The price of gas continues to increase – and there seems to be no end in sight. Hopefully the following tips on how to stretch your dollars while saving on fuel will be useful to readers of this blog.
- Combine your errands. You’ve probably heard this before but at no time has it been better advice and an authentic way to save money.
- Don’t wait in drive-through lanes for fast food or coffee. Park and go into the establishment instead.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Low tires and even simple engine problems can negatively affect your miles per gallon.
- Do not drive with the windows down. This causes a negative drag on the vehicle. Believe it or not it is cheaper to use the air-conditioning when you drive.
- Research shows that driving at a steady and slower speed on the highway will save you money. Use your cruise control whenever possible and drive the speed limit – when you travel at 80 mph instead of 70 mph you will experience a savings of up to four miles per gallon.
- Do not carry around heavy items in your trunk for long periods of time. For every one hundred extra pounds of material (sand, home-improvement items, etc.) your fuel economy decreases by as much as 2%.
Finally, share rides or use alternative transportation such as bikes, subways, buses or walking. A change in lifestyle may do you good – and it will certainly be good to your wallet.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston wrongful death attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston car accident attorney call the Baumgartner firm.