It’s no secret that gas prices have spiked dramatically over the past couple of years. According to the U.S. Labor Department, there was a 49.6% rise in the cost of gas between 2020 to 2021, and the rise has continued into 2022. Gas prices have already risen to over $5 a gallon in several states, which will put additional strain on many households across the U.S.
Naturally, people are trying to figure out how to save money on gas. Here are 10 tips to help you save when fueling up.
10 tips to save money on gas
1. Choose your routes carefully
Most people don’t give a second thought to how much fuel they use on their daily commute. However, when gas prices are sky-high, it makes sense to rethink your driving routes in terms of fuel efficiency.
Is there a better route to work that can help you save money? Discover new routes that will boost your miles per gallon while also avoiding traffic and hills.
2. Try hypermiling
Hypermiling is an umbrella term that is all about finding more efficient ways to drive (if you need to drive at all).
Some drivers will park in the sun to avoid wasting energy defrosting windows or drive with nothing in the trunk to avoid the extra weight. You can also boost fuel efficiency by choosing routes that require less braking and acceleration.
3. Rethink your driving behavior
Did you know aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage? If you have a tendency to speed, rapidly accelerate, or brake without thinking, this can waste a significant amount of gas.
By driving more carefully, you could reduce your fuel costs while also becoming a much safer driver.
4. Keep your tires inflated
Tires naturally lose pressure, and a lot of drivers forget to pump them up as regularly as they should. The problem is that under-inflated tires can harm your fuel efficiency.
It’s estimated that under-inflated tires can lower your gas mileage by about 0.2% for every one PSI below your optimum PSI rating.
5. Consider reducing your driving time
Cars are incredibly convenient, but if you can swap even some of your usual driving time with walking or cycling, you may experience several benefits. Not only will you save money on gas, but walking and cycling can also improve your health, reduce traffic, and reduce the environmental impacts of driving.
Instead of taking the car to the local grocery store on the weekend, consider turning it into a walk instead and double it up with a workout.
6. Make the switch to electric
While this is (initially) a costly way to avoid steep gas prices, more people are considering electric vehicles for their next car. In fact, according to online vehicle marketplace Cars.com, searches for electric vehicles jumped by 112% in March 2022. This is more of a long-term alternative to dealing with rising gas prices, but it’s a solution that can benefit the environment as well as your wallet. 7. Use gas credit cards
One tactic people are using to reduce gas costs is to buy fuel through a gas credit card. Many gas stations offer a credit card reward program that gives you cash back for buying gas. Look into Speedy Rewards, Shell, or BP for reward programs that could help you save money.
8. Consider club memberships for discounted gas
Consider buying a club membership to Sam’s Club or Costco to take advantage of the discounted fuel prices members enjoy. While membership may cost a few dollars each year, these stores sometimes have the best gas prices, and you’ll more than make up the cost of membership through your annual gas savings.
9. Carpool
Carpooling has long been a popular way to save money on gas while commuting. Consider swapping driving responsibilities with a few co-workers and sharing the expense between you.
That way, rather than paying for gas to get you to work five days a week, you could cut that down to just two or three times a week instead.
10. Ask about working from home
With rising fuel costs, it’s definitely worth asking your employer to consider letting you work from home at least a couple of times a week (if you have the type of job that allows it). Even working from home just once a week can help you save money on gas each month.
Don’t overpay on gas
Rising gas prices are hard to avoid, and many people are just swallowing the costs by making cutbacks elsewhere. However, there are some tactics you can use to boost fuel efficiency and save each month.
For more money-saving tips, you might want to consider reducing costs elsewhere in your household budget or even using a Western Union® Netspend® Prepaid Mastercard® to help you control your spending.
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