Save Money On Gas

Everywhere you look, people are complaining about high petrol prices. And they have good reason too - the high fuel prices seem to have become a worldwide phenomenon. Apart from that, it has forced a number of people to take drastic measures, like selling their cars. But what exactly is behind these high gas rates? And who is to blame?

A Question Of Gas And Oil

An important thing to remember is that oil and gas are closely linked - rising petrol prices mean that oil prices have also been rising. Let’s take a look at the actual breakdown of gas prices. The price of crude oil forms about 55% of the going price of gas - the rest is made up of taxes. If taxes and distribution of this oil is steady, then the gas prices will be relatively steady and manageable too. But if the distribution system is affected in some way, then the prices shoot up. This is why in some cases, gas prices go up even though the price of crude oil is down.

Apart from that, gas consumption has increased overall on a global scale. Countries like China, India and Nigeria are all using much more fuel than they were before - add to this the fact that the American dollar has also taken a plunge and it becomes clear why gas prices are so high. Ordinary people who are simply looking for ways to cut gas consumption wonder if these prices will ever go down. The good news is that forecasts have predicted that gas prices should return to normal by 2009.

What You Can Do

What can you really do to save on fuel in the meantime? Let’s look at the bigger picture first - the surge in petrol prices has simply reiterated the fact that alternate fuel sources need to be found. There is a good chance that if more people were relying on alternative, environmentally friendly fuels, the current crisis would not have been so serious. Alternative fuel sources are beneficial both in terms of money and in conserving the planet’s resources. Closer home, we can all take steps to be more careful about how we use our gas.

Start thinking about using public transportation such as buses or trains - it’s also a good idea to organize car pools with people at work. Try and limit your use of the car as well. The truth is that most of us take out our vehicles even when we don’t need to - if you can easily walk down to the corner store, do so. Don’t use your car unless you really need to.

It’s also a good idea to keep your car in good running condition. Periodically check the tire pressure as well as the air filters to make sure they aren’t clogged. Keep your car as light as possible - clear out your trunk and only keep what’s absolutely necessary in your car since a heavy car drinks more gas. Though gas prices are rising all over the world, we can certainly do our bit to help fight high petrol prices.