With the increasing rise in gas prices, we are spending more than usual everyday going about our daily activities. I don’t know about you but I spend about $55 on a weekly basis just driving to work and running errands. That’s more than $200 spent on gas alone. I guess it does not help that I have to use premium gas but my car requires that I use premium only. I can not do anything about the quality of gas I use but here are the many things that we all can do to cut down on the gas bill each month and save a bit of money.
Buy Gas From A Busy Gas Station
Did you know that gas stations that are refilled with gas on a regular basis are more likely to have fresh fuel? Fresh fuel has more power than gas that has been sitting around for days.
Park In The Shade
By parking in the shade your car fuel evaporation will be minimized hence saving you on the purchase of more gas. In addition a car that’s park in the shade help keep the car cool; therefore, will prevent damage to your car paint and leather.
Getting A Tune-up For Your Car
A simple tune-up for your car can improve the gas mileage of your gas bill by more than 4%.
Check Your Oil
Using the proper motor oil grade on your car, preferably the one with the “energy conserving” label on them will yield you as much as 1-2% on gas mileage.
Maintain Your Car Properly
Since we are on the topic of oil change, make sure you change your oil, spark plugs and air filter as scheduled. Don’t forget, always see a mechanic immediately when you have the “check engine” light on. If the cause of your check engine light is a result of a faulty oxygen sensor, than your car mileage can be lowered significantly.
Avoid Filling Up At Gas Stations Near Freeways
In general, gas stations that are located near the highways are higher in price that others that are otherwise not.
Avoid Idling
Be sure to shut off your car engine if you are going to sit in it for more than one minute.
Fill Up On Weekdays
Gas pries usually increases on the weekend, so it will be to your benefit to fill up either Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday mornings.
Avoid Running On Empty
Believe it or not but your car run less efficiently and uses more gas when it is on empty; avoid running on or near empty and fill your gas tank when you have half a tank or less. 
Avoid Topping Off
When you top off your tank, the pump does not have enough time to really activate which results in short bursts of fuel that may short change your from the amount of gas that you are purchasing.
Do Not Upgrade Your Gas
Unless it is recommended by your car’s owner manual to buy higher grade octane gas buy the regular gasoline because costly high octane gas does not improve the performance of your vehicle.
Check Your Tire Pressure
Under inflated and/or worn tires that are low rolling resistance requires more energy to roll; therefore, wasting energy and hence using more gas.
Fill Up At Night
Did you know that pumping at night time deliver more gas than if you would otherwise in the day time since the temperatures are lowered? If you pump gas in the day time when it is hotter, you will get less since the molecules are expanded by the heat hence yielding you less gas for the same price.
Tighten Your Gas Cap
Always remember to tighten the gas cap on your car because doing so will prevent gas from evaporating and escaping into the air. If you do not currently have one because you have lost it, make sure to buy another one immediately.
Slow Down
Driving to the posted speed limit will also save you fuel since each 5 mph over the 60 mph mark will cost you an additional 10 cent per gallon. Whenever possible use cruise control to maintain your speed.
Lighten the Load
Do not carry items you do not need in your car but if you must, do so by placing them in the trunk instead of the roof rack because that will create drag which will consume more gas. Did you know for every 100 pound of weight you car carry will cost you 1 to 2 percent of your car fuel economy?
Shop Around
Whenever possible find gas stations near you that offer the cheapest gas and go there first. Here are a few places you can go to check:
Mileage Tracking
Track your mileage when you fill up; if you noticed a decrease in miles per gallon over time then have your car checked out.
Discount Gas Card
Look for discount gas card at your local gas stations such as Shell, BP-Amoco, Exxon-Mobile, or 76 for rebate programs that offer you a percentage off the gas you buy. You can save as much as 5 to 10 percent on your purchases!!
Make One Trip and Carpool
Whenever possible carpool with a friend. In addition it is more costly to take multiples short trips from a cold start then to make one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Multiple short trips will use twice as much fuel then one.
Choose Your Vehicle When Driving
For those who own more than one vehicle, remember to drive the one that has the better fuel economy.
Pick Your Route
If possible take the route that has the flattest terrain and fewest stops; this means you should avoid stop and go traffic. Tune into the radio to get traffic information.
Keep your car clean
Keep you car clear on the exterior by washing it regular will increase the aero dynamic when driving and thus saving on gas usage. Yes the dirt and debris built-up will slow your car.
Avoid using the air-conditioned in your car whenever possible
Your car exerts a lot of energy when you have it on and will use more gas in the process. But on the other hand if you are on the highway it makes more sense to use the air-conditioner than to having the window down since the wind will put more drag on your car, decrease aero dynamic and thus use more gas to propel your car forward. If you are driving in stop and go traffic such as the city or during traffic hours it is better to have the window down than using the air-conditioner.
If you would like more information on the above tips just browse the web for more in depth details.
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Life is a journey and everything that we have experience up to now have taught us a great deal. We all make mistakes in our lives whether big or small at some point but the important lesion to take from this is to learn from our past and not make the same mistakes again. After which we should move forward and not dwell on the past. Winston Churchill put it well when he said: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it;” that means if we do not reflect back on the past we will surely repeat those unfortunate events again. 