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Cars are expensive, but we all need them.
There are ways you can shave off some of the costs, though. (You know me… always looking for easy ways to save money!)
1. Change your own oil– Changing your oil doesn’t have to be hard and it can save you quite a bit. When DIYing anything I first recommend doing some research. YouTube is a great place for tutorials. Make sure to watch several videos. You can also ask around to family and friends to see if they can teach you. A hands-on demonstration is a great way to learn.
Just make sure to purchase the recommended weight and grade your vehicle requires, as according to your owners manual and follow any recommended safety precautions.
A great oil to use is Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage. This oil is specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles. With it you can drive an extra 550 miles a year vs. a dirty engine. That’s great news because keeping your vehicle running well for a long time means you save money that way, too.
Right now you can head to Walmart.com, like I did, and get a great price on Pennzoil, as it is on Rollback for a limited time.
This brings me to my second tip:
2. Order products online– Online shopping is a fabulous way to not only save money on gas but also wear and tear on your car. Have the products shipped directly to you to save both time and money.
3. Slow down when driving– No need to be a speed racer. Every 5 mph you drive above 50 mph will cost you around 16 cents per gallon of gas. Whoa! That adds up!
4. Keep your car longer– As long as your vehicle is in great working order, it is so much less expensive to keep it vs. getting a new on. Plus, the insurance is less costly on older cars ( see below).
5. Turn off the air when you don’t need it– Did you know that according to the Department of Energy turning on the air conditioning in you vehicle reduces the fuel economy by 25%? Sure, the air is necessary a lot of the time. But make sure to evaluate if it is all of the time.
6. Relax– Driving aggressively is costing you money. All that accelerating and then slowing down wastes gas. Relax more when driving. Do you REALLY need to get there in a hurry?
7. Check your tire pressure– Tires that are under-inflated can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but every little bit helps and properly inflated tires are safer.
8. Carpool– It’s pretty obvious why carpooling saves you money on your vehicle. If you are not driving, you are not spending money on gas or wear and tear on your car. Find out who lives near you at work and try sharing a ride to work. You can also carpool for other things, too. Why not go grocery shopping with your neighbor?
9. Plan errands carefully– Be mindful about errands. Try to schedule several at once and map out the best route so you are not backtracking, wasting gas and time.
10. Re-evaluate your insurance– as your car ages, you may not have to pay as much for car insurance. If your annual comprehensive/collision insurance premiums are more than 10% of the value of your vehicle, you might think about dropping the coverage.
Have you ever changed your own oil? Do you do it regularly?
Make sure to check out Pennzoil on the web:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pennzoil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pennzoil/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennzoil/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/pennzoil
David @ Spiced says