Organizing Your Vehicle Will Decrease Gas Costs

Organizing your vehicle, its maintenance, and its use can save you BIG on gas money. Here's how:

(1) Do your research.
Look at websites like GasNearU and GasBuddy to determine the stations that have the lowest gas prices in your local area. (I found the cheapest option on GasBuddy.)

(2) Plan ahead.
Before stepping out of the house, make a list of all the errands that you need to run. Then map out your tasks by determining what's nearby or on your way and plan the most gas efficient route.

Feeling overwhelmed? Or maybe just lazy? The program Remember the Milk will do this entire step for you…

(3) Stay on schedule, be on time.
Knowing when your car needs to go into the shop for tune ups, oil changes, and tire rotations is only half the battle. Making and keeping the maintenance appointments is the second half. By accomplishing each half, your car will remain the well-oiled machine that it was made to be…all while helping stretch the gas as far as it can go!

(4) Purge to remove excess weight.
According to FuelEconomy.gov, you should "avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%."

Think you're not in violation of carrying excess baggage? Check out this blog post called Top 5 Ways You’re Needlessly Adding Weight to Your Car. What you find may suprise you!

Posted June 17, 2008, filed in How I de-cluttered, Clutter Control Products, Living Simply, Less is More