Save on gas

Did you fill up your gas tank this weekend? Gasoline isn’t
cheap these days, but there ARE ways to cut costs. Here are a few ways
to get more bang for your gas buck, courtesy of CNN:

* *Find the cheapest gas stations in your area.* In most cities, you
can save 30 or 40 cents a gallon if you know where to look. So,
check out the prices at GasPriceWatch.com. Here’s a good rule of
thumb: Gas stations in upscale areas and near highways generally
charge more because the land is more valuable, so their overhead
is higher, and the costs are passed on to consumers. Also,
stations near state borders tend to slash prices – as a kind of
“welcome to our state” sign.
* *The TYPE of gas station makes a difference.* Service stations
with auto repair shops or car washes usually charge more for gas.
They don’t need to be as competitive, since the other services are
more profitable and bring in gas customers anyway. Gas stations at
big box stores, like Costco or Sam’s Club, are a good bet if
prices are going down. Why? Because they sell so much gas that the
price is reflected at their pumps more quickly. Even if you don’t
have a big box store membership, you can still save. Because
nearby gas stations often lower their prices to compete with the
big box stores.
* *Buy gas on Wednesday mornings.* Gas prices usually move up for
the weekend. So, the lowest point is early Wednesday. In fact,
always buy gas EARLY in the morning. Gasoline pumps charge by
volume – not density. Since gas is denser when it’s cool, you’ll
get more bang for your buck if you fill your tank during the
coolest part of the day.
* *Watch your driving style.* Studies show that gentle acceleration,
and using cruise control on highways can improve fuel efficiency
by as much as *35%*. Which means, you could save 50 cents every
time you _don’t_ stomp on the accelerator.
* *Buy the lowest-grade gas possible.* High-performance cars, like
Porsches or Ferraris, need high-octane gasoline for top fuel
efficiency, but unless your car manufacturer _requires_ premium
gasoline, your car will run just fine on lower-priced regular.