Three weeks ago, gas prices went up by 12-cents. Now, the news agency Reuters just released more discouraging news:
The average price of gasoline in the United States rose again in the past two weeks, gaining nearly 3.5 cents to about $3.39 a gallon, due in part to higher crude oil prices, according to the nationwide Lundberg Survey.
Gas prices are expected to continue to increase in the short term, about five cents or maybe more. This could really impact your budget.
So, let us talk about practical ways that you can save on the cost of gas.
As we all know, gas prices vary according to where you live. Some cities, such as Los Angeles are known for having higher gas prices, but even within local regions gas prices are different. Hunt out the lowest prices in your area using GasBuddy, or other gas pricing apps and websites. Just make sure that the distance that you drive to get cheaper gas doesn’t negate the lower price.
Switch your gas grade. Read your owner’s manual. Most of the time, our cars can function perfectly well on a lower gas grade than what we normally put into the tanks. You can also check with your mechanic, if you have doubts.
Combine errands and reduce driving. As a mom of three kids, two of whom are in the middle of of major activities, reducing the driving can be tough, but see what you can do. See if carpooling is an option, map out your route to hit multiple errands on one trip, and try to go at least one day without driving anywhere.
For example, instead of running out just for fixings for school lunches yesterday, I decided to make some homemade rolls and dive into the pantry and fridge for the week’s lunch ideas. (This saved us on grocery expenses, too.)
We’ve all weathered a price in gas prices before, and we can do it again!
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