How to Save Money on Gas As Prices Climb

Gasoline prices in Elk Grove are hitting $4 per gallon at some stations, and consumers are feeling the pinch.

The current pain at the pump stems from politics in the Middle East, where war and social unrest are making investors nervous, said Matt Skryja, a spokesman with AAA in Northern California.

“Investors are driving where gas prices are going," Skryja said.

So what’s an average person to do to save money?

Elk Grove Patch used AAA's gas price finder to scope out the cheapest places to fill up around town as of Tuesday March 15. We found the best deals at Arco's stations on Elk Grove-Florin Road ($3.82 per gallon for regular unleaded) and Harbour Point Drive ($3.84 per gallon). The 76 station on Elk Grove Blvd came in third with $3.89 per gallon.

But saving money on gas is not just a matter of buying cheaper fuel where you can find it. It’s also a state of mind.

The way you drive, how much stuff you leave in your car or trunk—even giving your vehicle a couple minutes to warm up each morning—can significantly lower your fuel costs over time.

Of course, the most obvious way to spend less on gas is to walk, bike or take public transportation whenever possible. But those whose locations or lifestyles leave them relatively car-dependent (and let's face it, that includes most of us in Elk Grove) can follow these seven steps from AAA for more peace of mind at the pump:

1. Try not to make quick starts and stops unless you have to. You’re not in a race, and it’s hard on your vehicle components as well as a waste of fuel. Try to anticipate ahead of time when traffic conditions will force you to slow or stop.
2. Consolidate your trips and errands so you can cut down on the distance you travel. Comparison shop online, by phone or through newspaper ads.
3. Keep on the lookout for cheaper fuel prices, but remember, it’s not worth driving across town to pay a few cents less per gallon.
4. Make sure you aren’t hauling unnecessary weight. Clean out your car. The more weight you carry, the more fuel you burn over time.
5. Warm up a cold engine when you can.
6. Drive at a moderate speed. Moving at a measured pace on the road will save you fuel (but try not to drive so slowly that you become a traffic hazard).
7. Crack a window. Save your air conditioner for really hot days (we'll have plenty of them come summer). Remember to use the recirculation setting, so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work so hard when it is on.

Check out the attached guide from the AAA for more fuel-saving tips.