Thankfully, the price of gas has gone down in the last two weeks. Now, instead of getting just a couple of gallons of gas for 10 bucks, I can get nearly three. Woohoo!
Truth… ahem! I mean… sarcasm aside, the cost of hitting the road on a summer road trip with the family has gotten a bit more manageable in the last month or so. However, there are many other ways you can help stretch your travel dollar while putting the pedal to the metal on your summer highway adventure.
For starters, don’t put the pedal to the metal. Putting the brakes on your inner Speed Racer can go a long way to keep your gas costs down. According to AAA, gas mileage drops quickly when you are driving at speeds above 60 mph. Crunch the numbers and you will find that for every 5 mph that you drive over 60 mph you are paying an extra 10 cents per gallon. To avoid going over 60, use your vehicle’s cruise control to maintain a constant speed.
Another way to save is to dump the trunk… or at least the contents of your trunk. By removing unneeded items from the back of your vehicle you can save on gas. You can pad your wallet even more if you resist the urge to pile items on the top of your vehicle. By removing ski or bike racks you can save roughly 30 to 50 cents per gallon of gas.
Finally, rotating your tires can also help you save cash. Neglecting to do this simple task can lead to lower fuel economy, plus you will be forced to shell out extra cash to replace your tires sooner. Experts recommend that you rotate your tires every four months or 5,000 miles, though some vehicles can go longer in between rotations.
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