • Shift appropriately if you're driving a car with a manual transmission. Shift at the factory recommended shift points, rather than running your tachometer all the way up before shifting. Your car runs best within a fairly narrow RPM range.
  • Each of these tips offers a small saving in fuel consumption. When combined with others, they add up and can produce significant savings. If you can increase your fuel consumption by just two miles per gallon, you can save $30-40 on a 1000-mile trip in your SUV. When you're paying $3.09 per gallon, every penny counts.

    ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to www.end-your-debt.com/">establishing credit, debt consolidation and credit counseling.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Strands Absorbs Another Personal Finance Company
    Washington Post, United States - 19 hours ago
    Both are personal finance applications that Strands' wanted mostly for their human capital, but also for some of their technology assets. ...


    Mutual Funds & Personal Finance
    Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - 11 hours ago
    BY PAUL KATZEFF "The way I look at it, earnings are what drive stocks," said Fischman, manager of $2.6 billion MFS Growth Fund. But when that broad concept ...


    The WSJ Hires Zweig For Personal Finance Column
    IndexUniverse.com, NY - 17 hours ago
    The Wall Street Journal hired Jason Zweig, a senior writer and columnist for Money Magazine, to be its new personal finance columnist after Jonathan ...


    The Consumerist

    Personal Finance Roundup
    The Consumerist, NY - 19 hours ago
    4 Credit-Card Protections Shoppers Should Know About [Smart Money] "Thanks to some little-known credit-card protections, shoppers don't have to get stuck ...


    Take Charge America Offers "Spring Cleaning" Personal Finance Tips
    Market Wire (press release) - 22 hours ago
    PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwire - May 15, 2008) - Take Charge America is offering consumers four easy personal finance tips and is encouraging people to put the ...


    Rising interest rates curb personal finance
    The Australian, Australia - May 13, 2008
    THE biggest monthly drop in personal finance commitments in 15 years shows that high interest rates are taking their toll on the economy, an economist says. ...
    Personal finance commitments fall Sydney Morning Herald
    all 21 news articles


    Mutual Funds & Personal Finance
    Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - May 14, 2008
    BY JESSE EMSPAK Inflation fears are pushing recession worries aside, though managers are still wary of slow economic growth. That's the picture from Merrill ...


    International Personal Finance cautious on credit
    CITY A.M., UK - May 14, 2008
    Credit lender International Personal Finance said it has made a good start to 2008 but added that it maintains a cautious stance on credit. ...
    International Personal Finance says makes good start to year Hemscott
    all 4 news articles


    International Personal Finance Reports Interim Management ...
    RTT News, NY - May 14, 2008
    (RTTNews) - International Personal Finance Plc (IPF.L: News, Chart, Quote ) announced its interim management statement from the start of 2008 to till date. ...


    Wall Street Journal Names New Personal Finance Columnist
    Primenewswire (press release), CA - May 13, 2008
    NEW YORK, May 13, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Jason Zweig was named Personal Finance columnist for The Wall Street Journal beginning July 1. ...

    personal finance - Google News

    site map
    Nocommentweb.com © 2000 - Partners

    psychology help | snus | ekspress lån | express loan | Santander Spain | cheap insurance | snus|