SHARK BITES – How to Save on Gas
You can clip coupons for groceries, shop deals for household products and collect reward points for a night out at
the movies. One thing that we rarely think about is how to save on gas for our vehicles. You might search for the nearest gas station with the lowest price per gallon, but there are a lot of other ways to save on gas that you might night thing about!
- Don’t wait – If you wait until your car notifies you that you’re on “empty,” you might be left with very few choices for a great deal on gas. Getting to the nearest gas station won’t necessarily be the most economical option. When your tank is 1/4 full, it’s time to start watching for the lowest prices in your area.
- Maintenance – When your “check engine” light comes on, or your vehicle notifies you of a maintenance issue, get it fixed. Driving on deflated tires, needing replacement air filters or an oil change can cause your car to use more gas.
- Use apps – Traffic apps like Waze will alert you of traffic accidents, road closures and more. This keeps you on the right track for the most efficient route when you drive, saving you from idling for too long or driving out of the way and wasting gas. The app Gas Buddy will also be a gas-saver. You’ll be able to see the gas prices all around you and pick the lowest!
- Rewards Cards – Many grocery stores offer gas rewards when you shop. You’ll be able to get shop like you normally do, and earn points. You can then redeem those points for discounts at the fuel pump! Check with your grocery store rewards programs for their participation.
- The roof – A little known fact is that when you travel or haul items on your roof, it uses more gas. The next time you travel or need to transport items, put them in the car and trunk. You can also attach it to the back of your vehicle. This can save you up to $0.63/gallon on the highway!
- Turn off the A/C – When you run the air conditioning in your car, you’re using more gas. If you can, roll the windows down or open the sun roof. Wear lightweight clothing when you’re driving, park in shady areas and drive when it’s cooler outside, if possible.
- Credit Cards – Check with your credit card companies. You might be missing out on getting cash back at the pumps! Some cards will offer as much as 5% back – which adds up over time.
- Alignment – Be sure to get your vehicle’s alignment checked. Poor alignment causes wear and tear on your tires. It also makes your engine work harder, using more gas. This is a simple fix that can save you up to 10% on your gas consumption!
- Slow down – For every 5mph you reduce your highway speed, you can also reduce your fuel consumption by 7%! That definitely adds up over time.
- Low Octane – Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gas for your car. Using premium fuel won’t help your car’s fuel economy if it isn’t required.
Start thinking about how to save on gas, and you’ll notice the savings add up! With the ups and downs of fuel pricing, it’s smart to know how to make the most of it.
~Sharky
What is “Shark Bites”? Shark Bites is a money-saving tips series here on FreebieShark that aims to help you and your family get the most out of your money. “Shark Bites” posts are both educational and straight to the point. Just another way FreebieShark is helping you save!
