Don't have to let high gas prices ruin your budget

You don't have to let high gas prices ruin your budgetNo matter how high gas prices go, you are still in control of how much you spend - or save - on gas.

The most obvious way to save gas is to cut back on driving. If you don't have to go anywhere, don't.

Instead of a Sunday afternoon drive, rediscover your back yard. Instead of going out to a movie, play a board game. Instead of driving to the park, take a walk with the kids.

Wait. If you have a couple of things to do, but they're not pressing, wait until the next two or three things need to be done. Until and unless you have an errand that needs to be done immediately, wait and plan an excursion.

After you've combined errands, plan your trip to cover the fewest miles possible, but take into account busy streets where you might have to wait through long traffic lights or you might become entangled in a traffic jam.

Take careful note of your options; sometimes a few blocks out of the way can save gas, too.
If you have to drive to work every day anyway, take advantage of your route and do errands on the way to or home from work. Even if you have to go a little out of your way, you'll save money over going home and then driving back some other time. Again, wait and do them all at the same time if possible.

Carpool if and when you can, and not just going to work. Make a shopping trip a family or neighborhood affair. Sharing rides will save half of your cost and if you want to get into it big time, you can even share a ride across the nation.

Drive to an area where you want to shop or have errands to run, park the car and cover your business on foot. I discovered that our Walmart backs up to our KMart and that I can walk it in about three minutes. It takes much longer than that to cover the distance in a car. By the time I leave the parking lot, go through three stop lights, make a turn and find a parking place, I could already be inside and shopping.

Walk whenever it's possible, not just between stores, but from home to a store, bank, or wherever you go. If you're not used to walking, take shorter trips, then work on making them longer. Remember that human beings' original transportation was walking. Our bodies are made to walk and with a little common sense, it won't hurt them.

Bicycles, mopeds, gas or electric scooters, and motorcycles are a lot easier on the gas bill than the most economical gas burning vehicle. Mileage can be up to 10 times better than an autombile. Just think. If you could save nine tenths of the gas bill you're paying now, would you complain?

If public transportation is at all practical, use it. Busses and trains can save a lot of money, especially when you commute regularly. Although it isn't always practical, when public transportation is available, take advantage of it.

When you do use your vehicle, be careful of the way you drive. It can make a real difference in how much gas you burn. Slow take offs and slow stops and keeping speed down works.
Keep tires properly aired and your vehicle tuned up to get the best mileage. You will save money over the cost of maintenance and your car will last longer, too.

If you find that you're still burning more gas than you want to, think about downsizing to a one family car, or try a car sharing program to cut your overall transportation costs. You might have to drive just as much, but you won't have to pay insurance, license taxes, etc., on a car you don't own.

Creative Ways To Save Gas

I don't know about you, but I'm wondering how high, exactly, these insane gas prices in the States are going to go. We seem to be holding steady at about $3.05 in my area. Here are some creative ways to save gas so you won't get sticker shock at the pump:
Find Cheap Gas Using the Web: With gas prices getting as high as they are, it's a good idea to do a bit of Web research first in order to find lower gas prices in your area.
Save Gas: Ways to keep your gas costs down while you drive.

Gas Rebates: "Summer of 2006 is destined to be the summer of highest prices ever for gas (so far) ; and given that Road Trips are the vacation choice for so many families, any relief in gas prices is good news."


And for a little bit of comic relief - check out Late-Night Jokes About High Gas Prices

Creative Ways To Save Gas

I don't know about you, but I'm wondering how high, exactly, these insane gas prices in the States are going to go. We seem to be holding steady at about $3.05 in my area. Here are some creative ways to save gas so you won't get sticker shock at the pump:
Find Cheap Gas Using the Web: With gas prices getting as high as they are, it's a good idea to do a bit of Web research first in order to find lower gas prices in your area.
Save Gas: Ways to keep your gas costs down while you drive.

Gas Rebates: "Summer of 2006 is destined to be the summer of highest prices ever for gas (so far) ; and given that Road Trips are the vacation choice for so many families, any relief in gas prices is good news."


And for a little bit of comic relief - check out Late-Night Jokes About High Gas Prices

Beat the petrol price rises Top 10 ways to cheaper motoring

Saving petrol makes economic sense. Prices at petrol pumps continue to rise and fuel, both diesel and petrol, is now more expensive than ever and prices are likely to continue rising. Monitoring fuel economy is more important than ever.There are other considerations too. Petrol and diesel vehicles produce carbon dioxide - a 'greenhouse' gas which has a significant effect on global warming and climate change. Pollution from cars may also adversely affect the health of vulnerable people - the elderly, asthmatics and those with heart or lung diseases.The best way to save money and the planet is to use your car less. One major insurance company is already considering 'pay as you go' motor insurance to make leaving your car at home even more attractive. Car sharing clubs are becoming more popular and many people are opting to work from home instead of commuting daily.

Here's how to save money

Don't cruise at 80 to 85 mph on motorways. Stick to the legal limit of 70 mph and save up to 4p a mile in small cars. (You can save even more at lower speeds - the Slower Speeds Initiative says that driving at 50 mph instead of 70 can cut your fuel bill by 30 per cent - but don't make this an excuse for obstructing other drivers.)

Check your tyre pressures often. Under-inflated tyres can cost you eight per cent more fuel (and they'll wear out faster too).

Have your car serviced regularly (or save even more money by doing it yourself). A well-maintained engine is more efficient and less polluting.

Drive smoothly and consistently; this can reduce fuel consumption by more than 10 per cent in urban areas. Saves wear and tear on brakes, tyres and suspension too. Fierce acceleration and harsh braking both cost money.

Use the gears so that your engine is operating at its most fuel efficient (usually the rpm where maximum torque is generated) - this could cut fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent.

Remove that roof rack! Fully loaded, a roof rack can add 30 per cent to fuel consumption. Even an empty ski rack may add seven to eight per cent.

Turn off the air conditioning system and the heated rear window when they're not needed to save 10 per cent at the pumps.

For potentially bigger savings, opt for a more efficient car - it will cause less pollution and will save you money on tax as well as fuel. Petrol/electric hybrids can travel 60 miles or more on a gallon of petrol!

Sharing a car on a journey divides the cost of the fuel and reduces congestion. Check out an online service such as Liftshare.com.

For short journeys, leave your car at home and walk or cycle instead. Use public transport where possible.

Keeping Gas Prices Minimal with the Fuel Efficient SUV.

With the rising gas prices, many people who own SUVs are feeling their bank accounts shrink every time they hit the gas pump. Last year at this time an SUV that held 25 gallons of gas cost $50 to fill up. This year the price to fill up that same tank has jumped to $75 and higher. This typically computes to $100-$125 per month more in gas expenses. For this reason, we are seeing more used SUVs on the market than ever before as people are trying to get better gas mileage out of their vehicles.

For those of you with large families, life without an SUV is practically impossible. You would have to travel places in separate cars, which would take more gas or you would have to switch to a mini van which is just not an option for some who try to steer clear of the "Mommy van" syndrome.

Thankfully, car manufacturers are listening to the SUV lovers of the world who have been asking for years to have a more fuel efficient SUV. This year, more than ever before, we are seeing an increase in the number of SUVs on the market that are offering good gas mileage. The new SUVs that boast good fuel efficiency are averaging approximately 23 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

One of the best fuel efficient SUVs on the market is the Ford Escape Hybrid. It gets an amazing 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway in the front-wheel-drive model. The four-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid gets 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. It has excellent cargo space and drives comfortably. The Ford Escape Hybrid starts at about $27,000.

In addition to buying a fuel efficient SUV, you can change the way you drive to improve your fuel mileage. Aggressive drivers that accelerate rapidly from a complete stop burn more fuel then those who accelerate gradually. Therefore, you shouldn't act like you are at the ¼ mile track when the light turns green. The more gradually you accelerate, the better your fuel mileage, creating your own fuel efficient SUV in a sense.

Just because the gas prices are at an all time high does not mean that you have to give up your SUV for a smaller car or mini van. You can research fuel efficient SUVs online and you will find a variety of them available. With all the choices, you will be sure to find one that works for you and your bank account.

Hybrid Car Models: Are They Worth It?

With gas prices going out of the roof, it is no wonder people are looking toward hybrid cars for their saving grace. Hybrids have been on the market for years and are extremely popular in California and other eco-aware states. However, the average person likely knows very little about hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs.

The biggest reason most people have bought hybrid car models in the past is because they are so much better for the environment. In fact, they let off much fewer pollutants than the average vehicle. With global warming being a big issue, those who are environmentally concerned are turning to hybrids for part of the answer to the problem. A bigger reason people today are drawn to hybrid car models however is because they really do get better gas mileage. Since they run partially on electric battery, they burn less fuel both in the city and on the highway. In fact, they can get about 11 mpg more than a traditional identical model of the same car. So, as the world is not likely to see a break in gas prices anytime soon, the hybrid car models are looking better and better each day.

If you are interested in learning more about hybrid car models, hop on the Internet and start researching different models. Almost every major car manufacturer is offering several hybrid models, with more expected to be on the market in the next few years. You can even find big trucks and SUVs made as hybrid car models, so there is literally something for everyone.

Save money when purchasing your car by getting a free quote online at Car Quotes For Free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Simmons

Are you tired of the gasoline prices? Are you spending $85.00 to fill up your mini-van or $95 to $115.00 to fill up your SUV? Is this causing you to start having to charge this on your credit card rather than to pay for it out of your ATM Debit Card? Are you no longer volunteering to drive and letting someone else drive instead? Are you tired of the supply and demand of the market getting in the way of your quality of life? Do you feel helpless to it all?

Have you considered different driving techniques? Have you noticed yourself using cruise control more and gently pulling away from stop signs? Have you noticed yourself punching the gas peddle a lot less now? Have you noticed yourself coasting more to the stop signs and signals? Have you noticed others no longer doing jack-rabbit starts as soon as the light turns green? Interesting how much difference the gasoline prices make in our daily decisions from the way we drive, what road trips we go on how often we decide to leave our homes isn’t it.

Indeed America has altered their lifestyles to make-up for the high gasoline prices. And you know what this is exactly what you can do to lower prices too. If the demand is less and the supply is there, then the price will come down a little. We must conserve fuel, if for no other reason than just to save a little money for the better things in life. Think on this.

Save while you drive :

Hi All

Get your foot out of the carburetor!
That's old advice, before fuel injected engines were designed, but the idea works whether your auto has a carburetor or not. Regardless of how restricting it feels to some of us, the 55 mile per hour speed limit set a few years back is still the most efficient speed for most vehicles - and that extra speed won't get you there much faster, anyway.

Jumping is for frogs.
When the light turns red, take off slowly and smoothly - you'll gain speed almost as fast as if you punched the accelerator. And you'll save wasted gas that pours through your system unused.

Slow down and take it easy.
As soon as you can see you'll need to stop, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down under it's own compression. You'll still have to use the brake (unless you started slowing down way back there, but you won't be using gas to get that last 300 or so feet.

"Revving" is old fashioned!
Years ago (watch some old movies if you don't believe me), "revving" or racing an engine was thought to be cool by the younger set, and sometimes still is. Not cool; it's stressing the engine, especially if you do it while the engine is cold. Even if it's warmed up, you're wasting gasoline and wear and tear on it unnecessarily. I repeat -it's not cool.

Don't overfeed your car.
High octane gasoline may be needed for some engines, but find out if yours will run just as well on less. On a nearly empty tank, put in five gallons of a lower octane than you normally use, and if there's no appreciable difference (except for the change in your pocket), find a lower octane gas when that runs out. Keep going until you can tell the difference, then step up one rating. Note: If your engine starts pinging or making other strange noises, increase the octane rating by adding a higer octane gasoline to your tank. This is why you need to test 5 gallons at a time.

Idling is for days off, not cars.
Don't sit still for more than two minutes with your engine running. It takes less gas to start the engine again than it does to idle longer than that. Pay attention to other times than just when you're in a traffic jam - sitting in the driveway, waiting in line anywhere, showing off your new car...

Give it some air.
Did you ever try to ride a bicycle with a low tire? It's hard to do! Much harder than riding one with fully inflated, firm tires. So keep the tires on your car inflated to the manufacturers recommendations. Check the pressure when the tire is cold - that's the right reading. If you have to go to the service station to inflate a tire, take the cold pressure reading first, (for each tire), and check it against the recommended reading. If you're a pound or two shy, make note of it. When you get to the service station, the reading will be higher (because heat expands the air in the tire), so go ahead and add the extra pound or whatever you needed when the tire was cold.

In other words:

Pressure when cold = 29 pounds
Manufacturer's recommendation = 32 pounds, or a difference of 3 pounds.

Pressure when hot = 32 pounds
Add 3 pounds = 35 pounds
When the tire is cold again, the pressure will be 32 pounds, which is what the manufacturer recommended, and is the proper pressure for this tire.

Let it sing and dance.
Well, it might not dance, but it will surely hum along if you tune it up. Check your air filter; if the dust won't shake out cleanly, get a new one. Make sure the spark plugs are clean and properly gapped, and the timing set right. Even if you don't do the work yourself, a tune-up will pay for itself shortly in better gas mileage. Don't carry extra baggage!
No, that's not an excuse for booting out your mother-in-law (I know, another bad mother-in-law joke), but do check your trunk and back seat now and then for unneeded "stuff". One spare tire on a rim, a tire tool, a jack and an emergency kit suited to your weather and driving conditions is all that's really necessary. The more pounds you haul around, the more gas it takes, simple as that.

Avoid artificial air.
Air conditioning is a super drain on your engine's efficiency, so don't use it unless you really need it. If you're within one or two minutes of your destination, turn off the air conditioner and let the fan continue to circulate the cold air in the car. It won't become unreasonably warm in that length of time. And don't buy into the myth that it always takes as much gas to drive with the windows open as it does using the air conditioner. There is some disagreement on the subject, but most advice says that at low speeds and stop and go traffic, it costs less to drive with the windows down, but on the highway, using an air conditioner is cheaper.

Stop when it's time to stop.
Take your foot off the gas completely for at least a few seconds before shutting off the engine. Don't rev the engine just before turning it off. It might sound cool to listen to it die like that, but you're shooting raw gas through the system. Yeah, the same gas you paid for a few minutes ago.

It might help to remember that at $1.50 a gallon, a wasted pint of gas costs you 19 cents. If you manage to waste a pint a day (and that's not hard to do), that's $5.70 a month. In a couple or three months or so, you get a "free" tank of gas. Not bad for just doing the things you know you should do anyway, is it?