For those of us who drive to class everyday, run errands, drive to our friends’ houses and drive to work, there’s no way to avoid filling up our gas tank -- and gas prices fluctuate constantly. Living on a college student’s tight budget, gas often takes a huge chunk out of our wallets. But don’t worry -- you can save money on gas by filling up less often. For six easy ways how, read on.

1. Less pedal to the metal! 

Every time you push your gas pedal to accelerate, you’re using gas -- meaning you’re spending money. The less you touch that pedal, the more you save! So if you see a red light up ahead, take your foot off the gas. If you’re rolling down a hill, take your foot off the gas. If you’re in traffic and the car in front of you moved forward, don’t touch that pedal -- just let your car roll! The less you accelerate, the less you have to hit the brakes (which means wasted gas), and the more you save. And avoid road rage, too -- speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent while driving in the city.

2. Roll your windows down. 

Operating the air conditioner on “Max” can reduce mpg by 5-25% compared to not using it. Open up the window and enjoy the breeze instead! Note: this is gas efficient at low speeds, but not efficient at high speeds, so instead, try to keep your air conditioner on a lower setting if you’re on the highway.

3. Carpooling anyone? 

Have any friends who can chip in for gas for a ride to class each day? Maybe your roommate needs to go to the grocery store too and you guys can split gas costs. Maybe you can even bum a ride to a party this weekend. However you do it, carpooling saves money. The more people you ride with (and divide up the gas with), the cheaper your trip is!

4. Bust out the sneakers. 

Sure, it might not be as fast as driving, but walking is the easiest, cheapest way to get around and saves you a LOT of gas! You can usually walk to just about everywhere on campus. If you’ve ever driven five minutes to class just because you didn’t feel like walking, definitely reconsider: walking is good for your body (remember: Spring Break!), it’s nice and warm outside and that’s more cash in your pocket.

5. Inflate your tires. 

Keeping your tires properly inflated is simple and improves gas mileage by around 3 percent, saving up to 14 gallons of gasoline, or up to $56.

6. Rise and shine! 

When possible, drive during off-peak hours to reduce gas costs and stress by avoiding stop and go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions. Sure you might lose some sleep, but use the extra money to splurge on Starbucks.

No matter if you’re traveling home for the holidays or just taking a joyride, these tips can really come in handy. Some might require you to sacrifice more than others, but it will be all worth it when you have a little extra change in your pocket.

By: Alexis Reliford | Image: Source

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