When Filling Up Taps You Out
With fuel prices at record highs, filling the gas tank is starting to feel more like an investment than an expense. For some ideas on how to save on gas, a 7/26 posting on Businessweek Online said the most important steps are all pretty simple: keep our tires properly inflated, accelerate and brake gently, slow down, and combine errands. More tips can be found at the Department of Energy's web site .
A couple of articles on Yahoo! Finance offered somewhat more involved ideas such as carpooling and vanpooling . Another idea that’s growing in popularity is auto sharing , essentially renting a car by the hour.
As for the many devices and additives that claim to improve a car’s gas mileage, an ABC News online story posted on 7/13 said EPA testing found that none of them work. Instead try using your car’s air conditioner less often. While some believe the added drag of driving with open windows negates the savings, the article said that’s a myth.
Matt’s View
Perhaps the most radical idea is the one offered by Freegashelp.com . Qualified drivers in a limited but growing number of markets get about $30 a month in free gas in exchange for attaching magnetized advertisements to their vehicle. It’s not quite selling your soul for a tank of gas, but since many people see their car as an extension of themselves, it’s close.
Managing Money by The Book
- "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." - Psalm 119:16
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