More Money, More Mileage

More Money, More Mileage

It's
not news that ever-rising gas prices can be a burden on your bank
account. The average family doles out about $100 a week on
gasoline—almost the same as what they spend on food. If you're looking for a ways
to spend less on gas and keep a little more of your hard-earned cash in
your pocket.

Use the following three tips to achieve both of these goals.

 
Drive a more fuel efficient car.
In 2004, there were 24.2 million SUVs on the nation's roads. Driving a
more fuel efficient car will save you big time. The top-selling SUV in
America—the six-cylinder Ford Explorer—gets only 20 miles per gallon on
the highway while the top-selling sedan—the six-cylinder Honda
Civic—gets 36. A consumer who drives 15,000 miles a year and trades in
an Explorer for a Honda Civic can save approximately $2,000 a year in
fuel costs, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
 
Carpool. Many parents carpool to save time and money when
taking their children to school. Why not apply that theory to the daily
grind? Carpooling helps alleviate commuter cost, traffic congestion,
wear and tear on your vehicle, and air pollution. Some experts estimate
that a person can save up to $3,000 a year. Certain websites can even
help pair up potential carpoolers. Social commuting has never been
easier.
 
Get better gas mileage. If trading in your car isn't on the
agenda, there are steps you can take to improve your gas mileage. By
driving less aggressively, regularly changing your oil and air filter,
properly inflating your tires, cutting down on speeding, and filling up
with regular, not premium, gas, you can make your car more fuel
efficient—and save yourself some much needed cash.