5 Ways To Save Money at the Gas Station

You still need to go to work, the grocery store and take the kids to soccer practice. We at Patch have consulted fueleconomy.gov and compiled a list of 5 things you can do to help give your wallet a break.

1. Just drive 55

Going the speed limit can help you save significantly. Traveling at 65 mph instead of 60 mph can cost you an additional $0.24 to $0.78 per gallon for gas. Plus, going slower is safer.

2. Lighten your load

An extra 100 pounds of junk in your trunk can reduce your mpg by as much as 2 percent. This is most evident in smaller cars. So take out the golf clubs you cart around every day, the books you meant to donate to the book drive a year ago, those 12 gallons of soda you bought on sale, and you can save some money.

3. Idle time

When you're idling, you get zero miles per gallon. So if you pull up to the drive-thru at  and you see there's a line wrapping around the building twice, it would be best to park the car and go inside to place your order.

4. Fill 'er up

We're talking about your tires here. Make sure they're properly inflated. Doing this can save you up to $0.10 per gallon. You can find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle on a sticker usually on the driver's door jamb or in the owner's manual.

5. Plan your trip

If you know you have to go to Walmart, avoid going at 5 p.m. because that's the height of rush hour. You'll be stuck in traffic wasting gas. Try to go at off hours like 11 a.m. or 2 p.m.