NE 1 Reducing their gas consumption??? share your tips??

[shelbylovesmelby]

We are trying to save on gas even moreso this year since I've even heard rumors of gas hitting $5/gal this summer.

I want to walk with the kids to the store but with a 6 lane hwy & an 8 lane the other way w/ no side walks that's out.

I do want to walk dd to school but I don't know again about walking in the road in such a busy area & praying not to get hit by a car speeding. (as the intersection we live off of is one of the worst interestctions for accidents in the area)

Despite that I...

*Coast as much as I can & actually go speed limit or a lil less.
*Dh bought a moped, it gets him to work (3-4 days) on ONE GALLON of gas
*We bought an oldfashioned Scott's mower, so our mower isn't suck'n up any gas & it's environmentally friendly
*We plan our trips so we hit several places along the way instead of going out of our way to just one place.


What else is everyone else doing?

[PRICEPLUS]

Check the tires to make sure they are properly inflated. It sounds like you are already doing a greta deal to cut down on gas usage. I have started using a bike for some errands. That does not sound like an option for you!

The moped sounds awesome. Good luck to you!

[zoe]

Governments need to start planning for people to walk and ride - I'm with you, I would walk and ride to the shops but there aren't any footpaths and busy roads. Suburbia means that we are so reliant on cars, as we're all so far away from facilities. Instead of looking at cheaper fuels (hybrid cars etc) they should be looking at providing more health and environmentally friendly modes of transport (walking and riding) and redesigning cities. Obviously not easy but we should be planning now. We wouldn't need gym memberships if we were all walking everywhere!

A little off-topic sorry!

I also combine trips

[shelbylovesmelby]

Zoe - You have a few good points there!

I really wouldn't mind walking for a few thing to the store since they are only a few blocks if that away but man when you see all that traffic, I cringe @ dodging all those cars pushing a stroller. Heck this intersection is so busy there is a 3 lane wide left turn lanes!!!! 2 lane wide right turn lanes going the other direction. So I find it funny that for me to take my kids on a walk beyond our neighborhood I have to get into my car GRR! & of course no sidewalks til I hit the city limit.

[Ima saver]

I never drive over the speed limit. If you have to sit and idle for more than 30 seconds (drive in at bank) stop the engine. Fill up your car in the morning when it is cooler and park in the shade. Keep you gas cap tight. Getting a locking one of you can. Mine can only be opened by pushing a button inside the car.

[PrincessPerky]

Walking isn't so terrible here, I just can't figure out how to get DD to go the 4 miles! (she is two)

But I will say one thing they are working on here is bike trails, lots of roads have bike lanes...not that there are ever any bikes on them!

I keep telling DH I need a horse, any decent horse should be able to carry DD and DS (combined weight of 80lbs)-I would carry my youngest

[Ima saver]

Do you know how much it takes to feed a horse?? You are better off with a car. I live about 5 miles away from town, one way! When i was younger, i use to walk all over town, but we had sidewalks. (I lived in Fla. then)

[BignRichfan]

I just about stopped driving altogether. My husband started a new trucking job on april 2 which pays more money, but we are shelling out over $200 in gas a month just for him to get to and from work everyday in his minivan. He drives 70 miles round trip. Im hoping we can write some of this off on next years taxes. I don't work but I babysitt my neice so the money I make from that pays for his gas. I don't drive my car unless I have to. Last week it sat for 5 days. The gas out here varies from $2.79, $2.95 & $2.99 so you tell me who is price gouging? What a joke. At $65 a fill up (I have a 97 ford explorer) I can't afford to drive anymore.

[Ima saver]

My husband has a work van, his current house is 15 miles away, but he makes trips to town back and forth. He figured he spent about $140 on gas last week. He worked today just to get gas money for the rest of the week.

[PrincessPerky]

I don't drive, no liscense, so a horse would proly come out even for me. (and imagine the workout!)

[Fern]

Sell the SUV.

[Thrifty Ray]

I work from home and am making a concerted effort to limit my trips to town (almost 30 miles round trip) I have been scoping out the two really small towns that are much closer to see what amenities they have that I can use. But I consolidate all my necessary trips to the big town into one or two per week.

DH drive a deisel truck and we will be able to write off some of his gas for our wood business this year.

I got much better gas mileage after a tune up and correctly pressurized my tires...(almost 50 miles a tank!!) plus I removed all the stuff so that Im not using gas to cart a bunch of excess weight around.

[poundwise]

The advice to keep tires properly is very good. Also, if you maintain your car well, you should expect better gas mileage. Of particular note in this regard is your fuel filter and your oxygen sensor. Check your owner's manual and consider your maintenance histoy to see if you have replaced these items as warranted.

As for driving, the speed you drive is not as important as two other factors; acceleration and stop-and-go. If you punch the gas, or simply accelerate hard, you will burn more fuel. If you have two routes to a destination and one is longer, but straighter and with less stops, you ought to consider that the longer route may be better for fuel economy. Even curves and hills should be considered.

Avoid gimmicks; special vehicle air manipulation devices and so-called 'fuel pills' do not work. Multiple independent authorities have demonstrated this.

The way you drive and the way you plan your trips (as much as in your power), along with maintaining your car, is about the best you can do to save money on gas.

Oh, of course, if you can use public transportation, carpool, or ride a bike, those are alternatives for some people as well.

[debtdude]

A/C versus windows rolled down doesn't make a difference. This has been tested.

A tip...take out the 85 pounds of stuff in your trunk. If you aren't playing golf that day, take out the clubs, etc.

[Ima saver]

Debtdude, you are right about the a/c versus the windows down, I read that too. I try and drive 50 and under and accelerate slowly. My mother had a car that a light came on if you were wasting fuel.

[eisor]

I just skip class. It cuts back on fueal consumption a LOT! Hehe. I don't have to go the 20 miles downtown and then the 20 miles back.

Ok, seriously though, I try very hard to keep my car tuned up. Also, I don't accelerate or brake fast (I used to have a bad habit of this!). I am driving slower now. Usually at the speed limit.

I also, am cutting back in other areas so I can budget more for gas. I'm not shopping as much or eating out as much. This is in preparation for the rising gas costs and the fact that my commute is about to majoring increase!