Family & Lifestyle Ideas

Once again, fuel prices have jumped up (I can’t remember seeing them really go down much recently at all).  As we get into the summer months and they new “summer blend” of fuel comes out and we all hit the road on vacation, that means prices will just continue to climb higher and higher.

While we know that we can’t find coupons to print or clip from the Sunday newspaper to save on fuel costs, there are some things we can do to try to take a little of the sting out of these higher prices.  Here are five simple tipe to help you do just that!

1.  Slow and steady.  Don’t speed.  Not only does increase speeds burn more fuel, it could actually cost you more if you are pulled over and given a traffic ticket.  Just keep the speed at the limit as marked (or a bit under) and you’ll find that it is an easy way to save money. Try to hold a steady speed and do not speed up or slow down too quickly, as that too can cause a drain on your fuel.

2.  Keep the cap tightened.  This may sound silly, but gasoline can evaporate through loose, cracked or even missing gas caps.  Just make sure you cap it on tightly to know you have a tight seal.  How do you know?  Your manufacturer should tell you but at the minimum, turn until you hear one click.

3.  Turn on the air.  You’ve probably been told your entire life that using the air burns more fuel – so let’s keep the window rolled down.  That is actually a myth.  Cars are now designed so that when you run the air, it doesn’t pull from the engine, which means that it does not burn more fuel.  In fact, if you roll down your windows, that may increase drag, which in turn can cause you to burn more fuel.  (If your vehicle was made prior to the mid-90s, the opposite may hold true).

4. Check the tires. When your tire are inflated properly, they can last longer, which in turn saves you money since you do not have to replace them as quickly.  In addition, you can save on fuel costs — up to $0.10 and more per gallon — when your tires are properly inflated.  If you are not sure what your vehicle’s rate is, just look at the sticker in the doorjamb or in your owner’s manual for details.

If you don’t know how to check the pressure, you will first need to pick up a gauge (which is relatively inexpensive).  Ask a friend or family member to give you a quick lesson – it is simpler than you think!  If you don’t want to have to guess, you can always opt for a digital gauge, but that will cost a bit more.

5.  Join a Rewards Program.  There are so many programs available which will help you save on your fuel costs. Most of them are store cards which either have their own stations and/or have joined up with a filling station to help save you money.  These rewards are usually discounts per gallon of gas and while that may not seem like much, it all adds up.

Take for example HyVee’s program  - when you purchase select items you rack up fuel discounts. You can then use those at HyVee, Casey’s, Shell or PDQ locations across the country.    You are going to purchase items anyhow, so you might want to make sure that you can actually make a little something back for each item you purchase.  Here is a list of rewards programs you might want to look into:

• Acme Gas Rewards Program 
• Abertsons Gas Rewards Program 
• BP Driver Rewards Program
• Brookshire’s Food Gas Rewards Program 
• Cumberland Farms Smart Pay Farm Fresh Gas Rewards Program 
• Food City Gas Rewards Program 
• Fred Meyer Rewards Program
• Fuel Rewards Network (Shell)
• Giant Eagle Gas Rewards Program 
• Giant Food Gas Rewards Program 
• H-E-B Gas Rewards Program 
• Home Depot Fuel Rewards (select TN and GA locations only)
• Hy-Vee Fuel Saver Program 
• Kroger Gas Rewards Program 
• Lowes Foods Gas Rewards Program 
• Martain’s Gas Rewards Program 
• Mega Foods Gas Rewards Program 
• Meijer Gas Reward Program 
• Piggly Wiggly Gas Rewards Program 
• Price Chopper Gas Rewards Program (Kansas City Metro area) 
• Safeway Gas Rewards Program 
• SHOP ’n SAVE Pump Perks 
• Stop and Shop Gas Rewards Program
• Tops Markets Gas Rewards Program

There are more ways you can save, I am sure.  However, these are simple ones that any of us can do and the results just might surprise you.  Fuel costs are going to continue to rise, so it is up to the consumer to make sure that we all make every drop count.

After several years of my husband listening to me talk about posts, deals, and all things money saving, I offered my husband the opportunity to do a post himself!  I tossed out the idea about car payments and he took me up on it.  Read up on his thoughts and facts regarding the true costs of auto loan payments.  Maybe you’ll re-consider an auto purchase with a loan the next time you are in the market or have the “itch” to by that new ride.

Many of us have gotten that itch to have that first brand new car (or truck as in my case).  Yes I’m a truck guy, love my trucks.  I’ve had four trucks.  Quite frankly I’ve borrowed money to pay for three of these trucks.  One I bought for $2,500 cash, and then spent a lot repairing it, got tired of repairs and thought I needed a new one that didn’t need repairs.  Oh and that new truck needed to be an extended cab for more seating room.

That was November 1996. On a whim, I saw a new extended cab on sale in the newspaper.  So I drove my little Toyota to a GM dealership and asked how much can I get for a trade-in.  He told me $1,600.  My heart sank.  I had spent over $2,500 on that Toyota in repairs alone in one year, plus what I paid for it.  And they tell me they’ll give me $1,600 like they are doing me a favor.  Seriously?  So with some reluctance and excitement, I traded my Toy for a brand new GMC extended cab.  It cost something like $16,995 and I went to the bank and borrowed the money.  Yes I remember my 60-month payment being about $315/month.  It didn’t occur to me at the time, but looking back, I paid about $3,500 in interest over the term of the loan. That’s a lot of dough. And you wonder why banker owners are wealthy?

The vast majority of American’s finance their auto purchases and we love our automobiles.  I am not sure whether we American’s love car payments more than our cars?  So what if I had driven my Toyota a little longer and saved some money to buy another truck for cash?  Maybe I could not have purchased a brand new one, but with cash I could have bought a used extended cab for $9,000.  What if I had invested the $3,500 in interest I paid in a growth and income mutual fund over five years at a 9% average return?  I would have made $1,623.63 in interest plus got my original $3,500 investment back.  Let’s not forget to that almost all cars and trucks go down in value over time, they need repairs, they are not an investment. Automobiles are a money pit!  But yet almost all of us need one to function in modern society, there is no getting around that.

Automobile loans are one of the largest impediments to financial freedom in our American culture.  We are told by the car industry that “we’ll get you financed – no money down”.  Folks here is the deal, a couple of points to remember:

First, repair what you own, as most of the time it’s much cheaper to fix an auto than to take on the costs of a loan.  If you have some mechanical skills and tools, fix your car on your own within reason.

Second, if you need a new car or truck, buy what you can afford with cash what meets your needs (not wants).  For most people, a used vehicle will suffice.  Today’s cars and trucks can be driven literally hundreds of thousands of miles without major mechanical repairs if they are maintained properly.  Don’t be lulled into thinking you need a new vehicle after your current one turns over 100,000 miles.  My current truck is a 1999 model with 206,000 miles on it and it still runs and drives fine.  It’s got rust, but it’s paid for and the personal property taxes are much cheaper due to its age.

And third, when in the market for another vehicle, don’t get impulsive.  There are plenty of used vehicles on the market, there is no shortage.

Take your time in shopping.  A vehicle is the second largest purchase most people make in their lifetime next to a home purchase.