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June 08, 2007

“Hypermiling” for Better Gas Mileage

High gas prices have given rise to "Hypermiling," the art and science of wringing as much mileage out of a tank of gas as possible. Some practitioners take it to extreme and even illegal limits. But MSN reviewed some of the saner techniques promoted by a champion hypermiler who routinely gets over 50 miles per gallon from his 2005 Honda Accord--more than twice its EPA rating. His suggestions include: parking so that you can pull forward instead of wasting gas backing up; following the speed limit; not accelerating too quickly; using cruise control when possible; turning off the engine if you're going to idle for more than 10 seconds; keeping your tires inflated to their maximum recommended pressure; and, if you're going on a series of errands, driving to the farthest destination first, which will warm your engine to its most efficient temperature.

Matt's View

True hypermilers also never overspend on gas. To find gas stations that sell fuel the cheapest, they use web sites like GasBuddy.com or the AAA Motor Club's site (Go here and then click on "Fuel Price Finder"). If you're on the road, you can even text message GasBuddy.com with the city and state or zip code where you are and you'll get a message back with the five lowest priced gas stations in the area.

Beyond Priceline

You're probably acquainted with some of the most common web sites for discounted airfares and hotel rooms. But Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine recently suggested some lesser-known sites that are especially well suited for those willing to travel on short notice. It recommended Site59 for low priced airfare/hotel packages. For bed and breakfast deals, sign up for a free e-mail subscription to BedandBreakfast.com . Sites with deals on cruises include SkyAuction.com and Moment's Notice . For European getaways, Kiplinger's recommended Lastminute.com and LateRooms . For Italy in particular, it suggested Venere.com .

Matt's View

Of course, this assumes that you actually take a vacation. A recent survey found that more than one-third of U.S. workers do not plan to take all of their vacation days this year.

A Rich List That Matters

We're accustomed to stories about the world's richest people. But inspirational speaker Tim Richardson is compiling a list of what he calls the REAL richest people in America, those who are rich in good deeds. Nominees for the first list include a hurricane Katrina survivor whose organizing efforts have cleaned up 250,000 pounds of trash in New Orleans, the founder of an organization dedicated to eradicating poverty, and a flight attendant who puts together missions to deliver supplies to children in need.

Matt's View

This is a great effort to acknowledge some of the true heroes in our culture. Just reading about the nominees is inspiring. If you know someone who should be on the list, Richardson's site includes a section where you can submit a nomination.

A Document That Matters

A whopping 70 percent of U.S. adults don't have a will or other estate documents, according to a recent MSN story. Surprisingly, an even higher percentage (74 percent) of parents with children under age 18 have no such documents. Ironically, the main reason for having a will is the very issue that holds many parents back from getting one. Nearly 20 percent of parents said they haven't had a will put together because they can't decide on a guardian.

Matt's View

No one likes to deal with death. But if you have children under age 18 you absolutely need a will. Let's face it; no one will do as good a job as you in raising your kids. And that makes it tough to choose a guardian. But no one will do as good a job as you in choosing the best guardian for your kids either. It's far better to make that choice yourself instead of leaving it up to someone else.

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“Thank you for such a neat talk! Perfect, useful and very wise message for college students.”

“Every student needs to hear this.”

“Very helpful, insightful, encouraging, convicting. I’ll definitely start thinking a lot more about my decisions with respect to money.”

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- Workshop Participants, What Will You Do With Your Millions?