The Save Money Blog

Archive for the ‘Gas and Car Saving Tips’ Category

I love the picture below. Don't you with the prices were the same as when they were using these types of gas pumps? The prices always seem to be up when I cruise in for a gas fill up. Here are some general tips you can use to save money next time you have to fill up at your local gas station.

1. Find a credit card that offers cash back or has a rewards program and use it for your gas purchases. I recently just switched to a credit card that utilizes Air Miles so I can get some swag from their rewards catalogue.

2. Find a gas station that offers membership savings for using their credit cards. I know of a petro station nearby that offers a couple of cents on the litre if you use their special credit card to make purchases.

3. Check the internet for local gas prices and compare stations to see if you can find one that has cheaper prices.

4. Turn off the AC when driving around in the city. You will save gas by not running your cars air conditioning. You just have to sweat it out a bit. On the highway however having open windows might cost you more in gas because of the drag. You might want to have the a/c on in this case.

5. It's okay to use the cheaper priced gas. This day in age who would pay for premium? It's just money down the drain.

6. Get in the habit of checking your tire pressure. Most stations offer a free air pump for customers. Just check your tire pressure on your tire and give it quick check once a month. You will save money.

7. Clean the garbage out of your car, especially heaving items. A lighter car uses less gas. You aren't a transport so stop hauling heavy loads.

8. Avoid idling. If you are going to be stopped for more than one minute, you will save gas by turning the car off and restarting when you are ready to go. Our town has a law that cars can't idle for more that a minutes.

With the economy changing as much as it is, one has to wonder if a new car is really worth it. Is it worth spending that extra money when you could get a used car that is in good shape? When people buy a used car, the sticker price is not the only thing they save on. There are many ways you can save when you buy a used car.

First, you can save on gas. Many people think the new cars offer all the gas savings, but that is actually not true. You could get a new hybrid and save on gas, but studies have shown it can take you between five and ten years of owning a hybrid to actually get ahead in the cost department. That is because of the sticker price of a hybrid.

There are many cars that were made in 1990s to the early 2000s that get excellent gas mileage. Consider a Corolla, or a Mazda Tribute. They are both affordable and will save you a great deal of money on gas. When you are able to get an affordable vehicle that also offers a great savings on gas, you will save quite a bit of money in the long run.

Also, you will save money on insurance. When you buy a new car, your insurance company is going to give you an expensive policy. The cheaper the car, the less you pay for the insurance. That means people who are driving around in used cars are going to get some great deals.

Many used cars are also cheaper to maintain. The parts in cars are getting more and more expensive. If you buy a used car, you have a greater chance of getting a car that has replacement parts for a much better price.

In addition, many people pay off a used car faster than they pay off a new car. Because of that, they are able to get rid of their car payment and then really feel the difference in their bank accounts. Most people take out a five year loan with a new car, but when it comes to a used car, many people only finance for three years. That means less interest and less time paying on the loan. You can save quite a bit of money this way, and you are likely to really benefit from this savings.

Used cars offer a great deal of saving. Of course, you are going to save money on the cost of the vehicle, but then the savings will continue. If you are looking for a long term savings, consider a used car.

Add up how much your savings can be with a used car and you will probably be shocked. Think about gas, insurance, parts, and repayment. When you look at all of those factors, it only makes sense to buy a used car. With the way that the economy is, it is in your best interest to purchase something that will cost you less money instead of more money.

Earlier this week I found myself in the extreme cold weather with a car that just wouldn't start. It's frustrating when you need your vehicle and it won't start. I had to resort to using my 24 hour towing company to get a boost and get back on the road. That prompted me to want to do a blog post about keeping your car running in the cold weather that seems to be gripping everyone right now.

1. If you aren't planning on using your car for an extended period of time take a few minutes and start it. I left mine for a week over the holidays and that was the reason why it wouldn't turn over. It was just too cold. Take a minute and fire it up each day and just let it run for a few minutes.

2. Make sure your battery is in good condition and the posts are clean. Even a bit of crud on the post may stop it from starting.

3. Keep your gas tank full over the winter time to prevent water build up. You can also add a bottle of gasoline anti-freeze.

4. Make sure your anti-freeze is at the proper level.

5. If you have a block heater and it is going to get really cold, use it.

6. Keep your winshield wiper fluid topped up.

It never hurts to throw an emergency kit in the trunk that includes flares, candles, matches, blankets and booster cables

I thought I would make a blog post based on a radio commercial I heard today. I would pay props to it but I can't recall what the station was or what the group was that was behind it.

The next time you are at the gas station or getting your oil changed make sure you check your tire pressure. You would not believe how much you can save by having properly inflated tires. The commercial stated that you can save hundreds of dollars a year in gas or fuel costs just by keeping your car tires inflated to the proper level. Of course this would be based on how much driving you did on a weekly basis but it stated something to the tune of $500 a year the average driver could save in gas costs. That number is just off the charts and an easy way to save money.

The other side to the story was that you save big money because your tires last longer. Trust me, tires are not cheap. We just had our Jeep done at Costco and while they had the best deal on tires it was still a pretty good hit to the pocket book. Doing anything you can to make your tires last longer will save you money.

Check your manual or check on the outside of the tire for the number that your tire should be inflated to. Most gas stations have a pump. When you press the pump into your tire the guage will tell you what number you are at, just fill it to the number it should be. Easy as that.

Well it took long enough but when I filled up this week gas was finally below .90 cents a litre. I hadn't seen prices like that for a long time. I hope it keeps up the monthly gas bill was becoming a bit of a killer. But if the high gass prices taught us anything over the past year was that we have to change our habits and we can change out habits and save money.

So lets not give up on those things that we did to save money when the prices were insane. Not that they are coming back down you can see that you can save money all the time but just switching up your driving habits or arrangements just a bit.

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Looks like a little bit of good news on the gas front. Prices have been continually falling over the past few weeks. According to CNN, they have dropped below $3 for the first time since January.

"The average price of unleaded regular fell to $2.95 a gallon, down 3.7 cents, according to the Daily Fuel Gauge Report issued by motorist group AAA. Prices have fallen more than 30 cents a gallon in the last week and 90 cents, or 23%, in the last 32 days. The current national average is $1.16, or 28%, off the record high price of $4.11 that AAA reported July 17"

At the very least we should all have a little extra in our wallets as we head into the Christmas season. Hopefully gas prices will continue to drop off.

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So it comes down again to spending a little to save a little. The tires on my Mustang have just about had it. The tires are as bald as my head, they need to be inflated often and have no traction whatsoever. The result would be poor gas mileage. Under inflated tires alone can decrease your gas mileage as much as ten percent. Now that is a lot.

I shopped around and have become intersted in Bullet wheels. A throw back to the Steve McQueen movie Bullit. These tires are sharp are would give my mustang a sweet retro look and feel. This style of wheel is generally wider and more stable than your average type of wheel. The benefit would obviously be better cornering and improved road grip.

Here are some tips to get the best gas mileage out of your tires. Check the pressure at least once a month. Get in the habit of going to a gas station with a free air machine or grab a cheap pressure checker from your hardware store. Keep your tires balanced. Check often for even tire wear. Uneven tire wear usually means an alignment problem. If you are going to replace one tire you might want to consider replacing all four. If one has a problem with wear or tread depth chances are it's not alone.

How about saving $120 a week just by giving up your driving freedoms and car pooling? Hey, if you are looking to save money then this is a no brainer. CNN just featured an article which really drives home just how important car pooling can be in today's era of outrageous gas prices.

"Robert Gilliland didn't think much about carpooling until gas prices got out of control. Now, he's happy to trade his motoring freedom for $120 in weekly savings. Gilliland found one rider through the classifieds Web site Craigslist and another using the carpool-matching service eRideShare.com."

Although car pooling might not be for everyone, if you hours are not consistent or if you have to stay late from time to time and there are also safety concerns. If can hook up with co-workers, neighborous or friends, all the better.

Read the Source Article, if you are interested in carpooling you will find it quite interesting.

Today my boss came into work and was griping about his car breaking down. He had blown an air conditioning compressor and the heat and the price of the repair was getting to him. When I asked him where he took it he told me to the dealer next door. No kidding the price was right out there. I told him that I have a great mechanic just down the street and he should have asked and I could have saved him some money. Finding a good personal mechanic is worth it's weight in gold. First, their hourly wage is going to be a lot less than going to the dealer and secondly if you are a good customer then they are probably going to give a bit of a break here and there. I had a check engine light on recently and my mechanic read the code and reset it for me as it wasn't serious. How many dealerships are going to do that for you.

It's come down to this, people are turning to Scooters to fight the high cost of gas. With gas prices hitting $4 – $5 a gallon motor bike and scooter sales have been reported to be brisk this spring. Why not? If you can get 75-120 miles per gallon it makes perfect sense. Low end Scooters can be picked up for as low as $800 and range up to $8,000 for a top of the line model. Certainly something nice could be found for $2,000. Reports indicate that they will pay for themselves in fuel saving over the first to three years that you own one.

If you live in an area with nice weather and have a small commute to work if might be something think about this summer. It beats filling up your car to get you to work. And who cars if your friends see you riding it.

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