Save 2 Cents by Driving 2 Miles

The average price of a gallon of gasoline for the United States of America on 5/12/08 was $3.722, that price has since increased during the week. That price is over 60 cents higher than a year ago and over 10 cents higher than one week ago. To see more about gas prices, visit:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

What will the price look like on 5/19/2008 look like? It will probably be around $3.89 per gallon and continue to climb thru the Fourth of July weekend.

So what should we do to save a little money while the price is going up? A few options to save money include:

1. Reduce the number of trips you need to take. Only go to the grocery store once per week and stay home to eat your meals, this will also save money other than gas usage.
2. Ask your employer if you can work from home 1-2 days per week. Make sure to put together a work plan and report the positive results. This may allow you in the future to work more days from home, as long as you actually work.
3. Remove any unnecessary items from your car. Additional weight in your vehicle causes more gas to be used.
4. Car pool or take the bus to work. In the end run it may cost less and you may be able to get a little reading or work done while in transit.
5. Don’t leave your car idling while you stop to do an errand or other tasks. Turn it off if it will sit more than a minute (some people say 30 seconds).
6. Watch your speed, driving the speed limit rather than 5-10 miles per hour faster than the speed limit saves gas by the vehicle using the gas more efficiently.

All of these ways can save more than 2 cents from gas savings. Would you drive two miles to save two cents per gallon? If the gas station is along your route of travel then the additional drive is fine. But, if you have to go out of your way two miles, that two cents times twenty to thirty gallons (40-60 cents) is lost on the four mile round trip detour. Get started saving gas now!

Save Gas Money,
Sam Carrara