Paying for the rising cost of $#%*! gasoline
A gallon of regular gasoline costs $.43 more than it did last year, according to AAA. For someone who fills up a 15 gallon tank once a week, that increase adds up to $333 more per year spent on gas. So where does it come from? Here are five places to pull $333 from your pocketbook.
+ Get a credit cards with benefits. The Chase PerfectCard earns six percent back on gas for the first 90 days and three percent after that. The Capital One No Hassle Miles Rewards for Travel & Gas earns three miles for every dollar you spend on travel and gas purchases, plus one mile per dollar for all other purchases. Miles don't expire.
+ Drive like an old timer. Zipping out of a light burns gas like nobody’s business.
+ Take public transportation. Driving costs about $.54 cents a mile when you factor in maintenance, insurance, registration, and financing, according to the Auto Club of Southern California. That makes a 20-mile commute cost almost $11. A day pass on the Metro is $5. Calculate exactly how much your commute costs you.
+ Brown bag it. Bring your lunch once a week and you will likely save enough to cover a bigger gas tab.
+ Pay cash. Especially when pump prices differ by as much as $.20 a gallon. But remember to factor in surcharges at cash-only stations like Arco.
To balance out these savings tips, here are three common gas myths that do not save you moolah. Premium equals better mileage. Not true, says Marie Montgomery, a spokeswoman for the Auto Club of Southern California. Only buy premium if your owner’s manual calls for it. Morning is the best time to buy gas. State legislators are looking into this, but the myth-busting Web site Snopes.com says any change is minor. Magnets and additives extend mileage. No chance. “Those things are a waste of money,” Montgomery said.
