1) Figure it out first:
2) Drive smart: Aggressive driving (meaning quick acceleration, hard braking and speeding) wastes gas. In fact, it can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds, and by five percent on the city streets.
3) No waiting: Picking someone up? No sense sitting there idling. Call ahead so they're ready and waiting when you get there, or arrive a couple minutes after your scheduled meeting time.
4) A good combination: Do several errands in one trip instead of going out multiple times. Stop by the bank or store or gas station on your way back from work. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
5) Shop convenience: Several stores offer multiple services in one spot. Do your banking at mini-branch at the grocery store, or grab lunch at the warehouse store.
6) Just park it: Don't circle the lot hoping for a great parking space -- just take the shortest route to a free space and walk from there. Circling doesn't just waste gas, but is usually ultimately slower than simply parking somewhere a little less convenient and walking. Besides -- walking is good for you, right?
7) Hold on 'til they're ready: Don't start the car until everyone's in. Many people turn on the ignition, expecting the rest of the passengers to arrive momentarily... and sometimes that means a few minutes' wait, burning up gas (and creating toxic fumes in the immediate vicinity).
8) Start slowly: Don't take off fast from a traffic light -- keep it slow and gentle. It may help to drive as if you were balancing a cup of coffee on your lap.
9) Don't be idle: Idling gets a big fat zero miles per gallon, and cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. If you know you will have to wait more than one to two minutes, shut off your engine.
10) Get pumped up: Keep your tires correctly inflated and aligned to increase gas mileage by up to three percent. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by nearly half a percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are also safer and last longer.
For 33 more gas-saving tips, check out this article on SheKnows.com!
More money-smart advice:
6 ways to take control of your family’s expenses
5 things you must know to survive a recession
25 ways to cut living costs
The 5 rules of saving: When, where & how
12 ways to teach your kids how to save
