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All the other usual stuff...well maintained vehicle, tires at correct pressure, don't drive fast, blah blah.
Really, all the stuff you ought to have been doing all along, whether gas prices are $2.25 or $3.25. It sort of irritates me when people don't give a single thought to this until gas increases by 50 cents or whatever and then it's OMG the sky is falling OMG 1!!!!111!!!!! gas prices are going up OMG! Like nobody knew this was ever going to happen.
Consider using some fuel injector cleaner if your vehicle has not been performing very smoothly AND gas mileage is lower than usual. Contrary to popular opinion, these things may work but only if there is a problem with dirty injectors.
Inflate your tires to 90% of the max allowed pressure noted on the sidewall.
Commonly thrown advice that don't really save money, at least for me:
1) Get a more fuel efficient vehicle
This only works if gas prices rise and stay high permanently. Getting a more efficient vehicle isn't gonna lower your monthly budget in the short term (and very likely raise it) unless gas goes ridiculously high (like $20/gallon!)
2) Use public transportation
For the sake of simplicity, assume $4 gas, a 20 mpg vehicle, a bus fare of $1 each way. (Most people right now pay less than $4 for gas and drive a more efficient vehicle than 20 mpg, not to mention most bus fares are $1 or higher.)
10 miles round trip costs $2, same with a round trip bus trip. If you just need groceries, most likely you can get it less than 5 miles away esp. in urban and suburban areas with bus transportation.
If you were to walk instead or to sell your car and cancel insurance, it may be a different matter..
I think driving less? I am walking more for errands. Walked to the bank and post office this week already. I walk a lot anyway for exercise, but I can also do this for short errands.
Quote:
2) Use public transportation
Yeah...ive noticed that. For me there is some savings, but not really that much.
the public trans in indy sucks. i work 9-6 m-f. if i used the bus id leave at 7 am and get home at 915 pm. i live on the south side of downtown and work 14 miles directly north. indy isnt the most bicycle friendly city either. learn to use cruise control and learn to coast when its possible. vehicles most fuel effecient speeds are between 30-45 mph. using cruise control at 45 mph will get me around 22 mpg in my 97 jeep grand cherokee. i love my jeep and im not selling it. but i can make the most of what i have.
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