Debt Relief Will Add Up a Few Pennies at a Time
Monday, February 1st, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed
Cutting down on gas usage
Consumers wanting a little extra debt relief can start by thinking about their gas tanks. It’s not as if it’s top secret that gas prices fluctuate in today’s economy. Heavy mileage will strain anyone’s finances. These are some ways to cut down on fuel costs.
Comparison shop
It’s convenient to visit the local gas station, but it may not be cost effective. Pay attention to prices differences at stations along your daily commute, and use online tools like GasBuddy.com and BillShrink.com that will tell you what the gas prices are on your route.Samir Kothari, the founder of website Billshrink.com, says, “People need to be aware of the varying gas prices. The difference can be up to 50 cents in savings per gallon.” A little strategic planning can save you quite a bit.
Pay with cash
Last summer some gas stations started charging higher prices for customers who pay with credit cards. The idea is to pass credit-card processing fees along to the customers who benefit from the charges. Some gas stations, however, are finding other ways around credit-card costs. For instance, ARCO only accepts cash so stations can charge 5 to 10 cents less per gallon.
Use warehouse club gas stations
Jason Toews, founder of GasBuddy.com said, “It depends on local market conditions, but usually [warehouse clubs] sell [gas] cheaply enough so that they’re beating out the competition.”Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s all sell gas at a discount. For instance, the BJ’s located in York, Pennsylvania, lists regular unleaded for $ 2.59, but the locals sell it for $ 2.65. Finding debt relief a few pennies at a time adds up, especially if you drive a lot.
Maintain vehicles
You can improve fuel efficiency by properly maintaining your vehicle. Proper maintenance of a car doesn’t mean costly repairs all the time. It only means to engage in the normal day to day care of a vehicle, such as properly inflating tires, changing oil and filters when it’s time to do so. Most oil-change stations help customers keep track of their maintenance schedules. Take them up on free service reminders, such as email updates.
Slow down
Studies show that drivers pay on average 24 cents more per gallon for every 5 miles of speed over 60 miles per hour. Hard braking and rapid acceleration can reduce gas mileage by 33% on highways and 5% in town. The easiest and simplest way to cut back on driving costs is to alter your driving habits.
Get rid of extra baggage
Extra weight can increase fuel consumption considerably. The Department of Motor Vehicles found that gas mileage decreased up to 2% per every additional 100 pounds in a vehicle. Taking bowling balls, bags of salt, golf clubs and heavy tools out of a trunk can make a difference in the amount of fuel required for travel.
Limit air conditioning use
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, running an air conditioner can decrease fuel efficiency by 25%. To increase fuel efficiency, save money, and find a little extra debt relief, cut down on air-conditioner usage, or at least keep the air conditioner at a lower setting.
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