8 Fun & Easy Ways To Save On Gas

#1  Take fewer trips to the store. 
Americans are notorious for making numerous trips to the grocery store -- sometimes twice in one day.  Not only does this waste a great deal of time and cause you to make impulse purchases, but it is also hard on the gas tank. 

It makes more sense to compile a list of the groceries you need, and go shopping once a month instead.  Doing this, you could save up to 15 trips to the grocery store in a month -- especially if you are the type that stops at the store every other day.  If you treat the store as if it's an hour's drive away, (like people who live out in the country), then it would be easier to cut down on your trips to the grocery store. 

Just the same, staying out of the stores at the mall will also keep you from buying things that you don't need -- like a single book, or another bra, or a new blouse.  Instead, make a list of items as you realize the need for them, and then make a monthly trip to purchase items from your list. 


#2  Pretend that you don't have a car. 
Imagine for a moment that you don't have a car; think about how you would have to adjust.  Where would you go?  What would you do?  Once you have that established, try to use your car only for emergencies or those times when you would have to call someone for a ride or take a cab.  The more you can limit daily travel to places you can get to by foot, the more you'll be saving on gas. (...And the more you'll become physically fit!)

For example, try to set a "one-mile walk rule" -- which means you stop driving to places that are less than one mile from you.  It takes the average person 20 minutes to walk one mile, so you can easily get to places within a reasonable amount of time. 

Some places to consider walking instead of driving:

• convenience store for milk or an ice cream cone
• school -- when buses are not provided, or kids miss the bus
• neighborhood swimming pool or park
• library
• post office

See how a pipeline rupture in 2003 actually benefited residents of Phoenix Arizona.  

 
#3  Use local services. 
Think about how many dry cleaners you drive past on the way to your local dry cleaner.  How far away is your doctor?  Are you bypassing the chiropractor a half mile from your home to get to one that's 20 miles away?  Is your church a 15-minute walk away, or a 15-minute drive?  Sure, you may be attached to these people, places, and services (and for very good reasons), so tearing yourself away may be as hard as breaking up a marriage. But in a time of crises (like today's high gas prices), sometimes hard adjustments need to be made. 

Just the same... try to support the local economy more by buying local produce, and purchasing your meat locally, as well.

#4  Consider moving. 
If you live in an area where there are no local conveniences, or if you are far away from people who you spend the most time with, you may want to consider moving.  While living 20 miles from your mother is a safe distance to ensure privacy, if one of you is having tough week and needs the other, it will put a toll on your gas tank. 

In general, if your child's school, your church, and all of your other activities happen to be in a particular area of town, perhaps you should be living in that area. 


#5  Use the Internet. 
Bargain shopping makes good sense, whether there's a gasoline crisis or not.  Comparing prices at different stores is just a smart thing to do before you make purchases.  However, driving from store to store can quickly eat up any profits you might have made by finding an item at a lower price.  Instead, use the Internet to compare prices.  Odds are, you'll find lower prices on the Net many times anyway (...even with shipping). 

At the very least, whenever you're shopping locally, call the stores on the phone and ask questions before driving there. 


#6  Work from home. 
While this was once a foreign concept that left employers suspicious that employees would be slacking off (on the company's dollar), more and more employers have seen the light.  They are finding that by allowing employees to work from home one or two days a week, they are actually more productive.  Working from home saves you commute time and gas money.  In addition, it can also save your employer money, energy, space, and resources, as well. 

Do your research, and approach your employer with a brief presentation on how your working at home can benefit them. Hopefully your boss will respond like Arnold Schwarzenegger who is asking state workers in Sacramento to telecommute. 


#7  Get to know your neighbors. 
These are the people you are going to spend the most time with as gasoline prices continue to soar.  In addition to your neighbors being the people you play with, you may be surprised to find that these can also be the people you work with. 

For example, they may have a home business that supplies items you need.  They may provide services that you want.  They may be able to bring you business, as well.  It might even make good sense to start a neighborhood business-marketing club that will benefit all involved. 


#8  Carpool to work and play. 
Talk to your co-workers and set up a carpool.  Not only will you save money on gas, but you will all get to work faster using the carpool/HOV lanes.  In fact, Washington area commuters are already choosing crowded cars over crowded roads as gas prices raise.

Just the same, consider carpooling to extra-curricular activities, as well.  If your kids are in the same activities, if you'll be heading to the same school events, if there's a community activity nearby... both families will save time, money (and parking!) if you carpool sometimes.