15 Ways to Save Money on Gas

I HATE going to the gas station. Watching the numbers on the gas pump dial rise higher and higher... I can feel my blood pressure rising with it!

Unfortunately we don't have much choice. We won't get far at all without gas.

But what we can do is find some ways to save money on gas.

Most people waste a lot more gas than they think. So to help you save money at gas stations and increase your fuel efficiency (plus help the environment out a bit too), I've put together this handy-dandy list of ways to save money on gas.

If you're shopping for a new car, go for a fuel efficient 4-cylinder. They get much better mileage than a V6 or a V8. You can check your car's fuel efficiency at FuelEconomy.gov
Don't pay extra for premium unless your user's manual says you need it. Most cars run just fine on regular unleaded gas and there's no noticeable difference using premium.
Shop around. One of the best ways to save money on gas is to simply look for the best price. A few cents per gallon may not seem like much but it adds up. A great resource for finding the best prices in your area is GasBuddy.com
Travel light. The more weight your car has to carry the less efficient it will be. Don't lug around a bunch of unnecessary stuff in your trunk or backseat.
Ditto for the luggage rack on your roof. And roof cargo doesn't just increase weight...it also adds more aerodynamic drag which forces the engine to work harder and burn more fuel.
Check your tires. Underinflated tires increase fuel consumption. You should check your tires regularly and add air as necessary. The recommended tire pressure is easy to find...just open the driver's side door and look down at the door jam. Nearly every car manufacturer places a sticker there to remind the driver of the correct tire pressure.
Steady as she goes. Try to maintain a consistent driving speed and avoid hard acceleration and braking.
Slow down. I know it's fun to drive fast...but the faster you go the fewer miles you'll get per gallon.
Don't idle for more than a minute. If you're waiting for someone, turn the engine off. It takes less gas to start the engine again than it does to sit and idle.
When you first get into your car, just start the engine and drive off. There's no need to let it "warm up", in fact it will actually warm up faster as you drive.
Try to schedule your errands so you can do them all at once while driving the fewest miles possible.
Whenever possible...walk. Walking doesn't use any gas at all!
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. Keeping your engine finely tuned can increase fuel efficiency by 10 to 20 percent.
Make sure your gas cap is secure. If it doesn't form a tight seal gas will slowly evaporate, and your money will literally disappear into thin air.
Only use the air conditioner when you realy need it. Running the AC makes the engine work harder and significantly reduces fuel efficiency.