Saving Money on Gasoline (an article that I wrote back 2011)

http://voices.yahoo.com/saving-money-gasoline-7998080.html?cat=27




Saving Money on Gasoline




So just how does one propose to save money these days on gasoline? The price of gasoline is outrageous. So what can you do to save money at the gas pump? Well for starts avoid the gas pumps as much as possible.



In theory this would seem like a great idea, since if you avoid the gas pump you will not be spending limited money on gasoline. This however is not an option for most people, as most people do have to use their vehicles to go places. Places like work, medical offices, schools, groceries stores and so forth.



So how can you seriously spend a little less at the gas pump? Well for starters does the grocery store you shop at also sell gas? Some do, in this area; Ingle's is an example of this. If you use an Ingle's gift card for gas you get a discount on your fuel.



So the smart idea is to buy a gift card while inside the grocery store, put the amount of money you would spend on gasoline onto this card. You will save on average 3 cents per gallon. That doesn't sound like much but that is three cents per gallon that you do not have to spend. If you get ten gallons of gas that will be 30 cents off of what you would have paid without the gift card.



Over time this will mount up. Just put the odd change aside that you may have spent for gas, if you must drive a lot, you will save a lot, provided of course you remember to always fill up where there is a discount.



Some service stations also have discounts, either for cash or for using their gas credit card. This discount can be as much as ten cents per gallon. This adds up a little faster than the three cents over at Ingle's.




Also something else to remember is to keep your vehicle well-maintained. When a motors engine has to work harder due to poor maintenance then you will burn more gasoline. Which means you will have to spend more not only on gasoline but on vehicle maintenance.




When your disposable income is severely limited or non-existent this is not something you can afford to safely do.



To save money on gasoline, fill up when you do purchase gas, then keep an eye out for discounts at the stores you normally visit. Also if you have internet access before you go out to purchase gas, on online and look for the least expensive gas, nearest you. Sharing errands may help you save a little on gas, remembering to look for discounts will help.



Last but not least, plan your route carefully, if at all possible, go online before leaving home, and check your route for possible delays, construction, accidents, roadblocks, and so forth. If you live in town only drive when you have absolutely no other choice.



Use the city bus service if this is available to you, also carpool as often as possible, if your neighbors work where you do, or shop where you shop.



Walking and perhaps using a bicycle will be of benefit for those who do not have income to dispose of on increasingly high gas prices.



Also if you live where sidewalks are common, make good use of them, you will lose weight if you need to, you will also save gas by not driving as much. If you have friends who go live near you who go to the same places you do regularly, try scheduling things on the same days.



For example if your next door neighbor goes to Ingle's once a week, and you also go once a week, perhaps, plan to go the same day, and both ride the same vehicle. Rotate this around though so neither of you are using up all the gasoline in one vehicle.