The price of gas keeps climbing. Here are some ways to make every gallon count.
If you've filled up your gas tank lately, then I shouldn't have to tell you that gas prices are soaring. According to GasBuddy, a website that helps their visitors find the cheapest gas, the price for a gallon of fuel in some larger cities, has gone up to over $4.25 and is predicted to hit $5.00 by the summer.
Almost everyone is feeling the pinch, but especially when you are out of work or underemployed and looking for a job the pinch may be especially hard. When you aren't earning a paycheck, driving long distances to look for jobs in nearby areas or just to go on job interviews is almost prohibitively expensive.
So what can you do? Well, according to TreeHugger, there are some things you can do to raise your gas mileage, save some money and be a little bit greener at the same time. It's a win-win proposition.
Here are some changes you can make that will help you go green and be green at the pump:
- Slow down – Driving above 55 burns significantly more gas than if you were driving slower. Also, driving aggressively can lower your mileage by up to 33 percent. When you brake fast, your car burns much more fuel to stop the car, and still more trying to regain speed. Try increasing your braking distance and accelerate slower from a stop.
- Don't leave your car running – Although some people will tell you that it is better to leave your car running for short stops, it actually takes as much gas to start your car as it does to idle for 6 seconds. Unless you are stopping for less than a minute or two, it's better to turn the car off.
- Use GPS – Getting lost is no fun. Not only is it annoying, it also wastes time and gas. Driving 10 minutes out of your way actually causes you to have to drive 20 minutes for no reason. By using a GPS program, you can prevent driving around in circles. There are even GPS units that allow you to plan the most fuel efficient way to get where you are going.
- Lose the weight – The lighter your load is, the better your gas mileage. Clean out your trunk and get rid of anything that isn't necessary. If you have things like luggage racks or bike racks, take them off if you aren't using them. The goal is to make your vehicle as light and sleek as possible.
- Don't buy premium gas – Although there are many differing opinions on this one, unless your car's user manual recommends that you use a higher octane fuel, stick with regular. Using a higher grade of gas doesn't improve your car's performance. It just costs more.
By using these tips and keeping your car properly maintained, you can save money and increase your gas mileage all while doing something better for the environment.
What other things do you think help increase your gas mileage? Let me know in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for LogisticsJobsiteBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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