How to Be a Greener Driver and Save Money at the Same Time

It’s possible to save the planet and save money at the same time!

Guest post by Jane Simpson – See below for more information on this author.

Stop the complaining! Resist the impulse to worry continually!

Yes, gasoline prices have risen dramatically, but there are actions you can take that will conserve fuel and help balance the family budget.

If you really want to save money on fuel and help preserve the ecological balance of the planet, take the time to incorporate a few common sense driving habits into your daily travel plans.

The following should stretch family dollars spent on fuel just about as far as they can go:

Keep it smooth

Maintaining a constant speed is one of the best ways to get the most mileage out of every gallon of gasoline. The following driving practices should be standard conduct for every driver in the household:

• Follow the speed limits, but always keep the numbers below 55 mph to get the best gas mileage.

• Go easy on both the accelerator and the brake, making slow starts and stops routine.

• Drive defensively by allowing extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of it. This allows you to slow your car when another is making a turn and will often prevent the necessity of coming to a full stop.

• Use cruise control when out on the open road to help you keep an even pace.

• Keep the car in excellent running condition, checking the filters, tires, and spark plugs routinely.

Question the necessity

Sometimes people just need to spend a bit more time planning before they get into a vehicle. Something as simple as unloading heavy items from the trunk can reduce the amount of fuel used by the engine. The following questions may prevent wasted trips and extravagant use of fuel as well:

• Could I make this trip in a way that is less expensive? Is it possible to do this errand by walking, taking a bus, or biking?

• What is the shortest way to get to my destination?

• What is the best time of day to travel in this direction so that I will encounter the least amount of traffic?

• Is it possible to carpool with a neighbor or friend in order to accomplish my mission?

• Have I checked the internet for the least expensive place to buy fuel in my immediate area?

• Is it really uncomfortable enough to run the air conditioner on this trip, or will the fan work just as well?

• Will my car run just as well on economy brand gasoline?

• How many errands can be completed on the same route?

Learning to think in terms of fuel conservation is half the battle of adapting greener driving habits. It may take several months to get used to these changes, but you will be amazed by the money you save. You will also sleep better at night because your new eco-friendly habits will result in a better world for your children someday.

Guest author Jane Simpson uses the above tips to make sure she gets the most miles out of each gallon of gas. She writes for a website that has some useful auto loan calculators to help drivers calculate the true cost of borrowing money to purchase a car.