Mammoth AwardsWant to reduce how much you spend getting from point A to point B? Besides walking, riding a bike, taking public transportation, or simply staying home, we’ll look at ways to do so in your very own vehicle.
1. Plan your trips
Before you even get into your car to turn it on, map out your trip, especially when you have errands to run.
Having to backtrack to the other end of town because you forgot something can burn pricy fuel fast. If you have a plan, though, you can cut down on mileage that triggers frequent fill-ups.
2. Stop warming up your car
Letting your car idle in the morning so it can warm up can get costly. In fact, doing it for 15 minutes can waste one quart of gas.
Want another reason to stop warming up your car while letting it idle? You can warm up your engine faster by driving.
3. Keep an eye on traffic
Constant slow-downs and complete stops in traffic can decrease your gas mileage. If you look ahead and anticipate them, you can lay off the brakes and the accelerator. By doing so, you can spend less on gas.
4. Use a light foot and not a lead one
Do you find yourself taking off at a green light or constantly accelerating aggressively? Such driving habits can burn fuel fast and increase your monthly gasoline expenses.
When you accelerate, do it gently. Over time, you could notice that your gas seems to last longer.
5. Approach traffic jams differently
If you anticipate traffic jams as suggested above, you can lay off the gas as you approach them instead of accelerating and then slamming on the brakes. How can this help you save money? By cutting your gas consumption.
You’ll burn more gas accelerating from a full stop than you will if your car is still moving. For this reason, anticipation and smoother driving can equal savings.
6. Watch for slow cars
Driving on the highway can present quite a variety of driving styles. On the one hand, you’ll see cars whipping by you as they surpass the speed limit. On the other, you’ll see cars holding up the left lane as they slowly chug along.
While the fast drivers can be dangerous, the slow drivers can be costly since getting stuck behind them can cause you to slow down. To pass them, you’ll need to accelerate from that slowdown, which burns fuel faster.
Once again, anticipation plays a part in keeping cash in your pocket. Watch for those slow drivers so you don’t find yourself stuck behind them. The steadier your speed and less need to change lanes, the lower your gasoline bill.
7. Watch your speedometer
We already know that accelerating from a complete stop wastes gas. What about driving fast, though? It can be a cost-increaser too, so try not to drive too fast if you hope to save gas.
8. Carpool
As you employ the cost-cutting driving tips above, try bringing someone along for the ride. Then, later on, ask them to return the favor. By carpooling, you can save some serious cash.
The most obvious saving from carpooling comes from fuel costs. If you take turns driving, you won’t have to put gas in your car so often.
Other ways in which carpools save include mileage on your car. The less wear and tear it has, the less you should have to spend on maintenance.
Last, but not least, you can save on car insurance if carpooling cuts how many miles you drive per year. If you find a new carpooling partner, mention it to your auto insurance company. They may charge you less since you reduce your risk of an accident by putting your car on the road less often.
