Controlling Spending: Paying Less At The Pump

Yet, because we are a society that relies heavily on the convenience and necessity of our cars, finding ways to cut our gasoline consumption can prove to be difficult. The good news, however, is that it's not impossible.

Here are a few things you can do to stretch out the time between your visits to the pump:
Plan Ahead

While generally easier said than done, taking a few extra minutes to think about your plans and commitments for the week can help you to reduce the number of miles you travel. For instance, assume you know you need to make a trip to the post office which is located on the other side of town. It's a three mile trip that takes about ten minutes to complete. Ordinarily, you wouldn't think twice about going today even though you know that you have other business that will again take you to that side of town in two days. By combining these trips, you have saved yourself six miles of travel and twenty minutes of time. Now, think of all the other errands you can similarly combine. How many miles - and how much time - can you save?
Alternate Means

Perhaps you drive your children to school even though your district provides bussing. While there may be instances where you will need to drive your children to school or pick them up - perhaps to make it to a doctor's appointment on time - consider having them take the bus when there are no pressing after-school plans. Even if you eliminate one half of the round-trip, you will manage to save several miles - and gallons - each week. If bussing isn't an option, consider organizing carpools with other parents. Not only will you limit the amount of gas you use, you will also help to minimize traffic and reduce air pollution.
Vehicle Maintenance

A properly maintained vehicle is much more efficient than one that is poorly maintained. To keep your car running at peak performance, you should make sure your tires are properly inflated, replace the sparkplugs at regular intervals, replace dirty air filters and ensure the gas cap fits tightly and securely. All of these steps can combine to save you a couple of gallons per week.

By: Marc Dean

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Marc Dean is a freelance writer who writes for Preferred Consumer. He has done significant research online on mortgage info, and on financial and insurance information.