9 Simple Ways To Save Money On Gas

With gas prices skyrocketing, I’ve been dreading the inevitable — having to refill my gas tank. Yesterday, I finally ran my car down to its final drops, so I had to make a stop at the gas station. It was everything I dreaded and more. For the first time in my life, I paid $60 to fill up a midsize sedan. No wonder nobody is buying SUVs these days. Anyway, after yesterday’s wake up call, I figured we could all use a few tips on how to save money on gas.

Photo by Miss Bliss 1955

1. Drive less.

Walk or bike to places. Of course, this one entirely depends on where you live. I personally live too far from work to walk or bike there. However, I do live within walking distance of the nearest grocery store, so I can save some money by making that trip by foot.

2. Carpool.

Talk to your coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family. More than likely, a few of you live and work in the same area, and you can save some money on gas by carpooling.

3. Maintain your car.

It really is true that you get what you give. Give your vehicle regular oil changes, air filter changes, and other recommended maintenance, and you’ll get a car that runs better, uses less gas, and saves you money.

4. Remove weight.

You know all that stuff you keep in your trunk just in case you might need it — golf clubs, shopping bags filled with clothes, bowling balls, and other random stuff. It’s time to clean out the trunk, because it’s costing you money. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that lugging around extra weight drags the car down, requiring it to use more fuel. Lighten the load in your car and keep some extra cash in your wallet.

5. Use a gas rebate card.

Get a credit card that gives you a rebate on gas purchases and save a little money each time you fill up. I currently use the Discover Open Road Card which gives you 5% cashback on gas purchases. The best part is that you can redeem the cash once you reach $20 instead of having to wait until the end of the year to get a rebate like other credit cards. There’s also an option to credit the cash you’ve earned to your balance, which is what I do, so it’s like getting free gas!

6. Use lower octane gasoline.

Buy the lowest grade of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless you have a car that specifically requires premium gasoline, you’re wasting your money on the high octane fuel. It doesn’t give you better gas mileage, so stay away from it and save hundreds of dollars each year.

7. Check your tire pressure.

By keeping your tires properly inflated, you will help increase your gas mileage. While studies have shown that the savings on gas isn’t huge, doing this will also make your car safer to drive and extend the life of your tires.

8. Roll up the windows.

A lot of people think turning off the AC saves money, but it’s not always true. Driving with the windows down on the freeway creates a strong drag, which is worse for your fuel economy than driving with the AC on. So when you’re going slow in the city, roll them down, but when you’re flyin’ on the highway, keep them up.

9. Plan your trips.

By doing a little planning ahead of time, you can avoid making multiple trips to places that are near each other. There’s no need to make separate trips to the grocery store, bank, dryer cleaners, etc. when you can get it all done in one trip. This will save you money on gas, and as an added bonus, it’ll probably save you some time too.

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