Driving is a necessity in today’s world. With jobs located across a city or even in different cities, you have to have some method of transportation to get there. While you can take the bus, you are a slave to their schedule and you can end up being late for work if there are any delays. That is why it is always recommended that you have a car for your travels.
The one downside of a car however is that you constantly have to fill it up with gas. Not only that, but if your daily commute is quite long, you will be filling up much more often. With gas prices these days, you might even see a considerable amount of your paycheck going to your car. Fortunately, there are ways to save money at the pump. Here are some smart tips on how you can save money when you fill your car up.
Gas Cards
With gas prices constantly fluctuating, you might be paying one amount one day, then another amount considerably higher the next. Sure you can go to a different gas station, but all of them tend to have roughly the exact same prices. This is where gas cards come in. The experts at GasBuddy state that gas cards can allow you to save up to 5 cents a gallon, allowing you to profit instantly. These savings are huge and with large tanks you can be saving several dollars a fill up.
That might not sound like much, but if you do this over the course of a year, you will find that you have saved enough money for an extra fill up or two. Gas cards are extremely easy to get as well. Some banks offer them in promotion with their cards, while other applications offer them for free. All you need to do is go to a gas station that accepts the card, swipe it, and then start filling your tank up. Save your money at the pump by getting a gas card.
Go To Different Gas Stations
As mentioned above, gas stations vary in prices, especially if they are different companies. While for the most part, there will be a set price that a company will not go below, some gas stations undercut each other with pricing if they are close by. As a consumer, this is amazing for you as you can end up saving a lot per gallon. If this doesn’t happen nearby for you, there are other alternatives.
There are phone applications that will point you to the cheapest gas in the area. All you need to do is set a maximum distance range and let the application do the work from there. It will come up with a list of all gas stations in the area with their associated prices. From there, it is up to you to choose how far you want to travel to get cheaper gas. Always remember that there are more gas stations and there are different prices being offered if you think you can get it for much cheaper.
Keep Your Engine RPMs Low
Finally, one of the best ways to save money on gas is to monitor your mileage and your usage. You might not be in a position where you can get a new car that is more efficient on gas, or switch over to an electric model. In that case, you have to make due with what you have. You can do this by monitoring your engine and ensuring that it does not work too hard.
Whenever you accelerate, you might notice the engine gage which measures your RPMs goes up. The higher this gage is, the more gas you are consuming. To be most efficient, don’t accelerate extremely quickly, instead slowly build your speed and keep that needle down. It might be slightly tedious at first, but this is an extremely efficient way of saving gas while still driving safely. Your trips to the pump visit will decrease dramatically and the money in your wallet will increase. If you want to avoid filling up at the pumps, ensure that you don’t work your engine as hard.
By following these tips, you can ensure that you are saving as much money as possible at the pump. Any savings is good savings and all of it will add up to something considerable at the end of the year. Try to avoid driving when possible as well. Small trips will waste gas due to your car starting and stopping frequently. What methods do you plan to do to save on gas?
