Most people could save a lot of money on gas.
The tricky part is: It’s easy to ignore how much you spend on gas.
For example, one fast start could cost a few cents. And two dozen fast starts could cost a dollar. [ That could be $365/year. ]
Aggressive driving could cost a few dollars per day. [ That could be $1000/year . ]
And sitting in your car with the engine running could cost as much as driving the car.
This can add up to costing hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars per year.
Here’s how to save money on gas:
1) Shut It Off
✅ Turn off the engine as soon as you park.
✅ Start the engine just before you drive – – after you lock the door and fasten your seat belt.
Never: Leave the car parked with the engine running. This wastes gas and makes your car an easy target for thieves.
Never: Use the remote start feature. This wastes gas.
Important: Two minutes of letting the engine idle is equal to driving a mile – Unless you’re running the air conditioning, then it’s almost equal to driving.
Shocking –> Some people drive a thousand miles each year without moving an inch.
I’ve seen people waste gallons of gas while they slept or ate in their truck with the engine running.
Once I mentioned this to a fellow, who was in a large service truck, and he told me it was okay because his boss pays for the gas. —> Note: If this guy works for you, he’s wasting $2,000 to $5,000 of your money every year.
2) Leave It Off
Save gas by not using your car. (I’ll bet you knew that.)
For example:
✅ Shop by phone or over the Internet.
✅ Walk for local errands.
3) Change Time Zones
✅ Travel when others are less likely to be on the road. If your company allows flex time hours, choose a time window that avoids driving during rush hour.
✅ Shop early or late in the day.
In both cases you’ll encounter less traffic, easier driving, and less time on the road.
4) Drive Smart
✅ Drive carefully, allowing enough room for an emergency stop. You’ll save money, feel better, and provide an enjoyable ride for your passengers.
Note: Aggressive drivers cause accidents. And accidents cost more than gas.
5) Pretend You’re Riding a Bicycle
✅ Imagine you’re the engine. So start gradually.
✅ Take your foot off the gas when you’re approaching a red light. Then let the car coast to a stop.
Note: Quick starts use a lot of gas.
6) Be stingy
✅ Combine errands into a single outing. And then plan your trip so you drive in an efficient loop, instead of going back and forth.
✅ Join a car pool for commuting to work or taking your children to school. If practical, walk with your children when taking them to school. (This might even take less time.)
✅ Use public transportation. Then you can use the travel time for reading, planning, or relaxing. Often public transportation costs less than gas plus parking.
7) Travel Light
✅ Carry only what you need. Extra weight wastes gas.
✅ Remove flags and decorations. These cause added drag, which wastes gas.
8) Shop Smart
✅ Shop from stores close to home.
✅ Combine trips to far away stores with other errands.
9) Keep Your Car Healthy
✅ Buy routine tune ups. A healthy car is a happy (more efficient) car.
✅ Keep the tires properly inflated. (Soft tires use more gas.)
10) Buy Smart
✅ Buy a fuel efficient car.
Okay, this action is more difficult than the others. But the savings can be huge.
Consider the difference between buying a truck that costs $70,000 and gets 10 mpg versus buying a car that costs $30,000 and gets 40 mpg. If you were to invest the money saved on payments and gas, you could have a fortune by the time you retire.
Birth Year CO2
Find the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere when you were born.
Click to: Your Birth Year CO2 and select your birth year.
For example, it was 310.2 ppm in my birth year. And it’s now 421.5 ppm.
The Price of Gas
By the way, the price of gas is set by the corporations that sell gas. And the price of oil is set by OPEC, commodity traders, and the oil companies.
The price of oil will fluctuate based upon supply and demand, plus market uncertainties (similar to the stock market).
For example, in September 2023 oil companies reduced oil production, thereby reducing the oil supply. As a result, the price of oil went up. This created increased profits for the oil companies at the expense of you, the consumer.
And then, some politicians blamed this price increase on President Biden.
Fact: The president of the United States (and any country) does not control the price of gas or oil.
Want to Know More?
These organizations are working to protect our environment. See:
Third Act (for people over 60)
