Save Money On Gas

High petrol costs have got a lot of people down these days. For most of us, the price hikes have meant making some changes to the way we live. Some of us have opted for things like car pooling, walking or cycling when possible or taking the bus to work. Others have had to opt for more drastic measures, like getting a smaller, lighter vehicle. There are a number of different ways to beat high gas prices - some are tricky, others are easier to follow than you think!

Research!

While high petrol costs are certainly on everyone’s minds, when it comes to filling up, what do we do? We end up going to the gas station that’s either closest to our home or we go to the first one we see. Did you know that there are price variations among different gas stations? It will be well worth it to do a little research on which filling stations offer the cheapest rates. Plan your fill-up schedule accordingly - this simple exercise could mean a lot for you in terms of fuel economy. Also bear in mind that places like wholesale clubs will charge you a lot lesser than other stations.

Go on a Wednesday to a filling station. What do high gas prices have to do with Wednesday? Well, Wednesday is actually the day of the week when fuel prices are at their lowest. Gas prices generally tend to rise towards the weekend and fall as the week progresses. Your best bet is to buy your gas on Wednesday morning - is it cold outside? Better still. Cold weather means the gas will be denser, which means you can pack more of it into your tank!

Simplify Your Life

One thing people usually don’t associate with high petrol costs is what they keep in their trunk. But the truth is that the two are closely related. The lighter your car is, the less fuel it will need to run. A great way to make your car lighter is to get rid of things you really don’t need. Many people use the trunks of their car or even the backseat to store things they don’t want in their house! Get rid of the junk, especially the heavy stuff and you’ll find that your fuel consumption will actually decrease.

It’s also a good idea to simplify your car as well - this means reducing the number of extras and gadgets you’ve got. For example, cut down your use of the air-conditioner; if it gets too hot, just roll down the window and let the breeze in. Thinking about getting some wide, deep tread tires for your car? Don’t. While those tires might look great, they increase the rolling resistance of your car - that means you car has to work harder to get the wheels moving. This in turn means more fuel consumption.

These measures might seem like insignificant ones but they certainly do add up. Even a simple change like opting to take the bus to work twice a week can really save you money. These are just some of the many ways to fight high petrol costs.