We all know prices seem to go higher every year, especially the cost of gas. Car expenses are one big factor in most households that stretches the budget, sometimes to breaking point. Here are some guidelines to help you save money on your transportation:
1. To keep your car on the road, you should check your vehicle regularly. A well-maintained vehicle will hopefully cost you less in repairs. Do the simple maintenance yourself, things like oil changes, new windscreen wipers, rotating tires, changing bulbs in light fittings. Look up your make and model of car on the internet and find out how to do these things.
2. Do not to buy a new car. The value of a car depreciates automatically when you drive it out off the showroom of the car dealer shop. You want someone else to cop that depreciation, not you. Buy a new-to-you car, at least 1 or 2 years old. Get the car checked over though so you know you're not buying a lemon. The internet is your friend here: look up the make and model and see what other people are saying about it.
3. Compare the prices of buying a car from a dealer, to buying the car from a private owner. A car from a dealer may be a bit more expensive but you may be able to get extra warranties.
4. Compare gasoline rates. Find out who has the cheapest gas on what days. Is it cheaper to fill up before a long weekend? Use reward cards through various stores and credit companies to get cheaper gas. Check the gas cap is tightened to ensure no gas can spill out.
5. Always keep your engine tuned-up and have your tires inflated to their correct pressure to save you more money. A well-maintained engine consumes less gas. Heavy loads in your vehicle can cause your car to use more fuel because of the excess weight, so empty the trunk.
6. Drive smoothly. Heavy braking and fast acceleration use more gas.
7. Limit the use of your car on a day to day basis. Walk or take the bus or the subway to save gasoline. If you know you need to pay for parking once you get there, see if you can carpool with others who are going to the same venue as yourself. Combine your errands so you can do all or most of them in one trip.
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