Saving Gas – Saving Money

It's going to be a lot worse before it gets better.  How many times have you heard that in the past 4 years! Here are some simple helpful tips from some Laramie residents and an extended list from Consumer Reports on saving at the pump. I recently asked over 25 people at the local coffee shops what they are doing to save on gas and or alternative ways to save money and spend less at the pumps.

Most people say they have already either bought a more economic car or started biking or walking to work. They have stopped taking as many unescesary trips as they used to as well. I myself only think about conserving money when I'm almost out. I guess it's human nature.  But if you can think of ways to conserve on gas or change your driving habits now is the time.

Top 10 tips for conserving gas: 1. Get an economic car. 2. I bike to work when it's not too windy or cold. 3. Walk to work if it's not too far. 4. Really think about where your going and do all your errands in one trip. 5. Get the cheapest gas possible 6. Have your car/truck tuned-up 7. Check your tires pressure. 8. Take out all the crap in the back of your car, to cut down on weight. 9. Don't drive to Fort Collins as much 10. Don't drive real crazy!

All of this is good advice, if you have more ideas please let us know. 

Consumer Report Tips:

Here are suggestions for saving money on gasoline, with help from the U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Reports, Alliance to Save Energy and Edmunds.com.

Don't spill the coffee. The biggest savings will come from avoiding aggressive driving. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percentat highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. - Not sure what less-aggressive driving is? Imagine a lidless cup of coffee in your car's cupholder.  Drive like you don't want to spill it. That means gradual acceleration and gentle braking.

Potential savings vary widely but are significant when you curb aggressive driving. At $4 per gallon, gas savings could range from 20 cents to $1.32 per gallon, based on Energy Department figures. That's a savings of $240 to $1,584 per year for that two-car household described earlier.

Speed kills. Each 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is like paying an additional 27 cents per gallon for gas. Consumer Reports found that slowing from 75 to 55 mph boosted gas mileage 33 percent in testing performed on a family sedan and a large SUV.

American idle. Idling yields zero mpg. Don't bother warming up your car or keeping it running while waiting for passengers. The rule of thumb is to turn off your car if you know you'll be stopped for more than 30 seconds, Consumer Reports says. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas idling than those with small engines.

Trunk junk. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your gas mileage by up to 2 percent, or about 8 cents per gallon. Roof junk — carrying large items on the roof of the vehicle — creates drag that can cut gas mileage 5 percent.

Use cruise.Cruise control is steadier on the accelerator pedal than you are. You might try it on lower-speed suburban roads. Edmunds.com called it a "surprisingly effective way to save gas."

Find cheaper gas. Compare gasoline prices at KCGY , gaspricewatch.com and gasprices.mapquest.com. Of course, you don't want to drive far out of your way to save a few pennies. Savings will be lost traveling to a distant service station.

Billshrink.com will send you an email alerting you to the lowest-price gas on your commute. Gas price information also is available via smart phone apps, such as Gas Buddy and AAA's TripTik Mobile.

Use GPS.Computerized travel directions from GPS devices or smart phones can help find efficient routes, even among multiple destinations. That can save time, hassle and gas. If you don't have a device, use a computer site, such as mapquest.com/routeplanner.

Of course, plotting a route by hand works, too, using a folding map or road atlas. Several devices and websites also alert you to traffic jams, a gas-mileage killer.

Seek discounts. Be on the lookout for promotions and sales that allow you to acquire gasoline station gift cards for free or at a discount. For example, you might be able to redeem credit card rewards points for a gas card. And Choice Hotels, which owns such properties as Comfort Inn and Clarion, is offering a $50 gas card when you book two stays before May 4.

Make radical changes. Change your work hours to avoid rush-hour traffic, use carpools and ride-sharing programs, take public transportation, walk or bike to work, or work from home.

Shop online. If you spend evenings or weekends running errands to various stores, consider ordering products online and let someone else pay for the gas. That's doable if you can find free shipping online or lower product prices to compensate for shipping fees. Free shipping often comes in the form of a coupon code used at online checkout. Use a search engine with keywords "coupon code" and the retailer's name.

Happy saving!