Your Money_ The Missing Manual - J. D. Roth [92]
Tip
Don't waste your money on gas-saving products. Both Consumer Reports and the Federal Trade Commission warn that most of these gadgets and additives are bogus. And even when they do work, the savings are miniscule.
Drive sensibly. Edmunds.com found that the best way to improve fuel efficiency was to accelerate slowly and brake over long distances. Here are some other tips:
Drive at a constant, moderate pace. Cruise control can help with this.
Don't speed. According to FuelEconomy.gov, each 5 MPH you drive over 60 adds about 25 cents per gallon to your fuel costs.
Avoid idling. Hypermilers—people obsessed with getting the best fuel economy—recommend turning off your engine if you stop for more than 10 seconds. Even if you're not that hardcore, try to commute when traffic is lighter and plan routes with as few traffic signals as possible to spend less time idling.
Consolidate trips. If you can, buy groceries, take your clothes to the dry-cleaner, and then drop little Johnny at soccer practice all in one trip.
Note
Air conditioning or windows down? This raging debate has no simple answer; it depends on your car and your driving habits. In general, studies show that it's more fuel-efficient to roll your windows down for city driving and use AC on the highway, but the differences are so small that you should just do what's comfortable.
Save at the pump. If it's convenient to buy gas at a cheaper place, do it; if not, don't. It usually doesn't make sense to go more than a mile out of your way to find cheaper gas. For example, on a 10-gallon fill-up, saving five cents a gallon only nets you 50 cents.
If you plan ahead, you can find cheap gas using GasBuddy.com, which lets people enter current prices at service stations in their neighborhoods. Just type in your Zip code to find gas prices near you. (If you don't get results, that's because nobody has entered prices for your area in the past 72 hours.)
Tip
If you want to track your fuel economy, check out Fuelly (www.fuelly.com), a site that lets you record your vehicle's gas mileage and compare data with other drivers. When you enter info about each fill-up, Fuelly computes your average miles per gallon, cost per tank, and more. There's also a version of the site you can use with mobile gadgets like iPhones.
Car-Free Living
The best way to save money on a car is to not own one. Each year, AAA publishes an estimate of driving costs (http://tinyurl.com/driving-costs). They figure the average American spends about $9,369 each year to own a car. That works out to over $25 a day, or $750 per month. Imagine what else you could do with that money if you ditched your car!
Not everyone has the option of going car-free. But for millions of people in cities like New York, Boston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, giving up a vehicle is a viable option. In Chicago, for example, you can buy a week-long pass for unlimited subway and bus trips for only $24—that's just $96 per month.
Though many people like the idea of going car-free, it can be tough to actually make the leap. Still, with rising gas prices, more folks are looking for ways to live well without wheels. Most people who give up their vehicles aren't radical, anti-car environmentalists; they've simply decided they'd rather use their time and money in different ways. (For an example, see the story of Chris Guillebeau on Reduce clutter.)
Even if you keep your car, just driving less can save you money. And it may seem old-fashioned, but don't forget walking and biking as ways to get around (and burn a few calories). Or check out the public transportation in your area. If those options won't cut it, look into getting a scooter (you can read about one Get Rich Slowly reader's scooter-based lifestyle at http://tinyurl.com/GRS-scooter.) Or check out car-sharing organizations like Zipcar (www.zipcar.com).
Note
If the idea of a car-free lifestyle intrigues you, pick up a copy of How to Live Well Without Owning