Five Tips to Save on Gas This Summer

It’s times like these that I’m glad I work from home. My husband travels 85 miles back and forth to work each day and spends about $80 a week on gas. I can’t imagine what I might have to give up from my budget if we both regularly spent that much on gas. I hardly go anywhere, and I’m still conservative with my gas usage. Here are some ways you can be, too.

1. 1. Condense Your Trips. Plan your errands around already scheduled outings, meetings or appointments. If you have a doctor appointment on Tuesday or your child has baseball practice every Thursday evening, handle all of your errands in those part of town at those times only. I don’t live near the credit union. Therefore, I handle all of my credit union business on Wednesdays when my son has gymnastics across the street from the branch.
2. Shop at stores offering fuel discounts. Tom Thumb, Kroger and Wal-Mart all offer fuel discounts. Others may, as well. The offers at Tom Thumb and Kroger change depending on the promotion or how much you spend. Wal-Mart offers a standard fuel discount when you pay with a Wal-Mart gift card.
3. Change your schedule so you’re not driving during rush hour. Obviously this option isn’t for everyone, but if you have a job that will let you come in and leave either an hour earlier or an hour later to avoid rush hour traffic, take advantage of that flexibility. You’ll spend a lot less time in the car which means a lot less money on gas. If you can work at home one or more days a week, that’s even better.
4. Carpool to work or school. Most people are spending $70 to $100 to fill their tanks. Imagine how much money you could save if you drove to work or school every other week instead of every week. If you have a classmate or colleague who lives close by, consider sharing your ride with them. You’ll save fuel and reduce the wear and tear on your car.
5. Use public transportation. This is not always the cheaper option, but it’s worth looking into. Many companies provide free monthly DART passes to their employees for commuting back and forth to work either by train, light rail or both. It often takes more time to get back and forth to work on public transportation, but that’s time you have to read, catch up on phone calls, listen to music, etc., because you’re not the one driving. It may be worth it if you’re spending hundreds of extra dollars a month on gas.

What are some tips you have for saving on fuel? Leave a comment and help us continue the discussion.