#3: Be Savvy With Your Gas!
This is somewhat related to one of the other Piggy Bank posts, but not so much related to the 'cost' of the gas you buy as to how you manage what you've got in your tank.
With gas prices climbing each month, we are ALL (well most people) are going to need to be at least a little smarter with how we use the gas we buy. I don't think I've ever been at a point in my life when I've thought more about how much money I'm spending in gas each time I go somewhere and if the trip is worth the cost of gas.
Here's an article that gives some great ideas. Several other links in the article seem interesting as well.
23 Top Tips for Better Gas Mileage
A few of my favorite tips are:
1. Getting gas when the temperatures are the coolest.
2. Combining all your errands/shopping into one trip. Think ahead!
3. Drive slower (eee...that's a toughy for me).
I've read in several places that every 5mph over 60mph costs you A LOT in gas mileage. So does that mean that the manufacturers rate new car gas mileage when the car is traveling only 60mph or less to get the best possible numbers for advertising? Hmmm...
The gvt. regulates the gas mileage ratings -- all do it the same.
ReplyDeleteBuy gas when it's cool, because if it expands in the station fuel tank when it's hot. You put it in your car and the fuel cools during the evening. Probably not a big issue unless you go thru a tank a week.
Saving for college is a two-sided coin. It depends on whether you still have income when you need to pay for college. Investing today's dollars in a savings program is only the right plan if you can earn higher interest than the rate of inflation. A good account will do that. If it doesn't, saved money is losing value and it won't keep up with the rising cost of tuition. Better to pay for college later with money coming in -- salary, wages, dividends, whatever -- at that time.
Money you save today should be saved for your retirement, not college, unless you have enough income to save for both.
Your Dad