5 Savvy Ways to Save Money on Gas

May 2, 2016

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All drivers know that gas prices can change significantly from day to day, but some seasons drive gas prices up almost every year. With summer just around the corner, you’re likely to see gas prices climb upward. Although there’s no way to stop that from happening, you can make small changes to your driving habits in order to lower your costs. Check out these five savvy ways to save money on gas.

Limit Your Driving Time

To lower your gas consumption overall, take control over how much you drive each day. To the extent that you can, limit the amount of time you drive on a daily basis. Instead of running to the store every time you run out of something, make a list of everything you need. Determine which stores you need to visit, and map out a path that includes them all with the smallest amount of driving possible. You might be amazed at home much time and gas this simple step will save you.

Rely on Gas Apps to Find Cheap Gas

You probably use a smartphone for everything from calling to texting to staying productive. Did you know you can use your smartphone to find cheap gas, too? Try apps like Gas Buddy or Waze, which can identify where you are and create a list of all the nearby gas stations and their prices. With information like this at your fingertips, you have no excuse not to locate the cheapest gas in your area.

Use Gas Rewards Cards

More and more, you’ll find that grocery stores have paired with gas stations in order to offer gas rewards programs. The more you spend at these grocery stores, the more points you’ll earn and the greater discount you’ll get on gas prices. In most cases, all you need to do is sign up for a rewards account and then swipe your rewards card at the pump. If you can remember to use your card, this is an easy way to earn cheaper gas.

Maintain Your Engine

One of the simplest ways to make sure that your car doesn’t burn fuel unnecessarily is to maintain your engine. This means that you should change your oil regularly, replace spark plugs often, and keep the air filters clean. By keeping your engine maintained, you’ll ensure that it runs at peak performance and uses less fuel overall.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated

Another maintenance to-do item is to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. Over- or under-inflated tires can compromise your vehicle’s performance and cause it to use more gas than necessary. Although you don’t have to check the tire pressure every time you get into your vehicle, it is a good idea to check it at least once a month.

You might not be able to control the rising and falling price of gas, but you can still save money. Consider driving less, using gas rewards cards, and keeping your vehicle properly maintained to save on gas each time you get behind the wheel.

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