How To Save Money At The Pump

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-13-2005, 10:03 AM

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<DIV class=obW id=ob>Another article about saving money on gas.</DIV></DIV>
<H1>Detroit Area Gas Prices</H1>
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<TD>From Nicole Bradley,
Your Guide to Detroit Metro Area.
<B>FREE</B> Newsletter. href="http://detroit.about.com/gi/pages/mmail.htm">Sign Up Now!</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<H2>How To Save Money At The Pump</H2>As of March 2005, gas prices were at an all time high. That’s the bad news. The good news is that gas prices seem to be stabilizing instead of continuing to climb. For now. What’s going on? Why are prices so sky-high? Apparently fears of a shortage are behind these crazy prices, along with a substantial increase in demand for oil from both China and India. But don’t panic, crude oil prices continue to fall, despite sticker shock at the pump. In the Motor City, we are all feeling the effects of rising gas costs. The luxury, sports and SUV market is falling and folks are more inclined to look for economy vehicles with low sticker prices and high fuel efficiency. Hybrid vehicles are increasing in sales as people look for alternative fuel sources to replace the high cost of petro. <SPAN>
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Use the lowest grade gasoline recommended for your vehicle. It is a myth that better grades of gas are necessarily better for your vehicle.
Pay for gas with a gasoline rebate credit card. You must be disciplined and able to pay off your full balance every month and not just the minimum payment. If you do this, you can expect to save 20% on gasoline, on average.
Participate in gasoline rebate programs in the area. Meijer grocery stores offer coupons to save $.50/gallon on up to 10 gallons of gas and other similar incentives from the Meijer gas stations just by simply looking for the “Free Gas” signs throughout the store and purchasing the products the earn the rewards. This website will tell you more.
Do not top off. The gasoline is almost always lost in the hose or to evaporation. It’s a waste of cents!

<B>Save By Increasing Fuel Efficiency</B> There are not only ways to save on the gasoline itself but ways to increase fuel efficiency which will cut down on your need for gasoline and pad your pockets with extra change. Try a few of these on for size:

Drive less aggressively. By tailing the person in front of you, you will need to stop suddenly and accelerate more often, using significantly more gasoline.
Keep your tires fully inflated and check inflation monthly. Studies have shown that driving on underinflated tires can cost you 10% or more in lost gasoline.
Keep your speed under 60 mph. Research has shown that fuel efficiency decreases rapidly at speeds above 60mph.
Avoid excessive idling which just burns gas and takes you nowhere!
Use Overdrive Gears and Cruise Control if your vehicle is equipped. Both of these help increase fuel efficiency.
Replace air filters and save on gas mileage by up to 10%.
Don't forget to get routine oil changes and tune ups as needed. These can collectively increase fuel efficiency by up to 10%.

There is no way of predicting how high gas prices will reach before they begin to finally drop. In the end, the most practical thing we all could do is to stop relying on our vehicles so heavily. Ride a bike. Jog. Walk. It couldn't hurt and it definitely could help in more ways than just the financial ones!

**gkp1031** · 08-13-2005, 11:49 AM

Good tips! I just paid $2.45 a gallon this morning. I am going to make more of an effort to get all my errands done during the week while I'm on the road for work, that way I'll be more efficient, fuel and time wise and I'll have the weekends free to spend at home.