Gas is a necessary expense for those of us who use vehicles as transportation.  Unfortunately, it’s particularly expensive now and shows no signs of declining more than a few cents.

The increased prices (about double from a year ago) may have been tolerable for most in the short term, but eventually the high prices will become unsustainable in households where finances are tight.  Even if you can easily afford the high prices, it never hurts to be economical.

Here are 9 easy tips for saving at the pump.

1. Walk or bike if your destination is within a few miles.  Not only will this save money on gas, it’ll improve your health and fitness.  As an extra added bonus, if you’re shopping you'll be less likely to over-buy if you have to carry it home!

2. Have an errand day each week where you combine all your trips. Make a plan for places that you need to go, carve out a few hours, and map out your route to increase efficiency in your travels.

3. Change your vehicle’s air filter. If you’re like me, you neglect this routine maintenance and decline the mechanic's recommendation, thinking it’s an optional up-sell.  The truth is that if your filter hasn’t been changed in 6 months, it could be having a significant negative impact on your gas mileage.  It’s an inexpensive part that you can easily install yourself.

4. Check your tire pressure.  Keeping your tires properly inflated is another way to increase your gas mileage so you save at the pump.  Even if your car has a sensor to monitor tire pressure, it won’t alert you until there’s a significant decrease in pressure.  You can usually find the optimal pressure on a sticker that’s visible when the driver’s side door is open, or you can find it on the tire itself.  Changes in temperature will have an effect on your tire pressure so it’s important to check pressure levels every few months.

5. Drive with the windows down instead of using air conditioning.  I thought that driving with the windows down would decrease gas mileage more than using the air conditioning, but it turns out that I was wrong!  Air conditioning causes the car to work harder and therefore increases the amount of gas it uses.

6. Re-think whether you need to shop at all.  Can you do without or have your items delivered for less than you’d spend on gas? 

7. Fill up when you see a deal.  Don’t wait until your tank is almost empty before filling up.  Even if you don’t need much gas, when the prices are high it pays to top off the tank when you see a bargain.

8. Pay with cash if you can get a discount. This isn’t allowed in all places, but if you can fill up at a station that offers a discount for cash customers, take advantage.  For those of you who have never paid cash for gas, here’s what you do: (1) go inside, tell the cashier which pump you are using, and give them enough to cover what you’ll need, plus some if you’re trying to fill up; (2) pump your gas; (3) return to the cashier to get the change left over, if there is any.

9. Look for other discounts.  Some stores have their own gas stations (i.e. Stop & Shop, BJ’s Wholesale Club) where members can take advantage of discounts or you can get points from shopping that can be applied to gas purchases.  Some gas stations have loyalty or reward programs (i.e. Shell, Cumberland Farms).  There are also apps that will tell you where the cheapest gas station is near you.

Whether you’re feeling pain at the pump, struggling to put gas in your car, or just want to be more conscientious about your fuel use, implementing some of the above strategies can really add up over time and help ease the burden of high gas prices.

Comment below or send us an email to let us know which of these tips you will try or if you have any other strategies you’ve found helpful.